Author: Neil Walker

UPDATE 24/6/15: Lorraine Wreford subsequently issued the following statement on 31 May 2015 via her Facebook page. Read more here. “Some remarks attributed to me publicly have been taken as reflecting adversely on David Eden. I want to make it clear that I had no intention of reflecting adversely on the integrity of David Eden and I know of no basis for any such reflection. I am glad to say that Cr Eden enjoys a fine reputation and represents his community in a fine manner and I apologise if ever I said anything that suggests to the contrary.” VICTORIA’S Parliamentary…

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UNIONS will urge Frankston and Carrum voters to “put Napthine last” at next month’s state election as part of a campaign to “knock off” the Coalition state government. Union members will be stationed at polling booths in the two marginal electorates on 29 November alongside political party volunteers who traditionally hand out ‘how to vote’ leaflets. Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari said nurses, paramedics, teachers and firefighters would ask voters to vote put the Napthine government last on their ballot papers as some voters made a final decision on how to vote. He said union members would not be…

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THERE are signs the heat is rising in the battle to win the seat of Frankston at next month’s state election. Firefighters were called out last week to extinguish a fire that destroyed a billboard promoting Liberal candidate Sean Armistead’s campaign to win votes. Frankston CFA firefighter Doug Broom said his crew responded to a call about the burning sign at Beach St at about 9.25pm on Friday 10 October. The flames were quickly extinguished but an anonymous Twitter troll tried to use the incident to provoke a blazing row with Mr Armistead. The Twitter user publicly sent Mr Armstead…

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A CONTROVERSIAL plan to subdivide a parcel of land in Kingston’s green wedge has been approved by a majority of Kingston councillors against the advice of council officers. Council gave the go ahead to the subdivision of land at 2 Leslie Rd in Clarinda into five lots of 907 square metres despite Kingston’s Green Wedge Plan stating the area is “where reserves and public open space are encouraged to be located”. The plan, adopted in 2012, recommends the land be rezoned to green wedge A zone, where the minimum lot size is 40 hectares. The applicant argued council had effectively…

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FEARS Kingston could be opened up to overdevelopment appear to have eased with council set to retain its oversight of planning applications. The News can reveal Planning Minister Matthew Guy has accepted an independent advisory committee’s advice on Kingston Council’s new residential zones submission to the state government as part of its Plan Melbourne proposals. “Kingston is now empowered for the next steps in implementing the reformed residential zones,” he said. Kingston Council had requested more than 75 per cent of the region be included in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone which “protect and maintain liveability and neighbourhood character”. Single and…

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