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…
Day: August 24, 2015
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…
PENINSULA LEAGUE MT Eliza full forward Justin Van Unen booted the five goals he needed against Pines on Saturday to notch his second century in the MPNFL. ‘JV’ first kicked 100 goals when he was playing for Rye in an Elimination Final and while he was still wearing the red and blue on Saturday, this time it was for the Redlegs. Van Unen had the tough job of playing on the returning Beau Hendry on Saturday, making the feat even that much more impressive. In 16 games, Van Unen has averaged almost six goals a game and he holds the…
By CRAIG MACKENZIE A HISTORIC liaison between six local soccer clubs underpins the Women’s National Premier League of Victoria application by newly formed Southern United. Casey Comets, Mornington, Langwarrin, Seaford United, Skye United and Peninsula Strikers juniors have formed a consortium to back a single bid representing one of the largest catchment areas in Victoria. The consortium has formal backing from the City of Casey and City of Frankston and a verbal pledge of support from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. There were 22 applicants for Victoria’s inaugural WNPLV competition due to kick off next year with just eight applicants to…
DROMANA Football Club will announce its Team of the Century and Teams of the Decade over the past 70 years at a special gala function next season. All members of Teams of the Decade (TOTD) will be notified of their selection in the next six weeks to give them plenty of time to plan to attend. Almost all of these players will have met the criteria to be a member of the main team. Each of the TOTD will have a coach, captain and vice-captain, as well as an interchange of six. The Team of the Century will only feature…
NEPEAN LEAGUE RED Hill will take enormous momentum into its Elimination final against Hastings this weekend after belting Dromana to the tune of 86 points on Saturday. The Hillmen have won four matches in a row by an average margin of 59 points and have regained that confidence that eluded them in the middle part of the season. The Hillmen’s last two wins against Dromana and Frankston Bombers have been by 86 and 113 points respectively. Red Hill beat Hastings at the start of the month (three rounds ago) in a hard fought, tough contest by 27 points. Red Hill…
“I would love to be Doctor Who!” Actor and musician John Waters’ declaration has been prompted by mint magazine’s suggestion the 66-year-old would be a perfect choice to play the Time Lord in BBC TV’s long-running sci-fi show now the Beeb has seen sense and is skewing older in its casting of the good Doctor in the form of current incarnation Peter Capaldi. While mint hopes the Scotsman does not immediately vacate the TARDIS there will come a time – as for all 11 of his Doctor Who predecessors – for the 57-year-old Capaldi to regenerate. “Of course, the body…
HOW would you treat your husband if you found he were a German spy? Come and see at the Red Cross Dramatic Entertainment by St Paul’s Club next Wednesday night. *** “IS war ever right?” Come and hear the dialogue at St Paul’s Club dramatic entertainment, at Frankston on Wednesday. All money taken at the door goes to the local Red Cross Fund—no expenses. *** THE many friends of Mr Corlett Senr, of Langwarrin will be pleased to hear that he is recovering from his illness and hopes to be about as usual in a few days. *** THE President…
TWO men will be charged on summons after they were allegedly caught taking abalone at Portsea on Friday 7 August. Their haul was over the catch limit and in the closed season. Fisheries officers patrolling the ocean beach at London Bridge intercepted the men just before midnight. A 42-year-old man from Cranbourne will be charged on summons with taking 49 abalone during the closed season, at night and with taking undersized abalone. He and another man are also expected to be charged on summons for allegedly obstructing fisheries officers in their duties, which carries a maximum penalty of…
A RENOWNED concert pianist and an acclaimed jazz pianist will present a masterclass followed by a concert in Frankston on 13 September, bringing a touch of musical genius to Monash University’s George Jenkins Theatre. Alan Kogosowski and Joe Chindamo are pioneering a new concept for the region in conjunction with the university – giving budding musicians a chance to learn from highly experienced professionals who have played around the world. Kogosowski is a world leading authority on the music of Chopin. Jazz pianist Chindamo is an internationally acclaimed composer. From Chopin to Chindamo is the first of Monash University’s “Masterclass…
A HIGH-PROFILE federal government appointee with family links to the Mornington Peninsula is set to address a Liberal Party event in Mt Martha early next month. Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, who makes regular media appearances on shows such as the ABC’s Q&A and Channel Ten’s The Project, will be guest speaker at the Briars Historic Homestead in Mt Martha and it is a homecoming of sorts for the man dubbed the “Freedom Commissioner” by federal Attorney-General George Brandis. Mr Wilson lived in Mt Martha before heading for the bright lights of Melbourne and is a former student of…
ONGOING tensions within the Liberal Party over the legalisation of same-sex marriage have been downplayed by federal MP for Flinders Greg Hunt. A passionate Mr Hunt told The News last Friday he believed media claims of internal party divisions in the aftermath of a Liberal party room meeting earlier this month to discuss same-sex marriage legalisation have been overblown. Workplace Minister Eric Abetz slammed cabinet leakers as “gutless” as differences of opinion on same-sex marriage emerged publicly after the meeting held behind closed doors in the Liberal party room on Tuesday 11 August. Mr Hunt revealed he spoke in favour…
PLAYING golf has “kept me alive”, says Mt Eliza enthusiast Ralph Godfrey, who is about to celebrate his 100th birthday. He likes nothing better than spending time each week on the course – sometimes playing three rounds with his mates at Frankston Golf Club in Golf Links Rd. “I always look forward to playing golf,” Mr Godfrey said. “I like meeting people and I’ve found that hitting a little white ball around the course for two and a half hours makes me forget any problems.” After losing his wife in 2008 he maintains he would not be alive today if…
MORNINGTON Racing Club has been given more than $2 million of state government money towards a $5m renovation of its grandstand. Once the refurbishment is finished, the club will have the “largest events centre on the peninsula”, according to Racing Minister Martin Pakula. The work includes renovating the grandstand’s ground floor “creating a new range of quality spaces for the race going public and club members on racedays”, Melbourne Racing Club CEO Brodie Arnhold said. Work is planned to be finished in time for the William Hill Peninsula Cup Day on 1 November. Mr Arnold said the “new spaces” would…
ALTHOUGH the number of snapper spawned in Port Phillip last year Was less than in previous years Fisheries Victoria executive director, Travis Dowling, says it is “nothing to be alarmed about”. Mr Dowling says “natural fluctuations” are “perfectly normal in wild fish populations”. And he does not see the drop in spawning success affecting catches in the bay. “We are fortunate that this lower spawning year follows two very successful spawning seasons for snapper, which will ensure the fishery remains productive for years to come,” Mr Dowling said. “Our scientists have undertaken these surveys of baby snapper in late March…
TWO iconic Mornington Peninsula properties are set to change hands as overseas, interstate and Victorian investors consider the delights of owning real estate in “Melbourne’s playground”. The investors include a group from overseas who recently toured the peninsula looking at opportunities. Sunny Ridge strawberry farm in Main Ridge, and Moonah Links golf course in Fingal (inland from Rye) are the two latest properties to join a growing list of landmark holdings on the market or already sold. Moonah Links leads the pack, having been sold two weeks ago to overseas buyers for an undisclosed after being on the market for…
POLICE, security companies, retailers, major shopping chains and municipalities joined forces last week to plan how to better combat crime in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula. The Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Crime Prevention Alliance – the first of its kind in Victoria and running since February – aims to find ways to cut anti-social and criminal behaviour around public places and shopping centres. This will be done by “sharing good practice and crime prevention strategies”, according to its initiator, Senior Sergeant Dean Clinton, of Frankston’s Proactive Programs Unit. The alliance’s 16 members met at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Queen St…