THE RACV has wasted little time getting into gear to start its $135 million resort at Cape Schanck. The possibility of a legal challenge of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s approval now appears unlikely. The controversial project was approved by just four councillors on 13 July. The council was reduced from 11 to seven councillors with three absent (Tim Wood, whose ward covers the resort, Lynn Bowden and Hugh Fraser) and one declaring a conflict of interest and leaving the council chamber, Graham Pittock (who has shares in the National Golf Club, which adjoins the RACV property). Four councillors voted for…
Month: August 2015
A FILM co-produced by Rosebud resident Gaye Miller and screening at the Southern Peninsula Arts Centre next week will be a reality check for some viewers. Camp 32 is a documentary about six-year-old Hom Chhorn who was imprisoned in a Cambodian labour camp by the Khmer Rouge where he witnessed the torture and brutality of the regime and the deaths of some of its 30,000 people. Hom was later sent with 150 children to live on a mountain for six months with no adult care or supervision. Few survived to come back down the mountain. Ms Miller has a strong…
BLASTING may be required on Arthurs Seat to build foundations for the towers and cables that will carry Skylift’s gondolas. Helicopters will lift the towers into position, according to a Mornington Peninsula Shire report. “Parts of Arthurs Seat Rd will need to be closed temporarily (five minutes at a time) during these works,” says a report in the 10 August council agenda. “It is proposed to use helicopters to install [three towers]. This is required due to the steep terrain surrounding these locations, which is not accessible with convention [sic] vehicles and equipment,” the officers’ report states. “The helicopters will…
RYE Primary School pupil Savannah LeeFangmeier, 11, has a passion for life: so much so that she worked hard all holidays cutting out holding-hand figures for pupils to decorate as part of a Donate Life Week fundraiser. In the lead up to the event she visited the school’s art classes to explain what organ donation means. The Holding Hands art project involves all grade levels with pupils creating and colouring their own designs on the 500-odd cut outs to demonstrate what organ donation meant to them. Their creations were displayed in the hall and judged by Savannah and class teacher…
WEEKEND train services will run all night on Friday and Saturday nights on the Frankston line from January next year as part of a public transport trial announced by the Labor state government. On Thursday last week Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan announced a one-year trial, starting on New Year’s Eve, to gauge demand for weekend night-time services across Victoria’s rail network including the Frankston line. “A world-class city deserves 24-hour public transport. It’s good for our economy, for shift workers and for people who want to get home safe after a night out,” Ms Allan said. “People who live…
THE sound you can perhaps hear on the shire’s recording of its 27 July meeting is not what you might suspect. The ceiling of the Besgrove St council chamber was not about to collapse, nor was there a wee beastie in the room calling to its mate. And Council Watch hastens to assure readers that it was not a natural human sound – in fact, it was a creaking chair. A councillor who shall remain nameless was gently rocking as proceedings proceeded, probably accustomed to a rocking chair by the fireside, causing the rather fancy council seat’s torque spring to…
PARKS Victoria gave Mornington’s “new” pier a soft launch on Saturday with an open invitation to the public to inspect the $15.3 million rebuild and enjoy a range of activities, including a free sausage sizzle. Lending weigh to the historic event was the schooner Enterprize, a replica of the ship built in Hobart in 1830 and used five years later by John Pascoe Fawkner to bring settlers and provisions to what is now Melbourne. The Enterprize entered the Yarra River on 15 August 1835 and moored at what is now William St. The original ship was wrecked in 1847 on…
AS head of economic development at Mornington Peninsula Shire, Shane Murphy assisted in the establishment of many industry bodies on the peninsula. One was the Mornington Peninsula Marine Alliance, a body formed to promote the peninsula’s growing marine sector. When Mr Murphy was made redundant in March, he was soon picked up by the alliance to spearhead the group as executive officer. “I was delighted to get the role,” Mr Murphy said. “Peninsula marine industries are a major factor in our economy, and with the council adopting the Marine Precincts Strategy, the alliance will work closely with the shire to…
By David Quinn* THIS month marks 40 years since Prime Minister Gough Whitlam ran soil through the hands of Vincent Lingiari stating: “I want to acknowledge that we Australians still have much to do to redress the injustice and oppression that has for so long been the lot of Black Australians”. Whitlam then added: “This land will be the possession of you and your children forever.” In reply, with trust implicit in Whitlam’s pledge, the softly-spoken elder decreed: “Now we can all be mates”. It is now August 2015 and the question is raised – are we mates? Have we…
A COMMEMORATIVE plaque awarded by Victoria Police to a Mt Martha man for helping with the 1988 Ty-Eyre Task Force was stolen in an overnight raid on Sunday 2 August. The task force had been set up to investigate the ambush and shooting deaths of Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre in South Yarra in October of that year – an investigation that, at its height, involved hundreds of officers. The 25cm plaque was one of many items stolen, including personal and business papers, bank PINs and statements, keepsakes including the man’s first tax return from 1950, cards and mementoes of…
REAL Time Learning students at Mt Eliza Secondary College have been working with Mornington Men’s Shed members to build homes for microbats. Teacher Narelle Debenham said microbats –hibernating for winter – were an important part of the ecosystem. The bat range from being about the size of a 10 cent coin to that of a small mouse. Microbats eat pest insects, including lawn grub moths, weevils, beetles, midges, flying termites and mosquitos. But competition from birds, possums and gliders, along with the clearing of many old trees, has meant their habitat is scarce. Eleven year 7 students joined five shed…
THE cost to the taxpayer of travel by the two federal MPs who represent Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula is reasonably modest compared with some of their colleagues. According to the latest available Department of Finance figures taxpayer-paid travelling expenses for the two MPs up to the end of December last year came to $249,249. The department says the costs relate to 1 July-31 December 2014 and an unspecified time before 1 July 2014. Neither Mr Billson or Mr Hunt rated in the top 10 of MPs with the highest travel expenses. The bill for Dunkley MP Bruce Billson, who…
ANYONE wanting to learn about the shire’s community support, creative communities and flexi grants – as well as the application process – can attend an information session 6.30-8.30pm, Wednesday 19 August at the shire’s Rosebud office. Not-for-profit community organisations can seek grants to help with community-led projects as can organisations that enhance community services and support, volunteering and community participation, including arts and cultural programs and activities. The community support grants of up to $5000 are for projects that support the health and wellbeing of local communities. Applications close 5pm, Monday 21 September. The creative communities grants of up to…
FAMILY violence campaigner, Australian of the Year and peninsula resident Rosie Batty will sign copies of her new book in Mornington in early October, the first signing following the biography’s release. Rosie Batty: A Mother’s Story tells the harrowing story of her son Luke, who was killed by his father at cricket practice in Tyabb, a story known by most Australians, and what has happened in the 18 months since. Ms Batty has become the national public face of family violence – before and after her selection as Australian of the Year – and galvanised public opinion behind a call…
MORNINGTON’S rebuilt pier opened to the public last Saturday with a Parks Victoria sausage sizzle but on the eve of the event local Liberal MP David Morris couldn’t resist throwing a few barbs at the state government. Mr Morris successfully lobbied his government for pier money, and the Liberal-Nationals Coalition set aside about $15 million in May 2012 to reconstruct the outer section, which was closed in August 2010 after a series of storms. Mr Morris also had a shot at the previous government in late 2013. Last Thursday he issued a statement saying the former Coalition government’s $15.3 million…
ONE of the speakers at the ice forum in Mornington last Tuesday was cheered and clapped long and hard for her bravery in telling a difficult story. The forum – “What’s the real story with ice” – was organised by the churches and community group alliance Peninsula Voice, which has been running a series of forums to tackle difficult topics such as family violence. Peninsula Voice chair Peter Orton said Kerrie Knight, the Mornington mother of a 21-year-old daughter with an ice addiction who told her family’s harrowing story to more than 370 strangers, was a hero in the same…
RUNNERS from across the peninsula are in training for the Devilbend Fun Run, Sunday 9 August – such as the Haugen family, of Moorooduc, pictured. They have been making the run an annual event for the past four years. Peder, Linley and their three children (pictured) take every opportunity to train in the Devil Bend Natural Features Reserve area, near where they live. A continuing aim of the Mornington Peninsula Athletic Club, which organises the run, is to build community involvement, family participation and encouragement of all runners – not just those at the front of the field. “The Devil…
HASTINGS FNC – By Phil Stone, club president SATURDAY was a big day for the club. Coming of a terrific result against Somerville the boys had it all at there feet and what was a great opportunity to consolidate our position in the top five. We unfortunately fell to a much more committed Red Hill outfit. Hopefully we can learn from this result and show a much more steely resolve against Tyabb FNC at Tyabb this Saturday in what now shapes up as a very important game, with only three rounds to go. A big thank you to everyone who was…
IT’S unusual to associate young boys with taxidermy, but don’t tell Xavier Noonan. The Grade 6 Tyabb Primary School pupil is so enthused by his craft that he’s decorated the walls of his parents’ house with a stuffed rat, mice, birds of all sorts, fox, duck, and a deer’s head. “And we’ve got a lot of dead bodies in our freezer,” confided his mum, Kellie. At the tender age of 11, Xavier has been practising taxidermy for nearly two years. “He has been passionate about animals since he was little and was always very good at art,” Mrs Noonan said.…
FRANKSTON line commuters face short-term travel pain for long-term gain with sections of the railway tracks set to be closed for weeks on end while level crossings are removed. Eleven level crossings along the Frankston line are earmarked to have their intersection between road and rail separated to stop traffic delays and allow Metro Trains to eventually run more train services. The Bentleigh, Ormond and McKinnon stations will be demolished and rebuilt from November next year and are expected to reopen in February 2017. Trains will run between Frankston and Moorabbin stations during a planned 34-day line shutdown near the…
ABOUT 50 Esso workers at the company’s Hastings plant at Long Island Point are taking industrial action in opposition to longer shifts, roster changes, and staff cuts. The workers are covered by an enterprise agreement covering Long Island Point, Longford, and the Barry Beach marine terminal. An Esso spokesperson on Monday said the longer working roster – 14 days on and 14 days off – “is actually for the workers at our offshore facilities – not Long Island Point”. “Under the most recent offer we made to the workforce the current seven day on seven day off roster was retained,…
LAND bought for a fuel storage and distribution depot is the first step towards the realisation of state government plans for the Port of Hastings to be increasingly used as a “bulk” port. An eight hectare site in Bayview Rd has been bought by Puma Energy, a relatively new player in Australia’s fuel industry. The company already has “seaboard” terminals at Brisbane, Mackay and Townsville, with a fourth being built in Perth. It is understood Puma paid $2.2 million for its Hastings land which will be developed as a fuel storage depot at a cost of up to $120 million…
Sorrento SES volunteers have attended three rescue jobs within 24 hours. In the first instance they were called to free a woman trapped in her car which had rolled onto its side in Mawarra St, Rosebud, 6.15pm, Tuesday. “We worked together with the fire crew and ambulance to safely extricate her,” media liaison officer David Lammers said. “All this only took 10 minutes and the woman was taken to hospital with what seemed like minor injuries.” At 4pm Wednesday they got a call to help out at Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento, where another car had flipped onto its side and…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have agreed to sell off another piece of surplus property – this time a “laneway” off Myers Rd, Balnarring that, technically, it does not yet own – for $22,000. A report to council stated that the 12.67 metres wide by 713.7 metres long strip of land was designated as a road in the early 1900s subdivision. The proposal resulted from a request by the owner of 7 Turners Rd, Balnarring, to buy the land. The “laneway” runs north from Myers Rd, between properties at 234 and 238 Myers Rd. It abuts the eastern boundary of the…
NEPEAN Ward councillor Tim Rodgers has criticised the state government for axing the Point Nepean quarantine station development proposed by Point Leisure Group. During a speech at the recent opening of the $250,000 renovated Sorrento Community Centre, Cr Rodgers said the government was not “doing its bit” at Point Nepean. “The refurbished Sorrento Community Centre with its large sporting hall is an asset for the whole of the Nepean Ward community – Blairgowrie, Portsea, Rye and Sorrento townships – and we may also get a new township for the community, Nepean township at Point Nepean quarantine station, if the state…
A PROPOSAL to change the name of Rosebud West to Capel Sound was delivered to the shire council last week but it appears to be on shaky ground as many residents push back against the idea. Fourteen residents led by Terry Wright want to change the name, claiming there is a disconnection between the name and the area’s real character “and the impact this has on the pride we feel about our place”. “The name Rosebud West has no relevance to the locality and assumes it has no character in its own right. Rosebud was the name of a ship…
PENINSULA LEAGUE EDITHVALE-ASPENDALE is coming and are looking ominous after blowing Mornington away by more than five goals on Saturday. Edithvale started well and led by 11 points at quarter time and nine points at the major interval. However, it was the seven goal to one third term that set-up the 14.13 (97) to 8.17 (65) victory. Edithvale-Aspendale, as we well know, is hard to stop when its confidence is up. One could argue that the Eagles’ draw has been relatively soft over the past five weeks, however, it’s hard to argue with five wins on the trot. Three of…
NEPEAN LEAGUE RED HILL kept its finals chances alive with a gutsy four-quarter performance against Hastings on Saturday at Thomas Barclay Reserve. Whilst the Hillmen continued its push towards finals, Hastings let slip an opportunity to break away from other sides vying for a top three position. The Hillmen were too strong over four quarters, winning comfortably 14.8 (92) to 10.5 (65). It was Red Hill’s best win of the season. It was the stars who shone yet again for the Hillmen, but it was teenage defender Jonah Siverson who really stood out playing in the back half. Siverson has…
Hear Neil Diamond’s legendary Hot August Night album in its entirety – one of the best-selling albums in Australian music history – 1 in 3 homes has a copy! The show also features interesting stories about how the songs were created, and of Diamond’s dark journey from being a struggling Brooklyn poet, to becoming one of the worlds most loved performers. As well as being a celebration of Diamond’s greatest hits, Hot August Night and Me, offers its audience so much more. Performer Dominic Finley is a former member of 80s chart toppers Cutting Crew (known for their number 1…