THE Dunkley electorate is among the hardest hit by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with 7.9 per cent of jobs in the area lost according to a new study. A study conducted by the Grattan Institute found that only two Victorian electorates were suffering worse than Dunkley when it came to job losses during the COVID-19 crisis. The Dunkley electorate encompasses Frankston, Mt Eliza, Langwarrin, Skye, and Seaford. The neighbouring Flinders electorate, which covers the Mornington Peninsula, has also suffered through a job loss rate of 7.9 percent Dunkley MP Peta Murphy said the area’s high rate of job…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
THE roundabout at Thompsons Road and Frankston-Dandenong Road is set to close for five weeks. The intersection will close from 5 June to 13 July to accommodate for works. The roundabout will be removed and replaced with traffic lights. Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny said “we’re closing the intersection for five weeks to avoid four months of rolling disruptions to locals and complete the upgrade more than two years earlier than when it was first announced.” “More than 58,000 vehicles travel through the Frankston-Dandenong Road and Thompsons Road intersection every day, making it an extremely busy freight and transport link in…
KINGSTON councillors have been discussing “serious issues” behind closed doors this year, leaving ratepayers in the dark. Multiple votes about “CEO employment matters” have been held in confidential Kingston Council meetings since March. The matter appeared on the agenda during confidential council sessions on 23 March, 30 March, 14 April, and 27 April. Questions sent to Kingston Council asking what these matters are were not directly answered. Council’s corporate services general manager Paul Franklin told The News “Kingston as a matter of practice does not respond to any questions about staffing but has been transparent on CEO contract matters and…
KINGSTON Council’s draft budget for the next financial year projects a nearly $23 million surplus. The draft budget, approved by Kingston councillors at their 25 May meeting, proposes a 2 per cent rise in “total rates and municipal charges”. Nearly $66 million has been allocated to spend on capital works in the municipality during the 2020/2021 financial year. Projects which are set to be undertaken in the next financial year include works on the Dolamore Reserve track, Aspendale Gardens pavilion, G.H. Soppet pavilion, and the Dales Park netball centre. Ratepayer funding has also been allocated to upgrade the scout and…
THE Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre will receive an immediate cash injection of nearly $700,000 from council to help deal with the financial fallout of COVID-19. The swimming centre has been shut during the pandemic, resulting in 259 casual staff and 26 permanent staff being stood down without pay. At council’s May meeting, it was agreed that PARC would receive an immediate payment of just under $680,000, as well as a further provision of just over $2 million processed quarterly throughout the 2020/2021 financial year. That amount will be paid “after proper assessment and acquittal, under arrangements to be worked through…