Council

After many weeks of consultation, intense negotiations, and compromise, the draft Council budget was approved at last Monday’s special council meeting. However, it was a night of some surprises and last-minute manoeuvring.

The Special Council Meeting on Monday night looks set to approve the draft budget with only minor changes prompted by community feedback.

If you have something to say to the Council about community safety, please do so by next Sunday, 29 June. Your ideas will help shape the Council’s Community Safety Plan for the next four years.

The latest batch of official crime statistics reports big increases in offences in key inner-city municipal areas. TWiSK brings you a taste of the official statistics.

Nina Taylor, MP for Albert Park (representing parts of St Kilda, Albert Park, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne and Fishermans Bend), responds to our survey of local MPs about safety.

Council heard from 47 public speakers during a meeting that considered both the Gray Report and a review of local laws. The first round of community consultation is now open until 29 June.

The recent State budget announced last week contained a sprinkle of largesse for locals. TWiSK reports on the local details and some of the disappointments.

The announcement last week of $350M for an upgrade to the Albert Park GP Pit Building has prompted an angry reaction from sports clubs and park lovers.

In 37 pages, former magistrate and coroner Ian Gray has skillfully compiled the results of the Council’s Community Safety Roundtable into an insightful, streetwise, and reasonable set of recommendations. But will the report ignite action?

Rachel Westaway, the newly elected MP for Prahran (which includes parts of St Kilda south of Windsor including the Town Hall and St Kilda Primary), says safety is the #1 issue raised by locals. She is second in our replies from local MPs on safety.