Need to protect the ‘gem’ that is Western Port
I was shocked to read that “the Ramsar information sheet for Western Port has not been updated since 1999” (“Forum a chance to protect Western Port’s future”, Letters, 9/4/2024). In that 25-year period, climate change has worsened considerably, and several species have moved from vulnerable to endangered, even critically endangered – the step before extinction.
Growing industrial pressure, all energy related, has also increased the threat to the internationally acclaimed wetlands and heightened the need and urgency to conduct new “baseline environmental studies”.
I sincerely hope that the Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has some good news for the Future Forum held on Tuesday 16 April by the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. The Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos must get behind the Western Port framework, especially since none of the 15 recommendations from the 2023 State of the Environment report specifically mention Western Port or even Ramsar wetlands.
By visiting tinyurl.com/VNPAaction readers can express their support for the framework and stand up for the gem that is Western Port.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Hawthorn
Quarries in wedge
In the front page article this almost went unnoticed [by me]: “The protection of farmland will also apply to quarries” in a 100km radius from Melbourne (Mayor welcomes green wedge controls, The News 9/4/24). This means Western Port woodlands from Lang Lang to Grantville fall under this zoning. Is anyone concerned about this, and existing quarries?
Sue King, Balnarring
Historic ‘Cerberus’
As suspected by many residents on the Mornington Peninsula, several shire councillors have once again demonstrated their ignorance and complete lack of wisdom with total disregard for the history of this area and the will of the people.
The ward of Cerberus is home to a maritime museum and the home of the HMAS Cerberus naval base, responsible for the defense and protection of Australia during the second world war as it is today. Why would you councillors even suppose a name change is a good idea? What a total lack of understanding of our connection to the name Cerberus. Please friends say “no” to changing the name of this ward. Has anyone sought the opinion of the residents regarding name changes? I feel democracy is dead on the peninsula.
Maureen Sharpe, Bittern
No need to change
Why are we changing to 11 wards for Mornington Peninsula Shire (Reasons to shout from the rooftops, The News 9/4/24)? According to the shire’s Peninsula Wide magazine, it sounds like it’s a done deal. And why are we changing the names, no one will know where they are?
How does giving the wards Aboriginal names help the communities living in remote areas?
It seems to be all touchy-feely lip service stuff that doesn’t really achieve anything except confuse everyone.
Maria Clarkson, Mornington
Council should vote ‘no’
The planning and infrastructure team at Mornington Peninsula Shire has asked councillors to vote on options for the future of Mornington’s Beleura cliff path, which has been closed for 18 months.
The Save Beleura Cliff Path community group is asking councillors to vote against the options presented because they do not offer real progress towards the re-opening of the path. Council previously allocated $100,000 in the 2023-24 budget towards planning and design work, but $90,000 of this has now been effectively frozen. Instead, $10,000 will be allocated for “advocacy” to persuade DEECA (the state government environment department) to contribute to the costs. In the same breath, the proposal denigrates the cliff path by exaggerating the safety concerns of the path, when most of the path is safer now than it has ever been in its 102 years. The officers’ submission states that “there is a total of six land slip areas” on the path. This is misleading. There are two landslips that have cut the path, and both could be fixed without excessive cost once the causes of the slips are tackled.
The council is being asked to approve a plan for the path which doesn’t properly analyse the issues the cliff path faces and does not initiate any of the actions needed if the path is to be re-opened. If a cliff path like ours was built in today’s world, it would cost at least $30 million. We should not let this popular, useful and stunningly beautiful public asset be lost to future generations.
Peter Nicholson, Mornington
Playing the game
The ironic nature of the ABC TV game show Hard Quiz was evident with Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Kate Roper actually answering questions – even winning the big brass mug (Phar Lap returns to the winners’ circle, The News 9/4/24)
Could we perhaps engage [the show’s compere] Tom Gleeson for the next shire meeting to pose questions on behalf of the community which may trigger some sort of response, even if it is a Battle of the Duds?
Sam Bowen, Flinders
Wake-up calls
The headline about the killing of aid workers in Gaza – Poor visibility and a communication stuff up? – is hard to believe. Meanwhile, another 141 people have become billionaires and the poor have become poorer; unending, avarice.
April, minus daylight saving. Scams, home phone, iPhone, internet. They pop up on Instagram, then ask where I’m from. If I choose to answer they ask for a picture. So, I block.
Safari advises of preventing 87 trackers from profiling me. Nonsense? Experience of nastiness online is experienced by 29 per cent of users. Collingwood supporters? Collingwood survived, not so Fremantle, a product of influential umpires with far too much power and no thanks to a complicit media and the constant gushing over Gather (money) Round.
Sadly, the more an untruth, particularly if the phrase “everyday Australians” is used, the higher the dickhead numbers. Ever onwards at 88, ever hoping to wake up, tomorrow.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
