A WHOPPING $83 million was lost by punters on pokies in Kingston over 12 months according to figures released last month by Victoria’s gambling regulator. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation data shows losses reached $83,016,928 for the 2016-17 financial year to the end of June. The total was lost on 898 electronic gaming machines at 16 venues throughout the municipality. Alliance for Gambling Reform director Tim Costello said pokies losses of $2.61 billion across the state showed it is time for politicians to step up and stem the flow of money being “drained” from communities. “This time last…
Author: Neil Walker
A DECISION to push ahead with a residential subdivision in part of Langwarrin’s Cruden Farm has been delayed until later in the year. A planning application due to be discussed by Frankston councillors at August’s public council meeting on Monday 14 August was withdrawn by the trustees of the former homestead of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch. Frankston Council was set to deliberate on the contentious proposal to rezone parcels of land within the 54-hectare estate for residential development. State Labor Planning Minister Richard Wynne would have to agree to move the Urban Growth Boundary to accommodate the building of more than…
A PLAN to pump $50 million into Carrum as part of the separation of road and rail at Station St on the Frankston line was announced by the state government at the weekend. Premier Daniel Andrews visited Carrum on Sunday to unveil designs for a promenade to be built under elevated rail between McLeod Rd and Eel Race Rd alongside new “parkland and picnic places”. Five properties along the Nepean Highway will be compulsorily acquired by the Labor state government to build the promenade from the highway to the beach near a new train station at Carrum. “We’re getting on…
A CARRUM Downs brewery is now firmly on the map for drinkers seeking a top drop. The Dainton Family Brewery’s Cherrywood Smoked Baltic Porter was named Champion Australian Craft Beer at last week’s Craft Beer Awards held in Adelaide. The Cherrywood Smoked Baltic Porter saw off competition from more than 680 beers from 118 breweries to take top honours after also winning its Champion Porter/Stout category on the night. Co-founder and brewer Dan Dainton said the judges said it was simply “the best beer they tasted”. “It has a unique style. We used a lot of really good ingredients and…
A LONG-AWAITED audit of five major construction projects in Frankston may see the light of day if councillors vote this month to publicly release a report by Frankston Council’s internal auditor. Council CEO Dennis Hovenden announced last month that a report by internal auditor Pitcher Partners found “project management processes to be of a satisfactory standard” but the report has been kept in-house at council. Councillors in the previous council voted in June last year to conduct audits on the five projects. Pitcher Partners analysed works carried out on an upgrade to Wells St, the construction of a new war memorial…