BUREAUCRATIC red tape is delaying much-needed funding to occasional child care centres amid federal and state wrangling over who should distribute $12.6 million worth of monies to those who need it most. In May, the federal Coalition government reinstated funding cut by the previous Labor government in 2011, but the money has yet to flow through to child care centres with the new financial year and deadlines for bills to be paid looming. Chelsea Occasional Child Care Centre volunteer president Vicky Weatherlake said their centre had to pay their annual insurance fee on 1 July and this would cost about…
Author: Neil Walker
CONSULTATION over new residential zones to be applied in Kingston has been labelled “a debacle” with uncertainty surrounding how much of the municipality will be opened up to further residential development. Uncertainty surrounds Kingston Council’s submission that sought to have more than 75 per cent of the region included in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone under the state government’s Plan Melbourne proposals. Neighbourhood Residential Zones “protect and maintain liveability and neighbourhood character”, according to the state government. Planning Minister Matthew Guy issued a statement last week to confirm 39 of Victoria’s municipalities would have “clearer residential zones” implemented with a further…
VILLAGE committee presidents have failed to convince some councillors to reverse their decision to suspend the community consultation forums while their future is determined. Several presidents made their views publicly known – possibly for the final time at a council meeting – on Monday evening in an effort to find compromise. Aspendale/Edithvale/Aspendale Gardens/Waterways Village Committee president Henry Corcoran said many in the community were “shocked” councillors had decided to “disband” the committees (‘Village committees canned’, The News, 28/5/14). “I was taken aback by some of the comments made from some of the councillors which were probably just short of offensive…
HEARD the one about the MP who crossed the Premier then appeared at “a comedy show”? It was no laughing matter for Premier Denis Napthine who – ironically – called Geoff Shaw’s apology to Victorians and its parliament offered at the show “a joke” after the Frankston MP took to the stage in Melbourne last weekend. Mr Shaw was suspended from parliament for 11 days for “misusing” parliamentary entitlements and one of his first engagements after his suspension was an appearance at The Wheeler Centre for a ‘question and answer’ session with comedian Sammy J on Friday 13 June. Sanctions…
THE sound of a lone bugle interrupted the start of last week’s Frankston Council meeting amid a protest over delays to the relocation of the city’s war memorial. Protesters in the public gallery were unhappy the topic of the war memorial was removed from the June council meeting agenda and had gathered to make their feelings known to the assembled councillors. Frankston City Band bugler Neville Lloyd stood up in the public viewing area and played The Last Post as councillors stood up to recite The Lord’s Prayer. Several band members sat with Mr Lloyd in the public gallery. Band…