NEW, simpler, rules have been introduced for what can and can’t be done on Mornington Peninsula Shire-managed beaches. The simplification followed discussions last week to ease “public confusion and establish a consistent approach” between the shire, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Parks Victoria, management committees, and other bayside municipalities. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the result was a “broad alignment” of beach closure rules making them easier to understand. While peninsula beaches remain closed for public gatherings under coronavirus rules, they can be used as thoroughfares; for exercise, such as walking, running, swimming or surfing, and…
Browsing: COVID-19
The peninsula’s beaches were closed until further notice last week, but now they are a little less closed. Peninsula cases rise by one to 52. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1115 – an increase of 30 from yesterday. Last night a woman in her seventies died in hospital, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to eight. The total number of cases includes 587 men and 528 women. Cases range in age from babies to their early nineties. There are 73 confirmed…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are 1115 today – an increase of 30 from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s figures rose by one since yesterday to 52. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 33 confirmed cases, an increase of one since yesterday. The City of Casey have 37 confirmed cases, an increase of two since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula now has the fifth highest number of infections of all the Local Government Areas, falling from second highest just four days ago. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City of Stonnington with 84 confirmed cases. City of Banyule with…
The Mornington Peninsula Shire have committed to a “support package for local business” a week after the Committee for Mornington Peninsula began lobbying the shire on behalf of businesses hit by the coronavirus. Peninsula cases stand still as state jumps 96 today. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 917 – an increase of 96 from yesterday. Four people have already died in Victoria, many more are in hospital or self-isolating at home. The total number of cases includes 501 men and 413 women. Four cases in pre-school aged…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are now at 917 with 96 newly diagnosed cases today. In positive news, the Mornington Peninsula’s figures remained the same at 46. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 28 confirmed cases. a jump of seven since yesterday. The City of Casey have 28 confirmed cases, a jump of two since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula now has the equal second highest number of infections with Boroondara after they jumped to 46. City of Stonnington still has the highest rate of infections at 76 confirmed infections. Following on from the peninsula are: City of Banyule with 44 confirmed…
Visitors have been told to stay away from the Mornington Peninsula. Traders plead for ‘drastic’ help. Mornington Peninsula cases up to 45, a jump of five in two days. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 821 – an increase of 56 from yesterday. Victoria has recorded four deaths related to COVID-19. The total number of cases includes 447 men and 370 women, with people aged from three to 88. There are 26 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently 29…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are now at 821 with 56 newly diagnosed cases today. The Mornington Peninsula accounted for 46 of them, a jump of five cases in two days. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 21 confirmed cases, and City of Casey have 26 confirmed cases. The Mornington Peninsula still has the second highest number of infections in the state with only the City of Stonnington in Melbourne’s east surpassing it with 71 confirmed infections. Following on from the peninsula are: City of Boroondara with 40 confirmed cases. City of Melbourne with 38 confirmed cases. City of Glen Eira…
TRADE is down, visitor numbers are down and revenue is down. With this nightmare scenario now a stark reality, Mornington Chamber of Commerce is pleading with all levels of government, financial institutions and landlords to “treat business tenants compassionately and urgently with respect to the current financial hardships caused by COVID-19”. It also wants government, financial institutions and local councils to freeze their landlords’ mortgages and municipal rates to help their tenants keep small business operating. Describing itself as the “key voice and advocate for local businesses” on the Mornington strip, the chamber wrote: “Main Street has been one of…
EASTER is usually the final fling for seasonal holidaymakers on the Mornington Peninsula – but this year there is no welcome mat out. The healthy injection of income businesses rely on to balance the books over winter has been replaced by closed doors and staff being stood down. Visitors are being asked to stay away. The peninsula was last week identified as having second highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases of any Victorian municipality. The statistics released by the Department of Health and Human Services showed the City of Stonnington had the highest number of cases, 61, with the peninsula…
BEACHES have been closed in Frankston and across the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said beaches were closed Saturday morning following advice from the Department of Environment Lands Water and Planning and senior police. The advice was issued after crowds gathered at St Kilda beach on Thursday, despite warnings of the need to lessen the spread of COVID-19 through close contact. The shire also received complaints about crowds at The Pillars cliff jumping site at Mount Martha. On Saturday, police were telling people to leave shire-controlled beaches “They [the government] told us they were going to…
All Mornington Peninsula beaches closed until further notice. Two new peninsula cases as state number soars. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 685 – an increase of 111 from yesterday. Victoria has recorded three deaths related to COVID-19. There have been no new deaths recorded overnight. The total number of cases includes 378 men and 300 women, with people aged from eight to 88. There are 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently 21 people are in hospital, including…
Victoria has experienced its biggest one day jump in COVID-19 cases today with 111 newly diagnosed cases. The Mornington Peninsula, though, only accounted for two of them lifting our total to 41 confirmed cases. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 16 confirmed cases, and City of Casey have 23 confirmed cases. The Mornington Peninsula still has the second highest number of infections in the state with only the City of Stonnington in Melbourne’s east surpassing it with 61 confirmed infections. Nipping at the peninsula’s heels are: City of Melbourne with 36 confirmed cases. City of Greater Geelong with 33 confirmed…
BEACHES have been closed across the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said beaches were closed Saturday morning following requests from the Department of Environment Lands Water and Planning and senior police. The approach was made after news outlets showed pictures of crowded beaches at St Kilda, despite warnings of the need to lessen the spread of COVID-19 through close contact. The shire also received complaints about crowds gathering on Friday at The Pillars cliff jumping site at Mount Martha. “They [the government] told us they were going to close beaches and wanted our help with signs,”…
36 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on the peninsula. But do the number of metro Melbourne people that have decided to spend their 14 day “isolation” period relaxing on the peninsula bump us up even further?. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Victoria has recorded its first three deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19). All were men aged in their seventies. All died in Melbourne hospitals. The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 520 – an increase of 54 from yesterday. In Victoria, the total number of cases includes 300 men and 216 women. People…
THE first release of data showing COVID-19 cases in local government areas shows there are 36 confirmed cases of coronavirus on the Mornington Peninsula. The surprising high number puts the peninsula second highest in Victoria, behind to Stonnington which has 57 cases. Frankston has 11 cases and Casey 16. The mayor of the Mornington Peninsula, Sam Hearn, said to The News tonight: “The thoughts and compassion of our whole community is with those people and their families. These figures make it more clear than ever that street by street we need to do the right thing by each other at…
Arthurs Seat Eagle falls into administration. Was COVID-19 the straw that broke the Eagle’s back? Mornington Centrelink wins a six month stay of execution due to current challenges. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 466 – an increase of 55 from yesterday. The total number of cases includes 271 men and 191 women (with four cases under investigation). People are aged from pre-school age to their late eighties. At the present time, there are eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community…
THE Eagle cable car ride at Arthurs Seat has been placed in the hands of administrators. The estimated $20 million ride that started carrying passengers in December 2016 has now ground to a halt. Lisa Macnamara, senior manager – corporate affairs at Pricewaterhouse Coopers said the closure was due to “the government’s advice on COVID-19, which coincided with the appointment of the voluntary administrators [Craig Crosbie and Robert Ditrich] the following day [23 March]”. “Due to the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, a potential reopening date cannot be provided at this stage.” Ms Macnamara said all full time…
Mornington Peninsula Shire is rolling out emergency measures to look after our community’s most vulnerable in the face of COVID-19. Schools close, businesses shut, and the future is uncertain for many. Long lines formed outside Centrelink Mornington this morning, as phone lines backed up and the MyGov website went down due to increased traffic. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Sixty-one new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 355. The new cases include 34 men and 25 women, with people aged early-teens to mid-eighties. Two cases remain…
FREE parcels of food and personal care items are to be delivered to needy and socially isolated people across the Mornington Peninsula. The food parcel plan is part of the rollout of emergency measures by Mornington Peninsula Shire to help lessen the spread and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the Caring for our Community program volunteers and staff left without jobs by the closing of shire services due to the coronavirus outbreak will be redeployed to deliver packages being put together with the help of health and welfare agencies, Red Cross, the Department of Health and Human Services and…
SCHOOL is out early and many businesses will be forced to shut their doors as part of the latest COVID-19 precautions implemented across Victoria. Premier Daniel Andrews announced late last week that school holidays would begin from Tuesday 24 March in an effort to “combat the spread of coronavirus”. “This is not something that we do lightly, but it’s clear that if we don’t take this step, more Victorians will contract coronavirus, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and more Victorians will die,” Mr Andrews said. “Victorians will still be able to go to the supermarket, the bank, the pharmacy and…
To take a break from what seems like endless bad news, for no other reason than it’s Sunday night and we all need a rest, we publish here Stuart McCullough’s shopping experiences, in the light of COVID-19, printed in his regular column in our newspapers – “The Meaning of Existence… and other short stories”. We hope you enjoy it… Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Sixty-seven new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 296. The new cases include 42 men and 25 women, with people aged from…
IT was a routine trip to the supermarket. Trouble was, I was about five days too late. Having refused to succumb to panic, I was instead faced with having my choices substantially limited. The place was eerily quiet. Much as when you go anywhere that has recently experienced something deeply traumatic, everyone looked a little shell-shocked. I’d seen footage of people coming to blows in order to secure a packet of 2-ply but it’d been hard to believe. I’m not sure what this says about us as a nation, but we’re far less prepared for a zombie apocalypse than I’d…
Following advice from health authorities and the risks associated with the rapidly evolving situation, the Shire will be closing the campgrounds managed by the Shire along the McCrae, Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento foreshores from 5pm 22 March 2020. This includes all amenity blocks. Campers are able to remove their camping equipment over a period of two weeks ending on 5 April 2020. Campers will be entitled to a full or pro-rate refund for the unused portion of their stay. The Shire will also not be processing any new camping bookings for the remainder of the camping season (due to end…
COVID-19 causes closure of foreshore camping. Tours through Frankston will proceed as part of the Big Picture Fest this weekend. Scammers take advantage of virus fears. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Twenty-eight new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 178. The new cases include 18 men and 10 women, aged from mid-teens to late sixties. At present, there are two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently six people are recovering in hospital. More than 19,337 Victorians have…
TOURS through Frankston will proceed as part of the Big Picture Fest this weekend. The Block Party event to kick off the festival was cancelled last week in response to COVID-19 concerns. Council confirmed this week that the street tours would still go ahead, but urged the need for “social distancing”. Nine new murals have been completed across Frankston’s city centre. Artist Mark Taylor said “this is the best festival in the world. In the first year, it just blew me away.” “I have this thing with water at the moment and I think it is because of the place…
AUSTRALIA’S consumer watchdog has warned people to be aware of scammers using the COVID-19 crisis to sell fake cures and products. The ACCC put out a statement today (20 March) confirming that they have received 94 scam reports relating to coronavirus this year. They said that that figure is rising. ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said “unfortunately, scammers are using the uncertainty around COVID-19, or coronavirus, to take advantage of people”. “We’ve had a wide variety of scams reported to us, including fake online stores selling products claiming to be a vaccine or cure for coronavirus, and stores selling products…
Mornington Peninsula Mayor calls for calm and encourages people to carry on with their lives. Cancellations galore across the region. COVID-19 testing available at Peninsula Health Frankston, but make sure you meet the criteria for testing. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Twenty-nine new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed yesterday – bringing the total number of cases in Victoria to 150. The new cases include 17 men and 12 women, with people aged from their early twenties to their early seventies. The Department of Health and Human Services is continuing to investigate all new cases. At the…
Peninsula Health Frankston is one of 19 testing sites for COVID-19 around Victoria, but medical experts are urging people to only present for testing if they meet the criteria for COVID-19 infection. A self-assessment guide for COVID-19 infection can her found here. Federal Health Minster, Greg Hunt, released a statement today that said: “In terms of the national health response, Australia has undertaken 81,000 tests for coronavirus, of which 99.5 per cent of tests have shown to be negative. In addition, we have secured a further 97,000 test kits, the first half of which arrived in the country late last…
THE Tyabb Air Show, the Great Outdoor & 4×4 Expo at Mornington Racecourse, the Red Hill Show, and the Rosebud Kite Festival were probably the last big events on the Mornington Peninsula for the foreseeable future. While timing was on their side, a host of other community attractions and events have been cancelled or postponed in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Here is a list of many of them… Shire services MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is postponing, cancelling or modifying delivery of a range of non-essential services, programs, events and activities. These include libraries at Mornington, Rosebud,…
The Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Sam Hearn, has a message for the peninsula: “we need to act with strong sense of responsibility but not anxiety”. The shire’s message coincides with a video the Mayor released on Facebook this afternoon. The video, the first in a series to run in days and weeks ahead, states that while coronavirus will be with us for a while, we still need to carry on with our daily lives and, above all, look after the vulnerable and support local businesses. “While we need to create a physical distance between each other to avoid…