THE Andrews government dubbed its first state budget announced earlier this month “the Education state” budget since $4 billion will be invested in Victoria’s education and skills sector. Frankston snared its share of funding with Frankston North’s Monterey Secondary College a big winner from the budget. Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke and Education Minister James Merlino visited the school to officially confirm $4 million in funding to modernise Monterey Secondary’s school buildings. Frankston Primary School also received $800,000 to replace ageing classrooms. “As a former teacher, I admire the passion teachers at Monterey Secondary College and Frankston Primary School give…
Author: Neil Walker
THE first level crossings to be removed along the Frankston line have been named by the Labor state government but Frankston itself has missed out. Contracts were awarded on Tuesday to remove crossings at Centre Rd in Bentleigh, McKinnon Rd in McKinnon and North Rd in Ormond as part of Premier Daniel Andrews’ pre-election pledge to remove 50 of Melbourne’s most congested level crossings across the rail network. John Holland and the KBR consortium will remove the three crossings. Labor promised to separate 20 road and rail intersections during its first four-year term in government. Mr Andrews said in a…
THE highest paid employee at Frankston Council will likely stay in the job after councillors decided to hand CEO Dennis Hovenden a new four-year contract after his current deal expires on 28 October. Councillors voted behind closed doors – as is customary when discussing a CEO contract – after March’s council meeting to extend Mr Hovenden’s stay as council chief without seeking external applicants. Notice of council’s intention to reappoint Mr Hovenden as CEO will be advertised publicly before it is officially confirmed. Mr Hovenden joined Frankston Council from Swan Hill Rural City Council in September 2012. The CEO received…
A PLEA by Kingston Council for Planning Minister Richard Wynne to “call in” a controversial bid to extend a licence for a concrete crushing plant in Kingston’s Green Wedge has gone unanswered as yet. Councillors unanimously opposed an attempt late last year by the Alex Fraser Group to extend a permit for its concrete crushing operations in Clarinda until 2038 (‘Concrete path blocked’, The News 24/12/14). The existing permit is due to end in 2023 and was granted against council’s wishes in 2008 by a previous Labor government. Neighbouring Clarinda residents were furious at the decision. A spokeswoman for the…
THE first level crossings to be removed along the Frankston line have been named by the Labor state government. Contracts were awarded on Tuesday to remove crossings at Centre Rd in Bentleigh, McKinnon Rd in McKinnon and North Rd in Ormond as part of Premier Daniel Andrews’ pre-election pledge to remove 50 of Melbourne’s most congested level crossings across the rail network. John Holland and the KBR consortium will remove the three crossings. Labor promised to separate 20 road and rail intersections during its first four-year term in government. Mr Andrews said in a statement that works to remove level…