THE federal government’s shock decision to close the Mornington Centrelink and Medicare offices next month was a “real kick in the guts”, Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said last week. As from Monday 23 March Centrelink clients will have to travel 24 kilometres to the Rosebud office, 14km to Frankston or 18km to Hastings. “This will be a terrible outcome for the community in terms of the challenges it creates and will make it really hard on families who rely on those services,” Cr Hearn said. The shire estimates closing Centrelink Mornington will impact up to 3000 low-income…
Day: February 10, 2020
CONTINENTAL Hotel owner Julian Gerner maintained last week that a source of finance for the $100 million hotel redevelopment is “very close”. “It is imminent, but there are number of complexities that we are working through,” he said. “You can say that I intend to start the rebuilding in April.” Mr Gerner has had a seesaw ride since buying the 1875 hotel for about $15 million in March 2016, gaining contentious building permits, buying strategic properties and then unsuccessfully putting the whole thing on the market in November 2017. He described the project then as “too big to handle alone”.…
Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors hope local laws officers will be able to book hooning jet ski riders in summers to come. The shire officers this year have the power to collect evidence that can lead to prosecutions, but must be content with issuing verbal warnings and not infringement notices. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the shire would continue lobbying for its officers to be able to book hooning jet ski riders. The shire will also continue its campaign for safe swimming areas, where jet skis are banned. Cr Hearn told The News that jet skis should be kept closer…
THE Rye Township Plan with $3.25 million is one of three Mornington Peninsula Shire Council projects to receive a share of $4.7 million from the state government. The others are Somerville Active Recreation Hub, $742,000 and the Tyabb Kindergarten, $727,000. Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek said the grants were among 32 across the state to share $50m through the Growing Suburbs Fund in 10 rapidly growing municipalities. The Rye announcement on Wednesday 22 January under the clock tower was attended by Nepean MP Chris Brayne, the mayor Cr Sam Hearn, shire CEO John Baker, Crs Bryan Payne and Hugh Fraser,…
PENINSULA A BRILLIANT knock of 86 not out from Simon Dart helped Red Hill to a big total against Moorooduc on Saturday. Choosing to bat first at home, Red Hill were impressive. Opener Matthew Merifield also played a big part for his side, passing his half century. Red Hill finished the day at 266, setting Moorooduc a formidable target to chase down on day two of their match. Tom Shayler was the pick of the bowlers for Moorooduc. He took a five wicket haul, and posted final figures of 5/70. Shayler is in good form, and has taken two 5…
SOCCER PLAYER-coach Matty Morris-Thomas believes that Seaford United can challenge for the State 4 South championship this season. He already has agreed terms with experienced midfielder Scott Webster and fellow veteran Shane Tagliaferro has trained and played in a practice match for the local club but Morris-Thomas has four more player targets in his sights and wants to move on them immediately. “Yeah we know who we want and if you come down to training next Thursday you might even see them there but we won’t make any announcements until they’re over the line,” Morris-Thomas said. “Look we had a…
HORSE RACING THE Anthony Freedman-trained Hanseatic has solidified his spot as the clear-cut favourite for the $1.5 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield in two weeks’ time. The Godolphin-owned boom colt showed something special to win from an unlikely position in the colts and geldings Prelude on Saturday 8 February. Keeping his unbeaten record intact, the two-year-old son of Street Boss gave ground when turning for home before sweeping past his rivals to nab the current Blue Diamond second-favourite, Rulership, just before the line. Despite running an overall slower time of 1:03.08 seconds compared to the two-year-old fillies Prelude time…
THE Frankston Gas Works (its registered name is longer, more imposing, and includes some reference to electric light) failed to show any sign of animation last Friday night. In the past “The Works” have been afflicted with varied and numerous ailments – some serious, others merely superficial – but all more or less affecting the efficiency of the light supply – particularly the electric light. Whatever may be the deficiencies at “The Works” there is certainly no lack of imagination in framing excuses for their numerous shortcomings. Reckless opossum in sportive mood have been blamed for intercepting electric current while…
A BIG crowd is expected to attend the Mornington Coast Walk, 9am, Saturday 15 February, which raises money for FightMND. The not-for-profit event run by Mornington resident Sarah Quigley came about after her mother, Marie Lewis, was diagnosed with MND in 2017. “I decided to organise a walk to raise money to fight this debilitating disease,” she said. “Every day two people are diagnosed. There is no effective treatment or cure. “It slowly robs you of your speech, movement, ability to eat, breathe and eventually kills you – all in an average 27 months. The first walk in 2018 raised…
A NEW year, new decade and a new era have begun at Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery as it enters its 50th anniversary year. The 2020 program celebrates the development, growth, complexity and richness of the collection, kicking off with three exhibitions from 6 March-26 April and a newly commissioned large scale mural. A Collection of Stranger Things, curated by New Zealand-born, Melbourne–based artist Patrick Pound, reveals a hidden microcosm of objects and artworks that have rarely been displayed before. As an avid collector interested in systems and the ordering of objects, Pound will pair photos from his own collection with…
AS any good punter knows, it’s par for the course that all winning streaks come to an end. And so it is for the rabbits living in and around the two 18-hole golf courses and gated communities at Peppers Moonah Links Resort, Fingal. Their frisky, brown fur covered bodies and bobbing white tails are readily visible almost all over the property early morning and in the evenings. But the dream run of grazing in the rough alongside manicured fairways and greens is about to end. The rabbits are about to be poisoned. A sign leading into the resort off Truemans…