AN independent panel has recommended that Kingston Council raise some height limits in its long-awaited housing strategy. Kingston Council’s housing strategy and neighbourhood character study has been in development for more than five years. The draft strategy was considered by an independent planning panel, which has now released its findings.In the 2021 draft strategy approved by Kingston Council 77.24 per cent of land in the Kingston municipality was zoned “neighbourhood residential”, limiting development to two storeys. The panel recommended zoning small areas of Clayton South, Parkdale and Edithvale as “general residential” instead, raising their height limits to three storeys.The panel’s…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
A FRANKSTON early learning centre will remain open for the foreseeable future, despite its operators warning it was in danger of closing. Just days after being told that the Windermere Early Learning Centre in Frankston could close, parents have been informed that the centre will remain open until the end of the year. Parents with children enrolled at the ELC were blindsided on 30 June when Windermere emailed them to say that the closure of the centre was being considered. The email read that the ELC was “no longer sustainable”, and that a final decision would be announced within the…
PLANS for high-rise developments along Nepean Highway in Frankston have hit a major snag after a sudden decision by the state government’s planning minister. Plans to build multi-storey apartments in the area bordered by Nepean Highway, Beach Street, Wells Street, and Kananook Creek Boulevard have been protested throughout the year. Proposals for a 16-storey building at 438-444 Nepean Highway and a 14-storey building at 446-450 Nepean Highway are currently before VCAT for consideration. Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny intervened in the matter last week – she approved interim planning controls which will limit development within the Nepean Highway, Beach Street, Wells…
MPNFL DIVISION TWO A HUGE first versus second clash took place at Karingal last weekend. Ladder leaders Karingal hosted Mornington in what could be a Grand Final preview. The Bulls were looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season, and Mornington were looking to prove their premiership credentials. A goalless first quarter put Karingal on the back foot early. They weren’t able to recover from their poor start. Mornington led by 13 at half-time, then stretched their lead to 31 by the final break. Karingal made a late charge in the final term, but they weren’t able…
GENERAL rates on properties in the Kingston local government area are set to increase by more than four per cent. Kingston Council passed its final budget for the 2023/2024 financial year last week. The budget contained a 4.49 percent increase to general rates. Overall rates and charges will increase by an average of 3.5 per cent, the maximum allowed under the state government’s rate cap. Kingston Council projects a surplus of nearly $1.1 million for this financial year. It is planning to spend $53 million on infrastructure projects – expenditure includes $7.6 million for local roads, $4.8 million for a…