THE second monitor tasked with overseeing Kingston Council has been appointed. Last week, John Watson was named the second state government-appointed monitor for the beleaguered council. He will work alongside John Tanner, who began monitoring the council on 25 August, until the end of the year. The two monitors will report to the local government minister, who is responsible for any subsequent action taken.In a joint statement, Kingston Council mayor Georgina Oxley and council CEO Peter Bean said “we have been working well with Mr Tanner since he started in August and look forward to meeting Mr Watson. “We will…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to redevelop the former Kingswood Golf Course site in Dingley Village has been approved by planning minister Sonya Kilkenny.The proposal has been in the works for years; redevelopment plans presented by former site owner AustralianSuper in 2018 received a whopping 8000 community objections. The site was eventually purchased by developer Satterley, which unveiled plans to build 941 residential lots on the land earlier this year.In 2023, Kilkenny announced that the site had been rezoned for housing. In an announcement released late Friday, 17 October, she confirmed that Satterley’s plans had been approved. “We’re unlocking underutilised land to…
PROVINCIAL Red Hill’s strong start to the 2025/2026 season looks set to continue after a good day one showing against Mornington on Saturday. Mornington chose to bat first at Red Hill Recreation Reserve. They failed to make much of an impact on the scoreboard – Cooper Borthwick tore through the middle order and helped send the Bulldogs back to the sheds for a final total of 123. Borthwick took 4/22. Simon Dart also bowled well, finishing up with 3/18. Red Hill piled on 77 runs before stumps, losing just one wicket along the way. They are in a great position…
A STATEWIDE crime wave has sparked a Victoria Police restructure, with more officers set to be dedicated to frontline policing.Statistics released last month showed that crime in Frankston is at its highest level in a decade. The 13,754 criminal incidents recorded in the Frankston local government area in the year ending June 2025 was a whopping 18.8 percent increase on the year prior. In neighbouring Kingston criminal incidents rose by 14.6 percent, and a 10.6 percent increase in criminal incidents was recorded in the Mornington Peninsula Shire. (“Rising crime levels unacceptable” The Times 30/9/2025).Last week, Victoria Police confirmed it would…
THE Mordi Aquatic Centre project is ahead of schedule, with $6.3 million worth of works brought forward from the 2025/2026 budget in the last financial year.A report on Kingston Council’s infrastructure project spending in 2024/2025 was handed to councillors at their most recent public meeting. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said that highlights from Kingston Council’s 2024/2025 capital works program included $23.9 million to commence construction on the Mordi Aquatic Centre redevelopment.The 2024/25 budget for the Mordi Aquatic Centre project was $17.5 million. A report prepared by council officers read that the extra expenditure in the last financial year was “a…