Month: May 2020

STAFF at a Mount Eliza florist were terrified when they spied an intruder lurking in the darkness early on Mother’s Day morning. Abricot Mornington Florist manager Matilda Alievski said the unidentified man shining a torch seemed to avoid CCTV cameras behind the Mount Eliza Way shop Saturday 9 May as he made his way slowly towards the back door (pictured). He was wearing a hoodie, beanie, gloves and boots, and covering his face. “Our staff were working inside the shop trying to get our orders ready and we saw this man on our cameras and immediately panicked,” Ms Alievski said.…

EARLY financial modelling suggests Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s non-rate income could be down $6-$12 million this year depending on the duration of the COVID-19 restrictions. To help ease the shire’s financial pain, the mayor Cr Sam Hearn has opted to take a 20 per cent cut in his $90,000-plus allowance. CEO John Baker has also said he will take a pay cut. Cr Hearn said the shire was “continuing to monitor and make prudent budgetary decisions in response to the impacts” of the pandemic. “We are committed to leading from the top in managing the financial challenges of this crisis,”…

ANGLERS could not resist the lure of the bay and golfers were destined to seek their fairway to scorecard heaven when social distancing bans were eased last Wednesday (13 May). Golf courses across the Mornington Peninsula were heavily booked for the first day on the greens for weeks and boat ramps were again back in use as anglers cast off in the hope that fish had become complacent. As well as those two major activities, the brakes of the coronavirus shutdown were also eased for religious groups which were given the go ahead for meetings of 10 people provided social…

PENINSULA Grammar will stand down staff in the school’s administration, marketing and maintenance departments”. The Mount Eliza private school, which admits to being “greatly impacted by the global pandemic”, said in a statement it had “made the difficult decision to commence a staff consultation process that will potentially impact” staff numbers. The statement, attributable to a spokesman, released on Friday 15 May Sarah Coghlan, senior account executive of Civic Financial Communications, said there would be “no staff cuts to student-facing roles”. The cuts to “non-student facing roles” were being made to “ensure the school’s strong financial position is maintained”. No…

ANIMAL management breaches prompted Mornington Peninsula Shire officers to issue 587 infringements during the first three months of the year. Data contained in the shire’s Quarterly Community Report: January-March 2020, released last week, shows that officers responded to 3215 animal management matters from January to March. During that period 147 cats were impounded at the shelter in Watt Road, Mornington, with only 50 found to be registered. Of these, 30 were returned to their owners, 31 were adopted through the shire’s adoption program, 30 were re-homed by rescue groups, and 35 were euthanised. All were registered at the time of…

Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors last week held their first virtual council meeting. Like schoolchildren and businesses throughout the country, councillors and support staff have now adapted to going online to keep the shire on track. And, like schoolchildren, their online performances may count towards an end of the year judgement following the state government’s announcements late Friday that municipal elections will be held as planned on Saturday 24 October. Local Government Minister Adam said “safe and secure” postal voting would be held in all municipalities. He said the government would spend more money to achieve its aim of “gender equality…

By Barry Morris* BALCOMBE Estuary Reserves Group has warned of an “environmental disaster” if sediment continues to fill the estuary at Mount Martha. Its president Peter McMahon has accused Melbourne Water of “sitting idly by as we slowly lose this beautiful estuary to indifference, penny-pinching and demarcation issues”. Melbourne Water says it has been “consulting” with Mornington Peninsula Shire and BERG “for more than a decade” to stop the accumulation of sediment which comes from unsealed roads. The 76-hectare estuary and adjoining reserves are home to hundreds of native birds and animals and a popular recreation area for residents and…

LONG time environmental campaigner Chris Chandler died of cancer on 30 April. Articulate and well-researched, Mr Chandler, who lived on French Island, was especially concerned with the loss of habitat and need to preserve the biodiversity and sensitive environment of Western Port. In February 2019, after joining more than 90 other fee paying passengers for a twilight cruise celebrating World Wetlands Day on Western Port,  Mr Chandler told The News that the bay’s wetlands “easily fit” the criteria required for them to be protected under the international Ramsar agreement. Always ready with statistics and a formidable knowledge of natural history,…

THE state government is under pressure to “do the right thing” and delay making any decision on power company AGL’s request for a gas import jetty at Crib Point. Environment Victoria and Save Westernport say it would be unfair in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to give the community just 30 days to respond to the “thousands of pages of documents” prepared by AGL. The adequacy of AGL’s environmental effects statement (EES) for its proposed floating gas terminal and a 56 kilometre pipeline to Pakenham is now being reviewed by the Department for Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP)…

ALTHOUGH there is no shortage of days dedicated to particular issues, some frivolous and many that draw attention to worthy causes, World Bee Day is one that lines up with the latter. World Bee Day is on 20 May and Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor David Gill does not want it to go unnoticed. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor David Gill has become something of an advocate and authority on bees. He says much of the world’s food production depends on the survival of healthy communities of bees and regularly speaks at schools and to community groups and clubs about the insects…

PROPERTY manager Nichols Crowder is lobbying Frankston and Mornington Peninsula councils to help landlords and tenants by deferring property rates and dropping marketing levies. Director Michael Crowder says councils, banks, utilities, insurers and governments “should be waiving or freezing payments – interest free – in line with the mandatory code-of-conduct”. “In this way the costs a [landlord] saves can be passed on directly to their tenants.” Mr Crowder wrote to the councils asking them to waive the marketing and promotional fund levy for commercial businesses. Mornington Peninsula Shire had not responded by Friday 1 May, but Frankston Council refused to…

DESPITE being hit by high winds and storms, work continues on the sandbag seawall at Portsea’s front beach. New sandbags are replacing old ripped inside the area protected by a temporary rock wall. With nearly 30 per cent of the work completed, contractors plan to remove the timber handrail at the rear of the sandbag seawall to make way for the final rows of sandbags. The handrail will eventually be replaced further back. A geotechnical investigation has been made on the stability of the cliffs east of the sandbag seawall. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 May…

EXTRA measures to ensure those experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence know where to get help during the coronavirus pandemic. The Help is Here campaign is part of a $150 million federal government package helping support services meet demand. Advertising will be splashed across TV, digital, social media, radio, magazines and newspapers, as well as at shopping centres, hospitals and GPs’ surgeries. This comes after a family violence victims’ advocate said she feared enforced isolation because of enforced restrictions could lead to an increase in abuse. Dromana resident Geraldine Bilston said isolated living, less contact with people outside their homes,…

HASTINGS police arrested and charged a Gippsland couple with a range of offences last week. The couple, in their 20s, from Bairnsdale and Morwell, were nabbed at a Hastings house on Wednesday 6 May after a verbal dispute with neighbours. They were charged with armed robbery, home invasion, burglary, possessing stolen property, car theft and driving offences – as well as breaching COVID-19 restrictions. Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen Reidy, of Hastings police, said the man was also charged with possessing a loaded homemade handgun, or pen-gun. The pair appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court. They were remanded to appear at the…

A WOMAN arrested at Rye last week has been charged with 11 counts of burglary of homes and holiday homes on the southern Mornington Peninsula. The 41-year-old, of Tootgarook, faced Frankston Magistrates’ Court charged with stealing clothing, jewellery and household items. She was further remanded to again face court at a later date. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Tony Henry, of Somerville CIU, said the woman’s arrest on Wednesday 6 May followed a series of burglaries at Tootgarook, Rosebud and Rye over several weeks. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 May 2020

THE Peninsula Community Legal Centre is offering free over-the-phone legal assistance during the coronavirus crisis. The centre can help with family law, family violence, tenancy, fines and general law, debt, crime and employment issues. While COVID-19 restrictions apply, the centre will provide duty lawyer services remotely at the Federal Circuit Court in Dandenong and the Magistrates’ Court at Frankston and Moorabbin. The centre’s social worker is available to help with non-legal needs. Phone appointments can be made by calling 9783 3600, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 12 May 2020

A CHANGE in focus is allowing tasty and nutritious meals to be prepared for struggling families on the Mornington Peninsula through the COVID-19 shutdown. This has come about by having kitchen staff at the Somers Residential School Camp cook 350 meals a week for needy families in the district, rather than children who are usually staying at the now-closed camp. The meals are delivered to nominated schools and picked up by parents doing it tough for their evening meals. Camp principal Mark Warner said a “bright idea” from staffer Coralie Gibson to use the idle camp kitchen for community meals…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will support small scale residential village-style accommodation for low-income earners away from the foreshore as part of its new social and affordable housing strategies. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn estimates up to 1000 people are homeless on the peninsula on any given night, with 30-50 sleeping rough and others “couch surfing” or making do as best they can. Up to 11 tents were at Rosebud camp ground one night last week, with others at foreshore camping grounds from McCrae down to Sorrento. “Council can play a significant role in supporting grassroots action to address homelessness and connecting…

ROSEBUD Memorial Hall has become a busy distribution centre for non-perishable and personal hygiene items for those doing it tough during the pandemic. Redeployed Mornington Peninsula Shire staff and up to 800 volunteers pack and send the goods bought from funds donated by members of the community. They are distributed through community information and support centres at Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud and other peninsula-based food relief programs. “It’s amazing how the staff and the volunteers have come together to help,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said. “It an example of community caring in which up until last week had distributed…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire staff have reportedly been spared the full impact of redundancy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporate services director Mark Brady said none of the shire’s 1200 staff had been affected and there had been “no formal stand downs”. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said: “We have made a strong commitment to share the pain. Our staff are mostly local people and keeping them on is beneficial to our community.” However, staff in neighbouring municipalities have not been so fortunate – some having been laid off without assistance. Liberal Senator for Victoria David Van said he had been…

BATA Shoes in Mornington is offering a free pair of $50 work shoes to aged care and health care workers during May. The company’s graphic design and marketing manager Brad Rayson said the offer was influenced by the valuable role these workers are playing during the current COVID-19 pandemic. “The sign went up [outside the factory] today and we are starting to get lots of calls,” he said, Thursday 7 May. “To take advantage of the offer workers can come in and flash their employer ID.” First published in the Mornington News – 12 May 2020

OBJECTORS have until Friday 15 May to voice their opposition to the Ryman Healthcare application for a multi-storey residential aged care development in Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza. A sign nailed to a post at 60-70 Kunyung Road outlines the permit application which include plans for six four-storey buildings, two four-storey wings attached to the existing mansion, three three-storey buildings, a chapel and 362 car spaces. The buildings will house 272 apartments, including 55 assisted living units and 217 independent living units, and 124 aged care beds. Up to 400 people will call the site home. Plans for the $80 million…

CONSTRUCTION of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s $47.4 million aquatic centre is said to be “on budget and on track” for completion at the end of the year. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said despite the “ongoing challenges” presented by the COVID-19 pandemic the aquatic and activities centre at Rosebud was expected to be finished by late December. Chief financial officer Bulent Oz said the shire received a $5 million federal grant and organised a $10 million low interest loan from the state government for the project. The balance will be financed by council asset sales of $2 million and a $30.3…

SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines has signed off on a $3.9 million revamp of Monterey Reserve with work to start next February. The State 3 outfit is also eyeing a deal with Melbourne Victory as part of an ambitious expansion plan that could return the club to former glory. Pines has been keen to redevelop a junior program that waned and eventually shut down around 12 years ago. Enter A-League heavyweight Victory with an offer of free weekly clinics for local primary school children. It was too good to refuse and was quickly accepted by Pines president Lee Davies. “I think it’s…

HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based apprentice jockey, Campbell Rawiller, has made a flying start to May by riding two trebles within a week of each other. The 19-year-old hoop landed his first treble at Bairnsdale on Sunday 3 May before booting home a second treble five days later at Wangaratta on Friday 8 May. Rawiller started with a bang at Bairnsdale, kicking home a winner in the third race for his boss Logan McGill. Rawiller sat just off the leader before pouncing around the bend and kicking clear in the straight for a comfortable 5-length maiden victory aboard the lightly raced Beguilement…

BERT McSweeney appeared to answer a charge of unlawfully discharging a missile at Frankston on 27th March, last. He pleaded guilty. Constable Keogh, deposed that on the date in question he was on temporary duty at Frankston. From information received he interviewed defendant who admitted having discharged a pea rifle near Jacobs stables in Frankston in company with two other lads named Mills and Hodgkinson. Witness was able to trace the bullets which penetrated a paling fence and were embedded in an opposite wall. Senior Constable Bray, who conducted the prosecution stated that the practice of using pea rifles within…

GOVERNMENT-imposed restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have had unforeseen effects on wildlife. The ban on fishing has obviously been a lifesaver for many fish, but it has also (temporarily) ended the symbiotic relationship between pelicans and anglers at Hastings. When the boats leave the pelicans usually sit patiently on pier pylons or light towers secure in the knowledge that a meal will be on the way when fish are cleaned back on shore. Joined by seagulls (who are also no slouch at scavenging) the pelicans are now reduced to actually doing some fishing themselves or receiving handouts from…

SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria hopes to get the green light to announce a resumption of training this month with the aim of starting the league season in June. In April Football Federation Australia extended the suspension of all soccer activities until 31 May but that looks likely to be lifted. Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that national cabinet had endorsed the “National Principles for Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities” developed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the “Framework for Rebooting Sport in a Covid-19 Environment” developed by the Australian Institute of Sport. The AIS document sets…

HORSE RACING MORNINGTON-based apprentice jockey Matthew Cartwright kicked off his metropolitan debut in sensational form with a winner from his very first city ride on Wednesday 29 April. Having ridden 32 winners to date in the country, Cartwright was offered the ride aboard the John McArdle-trained Mockery at Sandown and made the most of his opportunity in town. Cartwright, who had already formed a good association with the three-year-old filly having previously ridden her for a win and a second at her last two starts, took up the running in the 1000m sprint and never looked back. The 17-year-old apprentice…

ON Monday (Anzac Night) the Frankston Mechanics’ Hall held a large and enthusiastic audience. The occasion was the presentation of 1914-15 Military Stars to returned soldiers. The management of affairs was carried out by the Frankston Soldiers’ Memorial Committee, with Mr A G Wilcox: (chairman) and Mr H. Vicars (secretary). The first part of the proceedings consisted of a concert contributed solely by Melbourne artists, and the committee is to be complimented on the excellence of the entertainment provided. At the conclusion of the entertainment Brigadier General Grimwade made the presentation of Military Stars. The recipients were: A. E. Verney;…