Author: Keith Platt

THE state and federal Liberals’ pledge to spend $450 million electrifying the Frankston line to Baxter may come at the cost of green wedge land in Baxter. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and state opposition leader Matthew Guy visited Baxter station on 17 July to announce the Liberals, if elected at state and federal level at upcoming elections, will begin the project next year. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in May announced it wanted the line electrified beyond Baxter to Hastings. The shire said Baxter — which lies within its municipal boundary – would be an unsuitable terminus for the electric train…

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CHANGING schools can have a detrimental effect on a student’s mental health and academic performance. Exploring the effects of “school transition on student wellbeing” formed the basis of a talk given by Toorak College, Mt Eliza principal, Kristy Kendall, to 750 educators from 22 countries in the United States. Mrs Kendall said it had been an honour to be one of the few Australians invited to speak at the Global Forum on Girls’ Education in Washington DC. “I passionately believe in girls’ education and the power of building resilience, self-esteem and self-confidence in the next generation of leaders,” Mrs Kendall…

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A RALLY to “save Western Port from two threats” is being held next month at Hastings. Rally organisers say the threats come from power company AGL’s plan to moor a 300 metre long floating gas terminal at Crib Point and the building of a pilot hydrogen gas to liquid plant at Hastings. While AGL plans to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be sold into the Victorian mark after being turned back into gas, a consortium led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries wants to ship liquid hydrogen to Japan. Under the $496 million project – subsidised with $50m each from the…

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ADVERTISEMENTS will soon be running for Mornington Peninsula Shire’s top job – chief executive officer. Held by Carl Cowie for the past four years, the CEO’s job comes with a package of nearly $400,000. The shire – with the help of consultant Topsy Petchey, a former Kingston councillor and mayor – will now select a recruitment firm to identify suitable candidates. Mr Cowie was appointed in 2014 and councillors last week decided to advertise the job, giving him the required six months’ notice of their intentions to not automatically reappoint him. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne issued a statement saying…

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POWER company AGL sees two agreements signed on Tuesday 12 June as “advancing” its plans to moor a floating gas terminal at Crib Point. The company said one of the agreements “enables berth upgrades at the Port of Hastings as well as a leasing agreement that would be required, should the AGL project go ahead”. The other agreement involves building a gas pipeline from Crib Point to Pakenham. The project for the 300 metre long floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) has yet to receive government approvals and the go ahead from the AGL board. Announcement on Tuesday of the…

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