Call for rail money to be spent ‘locally’ FRESH doubts have been expressed over the future of $225 million set aside for the stalled train line extension from Frankston to Baxter. The money for the extension was committed by the previous Coalition federal government and later supported by then opposition leader Anthony Albanese in the lead up to the 2018 election. The cost to electrify and duplicate the Stony Point line to Baxter was quoted at up to $1.5 billion in a business case completed before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the planned extension has failed to progress any further than a business case and the state government has not committed any money to it. Meanwhile, Frankston Council is calling for the project’s committed federal money to remain in the Dunkley and Flinders electorates. The council last week voted to advocate for the money to be spent on transport projects in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula. Frankston councillor Kris Bolam is concerned the lack of progress on the project could see the money allocated elsewhere. “The internal belief both within council and indeed talking to a number of politicians is that this could be justification for the present government to rescind its promise to electrify the Stony Point line and instead have the $221 million reallocated and repurposed for other projects outside of the Frankston municipality. If this happens, I think it’s a very disappointing and sad move,” he said. Bolam said the $221 million left over after the business case was “earmarked for the Dunkley and Flinders electorates, therefore it is only reasonable that a meaningful portion remain here”. “We keep talking about the Nepean Highway
redevelopment from Olivers Hill to the Mile Bridge. We all know this would cost $40 million - I’d love to get access to some of those monies from that $221 million,” he said. “What about making our roads safer? According to our officers there’s $10 million worth of road safety initiatives still to be done. Federal monies could go towards that.” Bolam said $17 million was needed to complete footpaths and $80 million to seal “all our roads in Frankston”. The Baxter rail extension was included in a 90-day review of planned infrastructure projects ordered by the incoming Labor federal government. Dunkley MP Peta Murphy’s office told The News that she was still waiting for the outcome of the review. Frankston Council has also discussed other uses for the committed federal money if the rail extension does not proceed. Brodie Cowburn
Reducing waste: Our Lady of Fatima School principal Sarah McDermott with school wellbeing dog Buddy, and Max, Stella and Imogen and their dogs. Picture: Supplied
Phones answer needs in Africa STUDENTS from Our Lady of Fatima School, Rosebud, have been collecting towels for vets as part of their sustainability focus on reducing waste going to landfill and reusing unwanted items. The towels were given to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s community animal shelter and the emergency animal centre, to help keep animals clean, dry and comfortable. The school’s current drive is to collect unwanted mobile phones and devices for recycling in partnership with Melbourne Zoo.
Police patrol
The recycled minerals in the devices reduce the need for mining in gorilla habitats in Africa. Money raised from recycling other parts of the phone is used to pay for a mobile vet service to treat injured gorillas and vaccinate them against diseases brought into the area by miners. Sustainability teacher Amana Heggen said five recycled phones pay for the life-saving vaccination of one baby gorilla. People can drop off unwanted devices at Our Lady of Fatima School, 16 Hinton Street, Rosebud.
With Liz Bell
Sorrento mystery inquiry reopens DETECTIVES have made a fresh
Unknown: The identity of a woman found in the water at Sorrento 57 years ago (left) remains a mystery, along with the identity of a woman believed to be connected to her whose picture was believed to have been taken in Italy (right).
appeal to try to identify a woman’s body found on the beach at Sorrento 57 years ago. A digitally generated image has been released of the unknown woman, along with a photograph of a woman believed to be linked to her. The woman’s body was discovered floating in the water off Sorrento beach on the evening of 25 February 1966. She is described as being between 65 and 70 years old, about 164cm tall, with a slight build.
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She had grey hair, no teeth, brown eyes with a blue periphery in her iris, and a 15cm scar on her left leg. She was wearing a string of pearls, a pink bra, a pink corset, blue bloomers and nylon stockings. The photograph of a second unknown woman, believed to have been taken in Caserta, Italy, and dated 10 April 1961, was found with the dead woman’s police file from 1966. Police do not know where the photograph came from or its connection to the case. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Homes evacuated HOUSES in a Mount Eliza street had to be evacuated on Tuesday 24 October after drainage contractors unearthed an unexploded ordnance. Police and Australian Defence Force special operations personnel attended at Hamersley Court after workmen alerted authorities, who closed the street just after noon and cleared the area. It is unclear what type of device it was, or where the ordnance had come from.
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OPEN 7 DAYS www.totaltools.com.au Southern Peninsula News
1 November 2023
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