NEWS DESK Council prepares plan for Parkdale skyrail
FRANKSTON mayor Nathan Conroy, Pines Football Netball Club President Jeff Svigos, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke, and Pines Cricket Club President Brad Saunders (front L to R) join Crs Brad Hill and Sue Baker and other Pines club members at the Pat Rollo Pavilion opening. Picture: Supplied
Pat Rollo Pavilion opens doors THE new pavilion at Pat Rollo Reserve has been officially opened. The Pat Rollo Pavilion cost $2.8 million to build, with Frankston Council ratepayers putting in $800,000 and the state government $2 million. It will be used by Pines Football Netball Club, Pines Junior Football Club, Pines Cricket Club, and students from Aldercourt Primary School. The tenants at the ground have been pushing to get the project funded for years. Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said “this is a fantastic celebration for Pines Cricket Club and Pines Junior Football Club following years of tenacity from club members to get this important redevelopment moving.
I’m delighted the Victorian Government was able to contribute towards a project that will mean so much to the Frankston North community now and for future generations.” “This is truly now an amazing facility that will serve our enthusiastic junior players very well. It is everything we had hoped for and something the young football players that come through here will be proud of in Frankston North,” he said. The project included construction on two new change rooms, an umpires rooms, accessible toilets, a kitchen, a meeting room, and a social room. Pines Football Netball Club President Jeff Svigos said the new pavilion at his
club’s home ground would “attract even more kids into sport from within the Frankston North community.” “The new facility will be an exponential return on investment as it will keep kids in clubs and engaged. Our clubs give kids a good start in life not just from physical activity, but volunteering and work,” he said. Pines Cricket Club President Brad Saunders agreed. “We have families keep coming back here because of who we are. We’re not just a club, we’re a family and we’ve always believed that. We always support each other and welcome people. To see this new building, what was once a really struggling old building, is truly amazing,” he said.
KINGSTON Council has released draft plans for the skyrail precinct in Parkdale. The state government will build rail over road to replace the level crossings at Warrigal Road in Mentone and Parkers Road in Parkdale, building a new Parkdale Station in the process. Council has engaged a consultant firm to prepare a draft framework for the area in the hopes of influencing the Level Crossing Removal Project’s final designs. The draft document reads that council’s “vision” for Parkdale “includes a generous and well integrated public realm that offers high levels of amenity, shade and canopy cover, site-specific plantings that enhance the local biodiversity, and a material palette that speaks to the existing character of Parkdale.” Council wants to see minimised overshadowing on retail areas, the re-use of heritage structures, tree plantings, the retention of existing trees, and streetscape upgrades. While approving the draft plans council also agreed to write to state government MPs to again outline its concerns about the project. Kingston councillors voted to write a letter “reiterating our disappointment that council was not consulted prior to the announcement of the Warrigal Road and Parkers Road level crossing removals, asking for an explanation why the announcement of the proposed level crossing removals at Parkers Road and Warrigal Road was handled so differently to level crossing removals at Balcombe Road, Charman Road and Park Road,” and “asking the government to substantiate the statement on the level crossings website that initial engineering and technical assess-
ments have determined a rail bridge over the road to be the best solution at Warrigal Road and Parkers Road.” Kingston Council will write to all properties between Nepean Highway, Beach Road, Bay Road, George Street, Rogers Street, Lucerne Street and Palermo Street to gather specific feedback on traffic calming, parking, and a potential vehicle crossing point between Como Parade East and West. A survey conducted by council on the project had 1150 responses, with 76 per cent of them saying they supported rail under road instead. Last year LXRP program director Adam Maguire told The Times that the addition of more open space was a key reason for the decision to build skyrail in Parkdale. “One of the major benefits of elevated rail is that we can create around two MCGs worth of new open space, which could be used for a new town square, walking and bike paths, playgrounds, recreational facilities, trees, other greenery, landscaping and car parking. This outcome is simply not possible with a rail trench,” he said. (“Rail bridges defended” The Times 20/10/2021) The draft framework will now be released for community consultation. The level crossings are expected to be removed by 2025. Brodie Cowburn
Free flu shot offered FREE flu shots are now available statewide. The state government has invited more than 3000 GPs and pharmacies to take part in the $33 million scheme. Health minister Martin Foley said “this will be the first time in two years that we will face a real flu season – we need all Victorians to roll up their sleeves and help protect their loved ones and our health system by getting vaccinated.”
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Frankston Times
7 June 2022
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