FORMER state MPs in Kingston who lost their seats at last November’s state election have complained about “bullying, intimidation and dishonest tactics” at polling booths. Donna Bauer and Lorraine Wreford, Liberal MPs who held the seats of Carrum and Mordialloc respectively, have made submissions to a parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing electoral guidelines. Ms Bauer’s submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters claimed union campaigners used her ill health at the time of the election against her. “The union campaign in Carrum also engaged in deliberate tactics designed to intimidate me personally,” Ms Bauer’s submission stated. “Disappointingly, Union…
Author: Neil Walker
GOLF clubs are struggling to attract new members across Victoria putting the future of many clubs in doubt. Kingston is no different with recent moves to sell off some golf courses for potential residential development focusing council minds on how to help clubs remain viable. Kingswood Golf Club members controversially voted last year to merge with the Peninsula Country Golf Club and its Dingley Village course was sold to property fund manager ISPT. ISPT plans to turn the course into a residential housing estate. Kingston Council hosted a ‘Kingston Golf Forum: The Business of Golf in the 21st Century’ event…
THE future of the Chelsea Heights Kindergarten is uncertain amid a funding shortfall that families hope Kingston Council can resolve. The discovery of culturally sensitive indigenous artefacts earlier this year at Department of Education land opposite the Chelsea Heights shopping strip at Thames Promenade nixed plans to relocate the kindergarten from its existing Third Ave site. The kinder now needs to be redeveloped with a second room crucial for its long-term viability. The state government has pledged to pitch in $450,000 for redevelopment works but The News understands council officers have indicated council was willing to contribute about $60,000 towards…
THE champagne has well and truly been put on ice at the site of the former Ambassador Hotel. Developer Joanna Kordos previously said she planned to celebrate with “a champagne breakfast” when the 40-year-old building was demolished to make may for “luxury” apartments (‘Wreckers lined up for Ambassador’, The Times 18/5/15) but the site has now been put up for sale as part of a mortgagee auction according to a real estate agent. The bubbly now seems to have gone flat and Ms Kordos did not return calls from The Times last week. The latest twist is a blow to…
THE plan to revitalise the Frankston train station precinct will include a demolition and rebuild of the station itself and the long-awaited electrification of the Baxter train line. The Frankston Station Precinct Taskforce recommendations on the way forward for the $63 million transport hub project were released last Wednesday (26 August). Labor Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan will now consider the master plan, put together after community consultation, with improvements to Young St set to begin before mid-2016. Ways to break up a “cluster” of pharmacotherapy distribution outlets near the train station will be considered and a “new public plaza”…