Port Phillip Council is under renewed attack over its handling of the controversial St Kilda triangle development after it deleted crucial detail from almost 2000 pages of contracts posted on its website.
Outrage at secrecy over St Kilda plan
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Melbourne’s roads the scene of carnage
Melbourne’s inner-city roads are the most dangerous in the state, with death and serious injury rates double other danger zones. The city policing area has witnessed 284 smashes involving death or serious injury so far this year.
Inner Melbourne’s rate of 395 deaths or injuries per 100,000 people is more than double the next worst area, Central Goldfields (190).
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Senior cop busted for drink-driving
A senior policeman believed to be from the unit responsible for developing drug and alcohol policies was caught drink-driving on Melbourne Cup Day.
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Upheaval likely as vote approaches
From the uproar in Port Phillip over the proposed St Kilda Triangle redevelopment to the reverberations in the City of Casey over the Brookland Greens methane gas emergency, many local councillors face a voter backlash at the ballot box.
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Fears raised over the lowering standards of councillors
A quarter of Victoria’s local councils have been investigated over the past year in an unprecedented flurry of Ombudsman, Government or police probes, including into allegations of fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest.
Earlier this year his office tabled a report on conflicts of interest in local government more broadly, warning of widespread corruption if the Government did not act on his recommendations.
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Doyle tops poll as lord mayoral race turns dirty
Former Liberal leader Robert Doyle and Greens lawyer Adam Bandt are the most popular choices to become Melbourne’s next lord mayor, according to a Sunday Age readers’ poll. The survey showed a strong gender distinction, with nearly a quarter of women choosing Mr Bandt and 34% of men keen on Mr Doyle. On the issue of Swanston Street most candidates want to close it further — pushing out delivery vans to limited times and getting rid of buses — but businessman Nick Columb and Mr Doyle are committed to opening it once more to cars.
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Thousands die of avoidable causes
Tougher road safety campaigns, more effective mental health screening and drug and alcohol prevention programs are needed, according to specialists in the field. He said the three leading causes of death were interlinked, as many road trauma deaths were caused by mental health problems or substance abuse. While the death rate for women in road accidents has dropped by about 10% a year since 1997, it has remained stable for men at 10 deaths for every 100,000 Victorian men.
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Old-fashioned policing
The CBD’s top cop has vowed a return to “old-fashioned policing” in a major crackdown on city violence that began last night. An extra 150 officers began patrols as part of Operation Safe Streets, boosting total police numbers in the city-wide blitz to about 300. The crackdown on booze-fuelled city violence, known as the Safe Streets Special Tasking initiative, will employ extra sergeants, senior-constables and constables from metropolitan areas.
Gallery: Police Operation Safe Streets
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The Bay
Throw in a couple of great golf courses, one of Australia’s most interesting national parks that is full of war-time memorabilia (and even a beach where we famously lost a prime minister), some of Victoria’s fanciest real estate, a hectic social scene, a variety of aquatic attractions and cafes and restaurants for every hour of the day and you can see why Portsea and Sorrento are right up there as Melbourne’s favourite summer escapes.
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Push to slash speed limit to 40kmh
Melbourne’s inner city suburbs would have a blanket 40kmh speed limit under a plan being pushed by three councils and health groups. VicRoads and the Transport Accident Commission will today attend a forum aimed at slashing speeds in the City of Yarra, Port Phillip, parts of Stonnington and Melbourne.
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