‘Bureaucrats’ scupper summer dining Continued from page 1 Mr Guttman said that as part of their ordinary meeting on 25 November, councillors also voted to “seek community input before making a final decision on The Crowded Hour Summer Lounge proposal.” “The community feedback identified a range of concerns with the use of Beeson Reserve including noise and disruption, the use of a popular open space area during the summer period and alcohol being served in a designated alcohol-free zone,” he said. “Kingston Council has been working with local businesses to help them expand their outdoor dining offering in appropriate locations, wherever it can be safely established and doesn’t have a negative impact on immediate neighbours. Since dining was allowed again following the easing of restrictions in October, council has approved more than 70 new and expanded outdoor dining permits including dining pop-ups.” Mr O’Shannessy said “I’m tired of listening to bureaucrats talk about how much support there’s going to be for the hospitality industry, because when the rubber hits the road the same old barriers seem to remain in place.” “I was just hopeful that following a global pandemic that’s sent countless businesses to the wall the council might have been able to step back, look at the bigger picture, and see this as something really positive for Edithvale.” He said he will consider appealing the decision.
Plans for new aged care home Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au
THE Crowded Hour owner Rogan O’Shannessy at Beeson Reserve. Picture: Supplied
PLANNING has begun for a new aged care facility in Cheltenham. The residential facility at Monash Health’s Kingston Centre will have the capacity for 150 beds. It is expected to cater for residents with complex needs such as dementia. The project is budgeted to cost $134.6 million. Disability, ageing, and carers minister Luke Donnellan said “our public sector residential aged care services play a vital role in supporting vulnerable older Victorians who need specialist care for complex physical or mental health needs.” The centre will be operated and staffed by public health service Monash Health. During the devastating second wave of COVID-19 in Victoria, cases in privately-run aged care homes far outnumbered those in state-run facilities. The Saturday Paper reported that just three residents in state-run aged care homes contracted COVID-19 during the second wave, compared to nearly 2000 in private and non-profit facilities. The Cheltenham residential facility is scheduled for completion by early 2025.
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
16 December 2020
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