KINGSTON councillors formally passed council’s 2015-16 budget last Tuesday (9 June). Ratepayers will face a 4.25 per cent rate rise as foreshadowed in the draft budget released for community feedback last month (‘Rates up by 4.25%’, The News 6/5/15). Councillors unanimously voted to pass the budget which included $52 million worth of capital works for community projects such as the Westall Community Hub ($4.3 million), a new Mordialloc Life Saving Club facility ($3.2 million) and works to progress the Chain of Parks plan in Kingston’s Green Wedge. “Council has worked hard to find savings right across our operations so that…
Author: Neil Walker
THE door is still open for parts of Kingston’s Green Wedge to be used as a waste hub for Melbourne after the state government released a statewide waste infrastructure plan late last week. One of the stated aims of the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan is the “protection of Green Wedge land” but lists the Clayton-Dingley precinct as one of several “existing hubs important to the state system”. Kingston Council has made it clear that it does not want waste transfer or materials recycling plants housed on Green Wedge land. Labor Planning Minister Richard Wynne has extended temporary…
A MAJOR redevelopment of the Frankston Basketball Association stadium in Seaford is being used as a political football with claims and counter claims between the major political parties about funding the $20-$25 million project. The former Coalition state government went to November’s election promising to pitch in $2.5 million towards the $13 million stage one redevelopment of the stadium but federal Liberal MP for Dunkley Bruce Billson has tried to get Labor to commit $4 million, $1.5 million more than the Liberals officially pledged. In a statement Mr Billson accused the Labor state government of failing to confirm funding needed…
WHEN her son Archie’s under 9s football team lost its coach Nic Hough had a big decision to make. The personal fitness coach pitched in to exercise her training expertise and become the first woman to coach a team at Frankston Dolphins Junior Football Club. The under 9s team’s former coach moved up an age division with his sons and when no other coaching candidates came forward Hough decided to act. “I put my hand up … they didn’t have anyone else and they need a coach.” Coaching a kids’ basketball team and helping clients keep fit at her Nic…
THE shape and height of things to come in the centre of Frankston was hotly debated at last month’s council meeting. Councillors voted to adopt the Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre Structure Plan but some had misgivings about the scale of development, particularly with regards to high-rise buildings, which could follow in its wake. The plan is a guide to future development and the use of public space in central Frankston including the Waterfront, Kananook Creek, Beauty Park, Monash University, Chisholm TAFE, Frankston Hospital, Bayside Shopping Centre, inner city Frankston homes, Ebdale Hub and the Carrum Downs industrial estate. Council has…