A NEW website tracking the performance of councils across Victoria has been launched by the state government. Performance indicators in 66 categories are listed on the Know Your Council site, including rates cost, missed rubbish bin collections and customer service satisfaction levels. Kingston Council has been given an above average rating across most categories and outscores similar councils for customer service, governance and waste collection. Areas for improvement include compliance with home and community care standards. Kingston was rated at 61 per cent against an 88.45 per cent grading for similar councils. In response, council stated on the site: “[An]…
Author: Neil Walker
AN unexpected visitor dropped in to central Frankston last week. A koala was removed from a garden in Jolly St on Wednesday (2 December) after Animalia Wildlife Shelter rescuers were called out by a homeowner concerned for the animal’s welfare. The female koala, named Jolly by shelter staff after the street she was found in, is now safely booked in for a short-term stay at Animalia’s shelter at Kenilworth Ave. Wildlife shelter president Michelle Thomas says koalas are increasingly wandering into suburban streets in Frankston and need to be protected. “We’ve always had koalas in Frankston. I’ve been rescuing for…
TWO men who helped save the life of a man who collapsed after a sudden heart attack at Carrum train station have received community hero awards from Ambulance Victoria. Peter Langley-Bates, from Patterson Lakes, and Anthony Kennedy, from Frankston, immediately came to Crayton King’s aid on 27 March this year when Mr King suffered a cardiac arrest with no prior warning. Both men took turns performing CPR on Mr King until paramedics arrived. Mr Langley-Bates, a train station attendant at the time, said he called 000 before directing train passengers away from the area where Mr King was receiving help and…
BEACHGOERS and boaters are being warned to take care around water in the summer months ahead. The 2014-15 Drowning Report was released last week by the state government and while there were no fatalities in Kingston the report highlighted some disturbing trends. Overall the number of drowning deaths fell to 39 compared to 47 in 2013-14 and 35 men died with alcohol and risky behaviour contributing factors in several deaths. Nine deaths were boating related drownings. Most drownings occurred off coastal areas (49 per cent) compared to inland waterways (31 per cent). Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said “the loss…
THE Frankston Motorcycle Park is open to motocross riders again. The gates were opened up again for access to the tracks this month. Frankston Council, the Frankston City Motorcycle Park Club and Motorcycling Victoria agreed that MV should oversee the park’s operations for an 11-month trial period, starting this month, after the death of 25-year-old Danny Edlington in a collision on the main track in April. The motorcycle park was shut down by council, as landlord of the premises, for several months until agreement on the future running of the facility could be reached. Motorcycling Victoria CEO Wayne Holdsworth said…