PUBLIC Transport Minister Jacinta Allan visited Kingston Council last week to discuss community concerns over the possibility of sky rail along the Frankston line. The Minister’s visit last Thursday (21 April) came after councillors voiced concerns about the state government-led community consultation process underway (‘Council along for sky rail ride … for now’, The News 13/4/15). Community groups fear elevated rail could be built along sections of the Frankston line as part of the Labor state government’s pledge to separate road from rail at level crossing sites. Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson, who attended the meeting, asked Ms Allan to…
Author: Neil Walker
A FORMER mayor of Mordialloc and prominent Kingston resident Hazel Pierce has died, aged 93. Mrs Pierce was mayor twice – from 1983 to 1984 and 1992 to 1993 – before the City of Mordialloc was abolished and merged into the City of Kingston in 1994. She passed away on 15 April. Mrs Pierce was the president of the Mordialloc Life Saving Club for more than 30 years. Her funeral will take place at the club on Thursday 28 April, 1pm. Club president Grant Rattenbury said Mrs Pierce was “inspirational”. Hazel Pierce Reserve in Mordialloc is named in her honour…
A NEW Climate Science Centre in Hobart announced by the CSIRO this week has put the future of the science body’s Aspendale laboratories in doubt amid accusations the decision to favour Tasmania over Victoria is “a political fix to protect marginal seats”. Liberal Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Christopher Pyne welcomed the CSIRO’s “decision and announcement” on Tuesday to base a Climate Science Centre in Tasmania. “As the CEO of CSIRO Dr Larry Marshall has said, it is critical that the CSIRO continue to work in this space, and this announcement today fulfils that commitment,” Mr Pyne said in a…
A NEW recipe with a pinch of positivity is cooking in Frankston North thanks to a healthy eating program aimed at encouraging women to consider healthier eating habits for themselves and their families. The Healthy Pears program, run by Jesuit Social Services in partnership with the Department of Justice and Regulation, was established late last year at Frankston North Community Centre so women on community correction orders can learn about the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables in a healthy daily diet. A community correction orders is a flexible sentencing order that can be imposed by courts instead of or…
FEES paid to external consultants by Frankston Council have soared by $500,000 per year without explanation. Former Frankston councillor and mayor Kris Bolam says he is concerned about “wasteful spending” on external consultants at the same time as overall staff pay and costs have risen by $1.5 million per year since council’s 2014 budget. Mr Bolam, mayor in 2011, obtained the information about rising consultancy fees under freedom of information laws. The former councillor said council “is treating the public purse like monopoly money” despite crying poor over state government rate capping. “There is a staff knowledge deficit within the…