POLICE are investigating the theft of a large tract of steel fencing from a property in Pearcedale.
The fencing bounded one side of a property broiled in controversy with the owners, Hindu organisations Melbourne Ayyappa Seva Sangam (MASS), planning to build a $4.5 million development on green wedge land. “We are at a loss as to what has happened,” said the secretary of MASS, Vijay Senguttuvan. “We came here last Sunday to find 200 metres of our fencing had been taken.” “We are unsure if it was motivated by the opposition to our development, or if it was just an opportunistic crime motivated by material gain.”
It appears a single panel was removed allowing access into the property where the rest of the stolen panels, 47 in total, were removed. The panels are 2.4 metres wide and 1.8 metres tall, requiring considerable transport, and tyre marks and tracks show where the thieves have worked.
Many Pearcedale residents have fought the contentious Hindu temple development which would include a main temple complex, eating hall, toilet block, a storage shed, and a lake, and will necessitate the removal of existing vegetation and other earthworks.
Plans were first submitted in December 2021, and a Facebook group named Peninsula Green Wedge Protection Group (‘PGWPG’) was formed in 2022 to oppose the development. There are currently just over 1000 members of the group and 330 formal objections have been made to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council regarding the temple, mainly concerned about negative environmental impacts.
A spokesperson for the group, Craig Gobbi, was quick to distance themselves from the incident, telling The News:
“The objective of the PGWPG is to protect valuable green wedge land. We do not condone acts of vandalism or theft of any kind.”
Detective Senior Constable Ben Watson from Somerville CIU said “we’re following all available leads. If anyone has information about the theft, we urge them to call us at Somerville CIU on (03) 5978 1300.”
First published in the Mornington News – 30 July 2024
