CONFUSION over local funding for a major redevelopment of the Frankston Basketball & District Association stadium in Seaford led to the project missing out on Commonwealth funding to start work on a $20-$25 million revamp. Frankston mayor Cr Sandra Mayer said council had applied for funding from the federal Coalition government earlier this year as part of the first round of the government’s National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) program. Council sought funding to add to commitments by the state government, council and the Frankston Basketball Association but the application was bounced out due to a lack of overall funding to…
Author: Neil Walker
THE debate around legalising same-sex marriage in Australia gathered pace last week after the United States Supreme Court ruled that nation’s Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. The US is the latest in a series of Western countries – including the UK and Ireland – to legalise marriage for gays and lesbians. Federal politicians are facing increased pressure to follow suit in Australia but the possibility has deeply divided politicians within both the Liberal and Labor parties. It is no different in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula. Flinders MP and Environment Minister Greg Hunt supports a ‘conscience vote’…
HAZARDOUS blue green algae in the Quiet Lakes at Patterson Lakes could become more prevalent if a plan by Melbourne Water to ease back monitoring goes ahead. Kingston Council has asked Environment Minister Lisa Neville to step in and force the state government owned water authority to continue weekly measurements of blue green algae levels in the Quiet Lakes. The land locked Quiet Lakes include Lake Legana, Lake Illawong and Lake Carramar. The lakes are linked to each other and the Patterson River and Kananook Creek by pumps and drains. The defunct Dandenong Valley Authority agreed to maintain the Patterson…
A LOCAL government community satisfaction survey has found most ratepayers believe their council is “doing a good job” but there is still room for improvement. The survey was carried out by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning on behalf of Victorian councils. Kingston Council was one of 69 out of 79 councils across the state participating in the survey. Parks and gardens, recreational and sporting facilities and customer service were listed as “the best features” of councils. More than 28,000 people statewide were polled via telephone calls made in February and March this year. The maintenance of unsealed…
MEMBERS of an Aspendale golf club fear its course could be sold off and carved up for residential development. Rossdale Golf Club general manager Tim Hanton wrote to club members in late June stating the club’s board is unable to declare the club solvent under the terms of the Corporations Act. “Firstly, your club is not bankrupt nor near it. We have far more assets than liabilities,” Mr Hanton said in an email to club members. “However, we have a cash deficiency because our significant asset is the land upon which our golf course is built and we can’t realise…