VOLUNTEER lifesavers are back out on patrol across bayside beaches for the summer months. Life Saving Victoria is expecting “another busy summer” with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting soaring temperatures even warmer than average across the state this summer. “We urge all beachgoers to assist our lifesavers by swimming between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches. If our lifesavers can’t see you, they can’t save you,’’ LSV operations manager Greg Scott said. “It’s so important that people realise just how dangerous beaches can be – even when the weather is nice.” The first lifeguard patrols for the summer…
Author: Neil Walker
THE BILL for fixing underground pipes to reopen the main swimming pools at the Peninsula Aquatic and Recreation Centre in time for the busy summer months could creep close to the $1 million mark. The PARC’s main 50-metre pool, aquatic playground and a learn-to-swim pool have been closed to swimmers since a plumbing fault on 12 October. Rust has infested pipe brackets and pipes three years after the $49.7 million leisure centre first opened its doors. Leisure centre management initially hoped to have the PARC pools open again by the end of October but “mid-December” is now a possibility according…
AN AMBITIOUS vision of the future of health and education in the Frankston region has been unveiled under a plan to base a health and education hub at a rebuilt Frankston Hospital in partnership with Monash University. Peninsula Health announced at its annual general meeting last Wednesday (29 November) plans for a $250 million rebuild of Frankston Hospital to include 115 more beds by mid-2021 and a $15 million clinical research and education centre at the new hospital. Monash University will commit up to $50 million to the hospital rebuild in a partnership estimated to bring 1000 jobs to Frankston…
A NEW train station on the Frankston line is open for business, commuters and shoppers. Southland Station, located between Cheltenham and Highett stations, near Southland Shopping Centre will see trains running through its new precinct every ten minutes when Metro Trains services are running on time. The state government said 600 tonnes of earth were moved and more than 60,000 hours worked to build the new Southland Station. It is estimated that 4400 passengers a day will use the new stop on the Frankston line. Commuters previously had to catch a bus or walk from Highett and Cheltenham stations to…
COUNCILLORS have rolled the development dice in an effort to ensure a “substantial” food and drinks service is offered at the Mentone Hotel after any conversion to apartments. A 5-4 majority of councillors at a public planning meeting last Wednesday evening (22 November) voted to reject a “compromise” proposal by Central ward councillor Geoff Gledhill that would have seen the developer agree to install a 250 square metre “licensed facility” in the ground floor of the hotel building. The planning application will now likely head to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) with council set to hire a special…