FEARS over flora and fauna not being looked after at the Frankston Nature Conservation Reserve were aired at a Frankston Council public meeting on 22 May. Councillors, apart from Cr Steve Toms and the absent on leave Cr Michael O’Reilly, voted to show support and appreciation for a community committee of management and “about 300” volunteers who have spent time on the upkeep of the 98-hectare reserve. The state government decided not to renew the committee’s oversight of the reserve, effectively disbanding the group of volunteers. The committee of management is headed by Frankston councillor Quinn McCormack. Parks Victoria will…
Author: Neil Walker
AN amended communications policy that encourages Frankston Council staff “to create, and maintain, positive working relationships with local media outlets” has been backed by a majority of councillors. The policy, proposed by Cr Kris Bolam, was approved by a 5-3 vote of councillors at council’s 23 May public meeting despite opposition from some councillors and mayor Cr Brian Cunial. Cr Cunial was adamant during the debate about improving relations with the media that he will choose who he speaks to despite being an official spokesperson for council as mayor. “I won’t sit down with Neil Walker, definitely,” Cr Cunial said. The…
A NEW kitchen will rise from the ashes of a fire at Patterson Lakes Community Centre after councillors agreed to fund a commercial-grade kitchen at a cost of about $40,000 including appliances. South ward councillor Tamsin Bearsley raised the proposal for the community centre to be supported during repair works. “I think it’s an opportune time to bring the kitchen up to a commercial standard so it can be hired out to community groups,” she said. Cr Bearsley said the volunteer group at the centre has been “put under an awful lot of stress” due to a loss of income…
COMMUNITY feedback on plans to build the Mentone to Mordialloc section of the Bay Trail will be presented to Kingston councillors in June. Councillors at last week’s May public council meeting voted 5-4 to write to state Roads Minister Luke Donnellan and VicRoads to discuss ways to “finalise plans” to finish the Bay Trail. Councillors are divided on how to build the trail section with five favouring a narrowing of Beach Rd and four preferring the removal of vegetation along the foreshore to construct the shared cycling and walking path. The debate has become increasingly bitter amid councillors noting they…
ONLINE comments criticising councillors have been blasted as “deplorable” by the targets of “demeaning attacks” amid claims of death threats during discussions with members of the public about narrowing Beach Rd to build the Mentone to Mordialloc section of the Bay Trail. Cr Tamara Barth highlighted a post on Facebook at May’s public council meeting last Monday (22 May) that showed a montage of the North ward councillor “scratching my nose” and “looking at my phone” during council meetings. The post showed a montage of selectively-edited screenshots from streamed video footage of Kingston Council meetings. She said she had been…