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Carols cancelled THE 2021 Carols by Kingston have been cancelled. Kingston Council called off the event last week, citing the âuncertainty around holding large-scale events during the COVID-19 pandemicâ. Instead of the carols, local Tinsel Trail activities will return for Christmas this year. Kingston mayor Steve Staikos said âwe had some wonderful feedback about our Tinsel Trail last year and we are looking forward to spreading some festive cheer across Kingston again through a series of COVID-Safe community celebrations and activities. Details of the Tinsel Trail activities for 2021 will be shared in the coming weeks, so keep an eye on our website and social media.â The carols event is expected to return in 2022. Picture: Supplied
âIncompetenceâ blamed for councilâs Cove decisions Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au AN Ombudsman investigation has found that Kingston Councilâs decisions regarding the Endeavour Cove site were âpoorâ and lacked transparency, but did not substantiate allegations of corruption. The planning decisions made by Kingston Council in relation to the Patterson Lakes precinct have been heavily scrutinised. Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass had been investigating allegations of collu-
sion between property developers and Kingston Council officials, and released her final report into the matter last week. The report read that âit was difficult to form a view on whether decisions were improper, non-compliant or simply deficient.â The Endeavour Cove issue goes back to 1988, when planning took place for the âWhaler Cove Developmentâ at the site. The site was purchased by Cavendish Developments Pty Ltd in 1994. That same year the City of Chelsea approved plans for the site, with the new development named
the âEndeavour Coveâ. The Ombudsmanâs report read that ânews articles from 1994 described the proposal as a $100-million residential and commercial precinct that would include 119 townhouses, 124 apartments and 10 penthouses to accommodate 250 residences.â As part of the investigation, council told the Ombudsman that there are now 396 residences and about 1000 residents in the marina precinct. The investigation found that the plans changed considerably over the years. The Ombudsman wrote that council approved plans for a three-
storey development in 1999, a 40-lot subdivision in 2003, a five storey development in 2005, a four-storey development in 2009, two five-storey buildings in 2011, a rezoning in 2012, a six-storey building in 2013, and three multi-storey developments in 2018. Ultimately, the Ombudsmanâs conclusion was that the investigation âdid not substantiateâ collusion allegations made against a former senior planner at Kingston Council and two former councillors. âWhat the community ended up with is bigger, higher and less accessible. Little wonder then that
some locals were suspicious, even to allege corruption by councillors and council staff,â Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass said. âWhat my investigation found was poor or absent records of decisionmaking, poor strategic decisionmaking and a lack of transparency and recording of meetings with developers and council.â In a statement. Kingston Council interim CEO Tim Tamlin welcomed the release of the report and reiterated that council was making changes to prevent any potential future issues. Continued page 3
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