Author: Brodie Cowburn

FRANKSTON Council CEO Dennis Hovenden has conceded that the Oliver’s Hill breakwater project is in major jeopardy without funding from both levels of government. Council pledged $8 million to the project and asked for $8 million commitments from both federal and state governments. Those commitments have not been made. Mr Hovenden said at the 29 January council meeting that council had been “strongly advocating for matching contributions” from both levels of government, but “if unsuccessful, it is highly unlikely the project will proceed.” $500,000 of federal funding was made available for a completed environmental study on the project. The project…

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OVER 200 charges have been laid as a result of a Frankston and Mornington Peninsula police crackdown on thieves who gain access to cars and break into homes by opening unlocked doors. 26 offenders were arrested during the first three weeks of Operation Pandora, with 17 of those remanded in custody. Charges laid include aggravated burglary, burglary, theft of a motor car, theft from a motor car, reckless conduct endangering life, and obtain property by deception. Frankston Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen McKenzie said the operation was started to “combat a large spike in vehicle crime”. “The term…

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CALLS from Frankston Council to stop a level crossing removal project at Eel Race Road have gone quiet. Council unanimously voted in 2017 to write to the state government to “formally oppose the closure of Eel Race Road on a number of grounds including the increase of congestion, particularly on Railway Parade (Seaford), Armstrongs Road (Seaford) and Station St (Seaford)”. The successful motion stated that “the process has once again failed Frankston residents in that no consultation and no justification was evident in arriving at this decision.” Level crossing removal works at Carrum Station are now underway, and despite Frankston…

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FRANKSTON’S first ever Youth Expo took place on 23 January, with multiple stalls set up to help young locals stay active and stay healthy. The “Youth Mayor’s Stay Safe and Healthy Expo” was an initiative pushed by youth mayor Gerard Felipe, who said he had come up with the initiative in collaboration with local school captains. (“Students team up for Youth Expo”, The Times, 3/12/18) A number of services set up stalls on the day, including Frankston Youth Services, Victoria Police, the Australian anti-ice campaign, SunSmart, headspace, PARC, and the WGKA Langwarrin dojo. Frankston Council community strengthening manager Ken…

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WITH over 40 years of work at the Moorabbin Hospital Ladies Auxiliary behind her, Beverly Fitzharris was named as Kingston’s Citizen of the Year on 26 January. Ms Fitzharris was a founding member of the organisation 43 years ago, and continues to work there to this day. Ms Fitzharris said it was “very nice” to receive the recognition. “It was a big surprise but it was very, very nice,” she said. “When you join these things you don’t expect to get something like that out of it. There’s lots of people I’d like to thank, such as the whole of…

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