Frankston Council launches campaign to win vital funding

FRANKSTON Council has launched a campaign to voice concerns for the region and to win vital funding for the municipality.

Frankston councillors protesting on steps of parliament, they are calling for funds to tackle major issues holding Frankston back. Councilors (back) Glenn Aitken, Rebekah Spelman(Deputy Mayor) (front) James Dooley, Brian Cunial, Darrel Taylor (Mayor) and Colin Hampton.

FRANKSTON Council has gone all out to win vital funding for the municipality.

Fed up with years of broken promises and inaction on key projects, councillors gathered on the steps of state parliament this morning to launch the Speak Up for Frankston campaign.

Mayor Darrel Taylor said Frankston would hold the key to deciding who took power in November’s election.

“We are launching the Speak Up for Frankston advocacy and communications campaign,” Cr Taylor said outside parliament.

“Frankston deserves more and we are urging all our residents to speak up for Frankston.

“The aim is to keep residents informed and up to date with what they (politicians) are saying and committing.”

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Cr Taylor stressed the council would not advise residents who to vote for, but rather wanted them to cast their ballot wisely.

The council is pushing for funding for five essential projects: a new waste transfer station; basketball and netball facilities; foreshore works; a health and human services hub; and a revamped transit interchange at Frankston Train Station.

The lack of action at the train station has angered locals with many labelling it as uninviting, a neo industrial mess and just plain scary.

Broken promises from politicians to fix the station stretch back decades and residents told a recent forum that they didn’t feel safe in the area.

Frankston councillor Glenn Aitken.

Cr Glenn Aitken told the Leader the advocacy campaign was partly borne out of frustration that key issues in Frankston had not been addressed by politicians.

“Issues have dragged on for decades. People at higher political levels often make promises, but that does not translate into delivery,” he said.

Cr Aitken noted that the City of Dandenong had attracted hundreds of millions of dollars for various projects.

“But we struggle to get a couple of million here and there. We are left struggling.”

Cr Brian Cunial, who also attended the campaign launch outside parliament, said Frankston deserved action from politicians.

“You get tired of a softly, softly approach when they fail to act,” he said.

Cr Rebekah Spelman said Frankston had been invisible for “too long”.

“It’s time the politicians start taking notice of Frankston — we need better infrastructure,” she said.

Cr Taylor said Frankston had been ignored by successive governments and action was urgently needed on the key projects.

Cr Taylor said he would not be drawn on whether he thought sitting Liberal turned independent MP Geoff Shaw would again win the seat.

Frankston mayor Darrel Taylor with Frankston residents. Picture: Derrick den Hollander.