Politics
Frankston Ties $M Infrastructure Funding to Local Hiring Requirements
The revised policy requires council-funded projects to prioritize Frankston residents for construction and maintenance roles while directing portions of the budget to expanded community service facilities.
How we reported this
The Frankston mayor's office released the updated Infrastructure Allocation Rules on July 7, requiring all new council capital projects above $500,000 to include local hiring targets and service expansion components. The change affects road, park and building works funded through the annual capital works program.
Local government staff have been reviewing the 2026 capital budget allocations since the start of the fiscal year. The revised rules respond to council resolutions passed in May that called for tighter links between infrastructure spending and employment outcomes in Frankston wards.
Changes to project delivery
Under the new rules, contractors bidding on Frankston projects must submit plans showing at least 40 percent of on-site labour hours filled by residents living within the city boundaries. Funds previously earmarked solely for capital works will now also cover training programs run through the council's employment services unit. One example is the planned upgrade to the Frankston community centre on Wells Street, where the budget includes $180,000 for apprentice positions in electrical and plumbing trades.
Residents seeking services at council facilities may notice extended operating hours at libraries and recreation centres once the policy takes effect. The rules allocate a fixed percentage of each project's contingency budget to staffing for these sites, with the aim of reducing wait times for program registration and facility bookings.
Budget figures and next steps
The 2026 Frankston Budget Papers list $12.4 million in infrastructure outlays for the current financial year. Council officers have stated that the hiring requirements apply to 11 of the 14 projects listed in the capital works schedule. Implementation guidance issued to departments sets a deadline of September 1 for updated tender documents.
Procurement staff will begin advertising the first revised tenders in the coming fortnight. Project managers have been instructed to report quarterly on the number of local hires and service hours delivered under the new framework.