Interstate travel costing ratepayers Continued from page 1 The mayor Hadi Saab and councillor Steve Staikos claimed more than any other councillors. They both spent more than $3000 each on interstate travel in the 2022/2023 financial year. In total Staikos claimed around $5450 and Saab claimed around $4975. Councillor Jenna Davey-Burns spent more than $4400 and Chris Hill spent just over $4000. Tracey Davies claimed $2906, Tamsin Bearsley claimed $2609, George Hua spent $1379, and Tim Cochrane spent $1061. Councillor David Eden claimed the lowest total KINGSTON Council has published its annual report for 2022/2023. Picture: Supplied
expenses, around $315. A pay rise for councillors came into effect in December 2022. Now the mayor is paid $124,469, the deputy mayor $62,235, and other councillors $37,565. The report revealed that Kingston Council’s highest member of senior management received remuneration between $390,000 and $399,999. The annual report also revealed that council’s decisions are being upheld on appeal much more frequently. The Victorian Administrative and Civil Tribunal upheld 58 percent of council’s deci-
sions in 2022/2023. In the year prior it upheld just 48 percent. “During 2022/23, there was a significant improvement in the number of planning decisions upheld at VCAT compared to the previous year. Furthermore, a number of items were resolved at VCAT through consent or at mediation. Although these are still reflected as decisions ‘not upheld’, council considers this a good outcome as all parties reached agreement through mediation. This result remains within the range expected by council,” the report read.
Abuse hearings get underway PUBLIC hearings into alleged sexual abuse committed at Beaumaris Primary School and other government schools began this week. Hearings took place on 23 and 24 October as part of the Beaumaris Inquiry. The inquiry is assessing allegations of sexual abuse involving multiple staff members at Beaumaris Primary School during the 1960s and 1970s. Other schools named within the scope of the investigation include Chelsea Heights Primary School and Aspendale Primary School. Three alleged perpetrators have been named: Gary Arthur Mitchell, Grahame Harold Steele, and David Ernest Keith MacGregor (“Investigation into historic sexual abuse expands, The News, 11/10/23) For more information visit beaumarisinquiry.vic.gov.au/public-hearings Brodie Cowburn
Chelsea plans form A PLAN for the future of Chelsea is in the works Chelsea’s city centre has been designated a “major activity centre” by the state government. It currently does not have a structure plan to guide future development plans. Council began working on a draft structure plan for Chelsea in 2019, which was planned to cover zoning for nearby residential areas, level crossing removal plans, appropriate land uses, and height limits for developments.
Development of the plan came to a halt after the onset of COVID-19. A report prepared for Kingston councillors by council officers read that the community should be engaged again, as the area has changed since the first round of consultation in 2019. “Whilst the structure plan has been on hold a number of new projects have either commenced or been completed within the activity centre which require further consideration. Importantly, the structure plan will now need to be responsive to, rather than anticipatory of the level crossing removal project,” council officers wrote. “Given the precinct has undergone significant changes since the project commenced in 2018, it is proposed to first reconnect with the community and check-in to identify any new issues or opportunities that need to be incorporated into the draft structure plan. “A report will be brought to council at the conclusion of the engagement period considering any feedback received and presenting a draft Chelsea structure plan for council endorsement and further community consultation.” Kingston Council’s housing strategy, which was sent to the planning minister for approval in August, retained the existing zones for the Chelsea activity centre. Council officers wrote that the zones would be retained “until the structure plan implements new residential zones.” CHELSEA as it was in the 1920s. Picture: Supplied
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
25 October 2023
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