NEWS DESK
Mordialloc icon Hazel Pierce dies, aged 93 A FORMER mayor of Mordialloc and prominent Kingston resident Hazel Pierce has died, aged 93. Mrs Pierce was mayor twice – from 1983 to 1984 and 1992 to 1993 – before the City of Mordialloc was abolished and merged into the City of Kingston in 1994. She passed away on 15 April. Mrs Pierce was the president of the Mordialloc Life Saving Club for more than 30 years. Her funeral will take place at the club on Thursday 28 April, 1pm. Club president Grant Rattenbury said Mrs Pierce was “inspirational”. Hazel Pierce Reserve in Mordial-
loc is named in her honour and she was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of her selfless community work. Federal Isaacs MP Mark Dreyfus said Mrs Pierce “was an icon of Mordialloc”. “A Mordialloc resident since the 1940s, a mayor and councillor and a mainstay of the Mordialloc Lifesaving Club, Hazel Pierce was one of the giants of our community,” Mr Dreyfus said. “She freely gave her time supporting local clubs and community groups and was one of the most recognisable people in bayside Melbourne.”
“Hazel’s life was one well lived and her loss will be felt by the Mordialloc community. I give my deepest condolences to Hazel’s family and friends. Kington mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said “the City of Kingston was saddened to hear of the passing of Hazel Pierce”. “She was an outstanding member of our community and made a significant contribution through her roles as the former mayor of Mordialloc, the longtime president of the Mordialloc Life Saving Club and local trader – just to name a few. “She will be greatly missed and the councillors and staff at the City of
Kingston send their condolences to Hazel’s family.” Mr Rattenbury said Mrs Pierce had requested a service at the Mordialloc Life Saving Club which will be closed down soon to make way for a new $4 million club house being built nearby. “The club is being demolished next month,” Mr Rattenbury said. “The service will be a fairly big day, I’d imagine.” n A service commemorating Hazel Pierce’s life and achievements will be held at Mordialloc Life Saving Club, Beach Road, Mordialloc on Thursday 28 April, 1pm. Neil Walker
Hazel Pierce
Sky rail high on council’s mind Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au PUBLIC Transport Minister Jacinta Allan visited Kingston Council last week to discuss community concerns over the possibility of sky rail along the Frankston line. The Minister’s visit last Thursday (21 April) came after councillors voiced concerns about the state government-led community consultation process underway (‘Council along for sky rail ride ... for now’, The News 13/4/15). Community groups fear elevated rail could be built along sections of the Frankston line as part of the Labor state government’s pledge to separate road from rail at level crossing sites. Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson, who attended the meeting, asked Ms Allan to meet Kingston Council to talk about level crossings removals. Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley, Cr David Eden and Cr John Ronke were also present at the meeting. “I thought it was important to go there and have a chat with council,” Mr Richardson said. “We talked about when the options will be put forward ... and some of the issues that have been teased out of community consultations.” Kingston mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley said the meeting “was incredibly productive”. “We were able to pass on community concerns and advocate for a wellplanned strategic approach that makes the most of this once-in-a-generation infrastructure project to deliver great long-lasting results for our community,” she said. “The Minister confirmed in princi-
Sign of discontent: An anti-sky rail sign displayed in Aspendale makes this homeowner’s opinion clear on the possibility of elevated rail along the Frankston line. Picture: Gary Sissons
ple that the next stage of community consultation, due to take around the middle of this year, would include detailed information on different options available at each individual site including environmental impacts, engineering analysis, acoustic reports and estimated costs so our community can make an informed decision and have their opinion clearly heard and taken into account. “Minister Allan had also been briefed by local MP Tim Richardson on the heritage issues surrounding the Mentone station and the unique sensitivities along the Frankston line due
to the close proximity of Port Phillip Bay.” At the weekend, Ms Allan said every level crossing along the Frankston line will be assessed on an individual basis to determine ways to separate road from rail at intersections. The state government signed contracts this month to start construction “within weeks” on $1.6 billion worth of 10-metre high elevated rail on sections of the rail line between Caulfield and Dandenong. “The approach that’s been taken on this corridor [Dandenong] is not necessarily the outcome that will be taken
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on the Frankston corridor and I think it’s wrong to assume that it would be,” Ms Allan. A Department of Transport body, the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA), is overseeing community consultation on level crossing removals before options are released in June. A final decision on how level crossings will be removed will be made at the end of this year with construction due to begin in 2018. Cr Bearsley said council hoped to continue to work with MPs, the state government and the LXRA to “ensure our community is kept well informed
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and actively involved in this project”. The mayor said councillors “have received strong community feedback opposing a sky rail option for the Frankston line”. The LXRA is seeking feedback on level crossing removal options along the Frankston line. Respondents can drop pins on to an online map at the relevant level crossings and write comments at consult.mysocialpinpoint. com/frankston8# See levelcrossings.vic.gov.au for further details. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 8 May.
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