Month: June 2020

SOMERVILLE Swim School could be forced to close if its owners cannot come to agreement with Mornington Peninsula Shire over its hours of operation, class sizes and parking requirements. Evan and Carolyn Russell who have run the school since 2015, say that while they have been prepared to “compromise, reduce the profitability of our business, and consider future relocation, this has all fallen on deaf ears”. The couple bought the former Jump Swim Schools franchise in Gwelph Street in 2015 and say their fees included the “fit out and necessary permits to run a viable swim school business”. “When the…

THE 10-year-old Crib Point township plan has been updated and is open for public input until 14 August. The plan sets out the strategic vision and direction of the town’s development and aims to protect its character of tree-lined streets and mix of old and new houses. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the plan ensured Crib Point would “continue to have the look, feel and function of a country town on the coast, closely connected with its natural environment”. The original plan from 2009-11 set a long-term vision and guide for the development of Crib Point. It…

THE Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal has been called in to determine what activities Peninsula Aero Club can undertake at the Tyabb airfield. Issues being investigated are use of the east-west runway, passenger charter services and night flying. Mornington Peninsula Shire and the aero club have long disputed some of the existing planning permit conditions and legislation requires that VCAT be called in to adjudicate. The shire last week issued a statement saying it would abide by VCAT’s decision and “then work with both the PAC and broader Tyabb community to understand any implications from the decision”. Aero club members were…

CLUBROOMS at Baxter Park used by Frankston South football and Baxter cricket clubs were badly damaged in a ram raid last week. It was the second time this year the clubhouse at the corner of Sages and Baxter-Tooradin roads has been targeted. The Frankston Bombers Facebook page said the “news came through at 4.45am this morning [26 June] that a car had rammed through our club room doors”. “Unfortunately, this is the second incident of this nature since February this year where a vehicle has caused damage to the facility. “The car was stolen from Frankston before making the trip…

THE 2020 MPNFL season has been cancelled. AFL South East announced the decision to call off their competitions on 27 June. All senior football and netball divisions will not go ahead this year. There were hopes that the league would be able to get up and running next month, with a plan to return already outlined. AFL South East had announced that they planned for the season to get underway by 25 July, with a shortened fixture and a zero salary cap. After a further meeting between AFL South East officials and MPNFL club representatives last weekend, plans to start…

A CREATIVE idea that “sort of just snowballed” led to residents at Martha Cove Retirement Village knitting 351 beanies which, when sold to visitors, raised $870 for cancer research and care of the homeless. The idea came about after resident Sue Johnson and 34 other women – feeling isolated and unable to go out because of COVID-19 restrictions – decided to put their free time to good use. They knitted colourful beanies which were displayed and sold for $5 each over three days at the village. “We all really enjoyed doing it,” Ms Johnson said. “There was lots of excitement…

RESEARCHERS from the Dolphin Research Institute are worried about the welfare of a southern right whale mother and her calf after they were harassed by a vessel near Cape Schanck on Sunday. A volunteer citizen scientist with the institute’s Two Bays Whale Project was watching the whales as they appeared desperate to evade a harassing vessel. The normally slow-moving southern right whales were seen travelling fast and frequently changing direction as the boat manoeuvred in an apparent attempt to photograph the pair. There were so many reported incidents of whales being pursued by boats in Port Phillip and near Phillip…

By Hugh Fraser* IN May, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council officers presented only one name for councillors to “rubber stamp” as the name of our fabulous new 50-metre pool and aquatic centre at Rosebud. The management process that arrived at that one name was seriously flawed. Management only allowed itself to consider those names it thought would be acceptable to the Registrar of Geographic Names. This was based on incorrect verbal advice from an unnamed Spring Street public servant at odds with the Statutory Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2016. Because we have not carried the community with us…

ALL candidates in the October Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections must complete a course on local government in August. The course requirement means candidates will be unable to keep their intentions secret until the last moment on nomination day, although the option of not lodging papers would remain. The elections are being held during an unprecedented time in local government caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Council meetings are being held online, the CEO John Baker has been granted emergency powers and shire income is under threat with an abnormal number of requests expected to defer rate payments. Councillors last week…

SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol’s automatic number plate recognition system appears to be making it hard for those driving stolen, unregistered or other “vehicles of interest” to hide. The system is used day and night throughout Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula to scan and photograph passing vehicles. Last week it alerted the patrol’s ANPR-equipped BMW on Wedge Road, Carrum Downs, to a passing stolen vehicle. The 40-year-old driver, from Chadstone, did a quick left and right turn and parked in a front yard, possibly in an attempt to hide, but could not escape. He was arrested and taken to Frankston police station…

THE Southern Peninsula Basketball Association is in damage control following revelations that some Sharks players trained at Dromana Secondary College stadium for several weeks in breach of COVID-19 restrictions. The players could be ruled out of bounds and fined by Basketball Victoria for the unsanctioned training while the school was closed. Despite the allegations being aired on social media, including warnings that COVID-19 restrictions banned indoor training, officials are reluctant to provide details about the alleged breaches. Some parents are said to feel “betrayed” by the association because they thought the small-group training had been given the official all clear.…

THE owners of beach boxes on Crown land managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire have succeeded in preventing their annual licence fees being increased to $1200. The shire has agreed to charge $990, with a further discount to $700 if the beach box is less than five square metres. In a submission to the council Mornington Peninsula Beach Box Association vice-president Mark A Davis said the proposed $1200 licence fee plus other shire-based fees meant that “in most cases” beach boxes were “higher than those applied to a resident’s residential property”. He said providing a weekly waste service to beach boxes…

ROCKS placed in the water while a sandbag seawall was being rebuilt at Portsea front beach may be used as part of a what could be a $20 million attempt to permanently restore the famous beach. The rocks will be used to build a 60-metre groyne at the eastern (Point Franklin) end of the beach. Coupled with dredging offshore, the groyne is designed to deflect waves away from the beach. Extra sand will be added to the beach when the dredging is complete. Cr Bryan Payne said the dredging would be examined as part of a year-long environmental impact study,…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has reversed its decision for a rural living rate on small properties living inside the green wedge. Councillors last week (Tuesday 23 June) voted to abandon the new category which added about $900 to the rate bills of 724 properties up to two hectares. The contentious rate was introduced mid-last year and supported unanimously by councillors but opposed by ratepayers. About 40 residents attended a stormy community meeting at Red Hill Mechanics Hall in October 2019 and made their opposition known to the then mayor Cr David Gill and CEO John Baker (“Green wedge rate row…

THE Enchanted Adventure Garden, at Arthurs Seat, has re-opened after closing for a refit for the first time in 25 years. The break gave staff the opportunity to focus on improving the gardens, painting the buildings, and, of course, finishing work on the new Sky Scramble. “This huge wooden structure, with its rope bridges, cargo and scramble nets, obstacles, tight rope, fisherman’s trap, Tibetan bridge, slides and a cubby house, guarantee fun for all age groups,” owner Michael Savage said. “Built on timber platforms 10 metres high, the aerial playground won’t disappoint. It’s just what we all need after three…

A MERCEDES sedan allegedly travelling at 165kph along the Western Port Highway at Somerville was later impounded for 30 days with an $895 release fee. Police said they saw the AMG sedan accelerating past a line of north-bound traffic in a 100kph zone, Sunday 28 June. The driver, 49, from Doncaster, is expected to receive a summons to appear at a magistrates’ court at a later date. The impound forms part of Operation Artemis over the school holidays targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, and driver distraction, police said. First published in the Mornington News – 30 June 2020

A WOMAN died when a Ford station wagon collided head-on with a Nissan Pathfinder on Baxter-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale, 5.30pm, Saturday 27 June. The woman was a passenger in the station wagon which was being driven by an 81-year-old Frankston man who was later airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The 39-year-old Rye man driving the Pathfinder was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives said the station wagon may have been speeding and that it was seen veering onto the wrong side of the road prior to the collision. They ask witnesses or anyone with dash-cam…

MAN of many facets – secondary school teacher, sports psychologist, author, artist, and these days, “muso” – Robert Klaas Kalma says he will use all his skills as a busker at Mornington’s Wednesday market. Kalma, 80, who lives with his wife Sue at Mount Martha, has in recent years overcome prostate cancer and a major heart attack. However, he is not deterred by these setbacks and sees music as an “opportunity towards making a full recovery”. After joining the ProBuskers and playing for audiences around the Mornington Peninsula, Mr Kalma saw a bigger picture: “I wanted to do more after…

A FIVE-YEAR strategy to eliminate road deaths on the Mornington Peninsula involves having safer roads, safer vehicles, safer speeds and safer drivers. The shire’s Road Safety Strategy 2020-25 – developed after community consultation and road safety experts – aims to reduce the “unacceptably high levels of road trauma” on peninsula roads. A report to council’s Tuesday 23 June meeting noted that 69 people had been killed and more than 1500 seriously injured over the past decade. The peninsula recorded the highest number of deaths in Victoria’s 79 local government areas in 2010 and in 2019. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn…

SOCCER WHILE other sports announce a season shutdown soccer looks set for a season reboot this weekend. Three local clubs– Langwarrin, Mornington and Peninsula Strikers – will host junior NPL matches during a bumper double header involving under-13, under-14, under-15 and under-16 teams playing on Saturday and Sunday. In an interview on Football Out West Show last week FV’s Football Operations Manager Will Hastie gave every indication that the state governing body remained committed to a return to competition. He confirmed FV’s preference for a 16-game senior season and the expectation that “largely the competition structures will stay intact” meaning…

HORSE RACING TRAINER Dean Binaisse has topped off a remarkable comeback with a three-year-old filly that was twice recommended to be put down following an unsuccessful knee operation last year. Following a breakthrough victory at Caulfield on Saturday 28 June, Binaisse explained the long journey taken to get Felicia back to not only full health but to be competitive in city class races after the ownership group were told to expect the worst. The former Matthew Seyers-trained Felicia was unbeaten as a two-year-old in Adelaide winning twice by a combined margin of more than eight lengths before suffering a bone…

LAST Monday night the Frankston Mechanics’ Hall was crowded with friends and well-wishers who assembled to say farewell to Mr and Mrs A. G. Wilcox. The popularity of the guests was testified to by the large and representative attendance, accounted for by the fact that during a long residence in Frankston both Mr and Mrs Wilcox have proved admirable citizens in every way. The hall was beautifully decorated. Friends from the country had supplied an abundance of wattle blossom, and with palms and other pot plants loaned by Mr A. Bailey of the Frankston Nurseries, a very fine effect was…

A MAN who somehow found himself inside a 240-litre green bin at Rye can thank an alert garbage truck driver for possibly saving his life, Monday 29 June. The truck was emptying curb-side bins when the driver, watching his CCTV monitor, saw what he realised was a man falling out of the bin into the garbage compactor in Tarawill Street, 8am. Rye CFA incident controller Eddie Matt said the 21-year-old appeared to be OK after the fall although he had injured his leg and could not stand. “Sorrento SES crews got him out of the back of the garbage truck…

HASTINGS police are seeking help in identifying a man, above, who allegedly stole liquor from a Church Street bottle shop. The man was seen taking a $110 bottle of scotch and hiding it under his jumper, 3.50pm, Friday 12 June. When challenged, the man denied the theft and left the store. However, a review of the store’s CCTV confirmed staff suspicions. The man is described as Caucasian, late teens, 170cm tall with a slim build. Anyone who recognises the man or has any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at…

IT’S doubtful if anyone’s centenary has been more grandly celebrated – or its recognition more justly deserved – than that given to Capel Sound resident William Lumley AM, who turned 100 last week. By any account Mr Lumley has led a life of outstanding service to the community. He was the first president of the National Pharmacy Students Association of Australia, Chelsea councillor and mayor, Justice of the Peace, inspection pharmacist for the Commonwealth Department of Health, board member and president of the Chelsea Bush Nursing Hospital for 31 years, as well as being on school, lifesaving and community boards…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery is set to reopen to celebrate its 50th anniversary with an exhibition that follows the development and growth of its collection, 1 July-22 November. The upcoming FIFTY exhibition features about 100 artworks of significance. They include eX de Medici’s Red (Colony) 2000, Arthur Boyd’s iconic Mt Martha from Rosebud Beach 1938, Lisa Roet’s giant primate finger Orang-utan Index 2001-03 and Locust Jones’ epic Geronimo 2011. Founded in 1969 by Alan McCulloch, the-then Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre acquired its first artwork in 1970. Its collection has grown to include more than 1800 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures.…

SOUTHERN Peninsula Rescue Squad former president and current committee member Eileen Murray was awarded an Emergency Services Medal (ESM) in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours. Ms Murray was honoured for her service and commitment to Marine Search and Rescue Victoria, and to the safety of her community, over the past 18 years. Ms Murray was president of the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad for 14 years up to 2019 and “led it through a range of improvements which has resulted in it being one of the leading marine rescue operations in Australia”. Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad secretary Denis Baguley AM said…

SILHOUETTES along the Western Port shoreline on Saturday marked the shortest day the of year and underlined opposition to AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point. Save Westernport members saw the winter solstice as symbolic of the outcomes they fear from the gas plan. Socially distanced, many of those on beaches from Flinders to Hastings and on French and Phillip islands held lighted candles “in a show of appreciation for Western Port’s unique ecology and solidarity against AGL”, Julia Stockigt of Save Western Port said. Ms Stockigt said the beach vigil “symbolise their determination to stand by…

THE theft of two sets of expensive timber gates from properties at Mount Martha and Main Ridge has prompted Red Hill Country Gates proprietor Gabby Goodon to warn customers to be on the lookout for the thieves. She said a set of $6000 timber gates was stolen from the entry to a Forrest Drive property 1am, 25 May, and a $2500 set was stolen from a Main Creek Road property, about the same time, 10 June. “I’ve emailed people to warn them,” Ms Goodon said. “I want to get it out there. I want people to keep an eye out.”…

POLICE would like to hear from anyone who saw a white Nissan Patrol four-wheel-drive tradie’s ute overtake other cars outside Dromana Primary School, 8.50am, Wednesday 9 June, at the intersection of McCulloch and Ligar streets. Police in an unmarked black Volkswagen station wagon activated their lights and siren and intercepted the ute just past the McCulloch Street crossing which they say may have caught people’s attention. The intersection was said to have been busy at the time. Anyone who saw anything is asked to contact Leading Senior Constable Rob Dukes (VP34284) at Somerville Highway Patrol, call 59781368, or email your…