Author: Brodie Cowburn

FRANKSTON High School has been rezoned for 2021 enrolments. The school’s southern boundary for 2020 enrolments was along Humphries Road, while the northern boundary was bordered by Davey Street and the Frankston-Baxter Trail. For 2021 enrolments at the school, the boundaries have been changed. The southern boundary has moved up slightly, while the northern boundary has also moved further north past Fletcher Road and Beach Street. The eastern boundary has also moved inwards. Students who reside within a government school’s boundaries are guaranteed a place at that school. They may be enrolled at schools outside of their boundary, but will…

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ALL street lighting in the Kingston area will be powered by renewable energy from next year. Kingston Council has signed a ten-year power purchase agreement with Procurement Australia and energy provider Alinta. Power in the area will be largely sourced from wind farms. Council does not currently use renewable energy for its street lighting. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said “from January 2021 our street lighting will be switched over to 100 per cent renewable power with our large building sites rolled over in July”. “This will mean at least 80 per cent of council’s electricity needs will be provided by…

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A FORMER Frankston Council employee has pleaded guilty to scamming ratepayers out of more than $460,000. Andrew Williamson, a former community development manager at council, was alleged to have stolen $460,870 from ratepayers. He was also charged with attempt to commit an indictable offence for the amount of $65,530 and misconduct in public office. On 18 August, Mr Williamson pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Mr Williamson’s conduct was the subject of an investigation by the state’s peak anti-corruption body. The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission began Operation Topi after Frankston Council made a report to them. A statement from…

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MORE than 50 staff employed by Peninsula Health have tested positive for COVID-19. Frankston Hospital has been the hardest hit by the outbreak. Early last week, Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp confirmed that 51 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19 and 211 staff had been sent into isolation. Those numbers were released on 19 August. “Of the 51 staff cases, 40 are nursing staff, with four doctors having tested positive at this point, along with five support staff members and two Allied Health employees,” Ms Topp said. “Since the beginning of the pandemic we have tested 54,981 people, 336…

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A DRAIN installed on the beach in Mentone is causing safety concerns for residents. The drain, which received a “major upgrade” last month, is located near the life saving club. Kingston councillor Geoff Gledhill raised the issue on his Facebook page. “I’ve been contacted by a number of residents who are concerned about the design of the new drain infrastructure on Mentone Beach. It is a substantial drop into what can be deep water, or at low tide, rocks with obviously insufficient barriers to stop a small child,” he said. “I have asked City of Kingston to apply a temporary…

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