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Frankston ‘ignored’, needs cash
Blanket appeal
WINTER is coming. Knitters are busy stitching up blankets for needy Frankston residents as part of the Food For All Winter Blanket Appeal. Bendigo Bank in Thompson St, Frankston has partnered with St Vincent de Paul to put the word out and collect blankets, rugs for needy families, the elderly and the homeless. Knitters can pick up donated wool from the bank branch, make squares from donated wool and stitch them together into colourful blankets to be dropped back to be distributed to those in need throughout the winter months. Pictured bank staff Jennifer Cranmer (left) and Jessica Bayne have begun collecting blankets. Picture: Gary Sissons
FRANKSTON mayor Darrel Taylor is torn between two emotions: support for the newly released Plan Melbourne document and disappointment that it doesn’t come with a commitment of government funding to ‘anchor’ future progress. Despite being given the rather grand title of metropolitan activity centre in the plan, he said the city lacked the necessary state investments to back up its nominal status. “It’s a rather hollow name,’’ he said. And it doesn’t generate the much-needed confidence among developers and investors which is holding the city back, according to Cr Taylor. “Most projects here are not government funded, and so we have $200 million in potential residential and commercial investments in the city centre ‘sitting in the ground’ and being held over through lack of confidence.’’ Describing Frankston as a ‘blank canvas for renewal’, Cr Taylor said it desperately needed a major government body to be relocated or established to anchor redevelopment. Ideally, this would bring in an extra 500 people and at least $80 million in building works. It would complement the planned relocation of South East Water. He said the relocation of a large government body – such as VicRoads’ move to Ballarat – would help turn things around. “The government is not putting anything in but is expecting the private sector to come in and cover for them,’’ he said. The problem is compounded by the city “coming off a very low base’’. “We have been overlooked and ignored for a very long time and we need significant infrastructure funding. There has been $1 million here and $1 million there but this has not given us any certainty.
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“We need a clear plan to lift confidence but how many times have we seen plans come and go? We need significant government funding but so far I haven’t seen it.’’ Cr Taylor said Frankston had obvious potential, for example, in tourism, but it was “desperate for funding certainty’’. He said a realistic target amount was $200 million over five years. “They should announce it, give everyone certainty, and provide a framework of support. Over the past few years, Frankston has looked on enviously as neighbouring activity centres Dandenong and Ringwood received $200 million and $150 million in development grants, wondering ‘What happened to us?’” Cr Taylor said. It’s a frustrating exercise: “We promote the message that we are ‘open for business’ and we have gone from being reactive to proactive in our efforts to attract new business,’’ said the mayor, who has a Masters in Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. “The CEO and myself have gone interstate to talk to potential newcomers - we even place ads on 3AW!’’ “Plan Melbourne marks Frankston with a star on a map for urban renewal, for the station and for our potential. It sounds grand but we can’t do it on our own. “I think it’s a good document and it’s well overdue. It sets out a clear plan and focuses on us achieving our full potential, but putting us down as a star on a map and yet not investing in us is underdone. “If that investment doesn’t happen we will stay as we have for the past 30 years.’’ Planning Minister Matthew Guy says metropolitan activity centres – like Frankston - will play a major service delivery role in government, health, justice and education. They are described as servicing a subregional catchment which, in Frankston’s case, includes the Mornington Peninsula.
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