PORT of Melbourne Corporation will dredge the South Channel of Port Phillip for a week from 19 February as part of its “maintenance dredging” program. The port authority stated the work was needed to ensure safe navigation of declared channel depths in the channel between Rosebud and The Heads. Dredging would remove high spots revealed when the corporation carried out hydrographic surveys last year. It will be done by 84-metre trailing suction hopper dredge Brisbane, which was in Port Phillip for maintenance dredging last year. It is the same type of dredger as the Queen of the Netherlands, which did…
Month: February 2015
WESTERN Port’s latest business tenant is a man with a colourful and celebrity studded past. Anthony Swords, managing director of Gatto Corporate Solutions, has leased office space at 12 High St, Hastings and will open for business this week (‘Gatto’s mate gets ready to collect’, The News 3/2/15). Gatto Corporate Solutions and its affiliated Victorian Racing Collections are primarily debt collection firms linked to underworld figure Mick Gatto, although the former head of the notorious Carlton Crew, the criminal gang brought to TV screens in the Underbelly series, does not have a current stake in the businesses. Mr Swords says…
DISTRICT THE log jam at the top of the MPCA District ladder continues after round nine was completed on Saturday. Main Ridge kept is finals hopes well and truly alive after recording a wonderful and commanding victory against the previously undefeated Red Hill. Skipper Brad Rossborough was magnificent in his side’s victory, beginning the day unbeaten on 32 and still standing at the end, still unbeaten on 180. Main Ridge made 6/303 to beat the Hillmen by almost 200 runs. Somerville resumed at 3/17 on Saturday against Carrum, chasing 122 for victory, however, Justin Allsop and Aaron Kaddatz put a…
PROVINCIAL Pines dealt Mt Eliza a further blow on Saturday when it taught it a cricket lesson in MPCA Provincial. And it was career defining for one Pines player who has always offered so much – Jake Prosser. After taking five wickets the week before with the ball, Prosser walked out and clubbed his maiden century, eventually falling for 114. Prosser shared a 100 plus partnership with his skipper Ricky Ramsdale, who made 103. The Piners smashed Mt Eliza to all parts of the ground and easily covered its total of 186. Pines was eventually bowled out in the 81st…
SUB-DISTRICT Frankston YCW has jumped back into the MPCA Sub District top four and given itself some breathing space after picking up an outright win against Ballam Park. The Stonecats only made 123 in reply to Ballam Park’s first innings score of 58 on the first day of the match last week. However they went into Saturday staring at the outright win. The Knights resumed at 4/34, still 31 behind with six wickets in hand. They finished with 165, giving the Stonecats plenty of work to do. John Plakourakis top scored for the Knights with 79. Andrew Kitson finished with…
MATT Foon will lead the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association in the Country Week Provincial squad at the championships that kick off this week around Victoria. There are some new faces in the squad adding to the ones we have been used to seeing over the journey, which speaks volumes about the strength and depth of the competition. Peninsula Old Boys star Matt Hyden was an obvious choice after accumulating plenty of runs this season. The competition’s best player, Scott Phillips, who has 400 runs this season and 38 wickets, will not play for the MPCA. Neither will Nick Jewell, who…
PRE-DAWN raids by police in Frankston and Seaford last week resulted in five people being arrested and charged in relation to a “significant” heroin trafficking enterprise. They have been charged with trafficking heroin and profiting from the proceeds of crime. Warrants were executed on houses in Frankston North, Seaford and Frankston on Wednesday at around 4am as a result of a long-term investigation. It is believed police used cameras to record the group’s activities during their investigations. An amount of cash was also seized. Twelve detectives from the crime investigation unit arrested Tien Le and Carmel McGarrigle, who have both…
Compiled by Melissa Walsh THE appointment of Mr C.W. Grant, of Mornington Junction as a J.P. has been gazetted. *** Mr J. Hall, storekeeper at Seymour, visited Frankston last weekend and purchased a building allotment in this locality. *** MESSRS Brody and Mason held their usual monthly market at Somerville on Wednesday last, when there was a fair yarding. *** MR E. Quiggin, one of Shepparton’s leading ironmongers, is at present spending a few weeks holiday at Frankston House. *** THE Shire of Frankston and Hastings are calling for tenders in this issue, returnable on Wednesday next, for sheeting, etc…
THE activities of the Port of Hastings Development Authority have been drastically scaled back following the election of the Labor state government. Staff numbers have been slashed from about 100 (including consultants) to 31, with one insider telling The News that the authority is “shrinking fast, all the consultants are about to go”. The authority’s CEO Mike Lean says the authority is working with the government to investigate logistics associated with the use of Hastings as a bulk port. The authority was established by the former Coalition government in 2012 with $110 million (over four years) to manage the Port…
THE derelict bottom station of the old Arthurs Seat chairlift has been daubed with graffiti: “No vandalism in our park”. The graffiti appeared on Thursday morning and is believed to have been done overnight. The building’s owner, Parks Victoria, is unlikely to remove it as demolition of the building is due to start this week and take about a week. It will be the second Arthurs Seat structure removed to make way for the proposed $18 million gondola chairlift being built by Arthurs Seat Skylift, headed by businessman and philanthropist Simon McKeon. The mountain’s iconic, 78-year-old lookout tower was demolished…
CELEBRITIES including Actors Lachy Hulme, Michala Banas, Nadine Garner, Samuel Johnson, along with The Water Diviner Producer Andrew Mason and KIIS FMs Jane Hall will be head to Rosebud this February to take part in the Peninsula Short Film Fest, proudly presented by Peninsula Hot Springs. Held on Saturday February 7 at the Village Green Rosebud, the FREE outdoor film festival will showcase a selection of 12 short films. These shorts will be judged live on the night by the celebrity judging panel and will compete for a first prize of $5K with second prize of $2.5K and third prize…
AFTER 18 months of refurbishment, the former pilot cutter MV Wyuna is gearing to depart Beauty Point, Tasmania for Victoria – but not to Hastings as originally planned. The 1953 vessel will, for the time being, be berthed at Docklands as a floating tourist attraction. Western Port Oberon Association president Max Bryant said the boat would make its way around to Hastings when permits were approved for a permanent home in Western Port. The 48-cabin vessel was donated to the association in 2013 for display at the Victorian Maritime Centre/Museum currently at Crib Point. She was envisaged as being part…
THE summit of Arthurs Seat is in danger of being turned into another Mt Dandenong “car park and tourist cafe” unless great care is taken to avoid past development errors, according to Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Hugh Fraser. Cr Fraser used his Australia Day address at Sorrento Bowls Club to warn of “unresolved tension in the use of our national park public open spaces for private development”. “There is the proposed private development of the historic Quarantine station in the Point Nepean National Park and also at the magnificent summit of Arthur’s Seat in the state park,” he said. The…
A DEBT collection firm with links to underworld identity Mick Gatto is setting up shop in Hastings. Gatto Corporate Solutions Pty Ltd, a debt purchasing company which buys debts then pursues creditors for the money owed, has leased office space in High St, opposite Hastings Library. Gatto’s surname is on the office window but the former boss of the notorious Carlton Crew is not a current co-owner of the business despite initially owning one third of its parent company Gatto Corp, via a private company, when it was formed in 2009. Gatto Corporate Solutions managing director Anthony Swords told The…
NIGHT-TIME taxis patronage across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula has dived after the launch of Uber’s ridesharing service in late December, according to frustrated cabbies. US based Uber, backed by corporate goliaths including Google and investment bank Goldman Sachs, is operating its uberX service illegally in Victoria (‘Uber’s arrival challenges taxi operators’, The News 20/1/15). Taxi owners and drivers are angry that the state government and regulators seem unwilling to act to stamp out the unregulated ridesharing service. Several have told The News young people in the 18-30 age bracket in particular are shunning taxis and using Uber’s smartphone app…
DISTRICT GOING into the third last round of MPCA District cricket, there are six teams all vying for a place in the finals. Top of the table Red Hill is assured its place, however, the race is well and truly on for the teams looking to occupy the final three placings. Whilst Somerville, Carrum and Mt Martha hold spots in the top bracket, Seaford and Main Ridge are waiting for any wrong move so they can swoop. And going on the results of the first day’s play of Round Nine, there is plenty of opportunities opening up. Red Hill hasn’t…
PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON’S quest to push into the MPCA Provincial cricket top four was dealt a boost on Saturday when it left the field after the first day with the upper hand against Baxter. In a must win game for the Dogs, they lost the toss and bowled first against the competition’s ladder leader and sent them packing after 67 overs. Luke Popov was at his vintage best for the visitors, bowling 18 overs and finishing with eight maidens and a super performance of 5/26. Sam Buchanan was brought into the attack late in the day and did the job for…
SUB-DISTRICT BALNARRING went from chocolates to boiled lollies in MPCA Sub District cricket on Saturday. After recording an outright victory in their last match and again putting themselves into finals contention, they failed with the bat on Saturday when placed under some real fire. Rosebud is looking to cement its place in the top four and even push for a place in the top two, a position it has held for the most of the season. The Buds hosted the Saints on Saturday, turned up the heat on the visitors and they wilted under the pressure. It’s one thing to…
THE friends of Mr G. Griffith, of Somerville, will be pleased to learn that he is so far recovered from a severe attack of bronchitis that he is able to return home, after being in a hospital in Melbourne for a fortnight. *** A VERY enjoyable evening was arranged by two very young ladies, Miss Doreen Dove, and Miss Sydney Levine, at Frankston House, on Wednesday evening, January 27th, in aid of the Patriotic Fund. This example could be followed by others. A splendid programme was given, including songs, party songs, recitations and dances. These young ladies are to be…
CAPE Schanck residents are objecting to RACV plans to build a $135 million, five-storey, 26-metre high conference complex at its resort on Boneo Rd. RACV Cape Schanck Resort of about 250 hectares currently has an 86-bedroom hotel as well as restaurant, cafe, rooms for meetings and weddings, outdoor heated pool, sauna, games room, gym and a four-kilometre walking/running track. Centrepiece of the resort is its famous 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed championship golf course as well as practice facilities and driving range. The resort started life as Cape Country Club, first approved in 1985 by the Shire of Flinders, and…
STAFF cuts at the Royal District Nursing Service’s Frankston and Rosebud offices will not affect patients, according to the service’s management. The organisation says there will be “no change to patient-care”. The offices are being replaced by mobile care teams equipped with laptops to make house calls. Administrative functions at the existing 14 suburban offices will be consolidated into four regional hubs – with the closest to Frankston and the peninsula being Moorabbin. The RDNS office in Beach St, Frankston, will close in April. No decision has been made regarding the continuation of the Cairns St, Rosebud, office “at this…
Council meeting at Besgrove St, Rosebud, 12 August, 7pm. Small gallery crowd; tea, coffee and biscuits provided. THERE were a few new faces among the usual gallery veterans at 2015’s first council meeting on 27 January. Three of the faces were there to ask questions about the RACV proposal to build a five-storey addition to its Cape Schanck resort. Five storeys! Thirty metres! Council Watch visualised such a monster rearing up out of the flat Cape Schanck landscape beside Boneo Rd. Cape Schanck resident Phil Gledhill asked if all councillors had “fully informed themselves” of the impact the building would…
MORNINGTON’S Main St traders are being asked their views on the “iconic” Wednesday market. A survey is being sent out this week to 400 traders by Mornington Chamber of Commerce, and Mornington Peninsula Shire to assess the market’s impacts and economic benefits on Main St. The survey asks if the market is fulfilling its role of attracting shoppers and visitors to the town, if its stalls compete too rigorously with established shops, if it creates a desirable atmosphere, where it should be located, whether customers who don’t come to Main St on a Wednesday because of the market would come…