NEWS DESK
Sculpture move ‘on the right track’ Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au FORMER mayor Christine Richards and the Frankston Community Coalition ‘gang of six’ are pushing an idea to improve Frankston train station’s surrounds. The group has been talking to Frankston Council about relocating several sculptures from the McClelland Gallery in Langwarrin to the station precinct in an effort to make the area more welcoming for visitors and residents alike. Ms Richards said McClelland Gallery was on board with the plan but it had to be agreed by council before it could become reality. “It’s a terrific way to leverage Frankston’s cultural assets and it would connect the station and central Frankston to some of the best art we have,” Ms Richards said. The Frankston Community Coalition - a citizen lobby group formed to pressure politicians to give Frankston “a better deal” in the run-up to this year’s state election - has been critical of the state Coalition government’s latest $13.8 million Frankston Station Precinct Improvement Project draft plan released in April. Ms Richards welcomed the $13.8m investment in Frankston but believed more needed to be done to revamp the station into a major transport hub with adequate car parking facilities for commuters (‘Gang of six dares to dream on station revamp’, The Times, 19/5/14). Cr Glenn Aitken said he backed the
Ramp opening THE opening of the Kananook Creek boat ramp last week by Ports Minister David Hodgett proved an opportunity for Frankston mayor Cr Darrel Taylor to brief the minister on council’s other plans for the foreshore. Council paid $120,000 towards the $600,000 boat ramp. The plans for the Waterfront area include a marina at the base of Oliver’s Hill and build a new three-storey building on a site now occupied by Frankston Yacht C. The building would house the yacht club, a cafe and a restaurant.
History revealed
Station planners: The Frankston Community Coalition’s (from left) Peter Patterson, Christine Richards, Jenny Hattingh, Trudy Poole and Trevor Knock have a plan to sculpt Frankston station’s surrounds. Sixth member Ken Rowe not pictured. Picture: Gary Sissons
community group’s proposal to install sculptures at Frankston station. “Changing a place visually changes the way people react to it,” Cr Aitken said. “Even at this early stage I can see how the idea has merit and I’m strongly supportive of their proposal. It’s on the right track.” He said council would have to work through funding for the movement of the sculptures, if councillors agreed to sanction the move. Ms Richards said the group had discussed installing seven artworks
- “four major and three minor” - at Frankston station. She said it cost “about $50,000” to move and then maintain a major sculpture. This could be funded using part of the $13.8m state government money, according to Ms Richards. “It would cost about one-fifteenth of that money in total,” she said. If council and the state government agreed to allow about $920,000 of the Frankston Station Improvement Project funds to be used to relocate sculptures, Ms Richards said they
could be on display by the end of this year. The Frankston Community Coalition will host a public forum meeting on Thursday 12 June at 7.30pm at Mechanics Hall, 1 Plowman Pl, Frankston to discuss the protection of Frankston’s natural assets. It will be an opportunity for Frankston residents to question state election Labor candidate Helen Constas and Liberal candidate Sean Armistead about their views on issues, including the green wedge, Kananook Creek and waste management.
THE history of Frankston Mechanics’ Hall and Free Library 1873 – 2013 is about to be revealed thanks to a $3000 grant to Mornington Peninsula Family History Society. Mornington MP David Morris said the money came FROM the government to “shine a light” on Victoria’s community history. “The society plays an important role in our community and this project will not only help to tell the story of its development, but of our region as well,” Mr Morris said. “This grant also recognises the important work done by the many volunteers of the society who play a valuable role in collecting, recording and sharing the stories of our past.” The society is one of 63 Victorian organisations - schools, libraries, sporting clubs and museums - who will share in $350,000 in grants through the 2014 round of the program. Minister for the Arts Heidi Victoria said the program provided access to stories that may have otherwise remain untold.
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