Year: 2017

A “TEAM” from Mornington Peninsula Shire has returned from overseas with “invaluable information” to help the shire “address and respond to climate change”. Cr Simon Brooks, CEO Carl Cowie and project delivery manager Derek Rotter attended a conference in Germany, while Mr Cowie also went to Sweden and Malta.    The latest overseas by council representatives comes as the shire moves towards meeting its target of being carbon neutral by 2021. Cr Brooks and Mr Rotter went first to a conference in Essen, Germany and then were joined by Mr Cowie for a United Nations conference in Bonn. “Our team…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is urging the state government to “continue to lead the way in banning single-use plastic bags and containers in Victoria”. It has written to the Premier Daniel Andrews and energy, environment and climate change minister Lily D’Ambrosio to say it “continues to strongly support the proposed amendments to the Environment Protection Act to ban the sale of single use plastic bags”. The shire says protecting the environment and marine life is an “important initiative for Mornington Peninsula Shire”. “The ecological and environmental impact caused by the increased use of plastic bags creates a significant threat to Port…

MOST rubbish entering the bay comes from car parks and the street. So, to reduce the amount of rubbish finding its way onto the foreshore and into the water meant cleaning up street litter – especially outside shops and supermarkets. And that’s a task Rye resident Josie Jones excelled in: so much so that the graphic designer was last week awarded the Litter Prevention prize in the Keep Victoria Beautiful 2017 Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Awards. The presentation was made at Horsham, in the Wimmera, on Saturday 25 November. The Victorian Tidy Towns program, first run in 1983, sets…

TRAVELLING tradesmen offering discounted prices for work on the Mornington Peninsula over summer should be avoided, local police warn. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen McKenzie, of Mornington Peninsula CIU, said con artists offering cheap painting, roof repairs, driveway repairs and other similar work should be avoided. “These are people doing sub-standard work and charging considerably more than the value of the work being quoted,” he said. “Unfortunately, they are known to prey on the elderly and vulnerable, and can be very assertive, offering one-off sale prices or heavily discounted prices due to job cancellations or other reasons. “Historically, these people…

A DEAD whale found washed up at the base of the Jubilee Point cliffs at Sorrento back beach Monday 27 November will be left to rot. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Parks Victoria decided last week “after assessing all the options” to leave the Bryde’s whale where it was. “Moving a whale is a complex task and many options were discussed, including moving the whale offsite to either bury on a beach or in landfill, cutting up the carcass and even exploding [it],” DELWP spokesperson, Dan White said. “None of these were safe options as they…

THE state Liberal Party has stepped in to save plans for a memorial service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt. Mr Holt was last seen by friends on 17 December 1967 wading into the water off Cheviot Beach at Point Nepean near Portsea. Plans by the Harold Holt Memorial Committee, auspiced by the Nepean Ratepayers’ Association, for a memorial service on 17 December this year looked like being scrapped after little interest was shown by either federal, state or local governments. However, the state Liberal Party president Michael Kroger this week has sent…

At Portsea, a man was charged after two “Molotov cocktails” were allegedly thrown at a house, 1.30am, Monday 27 November. Police will allege the man and a mate followed a group of young people from a hotel to a Latham Drive house. They were refused entry to the house and returned with what police described as two “improvised incendiary devices” which they allegedly threw at the house. Neither device – said to be two beer bottles filled with accelerant – ignited. One smashed a window causing a small amount of damage but the other fell short. Sorrento CFA crews attended.…

WAYWARD schoolies may have let the heat go to their heads during rowdy gatherings on the foreshore near Rye pier on several nights last week. Sergeant Dean Matthews, of Rosebud police, said “three or four” young men had been arrested for lighting flares, minor assaults, assaulting police, resisting arrest and bringing alcohol to the foreshore. He said they may be summonsed to appear at Dromana Magistrates’ Court at a later date. Sergeant Matthews said the rowdy behaviour of between 600 and 1000 youngsters prompted police to call for back-up from Frankston and Mornington. In one instance youths were capsicum sprayed…

MORNINGTON-Flinders Rd near Baldrys Rd, Main Ridge, was closed off Monday morning 4 December after a car was found crashed into a large gum tree. The 22-year-old driver, of Frankston, was dead at the scene. Leading senior constable Greg Wolfe, of Mornington Peninsula highway patrol, said a passing motorist discovered the badly damaged Hyundai Getz at 6am. The car had been travelling north in a 100kph zone. Police later cordoned off the area. A report will be prepared for the coroner. First published  in the Western Port News – 5 December 2017

A CHICKEN processing plant and a vegetable farm have received awards for their use and treatment of water. The awards, including farm gate signs, were made by the Western Port Biosphere Foundation under its water stewardship program. “The Western Port Biosphere program is the first regional recognition program to be established in the water stewardship framework and is being considered as a model for other programs in Europe, the US and China,” executive officer Cecelia Witton said at the inaugural water stewardship forum on Thursday 16 November at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. Ingham’s Enterprises, Somerville, and Peninsula Fresh Organics,…

CHILDREN starting primary school at Hastings next year are being “prepped” by their parents using a kit designed to “bridge the gap” between pre-school and more formal schooling. The get-ready-for-school kit was developed by former prep teachers Nat Petersen and has now become part of the Linking Schools and Early Years partnership formed 11 years ago after statistics showed Hastings children lagged behind their peers in several important areas of education. The imbalance has been corrected to a large extent, although Australian Early Developmental Census (AEDC) figures show Hastings children “are considerably behind their state and national peers when they…

A $1.3 MILLION grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Better Indoor Stadiums Fund will help rebuild the Somerville stadium destroyed by fire in May last year. Sport, tourism and major events minister John Eren was last week joined at the site by Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Bryan Payne and representatives of Western Port Basketball Association and Mornington Peninsula Badminton. The shire has always said it had adequate insurance in place to rebuild the facility on a “like for like” basis, but that the focus had been on securing additional money for extra courts. “Council confirmed at its August meeting…

JUNIOR golfer Molly McLean has had a golf club in her hand since she was able to walk and now she’s teeing off with a GA Handicap of 11.6 at just 11-years-old. The Rosebud Country Club golfer has grown up with the sport all around her as her father, Craig McLean, is currently a teaching professional at the Sorrento Golf Club. For the past five months Molly has had her heart set on making the Pacific School Games in Adelaide and after a successful qualifying round at the Sandhurst Golf Club in August, she will now be joining the Victorian…

JUNIOR wheelchair tennis player Riley Dumsday, of Mornington, has been victorious at the Australian National Junior Wheelchair Championships just one year after making his debut in the tournament last year. Dumsday, 12, competed in the under-18s mixed singles at the National Tennis Centre in Melbourne over the weekend of Friday 17 November. He was just getting used to the sport when he entered the tournament last year but felt much more comfortable on court this time in as he cruised through the opening rounds of his round-robin pool in straight sets. Dumsday then went on to fight out a three-hour…

SOCCER LANGWARRIN has finalised its under-age squads for its inaugural season in the second tier of Victoria’s National Premier League competition. The Lawton Park outfit attracted triallists from such distant climes as far north Queensland with three Cairns teenagers from Leichhardt Lions FC getting the nod to join Kevin “Squizzy” Taylor’s under-20 squad. Taylor is a former Seaford United senior coach who was appointed coach of Bentleigh Greens’ under-20s in late 2014 and guided the youngsters to the 2015 NPL reserves championship. “I’m very happy with the squad we have put together at Langy. They are a very talented group,…

SOCCER LUCAS Elliott is just a fortnight old but Mornington fans owe the infant a debt of gratitude for the part he played in his father re-signing with the club last week. Stevie Elliott is a class act, one of the finest central defenders outside NPL ranks and for the past two months the word was that his switch to Langwarrin was all but done and dusted. Until last Thursday when the 29-year-old Englishman ended a 45-minute meeting with Mornington gaffer Adam Jamieson and assistant coach Dale White by re-committing to the club for a fourth straight season. “At the…

SUB-DISTRICT CARRUM Downs has given Ballam Park a challenge in its Sub District clash at Ballam Park. The Cougars batted the entire day before the rains came after 69.4 overs had been bowled, finishing the day at 8/204. Ryan Lynch top scored for the visitors with 56, Leon McConnell hit 33, Nathan Lynch 27 and Joel Williams finished unbeaten on 40 when rain interrupted play. Marc Blume was the pick of the bowlers for Ballam Park with 3/39 from 17 overs, Justin Moore claimed 2/54 from 19 overs and Daniel Edwards-Fisk snared 2/33 from 15 overs. Balnarring limped to 175…

DISTRICT ROSEBUD and Hastings are locked in an intriguing MPCA District battle after 11 wickets fell on the opening day of their clash at Thomas Barclay Reserve. The Buds batted first after winning the toss but other than skipper Billy Quigley, there was little resistance in the order. Quigley scored 48 at the top of the innings while Janaka Kumarage debuted with 27 for the Buds and showed signs that he is only going to get better. Ryan McNamara was on fire for the Blues, bowling 11.1 over and finishing with 5/34, while Isuru Dias sent down 27 overs and…

PENINSULA MAIN Ridge is just six runs away from victory in its MPCA Peninsula clash against Somerville. The Eagles have been a major disappointment this season and that continued on Saturday at the magnificent Ditterich Reserve in Main Ridge. Winning the toss and batting first, the Eagles were bundled out for just 172 on the small deck. Had it not been for a wagging tail, the Eagles would have been lucky to push past 120. Jayde Herrick scored 31 at the top of the innings, Bailey White scored 25, Matt Eager 24 and Sean Parker 21. Sam Lyons was superb…

PROVINCIAL MORNINGTON star Matt Foon single-handedly has Sorrento in all sorts of bother after the opening day of round six in Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association Provincial cricket. The Doggies batted first in ideal conditions after winning the toss but the top order collapsed and the visitors were quickly on the back foot at 3/17. However, with his side in deep trouble, Foon strode to the crease and with the early support of keeper Charlie Parker, regained the ascendancy for their team. Whilst Parker only contributed 36, he did help the score beyond 100 before departing. Foon, however, took complete control,…

Compiled by Brodie Cowburn CR MASON drew attention to the disturbance that had occurred at Frankston on the previous Saturday, and the necessity that existed for additional police protection and also the installing of telephone service at the police station. It was false economy not to have the telephone at police station. The lack of it allowed men to get 50 miles away before the police could be informed, and cost the country pounds to effect their capture. He moved that the Council feel they have implicit confidence in the Officer in Charge, that he is tactful and one of…

AN aversion to litter and a desire to do something about it prompted a group of Mornington Peninsula residents to down tools and spend two months picking up empty bottles and cans along the Stuart Highway from Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin. The trip for the five mates – who all have links to Boneo Cricket Club (the Boneo Pandas) – was financed entirely by collecting the 10c refunds paid for each item at six deposit points in towns on their 3000km journey. Their haul of 100,000 bottles and cans picked up along the roadside from early August…

THE body of missing Mt Eliza woman Kylie Phillips was found by a fisherman 500 metres off the pier at Indented Head, Tuesday 21 November. The police Air Wing, water police and emergency services crews had been searching for the missing kayaker, 44, who disappeared off Mt Eliza, Wednesday 15 November. Her kayak was found in waters off Altona, Friday 17 November. It is believed Ms Phillips had a medical condition. Mornington police said the family had been notified immediately. The Water Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Anyone with mental health issues should call Lifeline Australia 13…

A MORNINGTON Aldi supermarket appears to have settled its dispute with Mornington Secondary College over claims of students’ shoplifting and disruptive behaviour. Although neither the store manager nor the school would comment, Friday, it appears the store’s ban on students has been lifted. A social media storm erupted when student Jai Duesterhaus filmed himself being refused service and shown the door by the manager of the Peninsula Homemaker Centre store on Nepean Highway. “You’re telling me I can’t come in because I’m from Mornington Secondary College?” he asks the manager, known as Dom, in his recording. The manager replies, “Yes,…

ABOUT 40 pet lovers rallied outside Mornington Peninsula Shire’s offices in Queen St, Mornington last week to protest at the number of animals being killed by the shire’s animal shelter. The Save Mornington Pound Pets rally, Sunday 19 November, expressed concern about the running of the pound, and pushed for changes that would see more animals put up for adoption rather than being put down. The group heard that since the opening of the shire’s new $900,000 shelter in Watt Rd last month, adoption rates have declined and kill rates risen. “This is a public concern as the shire’s decision…

A SHIFT in priorities leading to a realisation that they were fed up with the “go, go, go” of modern life has instilled a yearning for travel into the lives of Rosebud couple Sheree and Lance Steele. “We’ve worked so hard renovating and at full time jobs that there was no time left for living,” Ms Steele said. “After losing dad [with cancer] and with the kids being young enough to travel, we came to the conclusion that we were done with the grind and wanted to relax.” After 11 years in Rosebud, Mr Steele, a truck driver, and Ms…

THE effects of tourism on the Mornington Peninsula residents is reaching critical levels, according to a researcher Monash University honours student Pallavi Shridhar is upfront in saying increased levels of tourism can reduce a community’s quality of life. Also, that increased exposure to the impacts of tourism reduces residents’ ability to cope with the changes it brings. It also increases their sensitivity to these impacts. In her year-long study overseen by senior Monash Business School lecturer Glen Croy, Ms Shridhar highlights “low levels of community resilience” among the 161 peninsula residents as indicating that an increase in tourism “will have…

TWO Mornington Peninsula-based tourism businesses have been inducted into the Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame for being awarded gold in three consecutive years, including this year. Peninsula Hot Springs and Harmony Bed & Breakfast, both at Fingal, entered the hall of fame for their respective categories, ecotourism and hosted accommodation. Other peninsula businesses to win medals at this year’s RACV Victorian Tourism Awards were: Gold – Arthurs Seat Eagle (new tourism business); silver – Crittenden Estate (tourism wineries, distilleries and breweries), Lakeside Villas at Crittenden Estate (self-contained accommodation), Bunyip Tours (major tour and transport operators); bronze – Mornington Peninsula…

EARLY morning walkers at Safety Beach on Friday were horrified and saddened to see the white underbelly of a large dead stingray lying in the shallows. Several passersby thought it was one they had often admired from the beach. Regulations to protect stingrays, skates and guitar fish came into force on 7 November making it illegal to catch the fish from or within 400 metres of any man made structure. Fisheries officer Rod Barber, who on Friday was checking boats at the Safety Beach launching ramp, found a round wound behind the dead stingray’s head. “If they’re not going to…

A GROUP of southern Mornington Peninsula residents are united around one big issue: stopping the Adani coal mine being developed in central Queensland. The group formed after an impromptu protest in October when Lynn Carpenter put out a call on social media for people to meet on the beach at Rosebud for a “Stop Adani” protest. “With only four days’ notice 30 or so people turned up,” Gillian Adam said. “From that original protest a Facebook group was formed called Southern Peninsula Friends of the Planet. The core of this group: Lynn Carpenter, Belinda Edmonson, Gillian Adam, Kerri McCafferty and…