Frankston
& ASSociAteS PtY LtD public accountants
Tax Returns Advisors Business 21 Half Price Under On The Spot Tax Refunds Basic, Business, Rental Properties
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES FACEBOOK:
Ph: 9769 6660
peninsulakids.com.au mornpenkids
An independent voice for the community
INSTRGRAM:
Your weekly community newspaper covering Frankston, Frankston South, Karingal, Langwarrin and Seaford For all advertising and editorial needs, call 03
FREE
Shop 61 Station St Mall, Frankston
Open Evenings & Saturdays
Monday 26 February 2018
5973 6424 or email: team@baysidenews.com.au www.baysidenews.com.au
Father figure
A FRIENDLY face popped in to visit and lend support to a branch of the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union at Frankston Arts Centre. Roman Catholic Priest and community worker Father Bob Maguire gave his seal of approval to the group’s aim to let unemployed people know their rights when dealing with Centrelink and job agencies. See story Page 6. Picture: Yanni
Prime Minister’s whistlestop Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au FRANKSTON train station was a honeypot for politicians on both sides of the political spectrum last Monday (19 February). The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull turned up at the station about half an hour after Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan dropped by to announce the awarding of a tender as part of the Labor state government’s $63 million station precinct redevelopment project. Mr Turnbull, accompanied by Dunk-
ley Liberal MP Chris Crewther, travelled to the station flanked by a prime ministerial security detail. Most people walking past on the streets of Frankston seemed nonplussed by Mr Turnbull’s declaration that he was there to announce “a business case for the electrification of the Frankston line to Baxter”. His 15-minute visit to central Frankston followed an hour or so at Mornington business, Bata Shoes. “He was in town to look at Bata Shoes and local manufacturing and talk about the need for growth in manufacturing,” Mr Crewther said after the visit.
“He was at Frankston train station to talk about the Baxter electrification project and our support for that. We’ve signed off on that project already, so we’re waiting on the state government to tender it out.” The federal government committed $4 million towards a business case study to make the case for the electrification of the rail line to Baxter. “We’re calling on the state government to cost it out because we want it costed out before the state election,” Mr Crewther said. “If we don’t get it scoped before the state election there’s going to be no
funding committed towards it by the state opposition or the state government.” Ms Allan announced a construction partnership between KBR and John Holland to redevelop Frankston train station based on designs by Genton Architecture. “This new station will be bigger and better than before,” she said in a statement. “It will be a community centre Frankston can be proud of.” Frankston Labor MP Paul Edbrooke, also at the station with the state transport minister last Monday, took to so-
cial media after the Prime Minister’s visit to note Mr Turnbull made no federal funding announcements while in Frankston and "urging" the state government to partly fund major projects. “State Labor govt invests $200 plus million in Frankston without any matching investment from the PM and Federal Libs who are still 'urging' .... Thanks for nothing Turnbull,” Mr Edbrooke tweeted. The station will be closed from midyear while the rebuild is underway and replacement buses will shuttle commuters while the station is demolished and rebuilt. Jobs hint. Page 8