THE Level Crossing Removal Project has unveiled plans for an “interpretive trail” which will run throughout Groves Reserve in Aspendale. The removal of coastal banksias and vegetation from Groves Reserve early last year prompted condemnation from local environmentalists, the state opposition, and Kingston Council. At the time, Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said “the removal of these trees is an unacceptable environmental loss for our community. Groves Reserve holds immense historical and ecological value, and it is devastating to see trees continue to be cut down despite our repeated calls for a reprieve.” (“Banksia bulldozing unacceptable” The News 5/3/2025) The LXRP…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
THE first case of H5N1 bird flu in Frankston has been recorded. The bird flu outbreak has been a matter of concern nationwide. More than 300 confirmed cases have been identified across Australia during this outbreak, with the first in Frankston recorded on 22 August. Agriculture Victoria states that the Frankston case is among “Gulls, Terns and Noddies”. After the announcement, Frankston Council issued a statement urging caution. “While only a small number of cases have been confirmed, there are likely to be many more within the municipality that are not yet detected,” Frankston Council said. “The risk to human…
AHEAD of the November election, bayside councils have teamed up to demand that the state governement spend more money to fix potholes on Nepean Highway. Kingston and Bayside Councils have joined forces to call for urgent intervention on potholes and deteriorating road surfaces across the two municipalities. Nepean Highway has been highlighted as an area of particular concern. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said that residents “should not have to put up with deteriorating state roads.” “Our residents shouldn’t have to dodge potholes on the way to work, school or home,” Cr Oxley said. “Councils invest heavily in maintaining the roads…
KINGSTON Council will refer invoices submitted by the state government-appointed municipal monitors for independent auditing, with a referral to the Local Government Inspectorate and Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission to follow. Kingston Council has been overseen by monitors for close to a year. Monitor John Tanner arrived at council last August, followed by John Watson in October. Last week Kingston Council confirmed that it had discovered “administrative errors” in invoices submitted by John Tanner. Among the points of concern were that Tanner had invoiced council for work undertaken on 30 February and 31 February, dates that do not exist. At their…
KINGSTON Council estimates that its ratepayers are paying for nearly $7 million in responsibilities passed on to councils by the state government. Earlier this year, Kingston Council officers began work on a report outlining instances of “cost shifting from the Victorian State Government to the City of Kingston.” The report, published last week, revealed that “more than $6.8 million of known costs have been shifted from the state government to council and are now embedded within the existing budget.” “In addition, proposed policy changes by state government could result in a further $6.8 million in estimated annual ongoing costs. This…