NEWS DESK
Stadium lease stoush heads into overtime Continued from Page 3 Devco Project & Construction Management, the builder hired to expand the stadium, now wants at least an extra $200,000 due to project delays. Council and the FBDA are negotiating a 50-50 split on paying the $200,000 bill. Cr Cunial said: “Council has written to the FDBA imploring them to agree to the draft lease presented to them on 16 October 2017 and provide increased details of their expenditure by 14 November 2017, or council will be forced to withdraw from the project at the following council meeting.” The mayor said council “is committed to delivering improved community basketball facilities and is eager to commence works”. FBDA president Gary Emery accused council of being “alarmist” in stating federal and state funding for the stadium upgrade is at risk. “Statements the basketball stadium funding hangs in the balance is contrary to the advice the FDBA has received from government representatives,” Mr Emery said. “It would appear by using this type of language, council have adopted an alarmist approach which is counterproductive and only acts as bulldozing what the FDBA felt was an amicable process since agreement was reached in late June.” The FBDA says changes were made to a proposed lease agreement negotiated at a meeting mediated by former Liberal MP for Dunkley Bruce Billson in June.
“The FDBA believed it had a productive meeting with council officers last week [before the councillors’ meeting] and from this council would be formalising an agreement reflecting terms negotiated in late June by the former federal member for Dunkley Bruce Billson,” Mr Emery said. “The FDBA has previously publicly stated it is comfortable with the ‘Billson’ terms which was again conveyed recently to council officers who did not indicate at the time this was unreasonable or that the goal posts had shifted.” Mr Emery said: “Sport and Recreation Victoria representatives recently confirmed with council officers that audited financials, which the FDBA provide council as part of its current lease terms, is an appropriate level of financial disclosure in this instance. “The FDBA believed that this issue was resolved upon council receiving this advice. “This council managed project has been delayed for various reasons with no resolution in sight and demonstrates the precarious position council find themselves in that any future major projects undertaken by council, including the planned $13 million regional tennis centre, which is part of relocating Frankston Tennis Club, will require significant state government investment. “This process of successfully lobbying for future funds by community groups will be significantly undermined if council continue to mismanage grants totally in the multimillion dollars destined to benefit ratepayers.”
Road to safe driving: Student John Flandez, left, volunteer mentor John Davidson, Frankston mayor Brian Cunial and Lions Club of Frankston president Maurice Blackburn plating up for the L2P program. Picture: Gary Sissons
Driving to learning success THE road to getting a driver’s licence can be paved with a few speed bumps but the L2P program gives young people the chance to clock up the 120 hours of driving under supervision learner drivers need to sit the P-plate test. The Frankston Council supported driving program in partnership with the Lions Club of Frankston is seeking more adult volunteer driver supervisors to help families struggling to provide the needed 120 hours of driving time for youngsters. The L2P program is being expanded thanks to the donation of a second car by the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Demand is high for the program. Thirty-five young drivers are currently working towards P-plates and 50 are on a waiting list.
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Frankston Times 6 November 2017
“It took a while to get into the program, but it was worth the wait,” learner driver John Flandez, 18, said. “I’m thrilled to have my licence and now have my own car that will help me get to university next year.” Lions Club of Frankston president Maurice Blackburn said the club has a strong focus on supporting the young in the community. “L2P gives people a leg up and an opportunity they may not otherwise get and we’re proud to be supporting the program.” The L2P program began in 2010 and 84 mentor volunteers have helped 211 learners clock up 11,400 hours of driving time to obtain a probationary driver’s licence. Volunteer driving mentor John Davidson urged others to step up and
get involved in helping young people learn how to drive responsibly on the roads. “John has been a delight to mentor towards his recent success in obtaining his probationary licence. If he had any questions, he asked. “He didn’t race off and do his own thing and I congratulate him on his dedication throughout the program.” See frankston.vic.gov.au/L2P or call 9768 1313 to volunteer as a mentor driver or to offer financial support to give young drivers the right start on the road. Frankston Council coordinates the L2P program, funded by the TAC and managed by VicRoads, with the backing of sponsors and supporters including the Lions Club of Frankston and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Ringing the bell at Point Leo Flat bottom, sharp or blunt nose, swallow tail with flyers and rounded rails near the shoulders, and lots of rocker. Descriptions can be misleading, but all those words are part of the vernacular of surfers when describing a surfboard. They are words that will be freely used among the crowds expected at the Vintage Surf Day at Point Leo on Sunday 12 November. It is the third vintage day at Point Leo and sees the display of boards of all shapes, sizes and ages. And every board has a story. Bob Smith, honorary historian at the Torquay Surfworld Museum and Surfing Victoria, is bringing rare and valuable memorabilia from the annual Bells Beach surfing contest, including the official contest trophy and the bell won by 1970s Australian surfer, the late Michael Peterson. Stalls on the foreshore will include old surfboards and other devices used to catch waves. There will be Kombis and woodies (surf cars) and food stalls. Peter White, formerly of Seaford but now operating Classic Malibu, at Noosa, is bringing a range of modern boards down from Queensland and will be able to compare the evolution of designs over the years. One of the boards is a copy of a five-stringer George Rice mal that he used to make under licence in the
Keeper of the bell: Surf historian Bob Smith will bring memorabilia from the Bells Easter surf competition to this year’s Surf Vintage Day at Point Leo.
1960s. The board is made with the green tinged heavy Volan fibreglass, more commonly used on mals and old style boards. Smith, who turned 70 this year, has surfed since 1964 and still competes regularly on longboards. He’s recognised as a standout talent at west coast breaks, particularly Point Impossible. He has won 23 Victorian titles and two Australian Masters Games titles, as well as two Surfing Australia Hall of Fame awards and multiple titles for the Torquay Boardriders and
Surfcoast Longboarders. He was awarded life membership to Surfing Victoria in 2014. “Bob is a mine of information about the surfing history of Victoria, including the Mornington Peninsula and will be happy to talk history when he’s over here,” Vintage day organiser Rod Jones said. The third Vintage Surf Day, on the foreshore at Point Leo from 10am Sunday 12 November. Admission $4, with proceeds going to the Disabled Surfers Association Morning ton Peninsula. Keith Platt