NEWS DESK
Basketball stadium finally funded Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au THE first stage of a long-awaited redevelopment of the Frankston Regional Basketball Centre can finally go ahead after the federal government confirmed a $4.95 million contribution to the project. Frankston Council has praised Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson for his help to secure the funding after an initial application for the funds was knocked back over doubts there would be enough overall funding for the stadium redevelopment to be completed once begun (‘Stadium upgrade thrown into doubt’, The Times 6/7/15). Council will contribute $4 million to the stadium upgrade, the state govern-
ment $2.5 million and the basketball association will put $1 million towards redevelopment the Seaford facilities to include four additional courts taking the total to ten and upgrades to spectator seating, car parking, change rooms and public toilets. Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley said Mr Billson had been instrumental in securing the $4.95 million grant from the federal government’s National Stronger Regional Fund at the second attempt. “This is an outstanding result that has been driven by the tireless work of the Federal Member for Dunkley, Bruce Billson. Mr Billson has not only offered advice to Council about the Australian Government National Stronger Regional Fund’s criteria, he suggested an appro-
priate amount to apply for and lobbied hard for our city to secure this commitment,” Cr Dooley said in a statement. “I would like to commend Mr Billson for presenting the numerous benefits this project would bring to our region, to former and current Ministers. His persistence has seen Frankston secure almost $5 million from a much sought after funding pool.” Mr Billson has traded barbs over the past few months with his Labor state counterparts, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke and Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny, over funding for the basketball stadium. The former small business minister, due to retire from politics at the next federal election, has slammed Labor for failing to put in more than the $2.5 million
committed to the project by the previous Napthine state government. Labor has resisted attempts to have the Andrews government put more money into the stadium upgrade than was promised by the previous Liberal National Coalition state government. Frankston Basketball general manager Nathan Jolly said last weekend’s announcement that the $4.95 million funding had been approved “is a great relief to Frankston Basketball’s 13,000 plus strong membership”. Mr Jolly said midweek games would no longer need to be scheduled at 10pm thanks to the extra court space. “As well as the additional court space, the facility will get a lift with improved and modernised conditions and start
to evolve into a facility which is better suited to sustainably manage the increased demands being placed on it from all segments of our participation base.” Cr Dooley noted the total $12.45 million budget committed to date is “very tight” but thanked all levels of government – local, state and federal – for working together to ultimately ensure the first stage of the project can proceed next year. Stages 2 and 3 of a complete redevelopment to upgrade the stadium to a regional table tennis and multi-sport facility are being planned to be constructed by 2031 but the additional stages are reliant on a further $8-$13 million in funding.
Council ‘shocked’ at parking fees Pick it up: Beach Patrol volunteer John Billing picks up litter at Frankston beach earlier this year.
Keep beaches clean this summer BEACHGOERS are being encouraged to look after Frankston’s shining sands this summer by helping ensure beaches are litter free. Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley hopes the best possible impression can be presented to visitors to Frankston over the summer months. “Over the years litter on our beaches has been an ongoing and costly issue, particularly given our high visitation numbers. To help curb this council has implemented education programs that have helped reduce the amount of litter on our shores,” Cr Dooley said. “Unfortunately the message hasn’t made it through to everyone, but we do appreciate those who do the right thing and bin it. Your efforts go a long way towards presenting a better image of Frankston for the hundreds of thousands of summer visitors. “Rubbish is not only horrible to look at, but also has the potential to seriously harm the Bay and our local marine life, which includes fish, seals, dolphins and an array of seabirds.” Council’s foreshore team cleans rubbish from the beach and foreshore areas near the waterfront on a daily basis and on
days when there are most visitors in the area rubbish bins are emptied more than once per day. “We are preparing for a long and extremely hot summer, which means we can expect an increase in the amount of waste being deposited into our bins. To accommodate this, additional larger waste and recycling bins have been introduced at Frankston Waterfront, Seaford Life Saving Club, the McCulloch Avenue boardwalk and Keast Park,” Cr Dooley said. Extra waste bins will also be placed along Frankston and Seaford foreshores. “Rubbish is not only horrible to look at, but also has the potential to seriously harm the Bay and our local marine life, which includes fish, seals, dolphins and an array of seabirds,” the Mayor said. Beach patrols, dedicated volunteer groups who pick up rubbish along Frankston’s shoreline are also contributing to a positive image for the area. Groups such as the Frankston 3199 and Seaford 3198 Beach Patrols are always keen to welcome new volunteers. See frankston.vic.gov.au and search for ‘Beach Patrol’ for joining information.
CAR parking fees at Frankston Hospital have been condemned as “exorbitant” by Frankston councillors. Councillors unanimously voted to write to the board of Peninsula Health and Health Minister Jill Hennessy to ask fees be reviewed amid council concerns about “excessive parking fees”. Cr Suzette Tayler said she had been shocked at the price of parking at Frankston Hospital on two recent visits. She said she had been charged $9 for a one hour and 10 minute stay. “I think it’s really important as a council to stand up and say something about the fees that are being asked for Frankston Hospital – it’s wrong,” Cr Tayler said. The Labor state government has ordered hospitals throughout Victoria to review their parking fees (‘Hospitals on notice over carpark fees’, The Times 23/11/15). Peninsula Health planning and infrastructure acting executive director Rick Law told The Times last month concession parking fees may be available if visitors and patients speak to a hospital social worker about financial stress caused by carpark fees. A discounted weekly rate of $45 for parking is also available but many visitors say they are unaware of this rate since it has not been prominently advertised. The state government says all hospitals must now make publicise all
Parking concerns: Frankston councillors have criticised hospital car park fees.
available concession parking fees. Cr Darrel Taylor noted Frankston Hospital’s parking fees are “exorbitant” compared to council’s own $5 per day parking fees in Frankston. “To go in there two or three times a week, it gets very, very expensive,” Cr Colin Hampton said. Frankston Hospital car parking fees begin at $7 for one hour rising to $15 for five hours, the maximum fee for all-day parking. “I think it’s really important as a council to stand up and say something about the fees that are being asked for Frankston Hospital – it’s wrong,” Cr Tayler said. “So many people are stressed.” Neil Walker
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Frankston Times 14 December 2015
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