I have had a number of positive comments about the new barriers installed on footpaths and parking spaces outside cafes, restaurants and licensed premises across Hobsons Bay. They are part of the Hobsons Bay Business Has Heart outdoor program designed to help businesses to recover from the disruptions to their operations caused by the coronavirus pandemic by expanding their eating …
Continue readingI am now Hobsons Bay City Council’s longest serving councillor after being sworn in on Thursday, following the declaration of the poll that day. I was elected to the council in a tight battle for Strand Ward, along with Jonathon Marsden and Pamela Sutton-Legaud, from 12 candidates that stood for three positions. It was my seventh successive council victory, spanning …
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The Covid pandemic has put a few council projects back a step or two. The renewal of Maclean Reserve in Williamstown was one of those. But now that restrictions are easing, I am sure the consultation on the design of this community park will begin in the coming weeks. I understand a draft design will soon develop as a starting …
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The pecking order for the renewal of our roads is based on fixing the worst ones first. Over the years, Council would allocate about $6 million a year to road renewal. But this year, it has been ramped up to $11.6 million and in 2021-22, the plan is to increase that to $13 million. While much of the focus in …
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The extension of the basketball/netball centre in Altona Meadows is on track. When this project was being planned, Hobsons Bay City Council engaged Otium Planning Group about four years ago to analyse our needs. Otium told us that the growth in basketball participation – our fastest growing sport – meant that Hobsons Bay City Council would need to build two …
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I have become alarmed at the tactics used by the new owner of the land on the corner of Melbourne Rd and Birmingham St in Spotswood. This land is well recognised by the old Way and Works building on the site. There have been a number of proposals for this land during the past couple of decades, including for affordable …
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In early 2018, I was approached by the late Alan Lewer about renewing the old box lacrosse court in Paisley Park, Altona North. Alan was highly regarded in the lacrosse world and was passionate about reinvigorating the old facility. He had seen how popular box lacrosse was in the US and in Europe and the magnificent stadiums they built in …
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I have just nominated for the October 24 Hobsons Bay City Council election. If elected, it will be my seventh term on the council and I relish the challenge to again serve our community. I still have the passion to work for the Hobsons Bay community. In fact, the past couple of years have been the most rewarding of the …
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Armstrong Reserve in Newport will be opened very soon – probably when Stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions are eased by the State Government. The reserve, off Wilkins St, between Latrobe and Crawford streets, is looking like one of the smartest community areas we have in Hobsons Bay. I love the pelicans perched on the poles. They almost look real. One of …
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Hobsons Bay ratepayers will, on average, pay less in rates than they did last year after the Council approved the 2020-21 Budget last Tuesday. Despite a number of furphies being circulated by people keen on propagating “fake news”, the average residential property across the city will receive a 0.17 per cent decrease in rates this year. And the commercial sector …
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