We love Kareela Road!

We love our local shopping strips, and one of our favourites at Kareela Road, Frankston has received an upgrade just in time for Christmas. Take a trip to this lovely little strip to check out the new paving, seating, bike racks and garden beds and bins.

While you're there enjoying the great selection of local shops (and excellent coffee!), check out the beautiful mural and the recently upgraded Kareela Reserve play space. We recently completed another upgrade at Fairway Street shopping strip in Frankston, and are busy planning the next project at Mahogany Avenue, Frankston North. The projects are part of Council’s Local Shopping Strip Action Plan. 

Sustainable street lighting 

More than 1,300 streetlights are being replaced with energy efficient LED lighting in the coming months. The project is expected to save around 1,766 tonnes of greenhouse emissions between now and 2040 (equivalent to removing 25 cars each year for the next 20 years) and achieve energy and maintenance cost savings of around $4.4 million over the life of the assets (about 20 years). This is an important project supporting the Council’s climate emergency response and goal to be carbon neutral (net zero emissions) by 2025.  The roll out is expected be complete by March 2025 will then be eligible for a Victorian Energy Efficiency Credits (VEEC) rebate. 

Frankston's multi-level car park now open! 

Construction of the 500 new car park at Frankston Station is complete, making it easier than ever for Frankston City locals to access train services. The six-level structure includes two lifts, stairs, new lighting and CCTV, 10 new accessible car spaces on the ground level, and integrated smart parking counters to give commuters live updates about how many spaces are available during the day. The project will also include two new Parkiteers (a free and secure place to park your bike) and 52 additional bike hoops in 2025. The new car park was jointly funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments and delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Project.

Your vision for Frankston

One of the new Council's key responsibilities is developing a Council Plan, and for the first time, this work will be enhanced by the creation of the Council and Wellbeing Plan 2026 – 2030. Throughout 2024, we have engaged extensively with our community, including broad engagement from March to May this year and a deliberative process with our community panel Mini Frankston City from September to November. These engagements helped us to shape this new Plan, as well as update the Community Vision 2040, the Long-Term Financial Plan and Asset Plan. We will run several more engagement projects in 2025 to help us to shape these important plans. 

Mini Frankston City

In September and November 2024, Council ran a deliberative Community Panel process to boost community feedback on key upcoming plans and projects. The Panel, made up of 40 Mini Frankston City members and residents, met for 16 hours over five workshops, and was represented all ages, suburbs, genders, and diverse characteristics of our municipality.

Thank you to our Panel members who took on the role of analysing feedback from over 1,300 participants to help them:

• Write a new Frankston City Community Vision 2040 statement, and four new aspiration statements to guide Council’s work.
• Inform development of our new Council and Wellbeing Plan, by working through what they would expect to see, hear or notice changing as Council works towards their new aspirations in the next four years.
• Inform Council’s review of our Asset Plan and Financial Plan, by prioritising budget decision-making criteria, and discretionary projects under our Long Term Infrastructure Plan.

'Tis the season for giving 

There are only a few days left to donate toys and non-perishable food through Frankston City Libraries’ Giving Tree. All donations go towards supporting local families in need via the giving appeals run by Frankston Life Community and Community Support Frankston. 

Non-perishable food (including canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, pasta, rice, biscuits and non-alcoholic pre-cooked desserts) will be turned into hampers and distributed at the Frankston Community Christmas Lunch.  

For toy donations, we welcome brand-new gifts suitable for all ages (including books and colouring supplies). Used items cannot be accepted.  

Donations close Friday 20 December and can be made at any of our libraries.  Monetary donations can also be made to Community Support Frankston and will be tax-deductible. 

School holiday Ranger Program 

Join us in January for our popular School Holiday Ranger Program! The kids can explore Seaford’s Foreshore to learn more about our native flora and fauna, the value of biodiversity conservation, how to help care for our costal dunes and ways to keep our beaches clean. Our summer program includes three sessions run in a day: kids aged up to 7 at 10am, aged 8–12 at 11.30am and a mixed aged group at 1pm. All sessions are one hour. Adult attendance is required. Spaces are limited to 15 participants per session and must be booked in advance. 

Youth Services school holiday fun 

Frankston Youth Services’ school holiday calendar is jam-packed full of fun and engaging activities such as cultural programs, fitness fun, opportunities for training and skill development, LGBTIQA+ community connections and plenty more — all as low-cost as possible or FREE! 

Young people from ages 12–24, from all over the municipality, can come together to enjoy spending time with friends and making new and connections. Bookings are essential, as these activities fill up fast! If your preferred event is booked out, we encourage people to register anyway as you'll be added to our waiting list.  

Follow @FrankstonYouthService on Facebook or Instagram to see when bookings are available and find the most up-to-date information on Frankston Youth Services activities. 

Expanding family services in Seaford 

It was all fun and games at Seaford Child, Youth and Family Centre when State Member for Carrum the Hon Sonya Kilkenny MP joined new Frankston City Mayor Kris Bolam and Deputy Mayor Steffie Conroy to announce the construction of a new $6 million facility to improve access to family and youth services in the area. 

We asked the community to have their say on a new centre in late 2023 and have included many of the features locals prioritised. 

The project is funded through a Building Blocks Partnership Agreement with the Victorian Government and Frankston City Council. The partnership means additional kindergarten places are being created across Frankston City by 2026 to meet the growing demand across our City. 

More upgraded play spaces and reserves 

We love open spaces in Frankston City and there’s always something exciting in the works! Residents can look forward to: 

• Upgraded play spaces at Monique Reserve, Langwarrin, and East Seaford Reserve, Seaford – expected to be open by Christmas. 

• A new picnic shelter, table and landscaping have just been completed at Havana Reserve, Frankston. 

• Play space and reserve upgrades (including new public toilets) are kicking off at Sandfield Reserve in early Jan. 

We’ll also be seeking your input on some more play space upgrades in early 2025.

Christmas Festival success

Even the weather couldn't stop the 35,000 people who flocked to Frankston's Christmas Festival on 30 November! 

This year’s festival included several new attractions – like the European Christmas Village and Locals Lane - and a larger footprint to reduce congestion and appeal to a broader audience. 

With plenty of free family fun and great music as part of the Always Live - End of the Line Concert and of course the spectacular fireworks finale, the event was a huge hit.  

Stay safe in the heat this summer

Extreme heat and heatwaves have claimed more lives than any natural hazard in Australia. Council’s Heatwave Plan raises awareness of the impacts of high heat days and details the list of informal cooler places within the municipality.

Stay safe in the heat with a few simple tips:

• When planning outdoor activities, cancel or reschedule activities for a cooler time of the day.
• Check the weather forecast regularly.
• Monitor Bureau of Meteorology Heatwave warnings. 
• Check the FCC Heat Health Public Complementary Plan at Heatwave - Frankston City Council for cooler spaces opening times and locations within the municipality.
• Whenever you leave home, always take a water bottle with you. 
• Pop some water out in your garden for native wildlife
• Check in with family, friends and neighbours

Facade Improvement Grant guidelines now available

Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, new signage, lighting to support night-time trading, servery windows, bi-fold doors or another idea to help spruce up a shopfront façade, these grants can help bring your vision to life. The grants are designed to  attract customers to your commercial premise and improve the overall look and feel of an area. Open to all businesses with a shopfront in  Frankston City. A total pool of $100,000 is available and applicants can apply for between $5,000 to $15,000. Applications open on Tuesday 28 January.

Announcing our successful 2024–2025 Frankston City Business Grant recipients!

Congratulations to the 17 successful local businesses sharing in $150,000 to help their business and the local economy grow! Among the recipients is a new craft distillery Stache House focusing on quality liqueur now coming to Carrum Downs, popular modern-Asian restaurant Bang Bang will receive funding and support to find a location in Frankston plus projects, including archery technology for clients with physical impairments, a 3D foot scanner, signage for a plumber, a co-working space, a tiny-home display and even more exciting and innovative initiatives. 

Commonfolk owner Sam Keck said they were “stoked” to receive one of the grants. “For years, our customers have been asking us to move into a bigger space, but as a small cafe, the costs of relocation have always felt out of reach,” Mr Keck said. “Thanks to this grant, not only have we found the perfect new spot, but we’re turning it into something next level. We can't wait to welcome the people of Frankston to enjoy the best freshly brewed coffee in our new space."

Pictured: Commonfolk owner Sam Keck and barista Miki Leamon

B2B Grants are back!

Our popular $1000 B2B Grants are back (previously known as Think Local Grants) The program offers 100 x $1000 grants on a reimbursement model for local Frankston City registered businesses to purchase products or services from another Frankston City business to help their business grow. The grants encourage increased local B2B engagement and awareness to help strengthen the local economy now and into the future. Products/services can include web design, marketing / advertising /  promotions, trades and services, visual merchandising, office equipment, façade improvements or branding. Eligible Frankston City businesses can apply for one fixed $1,000 grant each (inclusive of GST).  Applications open Monday 3 February and close Friday 21 February. Keep an eye out for more updates.