Council

The Council has released its draft Budget 2026/27 for community consultation. Readers won’t be surprised about increases to rates and waste charges. Council expects to pocket a surplus and keep business running as usual. Let the brawl begin.

TWiSK examines the ‘one-of-a-kind’ trust structure overseeing HousingFirst and finds a series of troubling questions.

This Wednesday (6 May), councillors will vote on a controversial amendment to local laws covering encampments. TWiSK sets the scene with exclusive interviews with police and community agencies.

Ahead of her campaign launch on Sunday (3 May), TWiSK sat down with Mikaela Stafrace, the ALP candidate for Caulfield, to hear what’s driving her bid for State Parliament in November’s poll.

A local mother reports on how families are grieving the loss of their Snail Queen, even though it is only for a year or so. She’s hoping the upgrade will be an improvement but fears otherwise.

An internal review of the Picturing Democracy exhibition has raised more questions than it answered, prompting calls for further scrutiny. TWiSK reports on the likelihood of a review of the review.

Tension was on display last week at Council, when three councillors abstained from a motion opposing increased state planning interventions. TWiSK explores the background and motivations of both sides.

The sprawling encampment near the Junction Oval, on Parks Victoria land adjacent to the culturally significant Ngargee Tree, has now been there for over a year. No matter how you look at it, it’s a situation that can’t be ignored.

The proposed sale of 25 social housing units in the Oasis project on Greeves Street has brought to light serious questions about the governance of HousingFirst. TWiSK asks if anybody is marking HousingFirst’s homework?

Love it or loath it, the St Kilda Festival is a big deal. It draws a crowd, fills the bars and markets St Kilda as a good time destination. We’re not sure how much it costs, but it’s a big slab of Council’s overall festival budget. Council will vote on the next Festival in June.