A ROSEBUD man has been charged with aggravated carjacking, false imprisonment and a raft of driving offences after he allegedly stole a taxi at knife point and forced the driver to sit in the passenger seat while he drove to Mornington, early hours Friday 2 October. On arrival he shook the driver’s hand and said they were “mates”. Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Henry, of Somerville CIU, said the 18-year-old, who had allegedly been armed with a box cutter, turned himself in to Rosebud police later in the day and was “remorseful and made full admissions”. Detective Henry said the man…
Year: 2020
A BLACK Jeep was stolen from a property in Balnarring last week. Hastings Senior Sergeant Warren Francis-Pester said the thief entered the back door of the Balnarring Beach Road house and stole the car’s keys and a mobile phone from a kitchen bench, 3am, Wednesday 30 September. The owner said he heard a car start but thought it must be his neighbour’s. He realised the keys, and car, were missing when he awoke later in the morning. His son’s laptop was in the back seat. Council staff reportedly found the man’s personal papers, picnic table and a roof rack in…
BURNING-OFF restrictions will be eased on small properties during October. Open air burning is permitted 9am-4pm, Fridays and Saturdays, on blocks between 500-1500 square metres, provided that the property is within Mornington Peninsula Shire’s bushfire prone area; the burn-off is for fire prevention; no more than one cubic metre of vegetation is burnt at any one time; the fire is not within 10 metres of any neighbouring dwelling, and the general fire safety provisions are followed at all times. The easing of restrictions on land less than 1500 square metres aims to assist owners reduce fine fuel in the lead…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire says it is paving the way for more footpath trading and a new “parklets” program to support restaurants and cafes as COVID-19 restrictions ease over spring and summer. It says additional outdoor dining spaces are crucial for food businesses to re-open and remain profitable while complying with social distancing measures and space restrictions. Streamlining the permit process required by business to boost outdoor dining space and making it quicker, easier and cheaper for businesses to apply, are keys to the process. Affected businesses can apply for grants of up to $5000 from the state government’s $87.5 million…
FORMER police officer Susan Norman has found that art helps relieve the stress and sense of isolation among those suffering from trauma and PTSD. On Victorian Police Remembrance Day, Tuesday 29 September, she used her painting skills to honour the memory of the four police killed on the Eastern Freeway, Kew, in April. On the same day, Victorian police held a virtual service to honour the fallen officers, as well as the other 19 Victorian officers, public service staff and police chaplains, who died in the past year. “I painted the picture in memory of the four police officers killed…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is recruiting staff to be trained as swimming pool and spa safety inspectors to cope with greater demand under stricter state government safety rules. On current numbers – and as the November compliance deadline approaches – there are not enough inspectors. The government introduced new regulations last December to make swimming pools and spas safer and prevent young children from drowning. Shire municipal building surveyor David Kotsiakos said: “We are currently recruiting suitably qualified staff to ensure we will be able to meet our statutory requirements under the legislation. “On current numbers, we believe [we] will have…
HUMAN imposed travel bubbles are the least of problems facing ruddy turnstones in their annual north-south migration from Siberia to the last land mass before Antarctica, Australia. Birdwatchers at Flinders are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the usual frequent flyers they recognise and identify from the coloured bands attached to their legs. There has already been a celebration with the arrival of ruddy turnstone seemingly ingloriously known as WLE. Because, rather than being just any weary returned traveller, WLE is recognised as being the oldest ruddy turnstone in the world. Tagged as a one-year-old, in 2003, WLE has unerringly found…
FIVE candidates in this month’s Mornington Peninsula Shire Council elections have signed a petition calling on the state government to reject changes to planning regulations affecting Tyabb Airfield. The petition claims the changes wanted by the shire will force “unworkable and invalid operating restrictions” at the airfield. “These amendments will cause significant limitations to flying and maintenance operations, leading to closure of businesses and loss of jobs,” the petition states. The president of Peninsula Aero Club (PAC) Jack Vevers is the first of 5470 signatures on the electronic petition, which was tabled in the Victorian Parliament’s Upper House on Wednesday…
MORE free time due to COVID-19 restrictions has led to people venturing into the great outdoors – some on illegal monkey bikes. Southern peninsula police are determined to curb the numbers of unlicensed riders on unlicensed bikes, especially in Tootgarook. Rosebud Senior Sergeant Natalie Dollard said police would step up their patrols in the Weeroona Reserve and surrounding areas. “Our aim is to curb unlicensed riding and prevent any potential accidents and injuries,” she said. “We want to remind the community that riding any type of recreational vehicle, which includes monkey bikes, is prohibited by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.…
By Zoe McKenzie MANY Mornington Peninsula residents look forward to the annual mid-year arrival of tens of thousands of spider crabs around Rye, Blairgowrie and Sorrento piers. Around the full moon in June, masses of the slightly creepy, tall, brown, Australian giant spider crabs march into the southern peninsula shallows. No one really knows why they like this area so much, but we know what happens when they arrive. They gather in giant mounds and, using the safety of numbers, throw off their hard shells and grow new ones. The creatures that gather to feed on those who find themselves…
A SINGLE-use plastic policy and Beyond Zero Waste Strategy 2030 are the focus of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council as it aims to stop sending waste directly to landfill by 2030 and phasing out “problematic” single-use plastics. The shire says the plan complements its position as a “leader in best practice waste management for over a decade”. “With the adopted policy and strategy in place we can look to an innovative and progressive future where waste is repurposed, recycled or reused and single-use plastics are eliminated.” The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said there were “better choices [for consumers] than single-use plastics”.…
KAREN Langdon made the most of a supply of cloth left over from the temporary closure of Boomerang Bags’ Rye branch to make face masks for the homeless. The Rye resident last week presented up to 60 masks to Vinnies’ Kitchen in the band hall, Point Nepean Road, Rosebud. “We can’t deliver the Boomerang Bags because of COVID-19 but we are still happy to help,” Ms Langdon said. “Everyone is looking for masks; it’s a huge problem for the volunteers and the homeless at the kitchen.” Ms Langdon made three designs to Department of Health and Human Services’ standards: one…
MOUNT ELIZA Primary School’s new principal Kim Wheeler has had more than her share of interesting and life-changing experiences. She’s been a senior educator at various schools, a scholarship-winning classical musician, professional singer who has entertained in Europe and the UK and was chair of Mathematics at the American Overseas School of Rome. Ms Wheeler and her Italian husband have three children, As a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne), Ms Wheeler for many years had a dual career as both a teacher and professional singer. In 1995, she was awarded a place to study…
STORMWATER run-off is being blamed for a landslip which closed the Esplanade at Mount Martha last week. The scenic, two-lane road was closed between Bradford and Ellerina roads after about 2200 cubic metres of soil and debris came crashing down, Tuesday 29 September. Up to 14 workers using excavators and front end loaders worked to clear the soil while Mornington Peninsula Shire Council engineers assessed the stability of houses above the road. The council also installed water barriers on an upper access road. The shire on Friday said it hoped the road would be reopened sometime this week. Graeme Ainsley,…
SOCCER ASPENDALE Stingrays are on track to christen their multi-million dollar Aspendale Gardens Sports Ground facility in 2021. The $12.5 million multipurpose complex will allow the State 5 club to reboot its expansion plans and immediately grow its junior program. The Kerr Crescent project is jointly funded by Kingston council ($8.5m) and state government ($4m). For some time now Football Victoria’s 2018 Club of the Year has been forced to curtail training to one session a week for most of its junior teams but the AGSG facility should address that problem. “Our biggest restriction over the past five years has…
HORSE RACING MATT Laurie’s Bendigo Guineas winner, Riddle Me That, returned to his best on Saturday 3 October to take out the $175,000 Listed Paris Lane Stakes (1400m) at Flemington. After throwing in an ‘out of the ordinary’ run at Caulfield at his prior start, it had left Mornington-based trainer Matt Laurie questioning whether there was anything wrong with his ever-consistent four-year-old gelding. “We were very happy with the horse going into his last run but he just went terrible,” Laurie said. “He pulled up poorly, but we couldn’t find anything wrong with him so we pressed on. We threw…
ABOUT seven years ago a number of Melbourne’s leading citizens selected a spot 2½ miles from Frankston as a site for golf links. As was predicted in these columns at the time, the prominence thus given to the town has resulted in many notable visitors being drawn to the district. For what was proposed at the outset – the formation of links second to none in Victoria – has, to a great extent, been accomplished. Thousands of pounds have already been expended on the work, but the landscape architect has to wait on Nature to see his plans brought to…
AN EDUCATION program at Western Port Secondary College is said to be achieving its goal of ensuring that every student meets expected academic benchmarks – from kinder through to year 12. The Learning Guarantee program, initiated and financed by the Mornington Peninsula Foundation, is part of the Western Port Education Pathway. “We realised we needed a new approach to keeping kids engaged … from falling through the cracks,” foundation executive director Stephanie Exton said. “Now, thanks to the dedicated staff across all programs, we’re seeing more and more children and young people reigniting their excitement for learning.” The Western Port…
FLAMES and thick black smoke pouring from chimneys at ESSO’s Long Island Point fractionation plant at Hastings followed a plant malfunction on Monday 21 September. Plant manager David McCord said the flaring was a safety mechanism designed to ensure “pressure relief” in the event of an emergency. Mr McCord said similar flaring events could occur anytime and were usually of “short duration”. Hastings-based photographer Celia Furt said the permanent gas flames roared even higher during the flaring and produced large clouds of black smoke. “It was quite impressive and lasted 10-20 minutes,” she said. “After that the permanent gas flames…
CAGE traps are being used to help eradicate feral cats on French Island. The aim is to create a safe haven for hundreds of species of birds, marsupials and endangered native animals on the island which is said to be already fox-free. Amanda Paul, communications coordinator of Westernport Catchment Management Authority, said soft-jawed leg traps and “curiosity” baits were not being used as previously stated in The News (“Closing in on island’s final 100 feral cats” 23/9/20). First published int he Western Port News – 30 September 2020
THIS year’s Seven Sisters October women’s only “empowerment festival” is going online due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Originally held at Mount Martha in 2012 with 350 attending, the festival this year moved to Shepparton in March, ending one day before the imposition of an Australia-wide ban on events. Mornington Peninsula-based Lauren Woodman, one of the founders of Seven Sisters, said Victorians “are feeling the toll on their mental health”. “Lack of social connection, less time outside and anxiety around health and wealth are all massive contributing factors to worsening mental health,” she said. She hopes taking the next festival online…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol members driving a vehicle equipped with automatic number plate recognition last week tracked down a Frankston man in Brunel Road, Seaford, for the second time this year. They did a quick U-turn and found the green Holden ute beside some factories on Stephenson Road, 12pm, Thursday 17 September. The 36-year-old driver had his ute impounded again for at least a month with a release fee of $961. He will, once again, be summonsed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date. Police said the ANPR-equipped vehicles were constantly patrolling Frankston and Mornington Peninsula roads. They…
TRADIES have been hard hit in the Balnarring area, with thieves stealing more than $17,000 worth of tools overnight, Monday 21 September. Detective Senior Sergeant Al Paxton, of Somerville CIU, said tools including drop saws, laser levels, nailing guns and drills had been stolen from utilities parked in Seabreeze and Fauconshawe streets. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 29 September 2020
A SAFETY Beach man has been interviewed by police and released pending summons following a “serious” car crash at Baxter, 6.30pm, Sunday 20 September. The man, 43, was driving a Holden Caprice which collided with a Nissan Navara ute which flipped onto its roof in the south-bound lanes of Peninsula Link near the BP service station. The Nissan ended up in the north-bound lanes with the driver receiving serious injuries. Senior Constable Edan Luff, of Somerville Highway Patrol, is urging anyone who saw the collision, or who has dash-cam footage, to email him at VP40746@police.vic.gov.au , or call Crime Stoppers…
THE 40-year-old Art Red Hill will go virtual from 18-30 October despite being delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Participating artists include the Mornington Peninsula’s Janet and Mike Green, Neil Williams, Michael Leeworthy, Sophie Perez and Elizabeth Clancy, along with Melbourne artists Skye Jeffreys and Ingrid Brooker. Their works will be among hundreds by artists from the peninsula and around Australia available to view and buy. Their work will include paintings, photography and works on paper, jewellery, glass and ceramics, and sculpture in all sizes. “There is art to suit every budget and quality remains high with organisers only offering…
TELSTRA has switched on 5G sites at Somerville and Cape Schanck. “We’re pushing ahead with the roll out of Telstra 5G and we’re reaching more and more people with the next generation of mobile technology,” regional general manager Loretta Willaton said. “Every week we’re expanding Telstra 5G to more areas so, as more 5G devices go on sale, customers can have the latest devices on Australia’s best network.” More than 1500 Telstra 5G sites are on-air across “selected areas” of 53 Australian cities and towns, Ms Willaton said. “More than 1000 suburbs nationally are more than half covered by Telstra…
MORNINGTON Peninsula travel agents held a zoom meeting with Flinders MP Greg Hunt last week to discuss their struggles under the pandemic and to seek tailored financial support. The “gathering of the troops” was arranged by Mornington Travel principal Lee Midson, Thursday 24 September. The 30 agents – all members of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents – are seeking federal and state government support for a $125 million travel agent support package “given the travel downturn and refund backlog”. They briefed Mr Hunt on the “critical” need for financial aid for their businesses, which “are all locally owned and…
ARTIST members of Studio Sorrento are using images provided by their fellow member photographers for inspiration. Paintings and drawings of the images are being added to the online Isolation 2020 exhibition. The photographs are posted online for the artists to choose. Topics include animals (domestic and wild), scenes, waves, trees, flowers, cloud formations, people, sunsets and sunrises. The artists are encouraged to interpret and paint or draw the image of their choice. More than 30 works have been completed and added to the evolving online exhibition and artists are being invited to become involved. A physical showing of the works…
POLICE say they are ramping up patrols to prevent out-of-towners flocking to holiday hotspots on the Mornington Peninsula. The aim is to ensure that only peninsula residents or others travelling with a permitted purpose arrive in the area. Police say they will have a “highly visible” presence at checkpoints on arterial roads, mobile vehicle checkpoints and ongoing patrols as part of Operation Sentinel. A note on the police Eyewatch social media page said anyone pulled over at a vehicle checkpoint could expect to have their licence and work permit checked by police and their residential address confirmed. “Police will also…
SMALL business owners are breathing a sigh of relief after Mornington Peninsula Shire Council knocked back plans to build a large convenience store on a busy corner site at Safety Beach. The council received almost 1000 objections to AA Holdings’ proposal to build a McDonald’s restaurant on the site of the company’s existing BP service station, corner Marine Drive and Nepean Highway. The high level of local opposition prompted the council to hold an online community information session, 10 September, to “provide the community with more information and to answer your questions”. (“Q&A session eyes fast-food outlet” The News 25/8/20)…