Emergency services have spent the evening at the scene of a crash which claimed a woman’s life in Somerville. Investigators have been told a car was travelling on Western Port Highway when the driver collided with an oncoming vehicle, near the Bungower Road intersection, about 5.30pm. The driver, a 19-year-old Western Australian woman, died at the scene. The male driver of the second car was taken to Frankston Hospital with minor injuries. Tonight’s accident has occurred only three months after another 19-year-old, Olivia Steadman, was killed just a short distance up the same stretch of road. That accident lead to a groundswell…
Month: August 2015
FRENCH artist Michael Husser has left his mark on Rye’s arts and culture precinct. His two striking murals are among the works to be spawned from Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Arts and Culture precinct at Police Point Shire Park, Portsea. The Fisherman depicts seaside themes on the wall of The Rock cafe, corner Napier St and Pt Nepean Rd, Rye. Humans is on the foreshore toilet block near the lime kilns, Rye. Husser developed the concepts and drawings during his week as artist in residence at Police Point. He said The Fisherman “symbolises that part in all of us looking to…
THE state planning tribunal did not make an “accidental slip” in its Arthurs Seat gondola permit conditions, as claimed by the Save Our Seat protest group, and no correction will be made, the tribunal has decided. SOS queried what appeared to be a contradiction in one condition the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal placed on the contentious cable car project. In condition 39, VCAT stated an emergency plan must be approved “prior to the commencement of the use” of the ride, that is, after construction was completed. Elsewhere it stated that the plan should be approved “before the development commences…
COLONIAL Leisure Group is selling the Portsea Hotel building and land not the business, says the group’s national operations manager Grady Patching. Mr Patching was responding to the report in last week’s paper about several Mornington Peninsula tourism properties on the market or sold (“Overseas investor eyes on us”, 25/8/15). He stated in an email that “the freehold only is for sale not the business. CLG will not be selling the leasehold any time soon”. The News stated the freehold was worth $16 million. Mr Patching stated that “Portsea Hotel just had the most profitable year since Chris has owned…
AN appeal has been launched to build a centre that can save and turn lives around for troubled young people on the southern peninsula. Land has been set aside for a Wellness Pavilion at Rosebud Secondary College that can provide a place for meditation and rooms for students to speak with counsellors. Two mothers spoke movingly about how the suicide of a young member has affected their lives. Year 11 student Hamish Swayn described the far-reaching impact the suicide of his uncle last year continues to have across his family and local community. “People can easily get stuck in a…
HILLVIEW Quarries says it wants to reopen the old Pioneer quarry in Boundary Rd, Dromana, claiming it is running out of rock at its existing pit, which was started less than two years ago. Hillview CEO Paul Nitas has written to residents living near the old quarry and stated Hillview’s existing quarry off Hillview Quarry Drive had been operating for nearly 50 years “and its resource is diminishing”. “While the Boundary Road site [Pioneer] has not been actively quarried in recent years, we know the site has significant reserves,” he stated. The site has not been quarried for almost 20…
ON the weekend of the 7 -9 of August the Australian Karate Federation held their National Championships in Adelaide. The Victorian team consisted of karate athletes from all over the state ranging in age from nine year old to over forty-five year old divisions. The Victorian team was a strong one with 12 athletes from the Mornington Ishinryu Dojo. Fourteen-year-old Jade Colver –Vella, a Padua College student, has now become a four time National Champion and two time Oceania champion. A veteran of the sport at such a young age, she won three gold medals at the competition; female cadet…
PENINSULA LEAGUE LANGWARRIN denied Karingal its one and only win for the season on Saturday after coming from six goals down early in the match. In coach Gavin Artico’s last game at the helm, the Kangaroos trailed by as much as 36 points early in the match after the Bulls came out desperate to win their first game of the season. However, the Kangas slowly worked their way back into the contest and got to within 15 points at the halfway mark of the match. It wasn’t until late in the game that the home side hit the front, eventually…
NEPEAN LEAGUE SOMERVILLE will play Rosebud in the second semi-final next Saturday at Rye’s RJ Rowley Reserve after holding off a late charge from Sorrento in the Nepean Division qualifying final. Leading by four points at the final change, Somerville kicked three goals in the opening eight minutes of the final quarter to open up what appeared to be a match winning and game-high 27-point lead. However, as it so often has done this season, the Eagles took the foot off the pedal and allowed Sorrento back into the contest. The Sharks responded with three quick goals of their own…
THE picture raffled by Mrs Brunning in aid of the Red Cross Fund was won by Miss Eileen Simcock, the winning number being 16. *** MR McCormack wishes to acknowledge the receipt of 10s from Mrs J. Hogan donated to the Red Cross Fund, which was handed in to the treasurer some weeks ago. *** CR W. J. Oates requests us to acknowledge the receipt of £20 8s 9d, being proceeds from the sale of Red Cross buttons for the month of July in the Shire of Frankston and Hastings. *** MESSRS T. R. B. Morton and Son will hold…
THE Andrews government has been accused of putting public safety at risk during the upcoming trial of all-night public transports on weekends. Earlier this month the Labor state government announced a one-year trial of 24-hour Friday and Saturday train services, called “Homesafe”, across the state including the Frankston line. Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy visited Seaford train station last Monday (24 August) and slammed the government for failing to budget for protective services officers at all stations all night. “That leaves quite a number of stations like Seaford exposed to no security after 11pm,” Mr Guy said. PSOs will be…
NOELS Gallery at Red Hill is about to enter a new phase after being renovated and refurbished by new owners Rebecca and Craig Davy. The couple previously owned galleries at Flinders and Sorrento and plan to hold exhibitions and artists’ demonstrations (sometimes with dinner) at Noels. Exhibitions will include paintings, glass, jewellery and ceramics. Craig Davy started painting six years ago and has won 70 awards. His new works will be on show for opening night, Saturday 5 September. To arrange an invitation to the opening email becdavy@iinet.net.au The yet-to-be-opened cafe at Noels will be open for breakfast and light…
HELP is at hand for those who feel they are drowning in mounting debt. A new website and mobile phone app launched late last month to offer free financial guidance can be the first step to put consumers back in charge of their finances. The financialfirstaid.org.au site is the brainchild of FMC Mediation and Counselling Victoria, a not-for-profit provider of federal government-funded family and community programs. The online site and app provides access to information split into three categories: ‘I need help right now’, ‘I need to understand’ and ‘I want to know more’. Easy-to-read information about how to recover from…
WAS it a Ghillie Dhu* or a Shellycoat* who, at the 24 August council meeting, spirited a packet of family assorted biscuits on to the hospitality table in the council offices foyer? Council Watch, noting a previous column that complained of a quality drop-off in the biscuits available at council meetings, felt he had overstepped the mark. He felt reproved. Here was a cornucopia of creams, a plethora of pastries suddenly arrived beside the glass jar of cookies provided for council-watching aesthetes. CW took a humble shortbread from the aesthetes’ jar as atonement for his previous curmudgeonly presumption. It turned…
THE shire council will ask South East Water to set aside 10 per cent of its 2.8-hectare decommissioned reservoir site in Mt Eliza for a public reserve as well as provide land for social housing. The council decision follows the release of an independent panel report into the future of 24 blocks of land on the corner of Barmah and Kanya roads near Kunyung Rd owned by the government water authority. The panel report did not recommend either public reserve or public housing blocks. In early 2014, South East Water asked the shire to rezone the 24 blocks of about…
A MT MARTHA couple woke in fright to discover “three or four” young men stealthily ransacking their home on The Esplanade, 3.30am, Saturday 22 August. The men, described as Maori and African and in their late teens to early 20s, were using mobile phones as torches to roam from room to room, stealing items, including jewellery, from bedside tables. They gained entry to the house by breaking into the couple’s car and using a remote control device to get in through the garage. Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Vallas, of Mornington police, said the startled couple jumped out of bed when…
IT’S been a nervous few months for Mornington Yacht Club members but champagne corks are popping following the signing of a new 21-year lease with the shire council for the club’s prime spot on the harbour. The nervousness came after Mornington Environment Association (MEA) opposed the proposed lease in April, and Mornington Peninsula Shire was forced to hold a hearing in June so MEA members could make submissions. Crs Hugh Fraser and Andrew Dixon heard submissions. Shire officers then had to fend off criticisms as well as answer MEA concerns. Councillors approved the lease last Monday. The club will pay…
POLICE have seized live and dried cannabis plants with an estimated value of $261,000 during a raid on a Mt Eliza “crop house”. Eight Mornington detectives smashed their way into the Wimbledon Av property at 7am on Wednesday 26 August where they found 87 plants being grown in bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as an array of drug paraphernalia, including special lighting, hydroponic equipment, extraction fans and charcoal filters. Police said electrical wiring to heat the crops had been run directly from the street supply, bypassing the house’s electricity meter to avoid detection. No one was home at the…
A Langwarrin woman has had her license suspended after allegedly drink driving in Langwarrin this evening. Officers from Frankston Highway Patrol were called to Cranbourne Road following reports of an erratic driver around 6.45pm. Police caught up with the woman when she was on her second run to the bottle shop. The woman returned a positive breath test at the scene. A subsequent evidentiary breath test furnished a reading of 0.289 per cent. The 40-year-old’s license was immediately suspended and it is expected she will be charged on summons with drink driving and traffic related offences.
Mornington Police have seized a substantial amount of cannabis plants following a warrant in Mount Eliza this morning. Investigators executed the warrant at a Wimbledon Road address around 7am. During a search of the property police located 87 mature cannabis plants and dried cannabis material with an estimated street value of $250,000. Constable Megan Zurek from Mornington Police said the warrant was a good result for the local community. “It’s a reminder to anyone in the Peninsula area thinking of cultivating or manufacturing drugs that police are continually targeting this kind of criminal behaviour,” she said. “Police will take action…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president THIS weekend saw your Hastings Blues take on the high flying Rosebud FNC at Hastings, in what loomed as the match day of the day status. But unfortunately only one side turned up to play in the senior game which resulted in a very ordinary loss on a day that started with so much hope. However all is not lost as we were able to stay inside the top five, finishing a very creditable fourth. The club is now in the fantastic position of playing senior finals for the first time in three…
ZIRKA Circus is visiting Australia as part of its World Tour. Their international artists are the best in their class! This is the first contemporary circus to be owned and operated in Australia by a woman. Owner/Manager Jeni Hou’s family has been in entertainment and circus for three generations. Zirka is circus like never before! Bringing a fresh and exciting new look to circus in Australia. You will be amazed and dazzled by the skill, beauty, and strength of the amazing international artists. This awe-inspiring show with death defying acrobatics – they have to be seen to be believed… magic,…
THE future of Esso’s Long Island Point fractionation plant at Hastings is assured as the company charges ahead to tap into Bass Strait gas that it says will supply a city of one million people for 35 years. Talking up the company’s future at its annual Western Port community and stakeholder liaison dinner in Hastings last week were Richard Owen – the chairman of Esso’s parent company, ExxonMobil Australia – and Steve Williams, plant manager of Long Island Point (LIP), which marks its 45th birthday this year (and the ExxonMobil–BHP Billiton 50-50 joint venture celebrates 50 years since the first…
THE developers of a proposed $47 million retirement village at Somerville – knocked back by the shire in June – are appealing to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The 223-unit development at 16 Graf Rd proposes 11 separate buildings over two and three storeys, with parking for 279 cars. Lawyers acting for developer CBG Architects, of St Kilda, have applied for a Review of Refusal hearing, under the tribunal’s List of Major Cases, on 25 November. They are contesting the shire’s decision not to grant a planning permit under Section 77 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Grounds…
PLANS to build new footpaths at Somers have led to a call for a study into protecting “the grace and appeal of coastal villages”. The $1.5 million footpath scheme residents are being asked to contribute towards has sparked debate within the community and claims that the peninsula’s coastal townships will lose their “special atmosphere so carefully created in the past”. Former Mornington shire president David Gill says Somers is being treated as “the guinea pig for more ugly concrete in our coastal villages”. Mornington Peninsula Shire’s infrastructure strategy manager Davey Smith says Somers residents are being treated no differently to…
ESSO is edging closer to extracting gas from a new field in Bass Strait, guaranteeing the long-term future of its Long Island Point fractionation plant at Hastings. The good news was delivered at Esso’s Western Port community and stakeholder liaison dinner in Hastings last week, an annual event that allows the energy company and members of the Western Port community to mingle. After char-grilled chicken or porterhouse steak at MaQuay restaurant (with its view of the verdant Hastings foreshore and Esso’s Long Island Point (LIP) plant just across the water), the chairman of Esso’s parent company ExxonMobil Australia, Richard…
ANALYSIS THE north face of Arthurs Seat has extremely unstable soil vulnerable to landslip and erosion, a 1990 planning tribunal hearing was told in an appeal against the then Shire of Flinders’ refusal to allow a house to be built on the precipitous slope. The locality had been given the top rating of 5 – “severe risk of adverse effects to land and/or water is always present” – as an area of erosion hazard by Victoria’s Soil Conservation Authority (SCA) in 1983, the tribunal stated in its decision. This was “because of the extreme gradients (20-65 per cent), shallow soils…
AN historic view at Sullivan Bay in Sorrento has been preserved after a VCAT decision that ensures a “view cone” from a public lookout will not be impeded by buildings or vegetation on an adjoining property. The site of Victoria’s first settlement in 1803 is bounded by headlands known as the Eastern Sister and the Western Sister. The lookout on the Eastern Sister provides a view across the bay to the Western Sister through the so-called view cone, which “protects” the view. Mornington Peninsula Shire imposed stringent conditions to protect the view when it approved a multi-million five-lot subdivision of…
TWENTY-three flags are now flying at Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento as part of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s A Creative Peninsula arts flag project. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said images on the flags reflect the artists’ lives on the Mornington Peninsula. “The art flags celebrate our creative and engaged communities, and feature works by six artists who call the peninsula home – and their muse,” she said. Artists whose work is on the flags are Justine McNamara, Miodrag Jankovic, Sharron Okines, Michael Leeworthy, Jennifer Ellen and Sabra Lazarus. The shire says the flags will enhance the vibrancy of the three towns,…
A PARAMEDIC working on the southern peninsula says Rosebud is “being short-changed” over its prescribed 24-hour ambulance coverage. The officer says it is unfair to residents that funding – “specifically provided to Ambulance Victoria by the state government for a second 24-hour ambulance resource in the Rosebud area – is likely never to be used” for that purpose. The concerned paramedic, who asked not to be named “to protect my job”, said the vehicle designated to provide a 24-hour ambulance service for Rosebud was often 45 kilometres away transporting patients on the northern peninsula. “When it finally is based in…