SHIRE councillors last week voted to deal with the Arthurs Seat Skylift gondola permit conditions rather than leave it to shire officers. But they have a tough task to deal with the job by the end of this week when a 30-day “planning clock” rings. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors narrowly approved the $18 million Skylift gondola project mid-2014 and their approval was confirmed by the planning tribunal late last year when it rejected objections from community lobby group Save Our Seat. The VCAT sent the project back to council for it to work through and approve 71 conditions set by…
Year: 2015
SORRENTO’S historic hotel the Continental is on the market for the first time in almost 20 years. The Di Pietro family, who bought the hotel on Ocean Beach Rd in 1996, is hoping for $15 million. The hotel, known far and wide as the Conti, was built in 1875 by the “Father of Sorrento” George Coppin, and is the only four-storey limestone structure in the southern hemisphere. It has had just eight owners in 140 years. The Conti is on 3580 square metres and is being offered by Sothebys International in conjunction with CBRE. It cost £14,000 to build and…
TALES of personal grief, heartbreak and broken relationships continue to emerge in the aftermath of admissions of secret sexual relations between the spiritual leader and some of his female devotees at the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga, Mt Eliza. In the past week several new accounts of relationship breakdowns attributed to the actions of the school’s founder Swami Shankarananda have been described on a website established by his former followers. The owners of the leavingshivayoga website have told The News that they have been advised publishing personal testimonies “does not interfere with the ongoing work by the Victorian police…
CRUISE ship passengers will again visit Mornington Wednesday on the second P&O stopover in a month. The same ship that arrived on 24 February – the 63,700-tonne Pacific Pearl – will cruise direct from Sydney to the peninsula and return on a four night, one-stop voyage. This second visit is a vote of confidence in the town’s ability to interest and entertain its 1700 passengers, with most – again- expected to remain in Mornington enjoying the town’s attractions, while 30 per cent are expected to visit Peninsula Hot Springs or ride the Mornington Explorer bus to Arthur’s Seat and Sorrento…
AN early morning bike ride on Friday 6 March has left a father of three young children fighting for his life. Luke Matthews, 34, from Mount Eliza, was riding along Beleura Hill Road in Mornington at about 6.45am when he was hit by a concrete truck travelling in the opposite direction. Mr Matthews was knocked off his bike and suffered severe life threatening head injuries. The truck driver, a 57-year-old male, from Woodleigh Vale, has co-operated with police investigations. Mr Matthews, who works for ANZ Bank, moved to Mt Eliza from Mentone in 2008 for the open space that Mount…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s new CEO Carl Cowie has started retrenching staff. The first of several axes fell last Friday, the 13th, when 17 people lost their jobs. It is understood more people will go this Friday. The job losses come after a three-month review of the entire shire operations by Mr Cowie and his senior executives. The shire’s four directors were called to meetings with the CEO on Friday 6 March to be told the fate of their departments. The shire has about 1000 full-time equivalent staff. The News understands that some directors, managers and middle management staff are among…
THE Langwarrin-based Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Victoria has been credited as providing the third highest number of volunteers at this year’s Clean Up Australia Day. On Sunday 1 March more than 200 volunteers from association helped collect rubbish at selected sites in Langwarrin, Dandenong and Werribee South. At Langwarrin, above, the clean-up began at the association’s mosque, Bait-ul-Salam (House of Peace), with a recitation from the Quran and its English translation. Imam Janud said Ahmadi Muslims volunteered “very enthusiastically” because cleaning up was “a part of our faith” and Muhammad had proclaimed “cleanliness is half of your faith”. “Secondly, we are…
Frankston Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance to help identify a burglar who stole a safe from a Frankston shopping centre last week. The burglary took place at the Cranbourne Road shopping centre on Saturday 7 February at 9.30pm. The burglar approached a pop up sushi shop, which was closed at the time, and crawled under a tarpaulin to access a safe. The man removed the safe from the shop and walked from the centre. Frankston Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Jason Hamilton-Smith said that the man was wearing fairly distinctive clothing that someone may recognise.…
FRENCH Islanders have again been left stranded by the ferry. Engine problems put both the main ferry, George Bass, and its back-up, Schouten Passage, out of action. It is understood the Department of Transport issued a stop notice on the George Bass on Friday 27 February. The ferry is reported to have been running on one motor and was docking on the outside of the Stony Point jetty because restricted maneuverability prevented it from using its normal landing inside of the jetty. Without the regular ferry service schoolchildren were being brought from the island in small private boats. Over the…
A HASTINGS musician is heading to Gallipoli to play The Last Post on the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings. Able seaman and bugler, Racheal Byrnes, of HMAS Cerberus, is part of a musical group playing aboard the frigate HMAS Anzac when it anchors in Anzac Cove on 25 April. A ceremonial service on board will complement the three Australian and New Zealand commemorative services at Gallipoli: a joint Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site, an Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine, and a New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair. Ms Byrnes left on Thursday for a week’s…
THE remains of what is thought to be the bodies of two men missing off the coast of Cape Schanck were found today. The 42-year-old St Albans man and a 34-year-old Vermont South man were diving for shellfish off the rocks north of the cape at Fingal beach when they got into trouble about 8am on Saturday. A third man, a 50-year-old from Keysborough, managed to get to shore and raise the alarm. He reported that his two friends were unable to get out of the water and were clinging to a rock and getting smashed by waves. Sorrento SES’s…
FRANK Yamma and former Killing Heidi singer Ella Hooper will perform later this month at the second Baany to Warrna Ngargee – Water to Water Festival at The Briars, Mt Martha. Yamma, who sings in English and Pitjantjatjara, has toured Australia and overseas. Hooper, a singer-songwriter, radio presenter and TV personality, won four ARIA awards in 2000 as a member of Killing Heidi. Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys will return to The Briars to join musicians, dancers and artists during Cultural Diversity Week, Harmony Day and the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Mornington Peninsula resident…
LARGE tracts of Arthurs Seat State Park near the summit will be taken over for car parking to service the proposed Skylift gondola ride, a meeting organised by Save Our Seat was told last week. More car parking will also be developed near the gondola’s bottom station, beside the historic Dromana cemetery, the 70 attendees were told. There were gasps from the audience when pictures were shown of the total car park area, which will accommodate well over 600 vehicles. An audience member and local resident, Gabrielle Johnstone, protested that the summit’s number two car park would cover an area…
The search continues for two missing men off the coast of Cape Schanck, although police sources are now saying it is now a recover rather than a rescue. It’s believed three men were diving for shell fish near rocks off Fingal Beach when they got into trouble about 8am. A 50-year-old Keysborough man managed to get to shore and raise the alarm. A 42-year-old St Albans man and a 34-year-old Vermont South man are still missing. Water Police are being assisted by Air Wing, SES, Parks Victoria, Lifesaving Victoria, Ambulance Victoria and local marine volunteer groups. Anyone with any information…
Water Police members are currently searching for two men missing in waters near Cape Schanck. It’s believed three men may have been snorkelling or fishing at Fingal Beach north of Cape Schanck when two of the men got into trouble just before 8am. The other man managed to get back to shore and call police. Search and Rescue, Air Wing, Surf Lifesaving, volunteer marine rescue units and local police are all assisting with the search. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Police are appealing for public information to help locate a teenage girl who went missing in Frankston last month. Aleesha Kete left her home address in Muruwa Street on 27 February and said she was going to the city to visit friends. The 13-year-old told her family she would return on Saturday night but has not been seen since. Police have concerns for her welfare due to her age. Aleesha is described as being of Maori appearance, with a slim build, an olive complexion, long wavy hair that is currently coloured pink and brown eyes. It’s unknown what the teenager…
Police are searching for a driver who they believe may have witnessed this morning’s collision between a truck and cyclist at Mornington. It is believed a concrete truck was travelling north-west on Beleura Hill Road when it collided with a cyclist travelling in the opposite direction around 6.45am. The cyclist, a 34-year-old Mt Eliza man, was hit by the truck and knocked from his bike. He was airlifted to The Alfred hospital suffering life threatening injuries. The 57-year-old male truck driver from Woodleigh Vale has been interviewed and released pending further enquiries. Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit are…
Police are investigating a collision between a truck and cyclist at Mornington this morning. It is believed a concrete truck was travelling north-west on Beleura Hill Road when it collided with a cyclist travelling in the opposite direction around 6.45am. The cyclist, a 34-year-old Mt Eliza man, was hit by the truck and knocked from his bike. He has been airlifted to The Alfred hospital suffering life threatening injuries. The 57-year-old male truck driver, from Woodleigh Vale, is currently assisting investigators with their enquiries. Beleura Hill Road is currently blocked between Barkly Street and Shandon Street while police investigate. Investigators…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire hired prominent dispute resolution facilitator Bruce Turner to run a three-hour mediation session with shire planners, RACV Cape Schanck Resort people, and objectors last week. It was the first major meeting of all parties following increased opposition to the RACV’s proposed $135 million, five-storey, 30-metre high conference complex at its resort off Boneo Rd (“Opposition mounts to RACV resort plan”, The News, 3/2/15). Mr Turner is hired by the shire and other statutory authorities to run public meetings about controversial planning issues and was last “keeping the peace” during the nine-month fuss in 2013 over plans to…
Police are investigating a sexual assault which took place on the Frankston foreshore two weeks ago. The incident happened on Sunday 22 February around 3.35pm when the victim, a 15-year-old girl, was walking along a makeshift footpath on the southern bank of the Kananook Creek near the boat hire dock. The victim has told police that she was approached by a young man who attempted to strike up a conversation with her. The girl found the man hard to understand due to his accent and attempted to continue on her way. The man approached her and grabbed her inappropriately several…
Community meeting, Monday, 23 February. Venue: Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. An outstanding chocolate cake was served (with real cream) following the usual very healthy repast in honour of Cr Tim Rodgers’ birthday. Cr Rodgers took home the edible “Happy Birthday” message that had adorned the cake. No candles were seen – but surely few more than two score would have been needed. CHANGE is upon us apace across the shire, in small ways and large, with (so Council Watch believes) a couple of humdingers on the way. New shire CEO Carl Cowie’s review of the shire was due to…
Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team detectives are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted at a bayside shopping centre last month. The incident happened in a lift at the Beach Street shopping centre on 8 February around 5.15pm. The victim, a 42-year-old woman who is employed as a cleaner at the centre, was in the process of cleaning the lift when two men entered on level one. One of the men struck up a short conversation with the woman while the second man grabbed the victim by her hand. The victim tried to pull away from…
GREENS upper house MP Sue Pennicuik has gone in to bat for anti-gondola chairlift lobby group Save Our Seat. In Parliament last week, Ms Pennicuik called on state environment minister Lisa Neville “not to sign the lease for the [Arthurs Seat gondola chairlift] project without further consideration of its merits and the extreme bushfire risks, including issues of potential liability for the government”. The MP asked Ms Neville to “meet with Save Our Seat representatives at her earliest convenience; … consult with Minister for Emergency Services, the Essential Services Commission and the Country Fire Authority about bushfire risks; and ……
MORNINGTON Community Information and Support Centre is reeling from massive funding cuts. Manager Lisa Elliott said federal government support was last week cut from $102,000 to $50,000 – meaning a third of the money earmarked for food vouchers for the needy was now gone. Money to fund case managers to assist the needy had also been cut. “We will have to shift the funding around to fill the void,” she said. “Our focus is on helping the needy and the homeless to buy food and pay rent. We fill the gap between Centrelink payments and what low income earners need…
MT Eliza residents are opposing plans for a liquor outlet in a shop not yet built. The outlet will be part of the expanded Eliza Square shopping centre on the corner of Mt Eliza Way and Canadian Bay Rd. Lead tenant is a supermarket and Mornington Peninsula Shire recently received an application for a liquor shop at Shop 10, 85 Mt Eliza Way. The proposed expansion by building owner Blackbrook Pty Ltd has been on the cards since 2008. In 2010 the shire knocked back the plan but this was overturned by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in September…
PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON Peninsula Cricket Association reigning Provincial premiers, Mornington was knocked out of the top four on Saturday by Crib Point. Needing to win to keep their fourth position and take part in the finals, the Dogs needed just one wicket to pick up the vital victory. However, the fighting Magpies dug deep and scored the necessary runs in the final over to win by just two runs. There were emotional scenes at the conclusion of the match – elation and despair from the opposing teams. However, despite winning the game, Crib Point still missed out on a finals spot…
DISTRICT RED Hill will host Main Ridge in one MPCA District Semi Final while Somerville and Seaford will go head to head in the other after all four sides won in the final home and away game on Saturday. While five teams were vying for two top four positions heading into the final game, the equation was pretty simple for those under pressure, Seaford and Main Ridge. Their fate was in their own hands and a victory was enough to ensure they made the top bracket. And win they did, Seaford travelling to Boneo and getting the job done there…
SUB-DISTRICT IT was an epic conclusion to the MPCA Sub District cricket season on Saturday. There were six teams all vying for the top four positions on the ladder and a finals berth. Any of the teams that were in the top four could have lost their position depending on other results. As it turned out, only one team (Carrum Downs) that was in the four before the final game, lost its place. Pearcedale replaced the Cougars in the top bracket. The ladder, including points and the all important percentage, looked like this before the final home and away game:…
Compiled by Melissa Walsh OWING to pressure on our space reports of the Flinders, Frankston and Hastings Councils, and other matters, are held over till our next issue. *** MRS Charles Bowes, senior of Frankston, and Rathdown Street, North Carlton, is up and about again, after a very severe illness. *** MR Leigh Bowes, youngest son of Mr and Mrs C. Bowes, has volunteered for active service, and is now in camp at Broadmeadows. *** A “Tipperary” fair will be held in the Mechanics’ hall on Easter Monday (April 5th) in aid of the local Roman Catholic Church. *** A…