SURFERS have been cleared for take-off on Mornington Peninsula beaches by the Department of Health and Human Services and Parks Victoria. However, they still may face a wipeout if they are caught by police outside a five kilometre radius of their homes. Confusion last week saw police on the peninsula saying they would book surfers as surfing was a recreation and not exercise. Under COVID-19 restrictions you are allowed to drive within a five kilometre radius of your house to exercise, but within days of the police interpretation of what constitutes, exercise both Parks Victoria and the DHHS confirmed surfing…
Author: Keith Platt
NEPEAN MP Chris Brayne has involved himself in the October Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections by listing several candidates on his Facebook page. In doing so, he has angered several sitting councillors and is in line to be admonished by the shire for using its logo. Amanda Sapolu, the shire’s head of governance and legal, said the shire logo – prominently reproduced on Mr Brayne’s Facebook page – is trademark-protected corporate intellectual property. “It should only be used for council endorsed business and should not be used without permission,” Ms Sapolu told The News. “It should not be used by…
POWER company AGL says “safety mechanisms” and “noise mitigation measures” are included in the design of the floating gas import terminal it wants to moor at Crib Point. “The safety of our people and the communities in which we work and live is AGL’s highest priority,” the company’s project director Ricky McNally said. He said the 10,000-page environmental effects statement (EES) produced by the company “includes in-depth investigations to identify potential hazards during construction and operation”. Mr McNally did not respond when asked to comment on the suggestion by Flinders MP Greg Hunt that there were “much more appropriate gas…
YOUNGSTERS are doing it for themselves following playgrounds and skate and BMX ramps being declared out of bounds because of the stage four coronavirus restrictions. Informal BMX ramps and accompanying bike tracks have sprung up across the Mornington Peninsula, many within protected bushland reserves and parks. But it’s not just enterprising youngsters digging in to build the BMX tracks. Parents have used excavators at Somers and Flinders to help their children build BMX tracks. The track at Flinders between the football oval and cemetery in Stokes Street “started with the kids just using spades … and has progressed through to…
JUST five of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 11 councillors will stand for re-election in October. The five councillors who will recontest their seats are the deputy mayor Kate Roper (Cerberus Ward), David Gill (Red Hill), Hugh Fraser (Nepean) and Antonella Celi and Simon Brooks (Seawinds). None of the three Briars Ward councillors will seek re-election – the mayor Sam Hearn, Bev Colomb and Rosie Clark. Other councillors retiring in October are Julie Morris (Watson Ward), Bryan Payne (Nepean) and Frank Martin (Seawinds Ward). Although few candidates have declared their intentions to stand, one sitting councillor claims to have compiled “a Melbourne…
PENINSULA Aero Club says the enforcement order being sought by Mornington Peninsula Shire, if granted, will “effectively” shut down the Tyabb airfield. A news release issued by PAC president Jack Vevers following last Friday’s “practice” VCAT hearing said the shire’s intent was to “strangle airport operations to the point where it will become unviable. This will cause many job losses and the demise of the emergency response facility”. “Of course, all of this is predicated on the shire’s assertion that PAC does not have permits to continue to conduct its operations at Tyabb Airport, as it has for several decades,”…
COMMUNITY group Save Westernport says details of power company AGL’s plans for a gas import terminal at Crib Point have “proven correct the fears of Mornington Peninsula residents”. With just one week left to make a submission, members of the community group have been studying the 10,000-page environment effects statement prepared by AGL for the proposed gas import jetty and pipeline project. The group says it is “discovering dozens of shocking new threats and impacts that have been released to the public for the first time”. “The extent of information that appears to have been kept back is alarming, with…
IN a strange twist of fate, Mornington Peninsula Shire’s efforts to combat one known source of death and illness is being hampered by another, totally unexpected threat. However, councillors last week voted against deferring the creation of no-smoking areas, telling CEO John Baker to “ensure that the smoke-free policy is implemented as soon as practical”. In doing so they have rejected a recommendation by one of their own senior officers they delay implementing the Smoke Free Environment policy because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While council is taking measures to lessen the effects of COVID-19 under the state government-declared lockdown, delaying…
IN some countries hedges are a thing of wonder. They are regarded as tourist attractions and the life that goes on in and around them is often illustrated in children’s books. But hedges, it seems, are not held in such affectionate regard on the Mornington Peninsula where laws are being considered to prevent them “blocking iconic view lines”. No matter that hedges provide wind breaks to improve crops or shelter for animals and birds, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors also want their staff to investigate fences that also block views. Shire officers were on Tuesday 23 June instructed to begin the…
A SECTION of Point King Beach, Portsea being claimed by trucking magnate Lindsay Fox is turning into a legal and political quagmire. Not unaccustomed to controversy surrounding his expansive Portsea beachside property, Mr Fox wants to increase its size even more by using what is described as the “archaic English“ law. The Doctrine of Accretion applies when the increased size of a beach has been “gradual and imperceptible” or natural. On Christmas Eve 2013, Mr Fox was granted private title to a slice of the same beach. This latest claim seeks an even larger portion of the beach (“Grainy narrative…
THE federal government has earmarked $25 million to build a “world-class marine and oceanographic research and education centre” in the quarantine station at Point Nepean National Park. Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the universities were undertaking a business case and proposal in partnership with Parks Victoria and “all levels of government that aligns with the state government’s master plan for the … precinct”. Mr Hunt said a four-year grant agreement had been finalised with Melbourne and Monash universities to build the National Centre for Coasts, Environment and Climate on the historic site. Mr Hunt’s office later told The News that…
THE manager of the still to be completed Yawa Aquatic Centre at Rosebud is Dan Andrews. Mornington Peninsula Shire says Mr Andrews has “an extensive background in health and fitness” that will enable him to “bring a great wealth of experience and knowledge to the new centre”. As centre manager of the $50 million aquatic centre taking shape in Boneo Road, Mr Andrews will be responsible for “maintaining a strong relationship with council and leading a high-performance community minded culture where all visitors feel welcome”. “This role is integral to the smooth operation and success of this Shire facility and…
THE search is on for writers and photographers to express their “sense of place” relating to the Mornington Peninsula. Celeste Deliyiannis and Emily Westmoreland are planning to publish their annual PENinsula “literary journal” in October with a focus on nature. Its contents will include photographs “short fiction, nature writing and personal essays to showcase the secretly creative community and stunning wild landscape of the peninsula”. Deliyiannis and Westmoreland say they want their journal to “motivate and sustain” members of the peninsula’s creative community “during a time when they’re cut off from the Melbourne CBD’s artistic culture due to COVID-19”. “[It…
AFTER months of indecision and appeals for public suggestions, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was last week “thrilled” to announce it had decided on Yawa as the name of the $50 million aquatic centre being built at Rosebud. Describing it as “our milestone aquatic centre” the shire issued a news release saying the decision to call it the Yawa Aquatic centre was made after councillors took account of a community vote on five shortlisted names (“Yawa tops public pool poll” The News 28/7/20). The statement issued after the council’s Tuesday 28 July meeting made no reference to councillors in May rejecting…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will go online next month to explain its position regarding AGL’s proposed floating gas terminal at Crib Point. Although the shire does not have any power to approve or reject the plan it will be making a submission on the environmental effects statement prepared by AGL and now pen for public comment. The final decision on the plan to process imported liquified natural gas at Crib Point before being piped to Pakenham will be made by the state and federal governments. A news release issued by the shire last week stated that the project posed “potential environmental,…
THE 90 cases (18 active) of COVID-19 recorded in the municipality by Monday (3 August), came three days after Mornington Peninsula Shire issued a statement that the peninsula was “winning the battle” against the coronavirus. The shire ranks 30 among the state’s 79 municipalities for the number of recorded coronavirus cases. Frankston, with 107 cases, is 25th. “Now that we’re at the half-way point of the current six-week lockdown, we can see how the responsible actions of local residents are paying off,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said. The statement was made two days before the state government declared a…
WITH 81 cases (14 active) of COVID-19 recorded in the municipality on Friday 31 July, Mornington Peninsula Shire made the statement that the peninsula is “winning the battle” against the coronavirus. “Now that we’re at the half-way point of the current six-week lockdown, we can see how the responsible actions of local residents are paying off,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said. The statement was made two days before the state government declared a state of disaster and stage four restrictions for six weeks from 6pm Sunday (2 August), including an 8pm-5am curfew. The new restrictions include exercising (one hour…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have “an opportunity to pay respect” to First Nations people by dropping the name Blacks Camp from a reserve and kindergarten at Somerville. An archaeological investigation in 2004 found more than 200 artefacts and four Aboriginal sites and concluded that with the existence of fresh water there it had once been a substantial Aboriginal camp. The shire has been told that Blacks Camp is a derogatory term and offensive to the Bunurong Land Council and People of Aboriginal heritage. Pam Vercoe, the shire’s head of governance and legal, said non-Aboriginal residents and users of the reserve…
ROCKS regarded as a vital to bringing sand back to Portsea’s badly eroded front beach have been removed. Their removal by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) will ensure that “there’ll be no beach at Portsea” this summer, according to Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn. He said the shire was “deeply disappointed” the rocks had not been left at the beach to be used as the foundation for an offshore groyne (“Rock groyne ‘key’ to $20m Portsea beach plan” The News 29/6/20). “The shire had the concept scientifically modelled by coastal and ocean engineering consultancy…
AFTER treading water for months, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors are expected to choose Yawa as the name of the $50 million aquatic centre being built at Rosebud. The Indigenous name meaning “to swim” came first in an online public poll run by the council. The decision to choose an Indigenous word follows months of debate and has cost an estimated $200,000 in delays and extra work for shire officers and consultants. Reacting to a vocal and seemingly powerful lobby group that wanted the name Rosebud Aquatic Centre, councillors in May deferred choosing an Indigenous name and instead sought further public…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has joined the chorus of calls for the state government to stop the exhibition of AGL’s plans for a floating gas import terminal at Crib Point until after the lifting of the stage three COVID-9 restrictions. It says that if Planning Minister Richard Wynne does not agree to postponing the exhibition of the environmental effects (EES) prepared by AGL for its gas plan he should “at the very least” extend the submission time by four weeks. Mr Wynne has already added 10 days to the scheduled exhibition of the EES relating to AGL gas terminal and a…
FOOTY fans are rallying to fly the flag even as the Victorian AFL teams and their families head north to hopefully complete the season. Carlton supporter Dianne Baxter, of Bittern, says her dog Georgia is also a great fan of the Blues. Although she is probably more of a mascot than active club member, Ms Baxter credits Georgia with having a fine Carlton pedigree. “Her ‘grandfather’ played in three winning Grand Finals, was the club’s leading goal kicker six times and was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame. Georgia is definitely a true Blue,” she said. Ms Baxter’s father…
SAND has become a precious and fought over commodity, and no more so than near some of Australia’s most expensive and exclusive real estate: Portsea. At one end of the town, near the iconic pier, sand has disappeared several times over the past decade, starting in 2009 when dredging of the South Channel changed its shape, causing a new, damaging swell to erode a part of the beach near the Portsea Hotel. With sand trucked in at great expense to taxpayers, the beach was restored, but not to its former glory, or permanently. A couple of years later the imported…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors want the state government to rein in the power of municipal chief executive officers to prevent bonuses being secretly given to staff. Under the current rules CEOs can grant bonuses to staff without telling councillors, residents or ratepayers. Council CEOs are the only council officers appointed and controlled by councillors. All other council staff are under the jurisdiction of the CEO. Cr David Gill told The News that the shire’s current CEO, John Baker, had not awarded any bonuses to staff. However, a previous CEO who he declined to name, had provided bonuses to individual officers…
SCIENTISTS are trying to find out if there is a link between climate change and the food of choice for little penguins. With rookeries at Phillip Island and on a breakwater near St Kilda, the penguins are frequently seen in Port Phillip and Western Port. Although it is estimated the penguins eat more than 100 tonnes of sardine each breeding season, their popularity with tourists earns more money for Victoria than all its commercial fisheries. Their diet has proved to be more varied than previously known and researchers say future-proofing their prey is essential for the penguins’ long-term survival. The…
IT can be hard to keep track of hooded plovers as they flit around from one place to another, unrestrained by any travel bans. But, dedicated followers of the locally endangered birds can sometimes manage to build up a character study of individual birds. One such bird, UJ, was first tagged as a 28-day-old chick on 5 April 2013 at Hamers Haven, on the Bass Coast. Last week, she was near Mushroom Reef, Flinders a place that in some ways UJ has come to call home. Although a blood sample was taken from UJ seven years ago bird banders were…
POLICE checked and cleared all passengers for travel on the Sorrento to Queenscliff ferry after stage three coronavirus restrictions came into force on Thursday 9 July. The ferry is classed as an essential service, linking the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas. Although the Mornington Peninsula is subject to the restrictions Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula are not within the Melbourne metropolitan area. “During the next six weeks we expect that the only travellers on our service will be people that have a need to travel for one of the three permitted reasons,” Searoad Ferries’ operations general manager Wes Oswin said. “The…
YEARS of car stickers, protests and petitions are about to culminate with lengthy submissions against the floating gas import terminal planned at Crib Point by power company AGL. The state government has announced that the environment effects statement for the gas terminal and a 57 kilometre pipeline to Pakenham is open for public comment until 26 August. However, the process could be disrupted by Viva Energy’s announcement that it too wants to develop a gas import terminal at its Geelong refinery. A rival power supplier to AGL, Viva sees the refinery as establishing Geelong as a future “energy hub” for…
TOM Putt knows a thing or two about creating an image, and when he arrived at Balnarring beach early on a cold, misty morning he knew that all the right ingredients were available. Putt, of Mount Martha, had watched racehorses being exercised at the beach before but never had the conditions been so favourable. “With the forecast for near freezing temperatures overnight, I dragged out my winter woolies and prepared for the frosts and icy conditions the next day,” he said. The soft morning light revealed horses emerging from the mist. Used to the horses cantering up and down the…
IN Mid-May Frankston had recorded the third highest number of fines, 297, for breaking COVID-19 restrictions which came into force in mid-March. Only Melbourne, 590, and Greater Dandenong, 333, had a higher number of fines. Police on the Mornington Peninsula issued 203 fines in the same time frame, nearby Casey 249 and Kingston 113. The peninsula’s figures are sure to have grown since then with police handing the occupant of a house at St Andrews Beach, a $1652 fine on Sunday 28 June. Rye police said up to 18 guests were mingling at the Tiberius Road house when, acting on…