PREMIER Daniel Andrews visited Frankston last Thursday to confirm his newly elected Labor state government will redevelop Frankston train station and its surrounds in its first term. Before November’s state election, Mr Andrews had promised to assemble a taskforce to seek community feedback and identify priorities for a $50 million overhaul of the train station (‘Fast track for station upgrade’, The Times 17/11/14). The Premier announced last week that the taskforce will be headed by Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke and will include Frankston mayor Cr Sandra Mayer, Chisholm TAFE CEO Maria Peters and representatives from Victoria Police, the Frankston…
Author: Neil Walker
FRANKSTON Council is set on a collision course with the state government over Labor’s plan to cap council rates rises. Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins has written to Victorian councils, including Frankston, to warn against “jacking up” rates in 2014-15 before Labor legislates to limit rates rises at the consumer price index rate (‘Councils rates warning’, The Times 19/1/15). Frankston Mayor, Cr Sandra Mayer, has hit out at the state government plans to “potentially penalise” any council that increases its rates over the next 12 months. Cr Mayer said council was able to work “within financial constraints to provide essential…
METRO Trains has denied trains skipping stations on the Frankston line is a regular occurrence. Melbourne’s rail operator was criticised last week after it was revealed an average of 15 trains skipped scheduled stops at stations in an apparent effort to meet punctuality quotas. A Metro spokeswoman said there were 19,127 scheduled train services on the Frankston line from October to December and just 60 were “altered to run express”. “Altering a service to run express is only used to assist when recovering from a major disruption, or to avoid a knock-on effect that will ultimately lead to a major…
CONTROVERSIAL ride-sharing business Uber launched its uberX service across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula late last month despite operating illegally in Victoria. Uber’s online system allows travellers to request a car ride via its mobile phone app to any destination covered by the company’s business. The US based firm, estimated to be worth at least $40 billion by market analysts, recruits drivers who use their own vehicles to ferry passengers. Payment for a trip is made online meaning no cash changes hands. Uber takes a commission on all journeys and pays the remainder of the fare to its drivers. Uber’s…
COUNCILS across Victoria have been warned not to gouge ratepayers next financial year ahead of a state government edict aimed at capping rates rises at the consumer price index rate. Premier Daniel Andrews made a pre-election pledge that councils would be forced to cap their rates at CPI to ensure “a fair go for ratepayers”. Now Labor has won government, it has emerged its policy will not kick in until the 2016-17 financial year, potentially leaving the door open for some councils to ramp up rate rises in 2015-16 to offset the future limitations. Any council wishing to raise rates…