29 JULY, 2026
Kiss of approval for fence art An Altona Meadows resident has taken his lifelong obsession with rock icons Kiss to new heights by transforming his backyard fence. Boasting one of Australia’s largest collections of the band’s memorabilia, Phil Cassar enlisted a young artist to paint the striking mural. The result is a stunning tribute to the face-painted rock gods that has left the veteran collector thrilled. Story: Page 3 Phil Cassar has one of Australia’s largest collections of memorabilia of the rock band Kiss. (Damjan Janevski) 563305_04
Flush with flaws By Cade Lucas Maribyrnong council is demanding the state government improve early designs for the new Tottenham Station, arguing they don’t even feature public toilets. In a submission to the Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1 (MARS1) Project endorsed at its 21 July meeting, council argues the new station should be a high-quality integrated transport hub, but that early designs fall well short, with a lack of connectivity, active transport and safety infrastructure and basic amenities such as toilets. “The proposal also does not include
provision for publicly accessible toilet facilities, which is a critical gap given existing patronage levels, the station’s isolation within the rail corridor, and the significant distance between stations along this corridor,” the council submission read. “Council considers the inclusion of accessible public toilets within the station precinct to be essential infrastructure to support equitable access, user comfort and safety.” Council’s submission also demands the inclusion of an integrated bus interchange to help commuters transition to and from rail services, a pedestrian-operated signal
crossing on Sunshine Road at Aliwal Street, and for more information to be provided on the project overall, highlighting areas such as how future growth will be accommodated and the potential impact of construction works on nearby residents as being short on detail. Speaking in support of the submission at the council meeting, Cr Elena Pereyra said the state government’s approach to the new Tottenham Station wasn’t good enough. “It’s very clear that this is a top down project and an afterthought in the context of the airport rail project,” Cr Pereyra said using the acronym for the airport rail
ADVERTISEMENT
12887454-JD30-26
project to urge the government to do better. “Hopefully the MARS 1 team take on the very sensible advice in the submission. I mean at the end of the day it’s not rocket science.” A state government spokesperson said the new Tottenham Station will make it safer and easier for people to get where they need to go. “For the fi rst time, passengers will be able to access the station from both sides of the rail line via a new underpass linking Rupert Street to Sunshine Road - creating safer pedestrian and cycling connections,” the spokesperson said.