NEWS DESK PROTESTERS demanded government funding for a multi-million dollar Centenary Park redevelopment on Friday, 3 May. Picture: Yanni
Tennis club protesters take to the streets Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au FRANKSTON Tennis Club members took to the streets to vocalise concerns about their future, with around two dozen people protesting outside the offices of local MPs Chris Crewther and Paul Edbrooke on Friday. The future of the club is up in the air, as their current home is set to become the site of expansion at Frankston Hospital. Frankston Council has been trying to move them into revamped facilities at Centenary Park, but neither state or federal governments have met council’s funding demands.
Council has asked for over $8 million each from state and federal governments to fund the project. It is believed that plans to include gymnastic facilities at the redeveloped Centenary Park have proved an expensive roadblock. Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke told The Times that “the state government has invited council to negotiate the project scope because we have a responsibility to avoid repeats of Frankston Council’s many previous unsuccessful projects which are still costing ratepayers tens of millions.” “Regardless of the fact that council insiders agree, council has refused to come back to the table and help us
fund a project for the tennis club.” Dunkley MP Chris Crewther appeared with the protesters on social media to declare his support for the project, despite the fact that the federal government has not made any financial commitment to it. “I’m very supportive in my advocacy for funding for this. I thank the council who have already put in around $11 milion,” he said. “It would be really helpful to get the state government on board to help me get the funding too.” The mayor Michael O’Reilly said last week that council would “investigate alternative options” if funding was not secured.
Session to have Green Wedge plan say on land sale out to consultation Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au THE sale of public land on Evelyn Street will be discussed at a two hour consultation session on 9 May. The sale of the land was to be debated behind closed doors at Frankston’s 18 February council meeting, but the debate was brought into open council. A “community drop-in session” will be held at the Frankston Civic Centre from 5pm until 7pm on 9 May. The mayor Michael O’Reilly said “residents are welcome to attend a drop-in session to speak with council officers one on one about the sale of the Evelyn Street land.” “I encourage residents to have their say and provide valuable feedback on the proposal. Feedback can also be given online.” Crs Glenn Aitken, Steve Toms, and Quinn McCormack opposed the sale of the land at the 18 February meeting. Cr Aitken said “ what you’re looking at is a sweetheart deal with one market. This is government working with another level of government, it is not an open market. This was brought up with the view of holding in closed council, with limited knowledge of the public so it wouldn’t blow up into public arena.” (“Move to cash in on public land”, The Times, 25/2/19) More information: frankston.vic. gov.au/HaveYourSay
THE proposed 2019 Green Wedge management plan will be put out for a six week period of public consultation. Frankston Council’s plan was debated at the 24 April council meeting, with Cr Glenn Aitken saying he was “totally dissatisfied” with the plan. Cr Quinn McCormack said “I’m not supportive of moving this forward to community consultation at this stage. I don’t support the findings or the recommendations of the draft Green Wedge management plan. They directly contradict the state planning policy in regards to the urban growth boundary which was implemented in 2017 and reinforced with the reelection of the Andrews government.” “To be pushing for changes to the urban growth boundary is foolhardy in my opinion, and it is not in keeping with the protection of the Green Wedge, which is what we were supposed to be doing in devising this management plan,” she said. Crs Aitken, McCormack, Kris Bolam and Lillian O’Connor voted that the process not proceed to consultation. Crs Michael O’Reilly, Colin Hampton, Mayer and Toms voted that it move forward. The mayor Cr O’Reilly used his casting vote and the motion passed in favour. The final plan will have to go to the planning minister before being approved. The plan can be viewed at council’s website and a hard copy can be viewed at their customer service desk.
Frankston Times
7 May 2019
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