CRIME across Kingston has surged 6.6 per cent in the past 12 months fuelled by a sharp spike in drug offences and stalking threats. Figures for the 12 months to June this year released by the newly formed Crime Statistics Agency reveal overall crime in Kingston has risen from 9645 in 2013-14 to 10,281 in 2014-15, the highest number of reported offences in five years. Drug offences rose from 710 in 2013-14 to 935 in 2014-15 led by a 144 increase in drug use and possession offences. Drug dealing and trafficking offences were up from 74 to 103 for the…
Author: Neil Walker
FUNDING for a planned expansion of the Frankston Indoor Basketball Stadium in Seaford is still no slam dunk and the Frankston Basketball Association is ramping up its campaign to lobby for federal government funding for the $20-$25 million project. Basketballers hit the streets of Frankston last Thursday and Friday for a final push to collect as many signatures as possible for a petition to be lodged with the federal Liberal National Coalition government. Basketball Association president Nathan Jolly said he hoped to break the 10,000 signatures mark to give Frankston the best shot of $13 million worth of funding to…
THE Labor state government has trumpeted $5 million in funding for three new health hubs in “Melbourne’s growth areas” including Frankston but has refused to reveal where the three hubs will be based. A government announcement last week spruiked a plan to build three new health hubs but questions about how much of the $5 million would flow to Frankston went unanswered. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke said “we’re not providing individual figures” and admitted “the other two [health hubs] are yet to be announced”. The funding amount, when it is finally confirmed, will be used “for planning and options”…
SPRING has sprung and so have magpies who swoop cyclists, joggers and walkers at this time of year in the mistaken belief people pose a danger to their newly born nesting offspring. Most magpie attacks are harmless apart from the shock some may feel when being swooped by the overly protective birds but some attacks cause serious injuries, especially to young children who are a vulnerable target of magpies’ ire. Those seeking to avoid any confrontation with magpies can now consult a website called Magpie Alert to see whether there have been any avian attacks in their neighbourhood. Sydney-based web…
KINGSTON councillors have promised to work with the Chelsea Heights Kindergarten to try to ensure the kinder’s long-term viability for future generations. A funding swap with Chelsea Kindergarten threatened to leave the Chelsea Heights with less money than needed to renovate its existing Third Ave site to include a second room to meet imminent state mandated child to carer ratios requirements (‘Cash swap not child’s play’, The News 2/9/15). Councillors at Monday evening’s public council meeting unanimously agreed to defer a decision on any council funding so detailed plans can be mapped out to both the kinder committee and council’s…