Councils unite to lobby government

FRANKSTON mayor Glenn Aitken has been elected chair of the newly formed South East Metro Local Government lobby group (SEM).
Member councils are the Greater Dandenong, City of Kingston, City of Casey, Cardinia Shire, Bass Coast Shire and Frankston City Council.
The councils represent 700,000 people and have a budgetary base of more than $550 million.
Cr Aitken said SEM’s immediate aim was to lobby the Federal Government in the lead up to this year’s election, and the State Government in preparation for the 20082009 Budget.
Key issues identified so far include community safety, police staffing levels, gang activity, water, access to recycled water, and maintenance of rail corridors and infrastructure.