WALLARA clients at Sages Cottage were “devastated” to see the sign at their front gate defaced with graffiti last week. Wallara Australia hosts programs for people with disabilities at the Baxter site. CEO Phil Hayes-Brown said that clients at Sages Cottage were “puzzled, distressed, and upset” about their sign being defaced. “Our clients there take a lot of pride in the place. They are very proud of the farm, and have a sense of ownership around it,” he said. “The farm is increasingly popular, and we get lots of inquiries about it. We’d been planning to put up some buildings…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
FRANKSTON Council’s performance has improved, but are still below the standards set statewide according to the results of a community satisfaction survey coordinated by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. 400 randomly chosen ratepayers were picked to have their say as part of the survey. Councils are awarded “index points” across various performance areas. Frankston Council received a score of 59 for their overall performance. The number is up on their result of 55 from last year, but still just below the state average of 60. The mayor Michael O’Reilly said “the results indicate council is on the…
PLANS to construct a 14 storey tower on Playne Street have been labelled as “not appropriate” and rejected by Frankston Council. The development, planned for 35 Playne Street, was proposed to contain 11 student rooms, 77 apartments, social housing, and privately run businesses. It was rejected with the vote of seven councillors at council’s 22 July meeting. Council officers had recommended the permit be approved, but councillors ultimately voted to stop it going ahead. Brad Smith, founder of Braaap Motorcycles in Frankston and the applicant for the permit, made a submission to defend the proposal. He told council that apartments…
KINGSTON Council has confirmed that their contract with SKM Recycling “continues” with recycling from the municipality being sent to SKM’s Hallam site. Councils statewide were hit by the news that the EPA had stopped SKM from receiving recycling at their Laverton North site earlier this month. SKM face an uncertain future, which could effect more than 30 councils across Victoria. Kingston general manager of city assets and environment Daniel Freer said “unless the situation changes, our existing contract with SKM continues, with Kingston’s recycling being taken to their Hallam site.” “We have been meeting regularly with the state government and…
TRAINS on the Frankston line are running late more often, Metro figures reveal. Frankston line trains were on time 90.4 per cent of the time in April of this year, but that number has since dropped. In June, just 83.1 per cent of trains on the line ran on time. The number is also down on the 88.3 per cent of all Metro train services that ran on time during June. Metro Trains had set a target of 92 per cent punctuality. As a result of their failure to meet that target, Metro will compensate its passengers. Metro department acting…