News briefs

Netball plea
TORQUAY Netball Club urgently needs a new pavilion, South Barwon MLA Andrew Katos told parliament this week.
“At the last election the coalition committed $300 000 to upgrade the Torquay Netball Club pavilion,” he said.
“The girls and women who play netball in Torquay, a huge growth area, should not have to put up with such substandard facilities. I urge the minister to consider providing funding for the club.”

Alcoa ‘deal’
ANGLESEA deserves to know what kind of “sweet deal” any future purchaser will get “at the expense of the community’s health and the climate” if an Alcoa power plant sell-off goes ahead, says Greens MP Ellen Sandell.
“The Anglesea power station receives State government subsidies estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars,” she told Parliament this week, adding the amount was uncertain because Alcoa enjoyed “complete exemption” from freedom of information laws.

Elton here
ROCK superstar Elton John will play at Geelong in December as part of his international “All The Hits Tour.”The ’Day on the Green’ performance at Mt Duneed Estate, Saturday December 12, is the second to be announced at Mt Duneed for the next summer season following the sold-out Fleetwood Mac concert.

Lyons share
MAYOR Darryn Lyons has added to his Geelong CBD property portfolio with a multi-million dollar double-storey building in Little Malop Street.
The former Cheetham Salt head office, at 71 Little Malop, was bought by his Big Group of Companies in partnership with another buyer.

Rail ‘worst’
THE Geelong-Warrnambool rail line was “the worst serviced in the state”, parliament heard this week.
Western region MLC Simon Ramsay cited comments by Colac Otway Shire chief Sue Wilkinson as he demanded the government indicate what it was doing to increase rail passenger services on the line.

Local Greens boss
GEELONG’S Senator Richard Di Natale has been named head of the Australian Greens.
The Otways farmer and GP replaces Christine Milne who stood down this week after replacing Bob Brown in 2012.

Tools nicked
A RECENT increase in thefts from building sites throughout the Bellarine and Waurn Ponds has triggered police warnings displayed at various locations.
The warning reads: “Victoria Police warn thefts from building sites occurring in this area. Secure sites and lock up your tools.“

Black spot
ARMSTRONG Creek and Mount Duneed will have its mobile phone and internet capacity boosted with a new mobile tower to be switched on “in the next few weeks”.
Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson MP and Telstra Area General Manager Duane Dalton said the new tower would alleviate an Armstrong Creek blackpsot.