CLAIMS of “several instances of incorrect, unverified or potentially damaging information being provided to the media” by Frankston councillors have been unable to be substantiated. The allegation was made in a draft amended media policy tabled at April’s public council meeting ordering all councillors to inform the mayor Sandra Mayer or CEO Dennis Hovenden “of any comments that they have made or are intending to make to the media” (‘Councillors’ free speech threatened’, The Times 18/5/15). Councillors deferred debate on the proposed amended media policy. The CEO and mayor refused to disclose examples of incorrect information or retractions when asked…
Author: Neil Walker
ROSSDALE Golf Club has been given the go ahead to sell off part of its Aspendale golf course for residential development. Kingston councillors at July’s council meeting unanimously voted to back a proposal to subdivide six allotments for development although some had reservations about the plan. The golf club has suffered financial problems in recent years and a previous board had been contemplating selling the full golf course off and relocating to Bangholme. New board members elected last month favour the partial sell-off to save the club and ensure it remains in Aspendale (‘Golf club sets new course’, The News…
THE dream of rural living in Kingston’s Green Wedge is over. A report by consultants Meinhardt delivered to Kingston Council has rejected the idea floated by a narrow majority of councillors. Council asked Meinhardt to investigate the possibility of a Rural Living Zone in areas of the Green Wedge – between Kingston and Heatherton Rd and Centre Dandenong Rd and on the eastern side of Tootal Rd in Dingley Village – but the consultant noted landfill buffer zones made residential development impossible in the near term in the two areas. The Meinhardt report cost ratepayers $87,000 despite Kingston Council having…
FRANKSTON councillors have accused the Andrews government of “hypocrisy” over its plan to cap rate rises at the rate of inflation from 2016-17 onwards. Councillors note charges such as the landfill levy, fire rates levy and a new metropolitan planning levy collected by council on the state government’s behalf will not be capped amid anger that most of the money in levies Frankston Council collects is not returned to the municipality. At last month’s public council meeting councillors noted the landfill levy funds are supposed to be reinvested into “resource recovery” operations but the Labor state government had not contributed…
FRANKSTON line commuters face short-term travel pain for long-term gain with sections of the railway tracks set to be closed for weeks on end while level crossings are removed. Eleven level crossings along the Frankston line are earmarked to have their intersection between road and rail separated to stop traffic delays and allow Metro Trains to eventually run more train services. The Bentleigh, Ormond and McKinnon stations will be demolished and rebuilt from November next year and are expected to reopen in February 2017. Trains will run between Frankston and Moorabbin stations during a planned 34-day line shutdown near the…