NEWS DESK
Trail build still not on the road COMMUNITY feedback on plans to build the Mentone to Mordialloc section of the Bay Trail will be presented to Kingston councillors in June. Councillors at last week’s May public council meeting voted 5-4 to write to state Roads Minister Luke Donnellan and VicRoads to discuss ways to “finalise plans” to finish the Bay Trail. Councillors are divided on how to build the trail section with five favouring a narrowing of Beach Rd and four preferring the removal of vegetation along the foreshore to construct the shared cycling and walking path. The debate has become increasingly bitter amid councillors noting they have been personally attacked online for their views. Cr Rosemary West said council needed to get VicRoads’ approval to possibly narrow Beach Rd while “minimising” any loss of car parking spaces. If the road is narrowed between the lifesaving club and Peter Scullin Reserve in Mordialloc, it would reduce from about 14 metres on average in width to about 13 metres to build the final Kingston leg of the trail. “VicRoads has not demanded proof that the community supports the narrowing of Beach Rd,” Cr West said. Cr Ron Brownlees said VicRoads,
Un-social media Continued from Page 1 Cr Ron Brownlees cited pop star Ed Sheeran when slamming online attackers. He said Sheeran described social media as “a toxic wasteland”. “It is a faceless engagement. You can put your finger to keyboard and really try not to be responsible for what comes out of it.” Cr Rosemary West said she has also been the target of online attacks and read out several comments about her made on Facebook forums. The mayor Cr David Eden said politicians and news outlets had been contacted by an anonymous person “alleging false things” about his family shortly after he was elected mayor late last year. Cr Geoff Gledhill said flyers and emails have been distributed criticising his family. Cr Tamsin Bearsley said “there is no place for personal attacks” but she has subsequently had “some good conversations” with some people who have criticised her online if they do not use “fake names”. Councillors at last week’s meeting voted for council to write to the administrators of a Facebook page against any narrowing of Beach Rd “expressing its disappointment in the misogynist and personally demeaning attacks on women councillors hosted as unmoderated comments and asks owners of the account/s to do their best to discourage this kind of behaviour”. Councillors also agreed to “draft amendments to the Councillor Code of Conduct to ensure that councillor social media accounts are not used to spread/host misinformation and hateful remarks against other councillors and council remarks”. Crs Barth, Brownlees, Eden, Oxley and Staikos backed the move while Crs Bearsley, Geoff Gledhill and George Hua abstained. Cr Hua did not believe council should “censor” councillors or residents despite personal attacks “being wrong”. “All Australians enjoy freedom of speech,” he said.
“responsible for road safety in this state”, is concerned about cyclists’ safety if parts of Beach Rd are narrowed. “It’s no wonder people get confused when we [council] can’t present a plan that really highlights which parts of Beach Rd are going to be impacted.” Cr Brownless said approval from VicRoads was not sought when the previous Charman Rd to Mentone Lifesaving Club was built since “a back of kerb alignment” on along the foreshore was done. The construction of that section was delayed amid arguments between councillors about the removal of foreshore vegetation to build the Bay Trail. Crs Tamara Barth, David Eden, Georgina Oxley, Steve Staikos and West voted to write to VicRoads about possibly narrowing Beach Rd lanes. Crs Tamsin Bearsley, Brownless, Geoff Gledhill and George Hua voted against the move. Once finally complete the trail will form a continuous bike and walking path around Port Phillip Bay. Neil Walker Cycle path: Cr Geoff Gledhill and grandson Beau at the 2015 opening of the Mentone to Mordialloc section of the Bay Trail. Picture: Yanni
Cricket play for AFL club training hub the Saints pulling up stumps at Seaford. Cricket Victoria spokesman Hamish Jones confirmed Frankston could become a prominent player in the state’s cricketing future. “Cricket Victoria is having discussions with Frankston Council regarding an opportunity for a future regional cricket hub as part of our statewide Community Cricket Program,” Mr Jones said in a statement. “This is an ongoing project focused on providing infrastructure to empower local cricketers and support continued growth in participation in the south east region. “Cricket Victoria is currently talking to a range of stakeholders about these opportunities in the region and
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CRICKET could be coming to the south east region in a big way after the Saints march out of Seaford’s Linen House sporting complex. The News can reveal Cricket Victoria has been in touch with Frankston Council to talk about possibly leasing space at the centre. St Kilda Football Club is set to leave Seaford and head back to its “spiritual home” of Moorabbin just four years after Frankston Council kicked in about $4 million of ratepayers’ money to a joint AFL, state government and council deal to entice the Saints to Seaford.
The Saints pay a peppercorn rent of $1 per year to council and share maintenance costs at the Linen House training and office base. Councillors discussed St Kilda’s exit from Seaford behind closed doors for commercial-in-confidence reasons after last week’s public council meeting. “There are a number of key stakeholders who have expressed an interest in being a part of the facility post St Kilda including Cricket Victoria and AFL South East,” Frankston mayor Brian Cunial said in a statement. “However no firm commitment has been given to any party.” It is understood councillors have talked about a potential timeline for
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Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au
across Victoria.” Questions about Cricket Victoria potentially leasing office space – St Kilda administrative staff work at Seaford – or the pitch at the sports centre went unanswered. The arrival of Cricket Victoria could be a boon for council and ratepayers although some councillors have in recent months voiced discontent at public council meetings about the disappointing economic returns the AFL club’s move to Seaford provided compared to promised riches before the peppercorn rent lease deal was agreed. Any deal to bring the governing body of cricket in the state to the Frankston area would be heavily scrutinised.
“Council will be receiving a presentation from Cricket Victoria and have indicated that they are prepared to listen to the details of the proposal as a part of the development of a plan going forward,” Cr Cunial said. “Council has community involvement as a key priority in our thinking and will naturally listen to any external party to determine what the final shape of any future use will be.” Stage one of a $28.4 million revamp of Moorabbin Reserve has been approved by Kingston Council and is due to be completed by the start of the 2017-18 AFL season, possibly triggering St Kilda’s official move out of Seaford.
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 31 May 2017
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