NEWS DESK Food fees lowered
Baxter extension hopes off the rails Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au THE state government is still not onboard the Frankston rail extension project. There was no funding for the proposed project in the state budget handed down last week. The business case assessing the cost of the extension was finally released last month. The cost given for duplicating and electrifying the Frankston line to Baxter was quoted at an eyewatering $1.3 - $1.5 billion. The federal government has committed $225 million to the extension. CEO of advocacy group Committee For Greater Frankston, Ginevra Hosking, said “the extension is vital-
ly important so Frankston and Mornington Peninsula residents can board trains at stations near where they live, instead of driving into Frankston’s CBD just to park and further restricting the suburban centre’s growth and development”. “On budget day, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas matched the federal $5 billion funding for Airport Rail Link, and announced $2.2 billion for the $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop through Melbourne’s middle suburbs, $2 billion for Geelong fast rail, and $660 million for Shepparton and Warrnambool line upgrades. There was $276 million for Dandenong rail corridor and $5.5 million for track works at Caulfield. We need the basics. Actually getting people on the train, without commuter parking and
traffic clogging Frankston’s CBD,” she said. “Visionary rail projects like airport link and suburban loop are of little direct benefit if we can’t get more people on a train at their local station. When airport link opens, things might deteriorate even further – air travellers could leave their cars in Frankston’s CBD and make the 95-minute train trip to the airport. “We have connectivity failure. Fixing inadequate public transport between Frankston and Langwarrin is recognised by Infrastructure Australia as an immediate top 150 project in the nation. Both federal government and federal opposition recognise the value of this project and have committed to an initial $225 million. The Victorian Labor government has not.”
RENEWAL fees for health and food registrations for businesses in 2021 have been reduced by 25 per cent. It is the latest measure introduced by council to try and get restaurants back on their feet after the COVID-19 pandemic. An expression of interest process to provide financial support to businesses to establish the required safety measures for parklets has also started. The mayor Steve Staikos said “council has been working with local businesses to help them expand their outdoor dining offering wherever it can be safely established, whether that’s setting up in our parkland, taking over laneways or side streets or extending their seating onto adjacent footpaths. “We want to help our businesses thrive again and so we are trying to make the process of applying for outdoor dining permits as quick and smooth as possible, so they can welcome more diners back to their cafes and restaurants.” Visit kingston.vic.gov.au/outdoordining for more information
last year. Health minister Greg Hunt said the centre will offer free and paid programs to promote physical and mental health. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said “before his passing, Danny and the club had been working towards this project to give the local community somewhere their physical and mental health could be front and centre.” “The centre will include spaces for consulting suites, meeting rooms, shared work spaces and community classrooms as well as large multi-purpose areas that will be equipped to deliver programs to groups of up to 250 participants.” TAXPAYER funds will pay for a new health centre named after Danny Frawley at Moorabbin. Picture: Supplied
Funds for footy hub THE federal and state governments have committed to $16 million in grant funding for St Kilda Football Club’s Moorabbin homebase. A new “Centre for Health and Wellbeing” will be constructed. It will be named after Danny Frawley - the former St Kilda captain who passed away
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 December 2020
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