NEWS DESK
No station patrols ‘public risk’ Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au THE Andrews government has been accused of putting public safety at risk during the upcoming trial of allnight public transports on weekends. Earlier this month the Labor state government announced a one-year trial of 24-hour Friday and Saturday train services, called “Homesafe”, across the state including the Frankston line. Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy visited Seaford train station last Monday (24 August) and slammed the government for failing to budget for protective services officers at all stations all night. “That leaves quite a number of stations like Seaford exposed to no security after 11pm,” Mr Guy said. PSOs will be on duty all night at locations dubbed “premium stations” by the state government. Frankston, Carrum, Mordialloc, Mentone, Cheltenham, Moorabbin, Bentleigh, Caulfield, South Yarra and Richmond stations on the Frankston line have been classed premium stations with PSOs set to patrol these stations overnight. PSOs will clock off overnight at all other stations on Friday and Saturday evenings. “The PSOs will leave and it’s going to be a lottery if you’re not at a premium station,” Mr Guy said. “The fact that the public now won’t know which station has them or not is a real concern. The idea of PSOs is that every station had them
Sorry site: The former Ambassador Hotel is regarded as an eyesore. Pic: Gary Sissons
Hotel demolition falls over Safety first: Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy says the state government should ensure protective services officers patrol all stations including Seaford all night during a 12-month trial of 24/7 weekend train services. Picture: Gary Sissons
until the last train.” Mr Guy says the government “haven’t done their sums right” on the trial. When in opposition before last year’s state election Labor said the 12-month all-night weekend public transport trial would cost $50 million but this figure has blown out to $83.6 million. “The government has done it on the cheap. Our view is that there should be PSOs until the last train.” Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government consulted with Victoria Police about the best model and the best use of resources. Ms Allan said police determined
109 extra PSOs and an extra 62 transit police would be needed, so funding was increased to enable Victoria Police to employ extra staff. “It’s disappointing Mr Guy doesn’t support this important initiative, which will do so much for people down the sandbelt and across Victoria who just want to get home safe on the weekend.” Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny welcomed the Homesafe trial. “I wish Matthew Guy would stop picking on Seaford. I live in Seaford. It is a terrific community with many families who just want to know that their young people can get home on the weekends.”
THE champagne has well and truly been put on ice at the site of the former Ambassador Hotel. Developer Joanna Kordos previously said she planned to celebrate with “a champagne breakfast” when the 40-year-old building was demolished to make may for “luxury” apartments (‘Wreckers lined up for Ambassador’, The Times 18/5/15) but the site has now been put up for sale as part of a mortgagee auction according to a real estate agent. The bubbly now seems to have gone flat and Ms Kordos did not return calls from The Times last week. The latest twist is a blow to the chances of the building at 325 Nepean Hwy, widely regarded as an eyesore and blight on Frankston, being demolished this year. Ms Kordos, a fine artist and interior architect, promised Frankston Council in March that the Ambassador would be demolished “within four weeks” when seeking a 12-month extension on
DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREES & ROSES (excludes citrus) APOTTED BEAUTIFUL
the planning permit to build a four-storey building including 37 apartments. Councillors reluctantly agreed to the extension despite some voicing scepticism about the viability of the luxury apartment project to be built next to 112 low-cost apartments behind the function centres (‘The Ambassador faces axe’, The Times 1/4/15). Neighbouring residents often complain to council about anti-social behaviour at the apartments. KBL Commercial is advertising the site for sale at a mortgagee auction on Thursday 10 September and the plans and permits for the proposed apartment complex are being included as part of the deal. Selling agent Max Braude said the sales campaign is “going very nicely” with “a fair amount” of interest from potential buyers. “It’s a great development opportunity and a chance to sort out that area of town,” he said. Neil Walker
WINTER GARDEN & WARM HOME FIREWOOD AT LAST YEARS PRICES!
SPLIT BLUEGUM FROM
$240 PER TONNE
Time to plant Bare Rooted Roses
Come and SPLIT REDGUM/ enjoy a YELLOWBOX FROM coffee $280 PER TONNE PLUS DELIVERY and cake in our HIGH HEAT 2 IN 1 beautiful FIRELIGHTER/KINDLING
Great range now in stock from $9.95 We also stock a huge range of • Pavers • Mulch • Cement• Nursery plants • Ponds • Sand• Gift shop • Mini-mix• Sleepers • Hardwares • Potting mix and more
YES, WE CAN DELIVER!
COFFEE SHOP $7.95 PER BAG COFFEE + GIFT SHOP OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK
Burdetts HOUSE & GARDEN SUPPLIES
( CLOSED SUNDAYS )
W STOCK UP NOR FOR WINTE
615 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin Ph 9789 8266 Fax 9789 8810
www.burdetts.com.au
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Frankston Times
31 August 2015
PAGE 3