NEWS DESK
Councillor’s alleged conflict called into question
Tennis facility funding: Blaise Northey (Club President), Cameron Howe (Carrum and Paterson Lakes Forum founder) and Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Dianne Balestrat (inset) want better facilities at Long Beach Tennis Club. Pictures: Gary Sissons
Hall of Fame coach calls for upgrade Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au TENNIS Hall of Fame inductee Dianne Balestrat is calling for the Long Beach Tennis Club to receive funding to revamp their facilities. Ms Balestrat, a former world number 4 and Australian Open doubles champion, now spends her time coaching the next generation at the Long Beach Tennis Club, and said the facilities there had become far too outdated. “Many tennis clubs were built at a time when participation from women was lower. At Long Beach Tennis Club, there are no facilities to shower or change nor adequate lighting, which can make women and girls feel unwelcome,” Ms Balestrat said. “An upgrade will even out the play-
ing field, making all members feel comfortable, regardless of their gender and ability.” The tennis club says they host 500 participants each year, and that an upgrade is needed to keep coaching kids to a high standard. “Tennis has given me so many opportunities, and these days, I really enjoy teaching and passing on my knowledge to my students. Sound technique is imperative, I always emphasise that my students play to the best of their ability, regardless of whether they win or lose,” Ms Balestrat said. The club is based at Roy Dore Reserve in Carrum, which recently received a $3.2 million cash injection from the state government. The tennis club is calling on Kingston Council support a concept design for the development.
Long Beach Tennis Club president Blaise Northey said “Dianne knows what it takes to get the most out of her students, having coached at a national level, and it’s amazing that we have a sporting legend in our community.” “A hall of fame tennis legend like Dianne deserves adequate tennis facilities to assist with coaching upcoming talent. Upgrades will attract a wider range players and allow us to excel in the growing space of disabled tennis.” Ms Balestrat was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame at this year’s Australian Open. She said “being in the Hall of Fame is a tremendously wonderful feeling and to have my achievements celebrated is the ultimate honour. I am so proud to be etched in history, alongside some of the game’s most famous players.”
Cash splashed on potential parkland KINGSTON Council has splashed $2.6 million on two properties in Clarinda for potential use as parkland, sporting field or a market garden. Mayor Georgina Oxley said the two properties, inside the Green Wedge, were neighbouring to a former waste site which will be transformed into a park as part of council’s Chain of Parks project. “When the two properties came on the market council jumped at the opportunity as they are in a key location neighbouring the future Victory Road Park,” Cr Oxley said.
“The site next door will soon be transformed from a waste site into a fantastic new public park, so it made sense to buy these properties to give us options for the future.” The two sites total 3.02 hectares, and were purchased using council’s Green Wedge fund. The balance for that fund was at $8.75 million at the end of the 17/18 financial year. The Chain of Parks projects aims to convert former landfill seats in the municipality into public parks. “Council’s Chain of Parks plan is now
actually being implemented. The area was once home to over 30 active landfill sites, which are thankfully almost all gone, Cr Oxley said. “By purchasing these two properties Kingston Council is taking yet another step to ensuring a bright future for Kingston’s Green Wedge for the community to enjoy. “Council is also looking forward to working closely with the Victorian Government, which promised during the recent election campaign to invest in Kingston Council’s Chain of Parks trail.”
Continued from Page 1 Cr Staikos moved to amend the motion to state “that this matter be referred to the Ombudsman and Local Government Inspectorate, seeking an investigation into whether the conflict of interest City of Kingston provisions have been followed,” because “concerns have been raised with Council from members of the community about Councillor Gledhill’s residential proximity to the Bay Trail project and whether a conflict of interest exists, and given that Cr Gledhill lives on Beach Road and would likely directly benefit from, or be affected by the proposal to complete the final section of the bay trail and tree plantings on Beach Road.” The amended motion moved by Cr Staikos also asked that the Ombudsman and Local Government Inspectorate investigate whether Cr Gledhill had breached local government law “given that concerns have been raised with Council from members of the community about a potential misuse of position from Cr Gledhill as a candidate for the recent State Election – with regard to the use of information gained as a Councillor for political benefit as a State Candidate.” Cr Gledhill was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Mordialloc in 2018. Cr Gledhill said “I don’t think I could have predicted the response from the councillors that have moved and seconded this [Crs Staikos and Rosemary West] any more accurately, because the entire response is an attempt to smear me.” “The entire screen is filled with vitriol and spite directed at me,” he said. “As I said time and time again, it was about what the community were asking me. I will not stop doing what the community has told me to do.” Cr Oxley said of the amendment that “all this motion is seeking to do is raise the same concerns that Cr Gledhill has
purported to have received from the community, that I myself have received from the community about Cr Gledhill. It is unfortunate it had to get to this point, very unfortunate. But I have received the same concerns from members of our community.” “If we are putting up motions that councillors have acted illegally or improperly, which I think is absolutely ridiculous, then maybe these concerns from the community need to be addressed too.” Cr Gledhill had the support of Crs Brownlees, Hua and Bearsley during the voting. Crs Staikos, West, and Oxley voted in favour of the amendment, but it was lost. Crs Tamara Barth and David Eden were absent. Cr Staikos then moved another amendment that “the request to IBAC should be made upon Cr Gledhill providing prima facie evidence of the alleged breaches to the CEO” rather than within the next 30 days. That amendment was also lost. The original motion to refer the Bay Trail matter to IBAC was then voted on and passed, with Crs Gledhill, Brownlees, Bearsley, and Hua voting in favour. Cr Oxley said “I’m concerned. I’m concerned we have a problem in this chamber of facts and evidence, because not once has in this debate have I heard one skerrick of evidence, not one. I’ve heard attacks and accusations from members of the community that have at times become very personal on myself, members of this council, and members of my family. At any point if anyone in the council chamber thinks that’s okay because we somehow signed up for it as councillors, then I think we are sorely mistaken.” Councillors voted in 2017 to narrow a section of Beach Road to build the Mordialloc to Mentone section of the trail.
Under fire: Cr Geoff Gledhill narrowly avoided an investigation into an alleged conflict of interest. Pic: Gary Sissons
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