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    • SysOp10
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    Promotion
    Promotion
    Despite a petition with over 1,300 signatures council vote to go ahead

    Image by Sean Cummins - see full screen

    A message from the School Council Presidents - Hannah Lawson & Elisa Webb

    Dear Parents/Carers,

    On Wednesday night, despite a petition with over 1,300 signatures and hundreds of emails objecting, the City of Port Phillip Council voted to go ahead with their plan to place a public toilet near the entrance of our school.  

    As a School Council we are very disappointed with this outcome and with the conduct of some Councillors in the meeting (particularly Cr Peter Martin, who said that SKiPPS parents need to educate their children more about safety).  

    We are not opposed to public toilets, but the location needs to be well considered and we believe that safety standards and cleaning regimes need to be above what currently exists elsewhere in the CoPP.  

    To summarise the vote: 

    • Cr Bond, Cr Pearl, Cr Copsey and Cr Martin voted to go ahead with the project
    • Cr Crawford abstained from voting 
    • Cr Consulo, Cr Clark and Cr Sirakoff voted against placing the toilets in the proposed location and to stop the project.

    You can Listen to the Councillors discuss the proposal at the meeting on 15 June from the 1 hour 48-minute mark in the webcast https://www.facebook.com/cityofportphillip/videos/836525410663145/ 

    We encourage any school families or community members who wish to show their continued opposition to the construction of the toilets at the site to write to the COPP Mayor, Cr Pearl, and the CEO, Peter Smith.

    Marcus.Pearl@portphillip.vic.gov.au 

    Peter.Smith@portphillip.vic.gov.au 

    It is also time to escalate the issue to elected officials at the State level, and we encourage you to contact the Education Minister, the Premier and our Local Member, Martin Foley.

    james.merlino@parliament.vic.gov.au 

    daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au 

    martin.foley@parliament.vic.gov.au 

    The land in question is owned by Parks Victoria, so you can also write to the Parks Victoria CEO, Matthew Jackson, and the Chair, Hon. John Pandazopoulos.

    ceo@parks.vic.gov.au 

    John.pandazopoulos@parliament.vic.gov.au 

    If you have any other suggestions or contacts, please get in touch with School Council via Michelle at

    michelle.bove@education.vic.gov.au 

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    Promotion
    Andy Jacobs
    I just witnessed a punch up in the Victoria Avenue Albert Park IGA | 12 May 2023

    Yesterday, on a chilly afternoon, I decided to visit the IGA at the end of Victoria Avenue in Albert Park to grab a few supplies. As I was browsing the aisles, a man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol entered the store and began to take items without any intention of paying.

    The store owner, who was working at the counter, said to the man “‘Hey you, stop that, please put it back”. Instead of complying, the man became aggressive and verbally abused the owner, with “I will take what I like because I am a hard bastard and you will do nothing about, as your people are weak”. Punched in the head no less.   The shopkeeper tried to get him out of the store, and a full on punch up ensued, with both of them ending up on the ground outside the IGA.

    So, racially abused, verbally abused, then physically abused.

    Concerned for the safety of everyone involved, I suggested that the store owner call the police for assistance. To my surprise, he told me that the police and local authorities often did not respond to such incidents and seemed to have little interest in helping small businesses like his. This revelation was both disheartening and worrisome. This hard-working shop owner is trying hard to make a living, and is not safe in his own business. Neither was I, to be frank.

    Another bystander mentioned that incidents like this were becoming increasingly common and that many people causing trouble in the area would simply claim to have mental health issues as an excuse for their behaviour.  All they need to say is “I have mental issues”.

    Truth be known, I now have mental issues. It is now unsafe to go the shops in Albert Park. 

    As a resident of Albert Park, I am deeply troubled by this experience. It is essential that our community remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone, and I believe that more needs to be done to support those who are struggling with mental health issues, as well as to protect local businesses and their patrons.

    I urge the local authorities to take these concerns seriously and to take action to ensure that everyone in Albert Park can feel secure in their surroundings. It is outrageous to pay premium rates in Albert Park and not be safe at the shops.

    Yours truly

    Frightened in Albert Park Albert Park

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    Sysop
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    TPro Editor70

    There is no doubt that 2020 was a tough year for all. As we recover from the impact of COVID and learn to adjust and adapt there still remains enormous pressure on household and small business finances. Stonnington Council should make the ethical decision to at least FREEZE rates this year. It is the only ethical response to our community. It can be done without cutting vital services. It can be done by making Council more responsible in it's spending and more efficient.

    Why Should we freeze rates?

    • Stonnington Council has enjoyed a 10 year boom in rates pre COVID.
    • The impact on the community is far from over and will take longer to subside

    How Should Council act?
    Stonnington should (for once) begin with an efficiency target to reduce all expenditure by 5% without cutting any services. It should defer all non essential projects and fast track essential repairs to roads, footpaths and drains to keep local jobs (not external contractors) a priority. 

    What projects should be cut?
    Non essential and ambitious political projects like Prahran Town Hall - a $30M restoration that isn't needed when our open space has fallen to the lowest of any Victorian Council. 

    Have your say?
    First, you can and should make a submission here: Stonnington Budget Submission
    Second, you can and should email all Councillors and tell them what you think.

    Their emails are as follows:

    Kate Hely
    khely@stonnington.vic.gov.au 

    Marcia Griffin
    mgriffin@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Matthew Koce
    mkoce@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Alex Lew
    alew@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Polly Morgan
    pmorgan@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Jami Klisaris
    jklisaris@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Nicki Batagol
    nbatagol@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Mike Scott
    mscott@stonnington.vic.gov.au

    Melina Sehr
    msehr@stonnington.vic.gov.au

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