NEWS DESK
Basketball stadium upgrade to begin
Service to honour former policeman A MEMORIAL service next month will dedicate Frankston Hospital’s new operating theatre to former police constable Phillip Gordon Fleming. Constable Fleming was an observer in a police divisional van travelling along the Boulevard, Kew, in February 1971, when it ran off the road, crashed through a fence and plunged down an embankment. He received massive head injuries and died instantly. The ceremony at 10am, Friday 17 February, will be held with full police honours in the presence of Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Peninsula Branch president Darryl Nation said the dedication will be held at the City of Frankston Bowling Club, corner of William and Yuille streets, Frankston. Email rhonnation@optusnet.com.au or call 9775 5978 for more details.
Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au CONSTRUCTION on the longawaited expansion of the Frankston Basketball Stadium will begin next month. Frankston Council has awarded a contract to Williamstown-based Devco Project & Construction Management to build stage one of the $12.45 million project. Devco built the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South in 2012. Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial said the stadium expansion – to include new courts, more seating, a new entry and reception area, new change rooms and upgraded car park – will support the continued growth of basketball in the region. Frankston and District Basketball Association secretary Rob Little said the association will continue working with council to source funding for further improvements to the stadium which caters for 14,000 participants each year. Mr Little said retractable seating a mezzanine level for association members and the establishment of a regional high-performance centre in future stages would attract international teams and major events to Frankston. “In 2017, Frankston Basketball will be hosting the University of Texas men’s basketball team, but we are currently limited with the resources we are able to offer these international-level athletes,” he said. “Further resourcing our high-per-
See the stars
formance capabilities will only attract more teams of this nature which provides economic benefits for our region.” A temporary stadium entrance will be open on the north side of the basketball centre during expansion construction works expected to be completed within 18 months. The stadium expansion is mostly
Grand plans: An artist’s impression of what the Frankston Basketball Stadium will look like after a $12.45 million upgrade starting next month.
being funded by taxpayers and ratepayers. The federal government contributed $4.95 million, the state govern-
ment $2.5 million, Frankston Council $4 million and the Frankston and District Basketball Association $1 million. The Coalition federal government and Labor state government were embroiled in months of arguments over levels of funding for the Frankston Basketball Stadium over several months in 2015 and last year.
VISITORS will be able to see through telescopes and, weather permitting, view stars, planets, clusters and galaxies at sessions being run by Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society. They are at 8pm, Friday 20 January, and then every first Friday of each month at the purpose built observatory next to the Briars Outdoor Ed Camp, 450 Nepean Hwy, Mt Martha. Group bookings are available on- or off-site, said Dr Sky Murphy of the not-for-profit society. See mpas.asn.au or call 0419 253 252 for details.
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