THE Victorian Electoral Commission will recommend that Kingston Council grow from nine councillors to eleven at the next election. The VEC’s electoral representation review began in June and the final report was published on 9 October. The final report stated that council should remain split into three wards, but that two of those wards should expand to four councillors. The VEC report stated that “Kingston City Council had the highest voter-to-councillor ratio among Metropolitan Melbourne local councils with nine councillors and that population growth and development would place pressure on councillor workloads and the city’s planning and policy processes. In…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
PENINSULA RED Hill have secured a narrow win over Pines away from home. Playing out of Eric Bell Reserve, the travelling Red Hill chose to bat first. They lost their first opener for a duck but recovered well from there. All of Red Hill’s middle order performed well on the day, and they ended up putting 189 runs on the board by the time their innings expired. Pines bowler Patrick Jackson played a part, helping to clean up the tail and finishing with good figures of 4/24. Pines’ run chase started well with a 38 run opening stand, but they…
FRANKSTON Council’s draft annual report has been released, revealing expenditure for the 2018/2019 financial year. The report features a detailed financial rundown of where ratepayer’s money has been going this year. Council posted a surplus of $15.7 million at the end of the 18/19 financial year, about half of the $30.7 million surplus posted the year before. The report stated that the “variation is mainly due to the minimal increase in rates capped at 2.25 per cent being much lower than the operational cost increases during the year such as the cost of material and waste disposal escalating at a…
THE infamous chrome gnome statue is on the move. Officially titled Reflective Lullaby, the giant nine metre tall gnome structure was installed next to the Peninsula Link exit at Cranbourne Road in July of 2015. The gnome is the work of New Zealand based artist Gregor Kregar. The large gnome replaced the popular Tree of Life sculpture. It has divided opinion since its installation, drawing critics and vandals across its four year lifespan. In August last year, it was confirmed that the towering stainless steel gnome behemoth was set to depart. On 10 October, the sculpture was removed by crane.…
A MAN has been arrested and charged after allegedly punching an off-duty police officer outside a Frankston pub on 27 September. It is alleged that an 18-year-old man knocked the victim unconscious with one punch outside Flanagan’s bar in the early hours of the grand final day public holiday. The victim was an off-duty police officer who resides in the Frankston area. Police allege that the victim was hit with a one-punch attack and was unconscious for 15 minutes after falling to the pavement. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment in a serious condition. On 2 October, the…