Author: Neil Walker

THE Andrews government has been accused of putting public safety at risk during the upcoming trial of all-night public transports on weekends. Earlier this month the Labor state government announced a one-year trial of 24-hour Friday and Saturday train services, called “Homesafe”, across the state including the Frankston line. Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy visited Seaford train station on Monday (24 August) and slammed the government for failing to budget for protective services officers at all stations all night. “That leaves quite a number of stations like Seaford exposed to no security after 11pm,” Mr Guy said. PSOs will be…

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AN independent check of the Kingston portion of the Bay Trail being built from Charman Rd to Mentone Lifesaving Club has found the pathway’s width conforms with approved plans. There had been concerns that an excessive amount of vegetation had been uprooted from the foreshore at Plummer Rd where a new parking lane is being installed (‘Trail works fail to measure up’, The News 29/7/15). Kingston mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said an independent check by Complete Surveying has confirmed contractors hired to build the Bay Trail shared bike and pedestrian pathway had followed “the correct procedure” and built a three-metre…

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A BID to subdivide Green Wedge land at Kingston Rd, Heatherton for “horse agistment” has failed to get over the line after the landowner withdrew from a tribunal hearing. The Defenders of the South East Green Wedge had been set to appeal a controversial decision by a narrow majority of Kingston councillors to approve a ten lots subdivision of land at 217-227 Kingston Rd (‘‘Horsing around’ with Green Wedge’, The News 4/3/15). VCAT set aside council’s approval last Friday (21 August) after applicant Kingston Heights Pty Ltd decided to drop out of the tribunal hearing. Defenders secretary Barry Ross said…

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WHEN Jackson Hillier heard a young girl was in strife in the waters off Frankston beach he did not hesitate. The teenager plunged into the sea and began a rescue effort that saved a 17-year-old girl’s life. The 16-year-old Bonbeach resident was at Frankston beach with a friend on 8 February last year when it suddenly became clear a girl was in danger of drowning. His actions in mounting a rescue effort will see the teen receive an Australia Bravery Award approved by the Governor-General. Senior Constable Cameron Wallace and another beachgoer, Aleziah Spiers from South Australia, will also receive…

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A HIGH-PROFILE federal government appointee with family links to the Mornington Peninsula is set to address a Liberal Party event in Mt Martha early next month. Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, who makes regular media appearances on shows such as the ABC’s Q&A and Channel Ten’s The Project, will be guest speaker at the Briars Historic Homestead in Mt Martha and it is a homecoming of sorts for the man dubbed the “Freedom Commissioner” by federal Attorney-General George Brandis. Mr Wilson lived in Mt Martha before heading for the bright lights of Melbourne and is a former student of…

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