SOUTHERN Port Phillip Bay anglers are invited to hear the “Big Fisherman” Rex Hunt and fisheries experts discuss the removal of commercial net fishing and the health of key bay species. They will be speaking at a conference, 5.30-9pm, Friday 12 August, at the Altona Theatre. “We’re keen to share the latest findings from our work in the bay and outline the substantial progress made this year in removing 33 of 43 commercial netters – the flagship commitment in the State Government’s $46 million Target One Million plan,” Fisheries Victoria executive director Travis Dowling said. “Presentations from experts will cover…
Year: 2016
CONSERVATION groups opposing redevelopment of Sorrento’s historic Continental Hotel claim they are being kept in the dark over plans to sell an adjoining council-owned car park to the developer. The 900 square metre block, at 23 Constitution Hill Rd, is crucial to the hotel’s redevelopment and impending sale. The proposed works include refurbishing the heritage building, adding 24 new rooms with a new mixed-use development to the south consisting of 16 residential units and a wellness centre, including gym, as well as a cafe on Constitution Hill Rd, landscaped rooftop terrace above the gym and cafe, three-storey residential building above…
WHALE sightings are being reported in Western Port and Port Phillip bays in what researchers say has become an annual event coinciding with the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The Dolphin Research Institute and the Two Bays Whale Project have been receiving reports of humpback and southern right whales in both bays. “Humpback whales regularly visit Port Phillip and Western Port from June through to mid-August and again from late September to November,” DRI research officer Sue Mason said. “The first reported sighting of a humpback whale usually comes into the institute around the Queen’s Birthday weekend, prompting DRI’s research staff…
MORNINGTON sailing enthusiast Cheryl Schumaker is a self-confessed “late starter” to the sport but that hasn’t slowed her rise to the top, becoming the first female commodore in 70 years. However that doesn’t mean big changes at the club. Ms Schumaker has a vision for the club that’s in keeping with its strong focus on community involvement, sports promotion and inclusion. “At one time the general perception was that sailing clubs were for the rich people down the street, but that is changing and our club is an example of that – welcoming and inclusive,” she said. “I started sailing…
THE sister-in-law of former Victorian Liberal Premier Ted Baillieu is standing for Dunkley in Saturday’s federal election. Sally Baillieu admits to not previously having political aspirations but decided to stand after seeing “what is happening in the arts sector … a direct attack upon the human rights of all of us”. “The prospect of entering politics is terrifying, but sometimes you need to put your hand up about something you think is important, and I felt that this was one of those times.” Ms Baillieu is one of The Arts Party’s 20 candidates seeking election and the only Victorian aiming…
WHOEVER loses, Dunkley wins. That’s the state of play for the electorate as the federal election campaign heads into its final week before polling day on 2 July. The party that wins government on 2 July will be obliged to see through its extensive funding promises for Dunkley even if its candidate does not win the seat. Both major parties have made pledges worth tens of millions of dollars to sporting clubs, schools and community groups in the marginal seat held by the Liberal Party by 5.5 per cent at the 2013 election. Former small business minister Bruce Billson’s retirement…
BUILDING the planned $800,000 skatepark at Mt Martha should take about three months, but work is on hold because Mt Martha Tennis Club has leased the preferred site until 2023. Mornington Peninsula Shire can seek to change the lease but it can only be revoked if the tennis club agrees. The club is opposed to the site chosen for the skatepark by the shire in 2012, but it is the only one acceptable to Heritage Victoria on the historic parade ground near Mt Martha Community Centre at the corner of The Esplanade and Dominion Rd. The club says the skatepark is…
A PARTIALLY-restored 1976 VW Beetle was among items stolen from 10 storage units in Barkly St, Mornington, last week. The car, valued at $15,000, was later recovered undamaged behind a Mornington take away. Detective Senior Constable Ben Watson, of Somerville CIU, said thieves either cut padlocks or forced open doors to the units overnight Sunday 19 June. Detective Watson said another a Porsche 911 was left behind in the raids in which a video camera, TV, electric bicycle and tools were taken. Adjoining unit holder Ryan Henderson said the thieves broke into his unit but unsuccessfully tried to open five…
RESIDENTS should have full confidence in the Mornington Brigade’s fire-fighting capabilities, its officer-in-charge says. The statement comes after weeks of controversy stemming from the fire fighters’ industrial dispute, the sacking of the CFA board and the resignation of its CEO. Mornington fire station chief Troy Thornton is concerned by fallout from the much-publicised and now politicised row, which had prompted some older residents to tell him personally that they feared their homes would not properly be defended in the strained circumstances. Last week he said residents “would have had to have been living on another planet to have not noticed…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has adopted its 2016/17 annual budget, keeping average rate rises below the state government’s 2.5 per cent limit. The mayor Cr Graham Pittock said the shire was still able to allocate more than $30 million for capital works from the $152.14 million rates income, which includes $900,000 in supplementary rates. The $180 municipal charge has been abolished, but is effectively replaced by a $193 waste service charge to cover kerbside waste collection, street sweeping, beach cleaning, street litter bin collection and capping the Rye landfill. Cr Pittock said the general rate in the dollar would “decrease significantly”…
PENINSULA LEAGUE PINES moved to outright second on the Peninsula Division ladder with a strong performance against Mt Eliza at Wooralla Drive on Saturday. Despite the Redlegs opening up a 25-point break on the Pythons in the second quarter, the visitors were able to boot nine goals to four in the second hour to win 12.13 (85) to 10.9 (69). It was a great performance from the Pythons, who tweaked some things during the major break that ultimately turned the game around. James Freeman got hold of Pines in the opening half but coach Patty Swayne shifted ruckman Beau Hendry…
NEPEAN LEAGUE SORRENTO got back on the winner’s list on Saturday, knocking over the in-form Frankston Bombers in epic fashion. The Sharks had lost their previous two games at home to Rye and Devon Meadows but with some returning players and a tweak in game style, the home side was able to take the Bombers down a peg. The Sharks had nine scoring shots to two in the opening term and never looked in danger, winning 15.11 (101) to 7.15 (57). With Scott Lockwood back in the team and joining Nick Corp in the forward 50 metre arc, the Sharks…
A PAINFULLY sudden death occurred on Monday morning to a little girl, eleven years of age, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Olding, of Carnegie. It appears that, in company with her younger sister, she was spending a holiday at Flinders and on Saturday morning last complained of a sore throat and not feeling well. She gradually got worse and on Monday morning a motor was procured and a start was made for home. On arriving at Bittern it was discovered that the child was dead.. The remains were then brought on to Frankston, and on Tuesday morning Dr…
MEMBERS of the public can find out more about Ramadan – Islam’s holiest month – by attending a meal served after sunset on Sunday 3 July. The sunset meal is a tradition of breaking a fast and will be served as a buffet by members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Victoria. The community has a mosque at Langwarrin but the meal is being served at the Uniting Church in Frankston. Those attending will get the chance to speak with mosque members and find out more about Islam. The Interfaith Iftar Dinner, 4.30pm Sunday 3 July, will be held at the…
A large pine tree fell over the Nepean Highway between Mt Eliza Way and Old Mornington Rd this afternoon. Three cars were damaged but luckily nobody was hurt. The driver of a van who was delivering magazines was very lucky. One of the branches smashed the passenger side windscreen and a large branch went through the van into the rear compartment. Traffic was diverted as Nepean Highway was closed until the tree could be cleared.
CANDIDATES for the Flinders electorate have been invited to speak at a forum in Dromana on Wednesday 29 June. The candidates will be asked to explain their views on “conscience issues” such as marriage, euthanasia and abortion. The forum will come a week after Pastor Rob Ward, former Victorian director of Australian Christian Lobby, explained what the major parties “plan to endorse as normal in marriage and education and how your vote can change the very fabric of our society for generations”. “Economic policies, education, climate change and health spending, all of these are important but how about what is…
A BUY a plank offer will see donors names carved into the surface of a beach access boardwalk to be built at Pt Leo. Plans for the boardwalk have already been drawn and the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch is close to raising money needed for its construction. The boardwalk will provide wheelchair access to the beach and a viewing platform for lifesavers and the public. While still $20,000 short, the DSAMP has received grants from Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Department of Infrastructure. Carving names into planks forming the surface of the boardwalk is one of several options…
FOUR women are setting off on a 100 kilometre walk tomorrow (Wednesday) to raise $15,000 for the Dogs for Diggers program. Leading seamen Freya Halliday and Kathleen Price, of HMAS Cerberus, personal trainer Lisa Beakley, and Navy wife Rachael Eslick, all 30, hope money raised on the four-day trek will buy several companion dogs for service personnel who are having difficulties coping with the stresses and fall-out of their military service. Many of these serving and former Defence personnel are on medication and some too anxious and distressed even to go to public places. But this all changes when they…
BUSES will replace trains on the Stony Point line between Stony Point and Frankston, Saturday 25 June to Sunday 31 July. Customers are advised to allow an extra 15 minutes travel time. The line closure is a result of level crossings being removed at North Rd, Ormond, McKinnon Rd, McKinnon, and Centre Rd, Bentleigh, on the Frankston line. The works prevent Stony Point line trains being taken to Southern Cross station for maintenance, effectively putting them out of action. V/Line provides two Sprinter cars for the Stony Point line out of a pool of 21 Sprinters. As part of the…
THE submarine Otama is again firmly held in place by its moorings of Crib Point, avoiding urgent action which could have included being sold for scrap. A decision by Ports Minister Luke Donnellan to fix the moorings follows desperate appeals from the Western Port Oberon Association for $50,000 to carry out repairs ordered by Park Victoria. However, the 14-year-old plan to make the Otama the centrepiece of maritime museum at Hastings remains in limbo because of financial difficulties. The association’s president Max Bryant puts the cost at $15 million and says that if either the state or federal governments provide…
THE man at the centre of the Rye siege last December has been jailed for three years. Colin Wade Gower, 69, of Rye, held his estranged wife, and a co-worker, hostage for seven hours in a Point Nepean Rd cafe, causing mayhem for weekend shoppers. He was armed with two low-calibre hand guns. Angry traders later said they missed out on thousands of dollars in trade after specialist tactical police shut their shops and cordoned off the area. Gower pleaded guilty in the County Court to five charges. The court was told he repeatedly threatened to kill his wife –…
A REVISED framework for controlling the use and number of gaming machines and minimising harm to the community on the Mornington Peninsula was adopted by council on Monday. A report by the social planning and development department revealed $79,400,240 was lost through the 821 poker machines in the shire during 2014/2015, with the daily loss rate being $217,535. The report found that although gambling is recognised as a “legitimate leisure and entertainment activity”, it acknowledged the potential for financial and social harm. The new Responsible Electronic Gaming Machine policy aims to encourage responsible gaming by guiding council’s decisions on the…
AFTER years of frustration it seems the calls for better mobile phone reception at Red Hill and Shoreham have finally been heard. Flinders MP Greg Hunt is “delighted” that money needed to improve telecommunications in the two areas will be available if the Coalition government is re-elected at the 2 July federal poll. Mr Hunt, who holds Flinders for the Liberals with a more than 11 per cent margin, is competing against five other candidates: Yvonne gentle (Rise Up Australia Party), Shane Lewis (independent), Willisa Hogarth (The Greens), Carolyn Gleixner (Labor) and Ben Wild (Animal Justice Party). Mr Hunt said…
BLAIRGOWRIE Miss World entrant Nicolette Holt is one of 10 delegates selected to represent Victoria at the state final in Melbourne on 6 July. Charity work is integral to the Miss World ethos and part of her brief is to volunteer her time and fundraise for a good cause. Nicolette has chosen children’s charity Variety which aims to improve the lives of sick, disadvantaged and disabled children. To raise funds she has organised health and wellness event – Yoga 4 Variety – at Flinders Yacht Club, 10am-1pm, Sunday 26 June. The event will begin with an hour’s yoga class conducted…
IT’S tempting to say that the years have flown for Dromana police sergeant Paul Dixon, who recently received his 35-year clasp at an awards ceremony for Mornington Peninsula and Frankston police officers. Joining as a 17-year-old cadet in 1980, Sgt Dixon completed his HSC (now VCE) as part of the educational squad and was named academic cadet of the year. He was off to a good start and being paid the grand amount of $93 a week, minus $15 for board, lodgings and food at the Spencer St complex where he lived-in for 12 months. Sgt Dixon’s first training station…
A TRIP to Canberra this week by Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Graham Pittock on top of him already spending more than $10,000 in “professional development” has again highlighted concerns about the vagueness of the councillor expenses policy. Cr Pittock is rubbing shoulders with political leaders at this month’s National General Assembly from 19-22 June. On Monday last week, council approved Cr Pittock’s request to attend, despite the mayor already having spent $10,091 on “professional development” this term. Cr Pittock will attend as an official representative of the shire at the estimated cost of $2678 allocated to his conferences and seminars…
ROSEBUD residents have won the first step in their battle against a multi-unit development, with Mornington Peninsula Shire reversing plans to support the proposal when it goes to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in August. At last Monday’s meeting, residents pleaded with councillors to reverse their support for the application, arguing that traffic congestion would make the area unsafe and higher density would be out of character and lead to costly environmental problems. The 12,141 square metre site at 46-469 Waterfall Gully Rd, at the junction of Bayview Av, has had a long planning history, with the shire originally…
THE sights and sounds of The Big Apple are a tantalising prospect for singers from Mornington Peninsula Chorale who will perform at Carnegie Hall in January. The 50 choristers will join others from around the world at the Distinguished Concerts Singers International, with Sir Karl Jenkins as composer-in-residence, and artistic director Jonathan Griffith as conductor of the performance. The invitation to sing came about after the chorale performed Sir Karl’s Armed Man at Frankston Arts Centre last year for the Anzac Day centenary celebrations. Senior chorister Judi McKee wrote to Sir Karl who invited the chorale to audition for a…
A MORNINGTON man is in jail following what police describe as a “landmark” child exploitation case. The 57-year-old was arrested after Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team detectives raided his home in September. The case is the first to be presented before a Victorian court relating to charges of producing child exploitation material outside Australia. Acting Sergeant Paul Turner, of the police media unit, said the case highlighted the high level of investigative expertise of the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team who target child sexual exploitation offences internationally. The arrest ended a year-long investigation into the man’s production and possession of…
Words and pictures: Sheree Marris, aquatic scientist and raconteur FORGET the epic aggregations of wildebeest you’ve seen on documentaries, the Mornington Peninsula has something far more spectacular on its front doorstep. To see it, you’ll need to ditch the binoculars and grab a mask, snorkel and wetsuit because it’s in the waters of Port Phillip. Around this time every year as the waters cool, hundreds of thousands of giant spider crabs make their way up onto the sandy shallows along the southern shores of the bay. As the name suggests these crabs are impressive in size, with a body measuring over…