THE Labor state government’s pre-election pledge to remove eleven Frankston line level crossings will transform many suburbs along the rail line. Many commuters and road users understand the separation of road and rail at crossings will ultimately reduce travel times but the look and feel of the suburbs around train stations will also be changed forever. RMIT University lecturer on urban design Ian Woodcock says suburbs will be radically transformed after grade separations at rail and road intersections are complete. “It leaves a very long legacy… the suburbs are going to look a lot different than what they do now.”…
Author: Neil Walker
THERE is not much Stephen Raff doesn’t know about body corporates. He has accumulated so much knowledge as founder and CEO of Ace Body Corporate Management over its 20-year history, he could write the book on owner corporations. In fact, he has. It’s called The Body Corporate Handbook. Ace Body Corporate Management celebrated its 20th anniversary last week and has grown from its modest beginnings in Mentone with one employee – its founder – to more than 300 employees and franchisees across Australia. The company, now based in Mordialloc, is a behind the scenes Kingston business success story and manages…
A SPECIAL needs school in Aspendale has special needs of its own. Rising enrolments at Yarrabah School, which provides programs and curriculums for children with intellectual and psychical disabilities, is putting pressure on its portable facilities. Principal Matthew Harris said 20 of the school’s 24 buildings are relocatable “temporary” buildings and a plan and funding are needed to provide a permanent school “for our students with disabilities to be provided with the best facilities they deserve”. “The school is growing and as we grow we continue to add relocatable buildings.” “A relocatable master plan has been talked about but that’s…
MORE victims of alleged bullying at Frankston Council have come forward in the wake of last week’s revelation that five cases of bullying at council in the past two years were either fully or partially proven (‘Bullying confirmed’, The Times 1/6/15). The Times has been contacted by insiders who claim the Australian Services Union has “often represented” council employees who have complained about alleged bullying. When asked about the number of incidents involving bullying accusations over the past decade, ASU spokeswoman Priscilla Schwalger said the union will not provide any information about previous cases at council “for confidentiality reasons”. “We…
STARDATE 2015. These are the voyages of the Small Business Minister Bruce Billson. His mission: to explore strange new business tax deductions, to seek out new cost savings and new Liberal Party policies, to boldly go where no man has gone before? If this mission statement sounds a bit “out there” beyond the higher-profile stars of the Abbott cabinet, then allow The Times to explain. The federal MP for Dunkley has been out and about spruiking the Abbott government’s second budget and its focus on small business has seen Mr Billson elevated to the command deck of government. The irrepressible…