ELEVATED rail along the Frankston line is shaping up as a political minefield for the Labor state government early in its first term in power. Community groups are marshalling opposition to any suggestion so-called sky rail could be built along the Frankston line, as part of the Andrews government’s commitment to removing level crossings, in the wake of the decision to install elevated rail along sections of the Cranbourne-Pakenham railway line. More than 150 people packed into a meeting at Edithvale Life Saving Club on Sunday (28 February) organised by the ‘No Sky Rail: Frankston Line’ group to voice community…
Author: Neil Walker
EDITHVALE Life Saving Club has scored another first in its mission to integrate refugees and new arrivals into Australian life. The club has welcomed the first female Afghan lifesaver in Victoria to its volunteer ranks. Elaha Naziri, 16, passed a training course in January to become a qualified lifesaver at Edithvale and has already been out on patrol. Imtiyaz ‘Minty’ Saberi was the first Afghanistan-born male lifesaver to earn his lifesaving stripes in 2013 and Elaha’s achievement has put Edithvale Life Saving Club at the forefront of Life Saving Victoria’s multicultural water safety and settlement project. “We had Minty who…
FUNDING for an enclosed structure to house the sand sculptures exhibition at Frankston’s waterfront all year round has faced criticism as “a waste of money”. Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson last week announced a $750,000 federal government grant towards building a weatherproof structure to house the sand sculpting exhibition hosted by Sandstorm Events (‘Sand sculptures exhibition cash boost’, The Times 22/2/16). Many readers took to Facebook to say they believed the money could be better spent housing the homeless, helping the aged or improving hospital services in Frankston. Frankston Council confirmed it had been notified of the grant before its…
A WAR of words about money has broken out between the federal and state government over funding for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula health services. State Labor Health Minister Jill Hennessy has accused the federal government of a “sneaky counting trick” that will cut $3.29 million from Peninsula Health’s annual budget. “These cuts are a direct attack on Peninsula Health, and will see patients waiting longer for surgeries and treatment,” Ms Hennessy said. “This is not good enough, and peninsula patients deserve better.” The state government says the Liberal federal government has back-flipped on National Health Funding Pool arrangements agreed with…
AN airport at Hastings is an idea being flown by Frankston Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire appears to be onboard. The high-flying concept was first floated at a Frankston Council public meeting early this month. Councillors unanimously voted to write to Premier Daniel Andrews and the South East Metropolitan Group of Councils “to determine the viability of the Port of Hastings site as a location for the South Eastern Airport as identified in Plan Melbourne”. “We have received support for this proposal from the members of the South East Melbourne Group of Councils,” Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley said last…