KINGSTON councillors have voted to retain their current social media guidelines, with a new proposed policy labelled as an attempt to “gag” councillors. Kingston councillors’ use of social media has been in the spotlight this year. Two arbitration processes triggered by social media activity have been tabled so far this year, with more expected to come soon (“Arbiter called into council again”, The News 27/5/2026). Council officers drafted a new social media policy, and recommended that the new guidelines be formally adopted at Kingston Council’s 25 May meeting. Councillors ultimately opted to reject the new policy and retain its existing…
Author: Brodie Cowburn
DISRUPTIVE level crossing removal works on the Frankston line are expected to drag out years longer than originally planned. The state government is removing all level crossings on the Frankston line, and had targeted a 2029 end date for works. The most recent state budget revealed that the completion date has been pushed back to mid-2032. On page 72 of budget paper four, one sentence reveals the significant delay. “The estimated completion date has been revised to quarter 4 2031-32 to align Highett Road and Wickham Road, Highett and Latrobe Street, Mentone level crossing removals with the Suburban Rail Loop…
THE redeveloped Mordialloc Station is now in operation, with regular services restored to the Frankston railway line. After weeks of around-the-clock works, the new station opened late last month. Trains are now running to the station via the rail bridges over McDonald Street in Mordialloc, and Station Street in Aspendale. Buses replaced trains between Cheltenham and Frankston from 30 April to 18 May while works were being undertaken. Altered traffic conditions around the project sites sparked major safety concerns among commuters (“Level crossing works spark safety fears”, The Times 21/5/2026). A statement from Big Build Victoria read that the project…
A SECOND internal arbitration outcome in two months has been tabled by Kingston Council, with more expected to come soon. The latest arbitration matter was applied for by Crs Georgina Oxley and Sarah O’Donnell. They alleged that Cr Hadi Saab was guilty of misconduct. Cr Saab was also the respondent of an arbitration matter tabled last month, applied for by Cr Jane Agirtan. The outcome of the latest application was the same as last month’s; the arbiter did not make a finding of misconduct against Cr Saab. Cr Oxley and O’Donnell, the mayor and deputy mayor respectively, alleged that Cr…
FRANKSTON Council officers have been briefed by federal government departments about the risk of “intelligence gathering” ahead of a planned visit from an overseas delegation. A delegation from the Wuxi Municipal People’s Government in China is scheduled to visit Frankston later this year. The visit will mark the 15-year anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Wuxi and Frankston. At their most recent public meeting, Frankston councillors approved spending up to $4000 from its sister cities budget on formalities, with most of the money to be spent on a formal reception event at Frankston Arts Centre. The report on the matter…