FRANKSTON became the focal point of state politics last Thursday morning when ABC radio presenter Jon Faine broadcast his Mornings show live from the Farmers Market in Wells St. Faine was in Frankston to interview the major parties’ candidates about their vision for the city’s future as the marginal seat shapes up as a major battleground between the Liberal Party and Labor in the lead up to this month’s state election. Frankston is regarded as a bellwether seat since the party which has won the seat at state elections since its formation in 1967 has won government. Unsurprisingly, as has…
Author: Neil Walker
PREMIER Denis Napthine visited a Carrum Downs family last week with a media pack on his campaign trail as he announced a commitment to spend up big on an overhaul of Thompsons Rd if his Coalition government is re-elected on 29 November. The Premier said a re-elected Coalition government will spend $310 million to improve Thompsons Rd, including two grade separations and lane duplications. The revamped Thompsons Rd will be six lanes wide between the Western Port Highway and South Gippsland Highway and between McCormicks and Dandenong-Frankston roads. It will be four lanes between McCormicks Rd and Western Port Highway.…
ENVIRONMENTAL activists are targeting Frankston voters to make action on climate change a high-profile political point in the lead up to the state election. Environment Victoria and online activist group GetUp! have joined forces to spread the word about environmental issues in the marginal bayside seats of Frankston, Carrum and Mordialloc. The organisations are pooling resources at the Enviro Hub at Wells St in Frankston and hitting the phones, streets and doors in the marginal electorates to try to convince voters to “send a strong message to our politicians” to “pledge to vote for your environment and your future”. Environment…
POLITICIANS are sometimes accused of taking a free ride at taxpayers’ expense but a new initiative could see Victorian seniors enjoy free public transport. Frankston MP Geoff Shaw, no stranger to the pain transport costs can inflict after being sanctioned by the Parliamentary Privileges Committee over the improper personal use of a parliamentary vehicle, will introduce a private members bill if he is re-elected that would see seniors travel for free on trains, buses and trams. “For those seniors on pensions, travel can absorb a significant part of their income on a weekly basis and this can cause many to…
THE completion of the Kingston portion of the Bay Trail has been delayed again due to an appeal to VCAT. The Kingston Residents Association lodged a “last minute” appeal to the administrative tribunal after councillors voted in August to grant a permit to remove vegetation to build a 1 kilometre section of the Bay Trail between Charman Rd and Mentone Life Saving Club. Councillors have been split on how much tea tree and scrub should be pulled out to pave the way for the shared bike and pedestrian trail. Cr Ron Brownlees said the KRA’s “last minute” intervention was “a…