All other meeting times and dates and the link to live stream a meeting can be found on our website.
KINGSTON YOUR CITY EDITOR comms@kingston.vic.gov.au
Kingston encourages you to reprint articles and photographs from this publication, but permission must first be sought from the Editor. Acknowledgement of the source must be provided.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The City of Kingston proudly acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land, and we pay our respect to their Elders, past and present and emerging.
COVER PHOTO
Kingston Citizen of the Year
Marlene Nanscawen.
Expanding our trusted support for seniors
Kingston’s AccessCare is strengthening our commitment to providing aged care services to the community.
AccessCare has been supporting local seniors for more than 30 years, and from 1 July we’ll expand our services to City of Frankston.
The Federal Government is providing funding for the services and the AccessCare team is hiring additional staff to support our new clients.
This extension of our services will ensure AccessCare’s long-term sustainability and ability to provide care and support to older residents.
If you have any questions or would like to talk to us about our services and packages, please contact AccessCare:
Mayor Cr Georgina Oxley 0429 222 504 I georgina.oxley@kingston.vic.gov.au
As we head towards the State Election later this year, Council is not sitting back! Through our Put Kingston First campaign, we are actively pushing for the investment in local infrastructure and community spaces that you have told us matter most. Here in Chelsea and Chelsea Heights, two projects the community have told us about are the revitalisation of the Chelsea Shops starting with The Strand and upgrading the pavilion at Beazley Reserve.
Chelsea Shops has enormous potential to be even more vibrant as the real heart of Chelsea and revitalising The Strand is the first step – better connecting the shopping strip to the beach and creating a safer, more attractive space where people genuinely want to spend time.
At Beazley Reserve, we are focused on modernising the pavilion and delivering more female-friendly facilities that properly support the players, volunteers and families connected to the Chelsea
Heights Football Netball Club. They deserve better, and we are fighting to make it happen.
Stay up to date with our state election advocacy over the coming months!
It has also been a wonderful few weeks celebrating the people who make Kingston such a connected and caring community. Our recent Volunteer Appreciation Event and Community Awards were a proud reminder of just how much quietly goes on behind the scenes in this city.
Congratulations to Citizen of the Year Marlene Nanscawen, Community Group of the Year Bayside Community Emergency Relief, and every single nominee. Kingston is a better place because of people like you, and I am grateful every day to serve a community that cares so deeply.
YOUR COUNCILLORS
Deputy Mayor
Cr Sarah O’Donnell
0499 770 523
sarah.odonnell@kingston. vic.gov.au
Community priorities drive our Budget
I really value getting out into the community, chatting with residents, sporting clubs and local groups, and hearing firsthand what people love about where they live and what they’d like to see improved. Those conversations are a big part of how I approach the work we do at Council.
A major focus right now is protecting Rossdale Golf Course. It’s a muchloved green space that plays an important role for local habitat and tree canopy, and it sits right alongside the internationally significant Edithvale and Seaford Wetlands. Council has been clear in its opposition to any redevelopment of the site, and we’ll continue to advocate strongly to protect it. We’re also focused on getting the best possible outcome for Aspendale through the Level Crossing Removal Project. In line with the majority of community feedback, we’re pushing for the rail line to be elevated, which would create new open space, improve walking and cycling connections, and better link both sides of the Frankston line.
Closer to home in Yammerbook Ward, residents often raise Yackatoon Avenue, where drainage needs to be upgraded before the road can be properly rebuilt.
Another priority in the ward is the Glen Street Reserve Pavilion. It’s reached the end of its life and is no longer fit for a growing sporting community, so upgrading it is an important project for the area.
I’ll keep having those conversations out in the community as we work through these priorities together.
Our 2026/27 Budget and long-term financial planning documents, outline continued investment in the services, infrastructure and facilities that support the community every day.
The adopted Budget, Long-Term Financial Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan ensure we remain financially sustainable into the future.
They were shaped through an extensive three-stage community engagement process, including more than 670 community submissions and public feedback on the draft budget.
The 2026/27 Budget includes a capital works program of $74.7 million and a forecast operating surplus of $5.8 million, supporting Council’s long-term financial sustainability while continuing to invest in community infrastructure and essential services.
We are also continuing our targeted support package to assist residents
experiencing financial hardship and cost-of-living pressures.
The Budget includes a rate increase in line with the Victorian Government’s 2.75 per cent rate cap and responds to ongoing economic pressures including inflation, utility and fuel costs, interest rates and changing grant funding assumptions.
Major projects will continue across the municipality during 2026/27, including progress on the new Mordi Aquatic Centre alongside upgrades to local parks, sporting facilities, roads, footpaths and community infrastructure.
The Budget, Long-Term Financial Plan and Revenue and Rating Plan are available to read at kingston.vic.gov.au/budget
Upcoming by-election
A by-election will be held on 1 August for Kingston’s Melaleuca Ward (covering Parkdale and Mordialloc) following the resignation of the local councillor.
Candidate nominations have closed and the Victorian Electoral Commission will distribute ballot packs to voters in the post from Monday 13 July.
Your ballot pack will contain a ballot paper, candidate statements, a ballot paper envelope (for your vote to go in), a reply-paid envelope (for your ballot paper envelope to go in) and a multi-language leaflet on how to vote.
Voting closes at 6pm on Friday 31 July and the Melaleuca Ward By-election will be held on Saturday 1 August.
Stay up to date at kingston.vic. gov.au/elections
We’ll be setting up at local events and community spaces so you can chat with us face-to-face about current consultations in your area, and across Kingston.
Come along to a pop-up to:
% find out about projects and consultations in your area
% ask questions and share your ideas
% tell us what matters most to you
Stay updated with dates, times and locations: yourkingstonyoursay.com. au/community-convos
A big thanks to those who make a difference
For more than 30 years, Marlene Nanscawen has donated time to help run crucial community food relief program, Make A Difference Dingley Village.
Her generosity has seen her awarded Kingston Citizen of the Year 2026 at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event.
THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
Another exciting gala event to recognise incredible local businesses is in the planning.
Nominations for Kingston Sustainable Business Awards 2026 are in and the judging process is underway.
The awards presentation will be held at Kingston City Hall on Thursday 10 September.
Find out more kingston.vic. gov.au/sustainable-businessawards
Bayside Community Emergency Relief has been awarded Kingston Community Group of the Year for cost of living support, locally and across Victoria.
Championing local women
Women’s health advocate Marina Kyriakou is Kingston’s Woman of the Year for 2026. Marina turned her own lived experience with endometriosis into a powerful movement for awareness, education and reform.
Advocate for inclusion, accessibility and the arts, Anastasia (Anna) Bearsley, 22, is Kingston’s Young Woman of the Year.
Thank you to all the incredible nominees.
For more visit kingston.vic.gov.au/ women-of-the-year
Our Volunteer Appreciation Event and Kingston Community Awards are a wonderful way to acknowledge and celebrate the many people across our city who generously give their time and expertise to better the lives of others and the neighbourhoods we live in.
Discover more about volunteering: kingston.vic.gov.au/volunteer maddv.com.au
baysidecommunityemergency relief.com.au
Kingston Woman of the Year 2026, Marina Kyriakou.
Kingston Young Woman of the Year 2026, Anastasia Bearsley.
Volunteer Marlene Nanscawen, Kingston Citizen of the Year.
Kingston Community Group of the Year Bayside Community Emergency Relief.
Sprucing up our shopping strips
You may have seen our crews out and about keeping our
shopping strips visitor and business friendly.
They’ve been installing new street furniture, landscaping, planting trees and cleaning.
Our Asset Care Crew maintains all shopping precincts daily, including removing graffiti. Street sweepers are out every day too and bins emptied regularly.
New planters have been installed in Highett Village, Warren Road Parkdale and Chelsea.
Cavanagh Street Cheltenham has also been upgraded through our small shopping centre renewal program. (see page 7)
Mordialloc, Mentone, Carrum and Parkdale shopping precincts all received an extra cleaning blitz as visitor number swelled over summer.
This involved additional litter picking, graffiti removal, installation of bigger bins, street furniture and footpath washing.
The team at work
% 15,000 sqm of graffiti removal a year
% 110 bench seats and picnic tables renovated in past 2 years
% 12,000 activity centre litter bins emptied every month
In Mentone, between January and March this year, we’ve removed about 100sqm of graffiti, repaired and cleaned 14 benches, 7 bollards and 2 drinking fountains and installed two tactile zebra crossings.
Last year, our dedicated graffiti removal crew scrubbed 12,000 sqm of graffiti from Council assets, parks, reserves, foreshore and shopping precincts. Each was removed within 24 hours of it being reported.
We received 927 reports of graffiti, with public toilets targeted most.
We have also used planting schemes, murals and lighting to help with the reduction of graffiti in prominent locations.
Report graffiti online or get a free removal kit:
% 260 litter bins cleaned twice a week
% 20,000 km a year to activity centres (in our emissions free EVs)
% 12 extra cleaning blitzes a year
Cr Tony Athanasopoulos
0400 396 723
tony.a@kingston.vic.gov.au
We often advocate to our State Members of Parliament for funding assistance for important community projects.
Some people collect stamps or footy cards — Councillors collect finance meetings with governments.
As the next State Government election approaches, we are highlighting important local projects, urging candidates to Put Kingston First –our polite way of saying, “glad you’re visiting — what’s in it for Kingston?”
Following almost $10 million from the Australian Government, we can start bringing the vision for Namatjira Park to life.
A rejuvenated Namatjira will support multiple sports, better lighting, safer paths and enhanced waterways –the local government equivalent of finding an extra chip at the bottom of the bag.
We’ve already upgraded the outdoor gym. Give it a try! Just don’t blame us when muscles you haven’t used since the Sydney Olympics suddenly reintroduce themselves.
I’ll be playing my part in talking to candidates about Namatjira’s ongoing improvement needs and its value to our community.
Extra traffic safety measures and a suite of projects (part of our Walking and Cycling Plan 2023–28) are also key advocacy items. For example, safer cycling pathways through Clarinda, especially Bourke Road. We love you to arrive at your destination discussing the weather, not recounting a near-death experience. Investment in improving Dingley Bypass and Boundary Road’s notorious high-risk zones is crucial. Some intersections generate more discussion than a season of MAFS
Keep talking to me about local concerns but be sure to let election candidates know too. Election season is one of the few times politicians are happy to listen to everyone. Make the most of it.
New life for beloved shopping centres
Refreshed local shopping centres improve your shopping and dining experience and support our traders. A big thanks to businesses and all of you who engaged with us on the design of these projects.
The much-loved Cavanagh Street shopping strip in Cheltenham now has a more welcoming, and vibrant vibe. The street has a stretch of wider footpath to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility. New street furniture including seating, larger bins and bicycle hoops have been installed, an accessible parking bay and new water dispenser added, and new trees and landscaping have made the strip more inviting.
A new paved and landscaped area with a picnic table have been added near Frank’s Café and relocation of the phone booth has added more space.
YOUR COUNCILLORS
A revitalisation of the Thames Promenade shopping strip is part of our Chelsea Heights precinct major revamp. Footpath renewal, landscaping and new street furniture has cheered up the strip. The installation of traffic signals, extension of the 40kph speed limit during school drop-off and pick-up times, new lighting and a separate right-turn lane on the east approach will improve safety.
Work has already begun on an exciting Heights Park upgrade with a new playground, shelter, picnic facilities, fencing and landscaping. Improving the existing path network, new path connections and lighting will follow.
Cr Jane Agirtan
0499 770 391 I jane.agirtan@kingston.vic.gov.au
Getting the best for Kingston has always started with listening to our community and working steadily to deliver what matters most to local families, clubs and neighbourhoods.
Recent upgrades at Kingston Heath Reserve — including improvements to the hockey field, lighting and cricket nets — have been really well received. It’s been wonderful seeing clubs and residents make full use of these upgrades. But with our sporting community growing so quickly, there’s more to do, and Council is committed to advocating for the next stage of improvements. Our priorities are clear:
synthetic turf for the main baseball infield, two additional sports lights, reconstructed outfield fencing, updated player and official shelters, ball-stop netting and a modern facility with proper change rooms, spectator areas and public amenities. These upgrades will help ensure the reserve keeps pace with community needs for years to come. Advocacy is a big part of Council’s role, and we take it seriously. Whether we’re seeking funding support for local projects or working with other levels of government to manage major changes happening in our neighbourhoods, our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for Kingston residents. This includes
continuing to represent the community throughout the Suburban Rail Loop works and ensuring nearby residents and businesses are kept informed and considered.
With a Victorian election approaching, it’s a great opportunity to highlight our local priorities and encourage candidates to champion the needs of Kingston’s residents, sporting clubs and neighbourhoods. I’ll keep doing exactly that – with heart, purpose and a clear focus on our community.
A $3.3m revitalisation of Edithvale Shopping Village has breathed new life into the popular area.
Spanning 11 blocks along Nepean Highway, we’ve laid new footpaths, added new street furniture and landscaping creating a cohesive, accessible and attractive precinct.
New street furniture, planting, wayfinding signage and drainage and flood mitigation work has refreshed the village for shoppers and businesses.
Community and local business input helped us make this hidden gem shine again.
More to come
Your feedback is helping develop a draft concept plan for a Parkdale shopping strip revitalisation. We will share it with you soon to make sure we got it right.
A colourful boost for local centres
Kingston’s mural program has brought new colour and energy into our activity centres, with the artworks in Mordi Village becoming a much-loved destination for locals and visitors alike.
Building on that momentum, we’re now preparing the next chapter, a new street art festival launching in Cheltenham in 2027, with Chelsea to follow in 2028.
Behind the scenes, we’re securing walls, speaking with local businesses and reviewing expressions of interest from cultural producers and curators who will help shape the program. There’s plenty more to come, stay tuned as we bring this next festival to life!
A brighter walk to the beach
We’re also bringing new life to The Strand in Chelsea, the popular walkway connecting Chelsea Station to the foreshore.
A new lighting feature, supplied by Kingston-based business WE-EF Lighting, will gently uplight the trees and existing mural while casting soft shadows and light patterns along the path. Using energy-efficient, low-glare fittings, the upgrade will create a warm, welcoming feel and a greater sense of safety after dark.
Cr Chris Hill
0437 913 851
chris.hill@kingston.vic. gov.au
Over the past five years, the issue residents have raised with me most often has been traffic congestion in Mentone, especially around school drop-off and pick-up times and on busy weekends.
To better understand the problem, Council carried out a detailed study examining traffic flow, safety and future growth in the activity centre. The study identified opportunities to help improve traffic flow along Balcombe Road and better manage heavy school-related traffic.
We received strong community feedback, with a slight preference to proceed with a 12-month trial closing vehicle access from Balcombe Road into the Woolworths car park. We will implement the proposal in stages and closely monitor traffic and modify the approach if traffic conditions deteriorate significantly. We will also continue to work collaboratively with the Department of Transport and Planning and advocate for a review and optimisation of signal operations along Balcombe Road.
I’ll continue standing with our community who want to see Mentone’s unique heritage, village feel and liveability protected. I heard clearly the opposition to the proposed six-storey development next to Mentone Heritage Station and the desire to retain this land as community space.
We continue to engage with the LXRP to reinforce the importance of community consultation on Latrobe Street level crossing removal and have raised concerns about increased building heights proposed for some of our quiet residential streets under the government’s Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.
Get excited for our new street art festival.
Listening to our community
Your rates support quality facilities, reliable infrastructure, services and programs making a real difference in your neighbourhoods.
Your enthusiastic engagement with us helps shape them and help us continue to build a strong, connected Kingston community. Here’s a recent snapshot.
Exhibitions
Attendance Attendance
Cr Chris Howe
0499 776 893
chris.howe@kingston.vic. gov.au
Safety is a core pillar of a strong community, and Kingston Council works closely with Victoria Police, SES, Life Saving Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria to help keep our neighbourhoods safe. I sit on, and frequently chair, the Community Safety Working Group, which brings these agencies together to share local intelligence, respond to emerging issues and coordinate practical action.
Over summer, Operation Summer Safe ran until 31 March, with Victoria Police patrolling beaches and other identified busy beaches. It was another significant season on our foreshore. Lifesavers were kept busy, responding to incidents and conducting rescues on the most active beach in Kingston for rescues. Carrum remains our most visited beach because of its train access, playground and boating channel. I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of both Carrum and Bonbeach surf lifesaving clubs as they continue to make a major contribution to community safety. Council’s City Works team also did an excellent job keeping our beaches and public spaces clean and well maintained during high visitor periods.
Local safety improvements continue, including the completed McLeod Road safety island and a trial of safety bollards in Old Post Office Lane to better protect pedestrians. We are also advocating for funding from the Victorian Government for the Bonbeach YCW redevelopment , Kananook Creek western footbridge accessibility upgrade, and Carrum foreshore playground renewal
Completed works include graffiti removal on Thompson Road bridge and a new Gladesville Boulevard crossing.
Your safety remains my priority –please reach out with any concerns.
Vibrant parks and public spaces
We’re seeking funding support to upgrade changing facilities at our much-loved Waves Leisure Centre to improve accessibility and encourage greater participation.
We hope to upgrade Carrum Foreshore Playground with new BBQs, accessible paths, play elements and more, and a $2m masterplan has been developed to continue the transformation of former landfill site Spring Road Reserve in Dingley Village.
We’re also planning to upgrade existing paths and construct a new elevated flood-resilient boardwalk near the Edithvale–Seaford Wetlands
Kingston is also calling on the Victorian Government to help us deliver our long-held vision of a Chain of Parks stretching from Heatherton to Braeside and to partner with us to deliver Kingston Fields, a much-needed regional level sporting facility.
Thriving Shopping Centres
Council welcomes funding to help deliver our planned upgrades to local shopping areas including $2m improvements at Parkdale shopping strip for new greenery, upgraded footpaths, improved street furniture, expanded outdoor dining opportunities and safer, more welcoming public spaces.
The Strand, Chelsea is also a busy thoroughfare in need of upgrading. A $5m revamp will reinvigorate the precinct, strengthening local businesses, and we are also planning targeted improvements at Dingley Village and Highett shopping strips
State electorates Mordialloc, Clarinda, Sandringham
State electorates Bentleigh, Carrum, Clarinda, Mordialloc
Carrum Foreshore playground.
Parkdale shopping centre.
Kingston Arts Precinct. Jack’s Avenue Kindergarten.
Highett shopping strip. Dingley Village.
The Strand, Chelsea.
Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands.
Spring Road Reserve, Dingley Village.
Leisure Centre.
We are calling on local candidates for the upcoming State Government to back the projects that matter most to our community. Here are a few.
Better community buildings
Kingston Arts Precinct, with Kingston City Hall at its heart, is a significant community asset with a unique opportunity to be reimagined as a dynamic cultural hub. Following extensive community consultation, a long-term plan has been developed to upgrade and revitalise the precinct – but we need support from other levels of government to achieve it.
Strengthening long-term educational outcomes in the community will be assisted with an upgrade of our exceeding-rated Edithvale Family and Children’s Centre and Jack’s Avenue Kindergarten
State electorates Bentleigh, Mordialloc, Clarinda
Stronger sporting facilities
Kingston Heath Reserve is a key sporting and community hub, with demand growing across multiple sports. Further investment is critical, and a 3-stage plan will deliver benefits across hockey, cricket and baseball.
The well-loved Edithvale Common supports football, soccer, cricket and a range of local activities. Planned improvements include an upgraded female-friendly pavilion, enhanced accessibility, new sports lighting, improved cricket facilities, a pump and BMX track, and expanded parking.
We plan to deliver a modern, equitable, and female-friendly Bonbeach YCW Junior Sports Club Pavilion, improved changing facilities at Dingley Village Tennis Club and improvements for Dolamore Reserve Athletics Track in Parkdale to boost participation and extend access to highquality sporting facilities.
We also have a long-term plan for a $5m upgrade to Glen Street Reserve Pavilion in Aspendale as well as improvements at Beazley Reserve, Chelsea Heights, and St Chad’s Baseball Club in Chelsea Heights
There are also opportunities to deliver positive change for Victorian Government projects and legislation including: better bus service positive outcomes for LXRP and SRL projects increased homelessness services a fairer share of emergency services funding protecting local golf courses traffic/cycling safety improvements (eg. Bourke Road, Clarinda)
State electorates Clarinda, Carrum, Mordialloc
Dolamore Reserve athletics track.
Edithvale Family & Children’s Centre.
Beazley Reserve.
Edithvale Recreation Reserve.
Kingston Heath Reserve.
St Chad’s Baseball Club.
Get ready to dive in
We’re excited to share that construction of the new Mordi Aquatic Centre is progressing well and remains on track for completion of construction in late 2026.
Roofing is complete, a huge 150kl rainwater harvesting tank for sustainable toilet flushing, irrigation and pool top-up has been installed, the pool hall change village is taking shape and a large underground tank to help manage stormwater is on site.
The internal fit out, cabling, walls and partitions, plaster, sanding and painting in the reception and café areas, are all underway.
As we move into the final stages of the build, we’re planning for an early-2027 opening. This allows time to ensure everything is fully tested and ready to deliver the best possible experience for our community from day one.
We’ll also be launching membership pre-sales in Spring 2026, giving you the chance to secure your spot ahead of opening.
The countdown is on. We can’t wait to welcome you to the new centre!
Keeping Kingston active
It’s an exciting year for aquatics and leisure in Kingston.
Alongside the Mordi Aquatic Centre construction, our muchloved Waves Leisure Centre is undergoing a refresh.
This includes a new Pilates studio, modernising the reception area, and adding fresh paint and updated signage.
As a cornerstone of the Kingston community for 30 years, Waves continues to build a loyal community of members of all ages.
Look forward to:
% four pools (50m multi-purpose lap, learn-to-swim, warm water exercise and leisure)
% spa, sauna and steam room
% gym and fitness facilities
% café
% change village
% car parking.
Stay up to date at kingston.vic.gov.au/ new-centre
The centre offers swim lessons, lap swimming, sauna and steam rooms, splash zone, Wave pool, a gym and group fitness classes. We’re going all-electric at Waves to reduce emissions and energy costs from the gas-fired water heating system, with work due to start early next year.
We have successfully advocated to the Federal Government for a $2.5 million grant from its Community Energy Upgrades Fund to offset the cost of the $5m conversion.
Together, Waves and Mordi Aquatic Centre are central to our commitment to encouraging a healthy and active community.
Cr Georgia Erevnidis
0499 778 524
georgia.erevnidis@kingston. vic.gov.au
Most of you will at one time or another have been Waves Leisure Centre.
The centre has been an important part of our community for 30 years and we want to preserve that by upgrading it.
More than 508,000 people visited in the past year and with that figure likely to grow, the changing facilities need to be refreshed and modernised to meet demand.
As something we’d love financial assistance with, it is one of the projects at the centre of our Put Kingston First campaign as we approach a Victorian Government election.
Refurbishment of Highett Road shopping strip in Highett is also a key part of our advocacy. Highett has undergone incredible transformation in the past decade, growing into a modern activity centre. A refresh of the strip is planned, and we are seeking funding from the Victorian Government to help with this.
A refresh will ensure continued use of the strip and a boost for traders.
I know level crossing removal works are always a cause of concern and debate in our community. With Highett work planned, now is the time for us to push hard for the best outcome for this community.
Proper management of LXRP construction to ensure as little negative impact as possible on nearby residents is critical, as is a design that enhances this vibrant area.
Best wishes to Bendigo Bank in their new Highett Road premises. Thanks you for your continued support for our community.
We recently added a new half basketball court at Waves, which also has 3 x 4 handball squares. Find out more at kingstonactive.com.au
is our backyard THIS!
, Carrum Foreshore
RAINY DAY
There’s plenty of indoor family fun to be found. Play pickleball yearround with five indoor facilities. Special mention to the pink courts at Melbourne Pickle Club in Moorabbin. Keen to skate? Curbside Coaching in Mordialloc is one of Melbourne’s only indoor skate clubs. Offering classes for all levels including kids and adults. Or get creative at Create Boutique & Art Studio in Carrum, offering a range of art and craft classes with something for the whole family.
HOP
Home to some of the best breweries around, this is your next group catch-up sorted. It’s a short hop between Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers in Braeside, Braeside Brewing Co, and Wolf of the Willows in Mordialloc. Prefer to keep it on foot? Moorabbin’s got you covered, with an easy stroll between 2 Brothers Brewery and Stomping Ground
CAFES
Nothing beats a cosy brekkie out with coffee served extra hot. Tinello in Carrum and Passion Cafe in Patterson Lakes are great picks for families, with playgrounds nearby to keep the kids happy. After a bite to eat, why not rug up and take a stroll along the foreshore or lake. Love a cafe-grocer combo? Bonbeach Tuck Shop in Bonbeach and Bubbly Beans in Chelsea both have adjoining stores. Perfect for grabbing milk on the way home (and a little treat for later).
THIS! IS KINGSTON
Your guide to making the most of winter in Kingston.
BY THE
Cosy fireplace of it play stops Comfort
Nothing beats catching up with mates by a crackling fire. Sip a wine at Railway Wine in Highett and grab some Italian from next door at Teo’s Pizza. If you’re big on bikes, Naked Racer in Cheltenham boasts an antique motorcycle museum, live music and Friday steak night. Arcobar restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining with live music every weekend, and you guessed it, a feature fireplace.
MAKE A NIGHT
Start your night at Sundays Distilling in Moorabbin for their tasting flights or take your pick from their gin cocktail menu. Next head to Chiki Chan in Mordialloc for endless Asian tapas and Sunday drink specials. Up for a dance? Cyan Bar in Mentone is your next stop. Two floors, three unique bars and an unmatched dancefloor.
FOOD FIX
Cold weather calls for comfort food. We’re talking sizzling bulgogi from Migak in Oakleigh South. Rich ragu pasta from Meat Flour Wine in Braeside. Or flavour-bomb tacos from Tamam Tacos in Edithvale Warm your soul and bellies with all the best bites Kingston has on offer.
, Melbourne Pickle Club, Moorabbin
, Railway Wine, Highett
, Wolf of the Willows, Mordialloc
, Chiki Chan, Mordialloc
, Tinello, Carrum
, Meat Flour Wine, Braeside
Helping families
From babyhood to the teen years, we support Kingston’s parents and carers with a wide range of services and programs.
Early education and care
We offer exceptional play-based kindergarten for three and four-year-old children.
Our flexible Extended Day Multiage Kindergarten is delivered by high quality educators in engaging play-based environments. We also offer childcare including Long Day Care and free supported playgroups run by qualified early childhood professionals.
Registration is now open for 2027 Sessional Kindergarten. More at kingston.vic.gov.au/kinder
Parent and baby support
Our Family & Children’s centres
We are proud to offer modern, welcoming centres where children can explore imaginative and active play, supported by engaging resources and expertly designed indoor and outdoor environments.
Family Support Services
Every family may need additional support or professional assistance from time to time. We offer parenting support and education, support with family relationships, preventing social isolation, help with education and employment and emotional, health and financial issues.
Our Maternal and Child Health free service helps ease some of the overwhelm of those early years. Our nurses offer support with breastfeeding, sleep and settling, immunisation, new parent groups, First Foods and Active Play (INFANT program) and more. Parents can visit a maternal and child health nurse at 10 key ages and stages from birth to three and a half years.
kingston.vic.gov.au/maternaland-child-health
Stringent recruitment processes for all three centres – Carrum, Edithvale, Parkdale – ensure we attract and retain high quality educators, who can best meet the needs of all children and their families.
kingston.vic.gov.au/fcc
See what’s on offer.
We have an array of youth services and programs as well as useful parent information sessions.
Family Day Care
Ideal for families seeking a homely setting and more flexibility, Family Day Care offers high-quality education and care in small, nurturing home environments for children from infancy to school age. A trusted alternative to larger childcare centres, it is delivered by qualified educators who are supported by the City of Kingston. kingston.vic.gov.au/family-daycare
Grow a garden for local wildlife
Learn how to attract beautiful birds, butterflies, and more to your backyard, by planting the grasses, shrubs, trees and flowers they love to visit!
Receive a complementary indigenous plant list, advice on how to plant, a simple planting diagram tailored for your garden, and more, from Kingston’s dedicated Gardens for Wildlife Officer. Simply upload a few photos of your garden or book an in-person assessment.
Indigenous plants are native plants that occur naturally in an area, are suited to our local soil and climate and provide food and shelter for local wildlife.
Vegetation communities are groups of indigenous plants that share a common environment.
Find out more: kingston.vic. gov.au/gardens-for-wildlife
Save energy and money
Kingston’s Power Savers program helps you make your home more comfortable, affordable, and environmentally friendly. Learn how to improve energy efficiency and lower energy bills in one simple process. We can connect you to trusted, vetted suppliers for a range of home and business energy upgrades, including split system heating and cooling, hot water heat pump systems, EV charges, insulation, solar panelling and more.
Get expert advice, reliable quotes, guidance on accessing available
rebates, compare suppliers, and manage paperwork more easily.
Get started: kingston.vic.gov.au/ energy-efficiency
Let’s plant trees!
Join Australia’s largest nature-care events and plant native trees, shrubs, bush tucker gardens and create habitats for local wildlife.
Cr Hadi Saab
0437 885 142 hadi.saab@kingston.vic. gov.au
We are proud to have Kingston City Hall in our municipality –in fact, right here in Karkarook Ward.
Originally Moorabbin Town Hall, City Hall sits within our fabulous Arts Precinct with the beautiful Arts Centre building alongside. Many of you will have taken part in our extensive consultation on improving the precinct and following that we have developed a plan to secure the future of Kingston City Hall, our largest cultural venue, and the revitalisation of the precinct.
We’re seeking funding to deliver these important improvements, and it is one of the projects we have highlighted as part of our Put Kingston First campaign in the lead up the Victorian Government election.
We want the things that matter most to our community front and centre for candidates.
Dumping rubbish on public land, including streets, parks and beaches, is illegal and harmful to the environment.
Find out who to contact and how to report it, visit:
Join the fun: nationaltreeday.org.au
Schools Tree Day Friday 24 July
National Tree Day Sunday 26 July
Got a passion for protecting and preserving local open spaces, bushland, and foreshore reserves? Join us for a working bee. kingston.vic.gov.au/working-bees
We are also seeking funding assistance with the reconstruction of LePage Lane in Moorabbin which is now an access road for residents but needs upgrading to modern road standard. Crucial advocacy to the Department of Transport and Planning for the installation of a right turn arrow for vehicles exiting Wickham Road into Nepean Highway Southbound is ongoing.
This is a large and busy junction and improving safety there is important. The need for a right-turn arrow is something many of you who use the junction have raised with me and we need the DTP onboard to make this happen.
Talk to the candidates standing for election this year and ensure they know what’s important to you and your neighbourhood.
Anna and Ben in their wildlife friendly garden.
CARUANA WARD UPDATE
Congratulations to Kingston’s 2026 Citizen of the Year award, Marlene Nanscawen.
Marlene received the award for her volunteer work with Make a Difference Dingley Village.
She has been supporting the food relief program at Make A Difference for a long time, helping families and individuals at times of crisis.
Marlene helps with office operations and works with the team ensuring vulnerable community members have access to essentials including blankets, sleeping bags, frozen meals and sanitary products.
The not-for-profit organisation started more than 40 years ago, providing support to thousands of people in need.
Their weekly food pantry provides parcels of food, frozen meals, milk bread, and other items and the financial counselling service offers help for people with unmanageable debt.
Make a Difference Dingley Village is a local gem and the help – and hope – the incredible team provides is needed now as much as ever.
With winter settling in, don’t forget another neighbourhood treasure, the Dingley Village Library and our recently refreshed Clarinda Library, with its new shelving and cool reading and study spots.
Our libraries are more than just books and borrowing. They offer a wide range of activities, workshops, classes and events for the whole family.
The Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre is also a great space offering small friendly classes and a playgroup. There is plenty to enjoy and love about where we live.
KingstonRepresent Make your voice count
Join our Representative Community Panel before 26 July
With more than 13 kilometres of beautiful coastline to enjoy, don’t let winter keep you indoors. Rug up and take the dog for some off-leash fun.
Kingston’s foreshore winter regulations allow more time for dogs to enjoy off-leash play at the beach.
Remember dogs must remain on-leash before reaching off-leash areas and must remain under effective control at all times. Please carry a litter removal device, such as a biodegradable plastic bag when out with your dog in public and pick up after your pooch. Help keep our beaches clean for all to enjoy. Regulations vary by location.
Beach not your thing? There are 33 parks where your pooch can play off-leash in Kingston, including nine fenced locations.
All you need to know:
Wintry beach days with Fido Bringing flavour to the foreshore
We are reviewing Expressions of Interest from mobile vendors to operate across seven prime locations along our foreshore and at Bicentennial Park.
The aim is to enhance some of our most popular outdoor spaces, supporting local businesses while offering more choice for residents and visitors enjoying the coastline and parklands.
We sought interest from a diverse mix of vendors, including food and beverage operators and those offering beach and wellness-related services suited to the coastal environment.
We will keep you updated.
CARUANA WARD
Cr Kirralee AshworthCollett
0484 605 156
kirralee.ashworth-collett@ kingston.vic.gov.au
Kingston’s winter warmers
Escape the chill at our warm, welcoming arts venues and libraries.
Last year, I met a group of remarkable Year 6 students from St Louis de Montfort Primary School (who’ve now begun their journey into high school).
They presented me with an idea that was anything but small – a BMX pump track for Edithvale Common. This was not just a scribbled suggestion on the back of a worksheet. They had researched successful tracks elsewhere, prepared a thoughtful design draft, and even explained the physics behind it.
It was exactly the kind of community thinking we love to see: young people sharing ideas that shape the places they care about. It was a strong reminder of the importance of listening to the community, and of providing meaningful spaces and activities for teenagers.
The students’ enthusiasm for something active, inclusive and fun has stuck with me.
Council is exploring opportunities for pump tracks, jump tracks and skills spaces across Kingston, particularly for teenagers looking for more challenging recreational spaces
We’ve begun to look at how this could be part of future planning for Edithvale Common. There’s still plenty to work through, particularly approvals required from Melbourne Water, but I hope it will form part of the broader reserve improvement plan currently being developed for the area. It’s a wide-ranging concept including improved sporting facilities, upgraded building and change facilities, and additional parking. Once completed, the masterplan will come to the community for consultation.
Meanwhile we continue advocating to the State Government for funding support to help bring these projects to life.
If you have the next great idea, please reach out to me!
We have book group sets for borrowing. If you have a book group and need multiple copies, we have 160 titles to choose from. Borrow a full set for 10 weeks!
Enjoy an artful winter
From live music to local theatre, and a raft of things in between, Kingston Arts will have you entertained until spring arrives.
Our free art exhibitions show yearround at the Kingston Arts Centre, and our Outdoor Lightbox Gallery and Skybridge video projection is available after hours, for a fresh and unexpected take on local art. As the school holidays approach, kids can celebrate friendship, empathy and kindness with Wobbly Wallaby and the Absolute Bandicoot by Giggle and Hoot performer Gemma Armstrong.
At City Hall, Nathan Cavaleri’s solo show tells life stories of challenge
and triumph, whilst Affinity Quartet showcases Australia’s most awarded string quartet in an intimate performance.
At Shirley Burke Theatre, Sea Wolves Howl tells the incredible stories of local sea swimmers, and Lily Walker explores themes of intimacy, closeness, and care in the gallery. All that is simply a snapshot!
Read, play, learn at a local library
It is the perfect season to curl up with a book and lose yourself in new stories and ideas. Your local library is the perfect cosy retreat for that and plenty more.
Try the Author Talks, including from Victoria Brownlee, writer of the suspenseful The Writers Retreat, or our popular The Expert Series features engaging talks by leading experts. Celebrate voice, colour and community with Mosaic Community Choir, or join a book chatters group and talk to like-minded people. Are you more of a board gamer? Chess, mahjong and social scrabble sessions are growing in popularity
at our libraries. Puzzle Swap, Brain Training and Tea and Craft are wonderful winter soothers. There is so much on offer for seniors, adults, young adults and kids. Whatever your interests are, give your local library a try. We’d love to welcome you.
What’s On WINTER 2026
SATURDAY 4
KATE WATTS LIVE IN THEATRE
6–8pm
Shirely Burke Theatre
After years of writing her debut album, Kate Watts returns to the stage with her first headline show as a solo artist. Kate blends powerful, emotive vocals with conscious lyricism, deeply personal storytelling, and unique vocal channelling.
Details: kingstonarts.com.au/ kate-watts
FRIDAY 31
BEYOND THE BEEHIVE: AMY WINEHOUSE’S MUSICAL MASTERY
7:30–8:30pm Kingston Arts Centre
Seasoned cabaret and music theatre performer Carol Whitfield, backed by her 4-piece band, expertly weaves the fascinating story of Winehouse’s music around a collection of hits and rarities, along with some Winehouse anecdotes.
Details: kingstonarts.com.au/ beyond-the-beehive
TUESDAY 28
BOOK CHATTERS
6:30–7:30pm
Chelsea Library
Do you enjoy talking about different books you’ve read? Join our book chatters group. Bring a book and chat with fellow book lovers.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
To celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we’re holding a number of events.
Details: kingston.vic.gov.au/ naidoc-week
AUGUST
SATURDAY 1
THE BRUNO MARS EXPERIENCE
7–9:45pm Kingston City Hall
The Bruno Mars Experience featuring platinum selling artist J.Williams, is an electrifying live show delivering all the hits you know and love.
Details: kingstonarts.com.au/ bruno-mars
SATURDAY 1
2–3:30pm
SUNDAY 2
8–9:30pm THE TRUTH
Shirley Burke Theatre
Michael is having an affair. His lies to cover it up get bigger and bigger. The truth, when revealed, proves to be far from straightforward.
