NEWS DESK
Hotel demolition falls over THE champagne has well and truly been put on ice at the site of the former Ambassador Hotel. Developer Joanna Kordos previously said she planned to celebrate with “a champagne breakfast” when the 40-year-old building was demolished to make may for “luxury” apartments (‘Wreckers lined up for Ambassador’, The News 20/5/15) but the site has now been put up for sale as part of a mortgagee auction according to a real estate agent. The bubbly now seems to have gone flat and Ms Kordos did not return calls from The News last week. The latest twist is a blow to the chances of the building at 325 Nepean
Hwy, widely regarded as an eyesore and blight on Frankston, being demolished this year. Ms Kordos, a fine artist and interior architect, promised Frankston Council in March that the Ambassador would be demolished “within four weeks” when seeking a 12-month extension on the planning permit to build a four-storey building including 37 apartments. Councillors reluctantly agreed to the extension despite some voicing scepticism about the viability of the luxury apartment project to be built next to 112 low-cost apartments behind the function centres (‘The Ambassador faces axe’, The News 1/4/15).
Neighbouring residents often complain to council about anti-social behaviour at the apartments. KBL Commercial is advertising the site for sale at a mortgagee auction on Thursday 10 September and the plans and permits for the proposed apartment complex are being included as part of the deal. Selling agent Max Braude said the sales campaign is “going very nicely” with “a fair amount” of interest from potential buyers. “It’s a great development opportunity and a chance to sort out that area of town,” he said. Neil Walker
Sorry site: The former Ambassador Hotel is regarded as an eyesore. Pic: Gary Sissons
Catch cap plan for bay fishers A FOUR-week public consultation period began last week on a proposed “sliding catch cap” on the harvest of fish by licensed commercial fishers in Port Phillip and Western Port bays. Fisheries Victoria met with Seafood Industry Victoria representatives Wednesday to discuss the proposed changes. The sliding cap is an integral part of phasingout commercial netting in Port Phillip Bay – a commitment made last year in the state government’s Target One Million plan that aims to increase participation in the recreational fishing sector. “The proposed cap will prevent any increase in commercial fishing during the phase-out period of eight years,” Fisheries Victoria executive director Travis Dowling said. “It will also ensure that, as licences are bought out from the fishery, the overall catch reduces in a fair and transparent way.
“The cap will place an annual catch limit on each fishing licence based on the average catch over five years prior to the announcement to remove netting. “After listening to industry it was decided to use an average of five years of catch as this was the fairest way to introduce the cap, but also note individual’s personal circumstances and fluctuations in fish abundance. “There is also a proposal to introduce new reporting requirements for commercial fishers to enable effective enforcement of the cap, consistent with best-practice fisheries management in Australia.” The consultation period ends on 25 September. See vic.gov.au/PPBnets Bay quota: Fisheries Victoria proposes a sliding catch cap for commercial fishers in Port Phillip and Western Port bays.
Great estate agents
BED
5
BATH
3
CAR
5
FRANKSTON SOUTH 2 Lipari Court Offers over $890,000 open to view saturday 2.30-3.00pm n n n
Five huge bedrooms (plus study), two bathrooms, plus powder room Renovated kitchen and dining area Outdoor entertaining area with in-ground pool and thatched Balinese-style hut & palms
eview.com.au PAGE 10
Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 2 September 2015
Derek Lea| 0412 204 036 Frankston
Why list with one, when you can list with all
Office: Mornington 176 Main Street II 8781 5971 3888 0300 Office: Frankston 463 Nepean Highway