NEWS DESK New look: An impression of the planned piazza at Mentone. Picture: Supplied
Charges upgraded after cyclist death
Sailing club gets cash to stay on course
CHARGES against a Parkdale man have been upgraded to culpable driving after a cyclist was knocked down in an alleged hit-and-run at Chelsea, Thursday 28 March. Chelsea triathlete Michelle Ruitenbeek, 50, was riding her bike along the Nepean Highway at 5.40am when she was allegedly struck by a utility driven by the man, 28, who allegedly fled the scene. She was taken to hospital but died two days later. The man was arrested in Broadmeadows hours later while his car was found at Seaford about 8am. He was charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and failing to render assistance and appeared at an out-ofsession court hearing that day. The charges have now been upgraded and the man has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 August for a committal hearing.
THE Mordialloc Sailing Club will be helped out of troubled waters after receiving $15,000 from Kingston Council for “emergency repairs.” Council resolved on 25 March to approve the funding boost. The mayor Georgina Oxley said “for many years the club has played an active role in our community by offering a range of sailing programs.” “Council is happy to step in to provide funding for emergency repairs to take place,” she said. The club will contribute over $8000 of their own money towards the repairs. “The emergency repairs will ensure programs including the tackers sail training for 7-12 years olds, schools programs with 100 students from Mordialloc College, and the boat lending service for the general community can continue as planned,” Cr Oxley said.
Parade reopens as piazza works continue MENTONE parade has reopened after completion of a section of works on Kingston Council’s Mentone “renaissance” project. With the reopening of the parade, the section of Florence Street between Mentone Parade and Como Parade West will permanently close. The section of Mentone Parade between Florence Street and Como Parade West will transition to a bus lane southbound.
Full works on the piazza project are projected to be finished by mid-2019. The next phase of works will focus on construction of the new community piazza between Kilbreda College and the “triangle” building. Works on “stage two” of the piazza project were ticked off by council in September 2018 after they voted to award the contract for streetscape works between Como parade West and Florence Stertt to CDN Construc-
tors Pty Ltd for a tendered price of just below $2.9 million. Cr Steve Staikos, who was mayor at the time, said the piazza would “help boost the shopping precinct, create a new community meeting space and showcase the historic Kilbreda Tower.” For more information about the Mentone community piazza project, visit kingston.vic.gov.au/mentonerenaissance
Race run: Michelle Ruitenbeek competes in the sport she loved. Picture: Supplied
Tour through history A BUS tour will take off in May taking passengers on a journey through the history of the Kingston municipality. The tours departing from the Kingston Arts Centre will stop at six locations of local history. Some of the moments set to be explored include the demolition of The Grange homestead in 1983, and the disappearance of Fred Valentich in 1978. The program was put together with the help of a $65,000 state government grant. The tours will be on 19, 20, 25, and 26 May. More information at kingstonarts.com.au/PUBLIC-PROGRAMS/ SIX-MOMENTS-IN-KINGSTON
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
10 April 2019
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