Year: 2020

SES Sorrento crews used their “mule litter wheel” to evacuate a young mountain bike rider after he crashed at on the weekend. The 15-year-old came over a jump on the steep tracks near Red Hill and landed badly, injuring his pelvis and shoulder, early afternoon, Sunday 5 July. SES controller Mark Daw said volunteers walked a “good kilometre and a half of steep, muddy track” to rescue the biker and take him to a waiting ambulance which took him to Frankston Hospital. Mr Daw urges riders to know their capabilities and stay in groups, so help can be called for…

A NEW design for Balnarring Recreation Reserve is aimed at taking the ground to the next level. Mornington Peninsula Shire says an improved surface and updated infrastructure will provide a safe and accessible high-quality sports ground. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn says council supported the project while recognising the importance of quality sporting venues across the shire. “Sport is such a fundamental part of our culture and with the recent coronavirus lockdown, our community is more excited than ever to bring it back into our homes.” Cr David Gill said the works are giving “our local sporting teams something to…

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…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s Cr Hugh Fraser says a decision to rewrite the 2020-21 budget is a “disaster for the [peninsula’s] economy at this time”. The shire’s annual budget is normally adopted by 30 June, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic the local government minister has set municipalities a new deadline of 31 August. The draft budget includes $31.8 million in income from fees and charges, based on them being applied from 1 July. Individual fees were proposed to increase by about 3 per cent. Officers estimate the shire would lose about $150,000 by delaying adopting the budget until 18 August.…

THE reincarnation of the Mornington Centrelink office as a part-time agency service at Mornington Post Office is pleasing its creators but disappointing members of the community. Sandy Mamo, an acting general manager of Services Australia – the company tasked with easing the transition away from the former CES office in Main Street – said on 6 May that the new service was working well. “I am very pleased to say that the [centre] continues to see a significant decrease in customer traffic – reduced by an additional 80 contacts per day from just a few months ago,” she said. “The…

WHILE the position is unpaid that “doesn’t mean it comes without benefits”. So states an advertisement for a new group leader at 2nd Mornington Sea Scouts. Applicants might note that the hall on Scout Beach, although old, is ideally placed for water and beach activities and houses a variety of watercraft and camping equipment for use by all members. “Leaders can participate in sailing, canoeing, kayaking, bushwalking and ski touring. They can paddle and sail boats from the largest beach box on the peninsula,” current group leader Terry Prudden said. “Membership of scouts also offers free, or very low cost,…

DETECTIVES from the Armed Crime Squad are investigating a shooting and a car fire at Baxter, Thursday 2 July. Emergency services, including Hastings SES and Baxter and Somerville CFA crews, were called to a property on Grant Road about 3.45pm. Witnesses reported a fight between two men and an aggravated burglary during which a man was hit by a shotgun blast. A 30-year-old Baxter man was taken to hospital with serious injuries to his upper body. Police arrested another man, also 30, at the scene and charged him with firearms offences. It is believed the men are known to each…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has unveiled a new “vision” for The Briars historic property at Mount Martha. The “largest environmental asset” on the peninsula has a wildlife sanctuary, picnic lawns, heritage homestead, native nursery, eco-living centre, astronomy centre, restaurant, cafe and farmland. Now, a new master plan is aiming to protect The Briars by enhancing green spaces and conservation efforts and improving the way it connects visitors to the natural, cultural and heritage beauty of the region. Under the plan, the Ark Program will reintroduce indigenous endangered and extinct flora and fauna after consulting with experts and based on the species’…

STAFF at Josephine’s Restaurant at The Briars were packing up and vacating the premises last week after being “left hanging” by Mornington Peninsula Shire. Managing partner Mike Bayne said they were being forced to leave the restaurant and function venue overlooking The Briars homestead on Nepean Highway, Mount Martha, after seven years due to “council’s incompetence”. “We weren’t offered a new lease,” he said, adding that the council “appears to be more interested in who has the most money to improve the facilities going forward and not caring and providing for the community”. Mr Bayne said discussions from mid-last year…

FUSION Mornington Peninsula is hosting Sleep In Your Car night on Saturday 1 August to support the 116,427 Australians listed as homelessness on any given night. About 42 per cent are under the age of 25. The sixth annual community sleep out is being held online in the lead up to Homelessness Week. Sleep in Your Car 2020 aims to raise $25,000. Fusion’s Jaclyn Jenkins said the aim was to create opportunities for residents to begin to consider what it means to be homelessness. This year’s registration allows participants to access the online event, which includes interactive experiences, live panels…

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…

A VISIT to the BP Service Station on Peninsula Link at Baxter did not go as planned for a Rosebud man, 8am, Wednesday 1 July. As Somerville Highway Police watched his black Ford sedan, pictured, drive away their attention was drawn to the car’s blue parking lights. Pulling him over for a check they found the 25-year-old was driving while his licence was suspended. His car’s rear tyres were found to have less than the required tread depth and he was issued a defect notice. The man will be summonsed to attend court for driving while suspended and driving an…

CHILDREN are not safe online, says Detective Superintendent Jane Welsh. “The reality is that increased online socialising and other activities caused by the global pandemic provides a greater opportunity for online sexual offending and unwanted contact, particularly for children.” She recommends parents initiate online safety discussions early, monitor their children’s online activity, have access to their accounts so as to be able to identify risks, recognise signs of unwanted contact, and collect evidence and report suspicious behaviour. Detective Welsh said young people were also at risk of being targeted by predators online. “Inappropriate contact online can come from a range…

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…

UP to 24 streets in Rosebud will be given 40kph speed limits as “part of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s efforts to improve road safety”. This comes after a study found residential areas of Rosebud, Hastings and Dromana had the highest number of casualty crashes in the shire and the highest risk of future crashes. Rosebud has been selected as the first township for complementary speed reductions as part of the council’s $700,000 Safer Residential Areas Project. “It aims to reduce the number of cars using these residential streets as a thoroughfare during peak season, as well as to achieve safer speeds,”…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors are expected this month to receive a report on planning approvals involving three Mornington-based companies, engineers, planners and developers Watsons, Schutz Consulting and Wolfdene Built. As well as involving its own officers, the shire hired an “external planning expert” to review permits going back 20 years relating to the $650 million Martha Cove development at Safety Beach. The investigations were ordered last December to make sure the shire has not made corrupt planning decisions similar to ones alleged at the City of Casey during the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s Operation Sandon. Shire councillors on 23 June…

RYE Opportunity Shop volunteers have taken the opportunity to revamp their shop during the coronavirus shutdown before an expected reopening on 13 July. The shop was suffering from a lack of space, a tired building and a leaky roof, Southern Peninsula Community Fund secretary Dorothy Mortlock said. Being closed enabled repairs, renovations and sprucing-up of the premises without interference to customers and staff. “The new, clean look will complement the need for social distancing, control of the number of customers and staff in the shop, and the cleaning, and sanitising, to ensure that everyone is protected,” Ms Mortlock said. “We’d…

SOCCER FOOTBALL Victoria’s hopes for the 2020 season rest on avoiding a statewide return to lockdown. While clubs in the South and East of the currently regionalised junior NPL are set to complete the grading round of the season with another double header of matches this weekend the North and West competitions remain under suspension. The official line from the state’s controlling body confirms its dilemma. “Football Victoria is currently working with all clubs – Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Community and NPL Senior (Women and Men) – that are located in the North and West regions of Victoria to understand…

HORSE RACING MORNINTGON-based trainer Terry Walsh landed his first winner in almost a year with his stable star, Kalashani Lad, on Wednesday 1 July. Walsh, who has two horses in work, continued his affinity with the Sandown Racecourse to take out the sixth race with his nine-year-old gelding Kalashani Lad. Kalashani Lad, who has picked up his last three wins at the track, once again returned to winning form with jockey Luke Nolen in the saddle. Sitting in-behind the leading pack, the homebred gelding of Victoria’s Mr K Cox peeled off their backs rounding the turn before proving too strong…

MISS Mackay, who has occupied the position of postmistress at the Frankston Post Office for many years has received notice of her transfer to the charge of the Mornington office. Mr W. E. Klavig, of Woodend, has been appointed to Frankston. *** PICTURES next Saturday night at the Mechanics’ Hall promise to be something extra good. The beautiful Madeline Traverse, a great emotional artiste, will be featured’ in “When Fate Decides”, whilst “The Beast” includes George Walsh and Annie Luther in its cast. *** AT the Frankston Police Court on Monday, before Mr. Knight, P.M. and Mr. C. V. G.…

SOMERVILLE Swim School could be forced to close if its owners cannot come to agreement with Mornington Peninsula Shire over its hours of operation, class sizes and parking requirements. Evan and Carolyn Russell who have run the school since 2015, say that while they have been prepared to “compromise, reduce the profitability of our business, and consider future relocation, this has all fallen on deaf ears”. The couple bought the former Jump Swim Schools franchise in Gwelph Street in 2015 and say their fees included the “fit out and necessary permits to run a viable swim school business”. “When the…

THE 10-year-old Crib Point township plan has been updated and is open for public input until 14 August. The plan sets out the strategic vision and direction of the town’s development and aims to protect its character of tree-lined streets and mix of old and new houses. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the plan ensured Crib Point would “continue to have the look, feel and function of a country town on the coast, closely connected with its natural environment”. The original plan from 2009-11 set a long-term vision and guide for the development of Crib Point. It…

THE Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal has been called in to determine what activities Peninsula Aero Club can undertake at the Tyabb airfield. Issues being investigated are use of the east-west runway, passenger charter services and night flying. Mornington Peninsula Shire and the aero club have long disputed some of the existing planning permit conditions and legislation requires that VCAT be called in to adjudicate. The shire last week issued a statement saying it would abide by VCAT’s decision and “then work with both the PAC and broader Tyabb community to understand any implications from the decision”. Aero club members were…

CLUBROOMS at Baxter Park used by Frankston South football and Baxter cricket clubs were badly damaged in a ram raid last week. It was the second time this year the clubhouse at the corner of Sages and Baxter-Tooradin roads has been targeted. The Frankston Bombers Facebook page said the “news came through at 4.45am this morning [26 June] that a car had rammed through our club room doors”. “Unfortunately, this is the second incident of this nature since February this year where a vehicle has caused damage to the facility. “The car was stolen from Frankston before making the trip…

THE 2020 MPNFL season has been cancelled. AFL South East announced the decision to call off their competitions on 27 June. All senior football and netball divisions will not go ahead this year. There were hopes that the league would be able to get up and running next month, with a plan to return already outlined. AFL South East had announced that they planned for the season to get underway by 25 July, with a shortened fixture and a zero salary cap. After a further meeting between AFL South East officials and MPNFL club representatives last weekend, plans to start…

A CREATIVE idea that “sort of just snowballed” led to residents at Martha Cove Retirement Village knitting 351 beanies which, when sold to visitors, raised $870 for cancer research and care of the homeless. The idea came about after resident Sue Johnson and 34 other women – feeling isolated and unable to go out because of COVID-19 restrictions – decided to put their free time to good use. They knitted colourful beanies which were displayed and sold for $5 each over three days at the village. “We all really enjoyed doing it,” Ms Johnson said. “There was lots of excitement…

RESEARCHERS from the Dolphin Research Institute are worried about the welfare of a southern right whale mother and her calf after they were harassed by a vessel near Cape Schanck on Sunday. A volunteer citizen scientist with the institute’s Two Bays Whale Project was watching the whales as they appeared desperate to evade a harassing vessel. The normally slow-moving southern right whales were seen travelling fast and frequently changing direction as the boat manoeuvred in an apparent attempt to photograph the pair. There were so many reported incidents of whales being pursued by boats in Port Phillip and near Phillip…

By Hugh Fraser* IN May, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council officers presented only one name for councillors to “rubber stamp” as the name of our fabulous new 50-metre pool and aquatic centre at Rosebud. The management process that arrived at that one name was seriously flawed. Management only allowed itself to consider those names it thought would be acceptable to the Registrar of Geographic Names. This was based on incorrect verbal advice from an unnamed Spring Street public servant at odds with the Statutory Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2016. Because we have not carried the community with us…

ALL candidates in the October Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections must complete a course on local government in August. The course requirement means candidates will be unable to keep their intentions secret until the last moment on nomination day, although the option of not lodging papers would remain. The elections are being held during an unprecedented time in local government caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Council meetings are being held online, the CEO John Baker has been granted emergency powers and shire income is under threat with an abnormal number of requests expected to defer rate payments. Councillors last week…

SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol’s automatic number plate recognition system appears to be making it hard for those driving stolen, unregistered or other “vehicles of interest” to hide. The system is used day and night throughout Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula to scan and photograph passing vehicles. Last week it alerted the patrol’s ANPR-equipped BMW on Wedge Road, Carrum Downs, to a passing stolen vehicle. The 40-year-old driver, from Chadstone, did a quick left and right turn and parked in a front yard, possibly in an attempt to hide, but could not escape. He was arrested and taken to Frankston police station…