THE wait is over to know the name of the final member of besieged South Gippsland Shire Council. Former school bus driver, Steve Finlay, accepted the role yesterday after the third recount of preferences caused by the resignation of Jim Fawcett. In the past week, Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks and then Graeme Winkler were both announced as […]
The band has already begun to play the funeral march for Mayor Don Hill and his fellow South Gippsland Shire councillors. That’s the frank assessment delivered by the mayor himself yesterday as he sits waiting for the Minister for Local Government to bring down the axe. Despite admitting early defeat he remains defiant about the […]
The Andrews Labor Government has just issued a notice to the South Gippsland Shire seeking a response as to why it should not be suspended following a recommendation from the Municipal Monitor to the Council.Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek has received the final report from Municipal Monitor Peter Stephenson in relation to the governance […]
SOUTH Gippsland Shire councillors have been accused of exploiting ratepayers by misusing expenditure claims to generate income, “in a day of shame for councillors”. Those were the words of former councillor Jim Fawcett, who resigned from council effective yesterday (Monday), along with former councillor Lorraine Brunt. The pair attempted to have council reveal the extent […]
LEONGATHA and Nyora stand to benefit from the continuation of demand for homes from people outside of South Gippsland Shire, and new housing should be developed at Walkerville. That’s according to Lindsay Love, a Leongatha planning and engineering consultant, who recently urged South Gippsland Shire Council to welcome more population growth in the shire and […]
BUS passengers are not at all happy with the public toilets at the V/Line bus stop at the Leongatha railway station still closed after more than six months. Passengers have had to endure an uncomfortable wait, have been forced to head to the bushes or take the 350m long trek to the public toilets up […]
SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council has found the Bald Hills Wind Farm is generating nuisance noise but will not require the wind farm operator to address noise levels. Instead, Tarwin Lower residents who complained of nuisance noise will now be left to mediate with the wind farm operator, Bald Hills Wind Farm Pty Ltd, to find […]
KOONWARRA jeweller Denis Hawkins has labelled the local taxi service “a disgrace” after being left stranded for hours in Leongatha last Tuesday night. Mr Hawkins made a harrowing trip back to New Zealand to visit a very sick relative and was also in Christchurch when the horrific massacre took place. He returned on a flight […]
AT 10.30am yesterday 64yo Frank Hirst was out on his Ranceby property clearing trees, half an hour later was being sworn in as a new councillor for the South Gippsland Shire. In his words he was “like a rabbit in the headlights” when his name came out as the person to fill the vacancy caused […]
Conflict between the councillors of South Gippsland Shire Council reached a new level at this afternoon’s meeting, when outgoing councillor Jim Fawcett told mayor Cr Don Hill he was “deluded”. The comment was made in response to the mayor approving an amendment Cr Ray Argento made to a motion by Cr Fawcett. Cr Fawcett had […]