Bring back the Baxter to Mornington train line
The Frankston to Mornington line was cancelled after WWII and reinstated in 1966. In 1978 the line was replaced with a bus service. Now in 2025 the demographics of the Mornington Peninsula are radically changed in both numbers and age demographics. With retired and senior citizen demographics having increased, not only on the Port Phillip Bay side but the Western Port side as well, access to public transport for retired and aged citizens is becoming a major issue.
Medical facilities and their supporting services in Mornington need to be accessible, hand in glove for retired aged citizens. Many procedures, though referred to as “day procedures” are often restrictive in their after care protocols. One restriction often applied is a “no drive” for several hours afterwards. Taxis are extremely expensive and bus services are intermittent and often the stops available are miles from passenger’s residence. Residents on the Western Port side of the peninsula are disadvantaged by the tyranny of distance. Not everyone has a family member or the offer of a lift to facilitate trips to medical procedures in Mornington.
The reinstating of the Baxter to Mornington train line would provide a timely cost efficient means of travel from one side of the peninsula to the important medical hub of Mornington. I hope Zoe McKenzie, who has been responsive to my enquiry emails, will seriously reconsider the importance of this train line to the residents of the Mornington Peninsula. She provided details of the funding that was in place for work towards electrifying the line from Frankston to Baxter, only to have it be withdrawn under the federal and present state government. If you agree and have more supporting points to offer to back this much needed service, maybe you could add your voice by contacting Zoe at zoe@zoemckenzie.com.au
Michelle Gregory, Somers
Acting on climate change
It’s fortunate that the Mornington Peninsula has apparently thus far avoided the catastrophic impacts of climate change (Climate emergency? Letters 6/5/25). Should we share this positive news with the LA residents whose homes were razed by bushfires in January? Or the 33 million people impacted by the flood disaster in Pakistan in 2022? Or the Pacific Islanders whose heritage, livelihoods and homes are being washed away by rising seas?
The scientific truth, according to the 14,000 research papers referenced in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports, is that our planet’s atmosphere is heating up and causing more extreme weather events because humans are clearing forests and burning coal, oil and gas.
What should we do about it? The record numbers of Flinders voters who turned up for Labor, climate-conscious independent Ben Smith and the Greens suggests many people do care about having representatives who will act.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Climate science
In reference to last week’s letter (Climate emergency?, Letters 5/6/25) that stated “my science-based conclusion is that nothing can be done except to change the sun”. Say what? Would love to see the science on this! The letter further stated “CO2 warming is a theory, not a proven fact, as far as I am aware”.
Today, 97 percent to 99.9 percent of climate scientists agree that climate change is happening and that human activity is the primary cause, but let’s ignore that and rely on data from these climate sceptics, Note: none are climate scientists.
Fred Singer Field: Atmospheric physics Claim: Denied that CO2 is driving global warming; also denied tobacco risks, ozone depletion, and acid rain. Long history of science denial on multiple fronts. Tied to industry-funded think tanks like SEPP and Heartland Institute. Frequently promoted discredited arguments (e.g., satellite data disproves warming).
Willie Soon Field: Astrophysics (not climate science) Claim: Solar activity — not CO2 — is the main driver of climate change. Received over $1.2m in funding from fossil fuel interests (e.g., API, ExxonMobil) without disclosure. Published papers with undisclosed conflicts of interest. Largely unpublished in top climate science journals. Discredited by peers for misrepresenting data.
Patrick Michaels Field: agricultural climatologist. Senior fellow, Cato Institute, founded by Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Industries. Claim: Global warming is minor and beneficial. Admitted 40% of funding came from fossil fuels. Used his credentials to legitimise political arguments against climate regulation. Regularly downplayed peer-reviewed findings.
Victorian councils are legally obligated to address climate change under the Climate Change Act 2017 (Vic) and the Local Government Act 2020 (Vic).
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Trees and safety concerns
In response to letter by Nat James (Call to pause and rethink tree destruction policies, Letters 6/5/2025), while I admire your concerns for wildlife it seems you have not taken a balanced view of other issues. I respectfully suggest a few principles of critical thinking be applied by you, and the tree management department of the council, namely analysing and evaluating information to make an informed judgement and decision, not an emotional one.
I can assure you, despite your assumptions, council is very aware of what they deem as assets; trees. The following is a brief resume to support my statement. Council will not remove a tree (particularly from a nature strip) considered healthy by a council arborist.
A ratepayer can apply and pay for a tree removal permit, and have tree removed at their own cost ($3000 to $4000 depending on size) of a healthy council tree. Usually successful. In my case, a saga of over 20 years includes falling limbs from a healthy tree has taken down my land line six times, (mobile phone not compulsory yet). Three times the SES has had to remove fallen limbs blocking my driveway and public road access is impossible due to size of limbs etc. Gum nuts on driveway creating potential safety hazard for first responders. I slipped and fell on gum nuts in front of two council officers when I was trying to explain a hazard issue.
Three local ratepayers unable to install solar panels due to council tree on nature strip creating shading. No use questioning contractors who did pruning near you. They are skilled and aware of public safety/risk. Speak to the council infrastructure department or arborists and they will tell you council trees on nature strips present what could be their number one contentious issue.
For the first time in over 25 years in my area council is carrying out an over due maintenance program.
I just hope somewhere on their agenda ratepayers safety is included. NB. some pruning has taken place – possums, bats, insects, birds – go for it!
Betty Preston, Capel Sound
Denial of rights?
I visited an elderly friend at Mornington Centre on election day afternoon and asked the supervisor if patients had the opportunity to vote. I believed the opportunity to make a postal vote was likely for all people in care. I was told that there was information displayed around the corridors and people would have been able to make a postal vote if they were in this facility four weeks ago.
As most patients are given no encouragement to leave their rooms where none of this information is available, they would not have been informed after this one AEC visit. Anyone entering over the last four weeks, unless assisted by someone outside, has not been able to vote. My friend came in on 18 April. Too late. I visit every day and had not seen/noticed any information or been spoken to regarding making voting arrangements independently. The attitude seemed to be that these people were really a bit past it.
As it is everyone’s right as well as their duty to vote in both state and federal elections this is a gross mismanagement of the process that should give the power to all Australians to enjoy that right.
All of our governments are the servants of all of the people. I wonder how many Australians in our many care facilities have been prevented from voting by this appalling, dismissive negligence. Their right has been torn from them. Was this negligence in Flinders alone or is it likely to have affected all of Australia?
Max Garrard, Mornington
Annual Response?
Once again I feel compelled to respond to misinformation which was conveyed in last week’s Letters section (Council spend, Letters 6/5/25). Joe Lenzo referred and repeated the 2024 comments of Cr Gill which stated that the shire is subsidising the members of the Mt Martha Golf Club to the tune of $9000 per year.
As stated previously, the MMGC is totally independent of the shire operated Mount Martha Public Golf Course facility. The MMGC has always operated efficiently and within budget by its team of volunteers.
Our members pay the same fees to access the course as all other user groups and members of the public. In reality the MMGC fees contribute significantly to the revenue of the facility.
The Mount Martha Public Golf Course provides a special and unique location where locals and visitors of all abilities and backgrounds can access golf at affordable prices at any time of the year. The shire and its staff are continually working to develop and maintain the facility to better serve the public and generate more income, to sustain this pivotal recreational asset, and reduce the impact on the shire’s budgetary processes.
To imply that the Mt Martha Golf Club members are a subsidised privileged group is a total mistruth and a slur on the ongoing efforts of the shire to provide financially and physically accessible golf to its community and visitors to the peninsula.
Malcolm Goldsworthy, Mt Martha
President – Mt Martha Golf Club
Wildly inaccurate
I am not sure if any of the other facts in the Joe Lenzo letter (Council spend, Letters 6/5/25) are accurate but his information in respect of Mt Martha Golf Course and club are wildly inaccurate.
As a start, after applying all operating expenses, excluding the internal council charge which is arbitrary, the council budget reflects a profit for the Mt Martha Golf Course for 2025.
The quote from David Gill from last year was also shown to be wildly wrong and I am not aware that Cr Gill disputed that fact when it was pointed out. Rather than costing $9,000 per member each year it was pointed that the figure based on the data at the time was $261. With a profit budgeted, that becomes zero.
Add to that the facility provides a wonderful community service to more than 1,000 community members each year and for many, it is their primary socialisation and keeps many older community members active. Members represent less than half of those who use the facility. Let there be more such services supporting our community in such a cost effective way.
In addition, the members actually paid for the construction of the clubrooms and not council, and half of the land was donated for use as a golf course. Council have not suggested otherwise but Lenzo’s article would make you assume otherwise.
Like Lenzo’s reference to Trump, don’t let having to use actual facts dampen your enthusiasm.
For the record, I support the council decision he endeavours to deride.
Edwin Gill, Mt Martha
Razor gang
As a “razor gang” clique within shire councillors slashes a red line through the financial support of yet another vital community resource, this time the highly valued Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place, ratepayers have a right to ask in whose name these decisions are being made.
No doubt the cohort involved will claim they are acting out of responsibility but what is responsible about denying a climate emergency or terminating programs vital to community wellbeing and cohesion?
Ratepayers expect contemporary councils to make decisions that are inclusive, holistic and evidence-based, instead of a “what can we chop next?” approach. Have any of this razor gang actually bothered to inform themselves about the vital role Willum Warrain plays in the community?
Which of this red pen clique has actually bothered to go to Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place, to see the critical support work being done with children, youth, and families, the healing work being done through widely supported reconciliation programs and their unique and precious role in the preservation of culture, that of the oldest living civilisation in the world? Surely this deserves more than the stroke of a red pen!
As a ratepayer, I am registering my own personal vote of no confidence in this outmoded and myopic type of decision-making by certain councillors.
Maureen Donelly, Mornington
Electoral transparency
Flinders election candidate Ben Smith appears to suffer a little from hypocrisy. Under “Accountability in Politics” he claims to support real time disclosure of donations over $1,000. However, it seems that he won’t make such disclosures until he is made to.
He also claims to be concerned about protecting our natural environment. Please tell us, Mr Smith, just how many kilometres of plastic wrap your campaign used, and more importantly what exactly is happening to said plastic wrap after its one day use at polling places. Ditto with the thousands of corflute posters dotted around the electorate.
If you wish to retain any credibility ahead of your guaranteed run for state parliament next year you will disclose the answers to these questions. I’m sure MP News would be happy to print them.
Jack Wheeler, Mornington
Reflections?
The wash up? It’s not easy living in the Flinders electorate.
True, I’ve maintained my record, never having voted for a winner. Almost voted for John Gorton and considered Malcolm Turnbull for a day or so.
I’m not a rusted on Labor voter, more a rusted on never Liberal.
Fascinating (my RSL drinking friends) to hear the ridiculous reasons (if any?) why Anthony Albanese won, no mention of Peter who?
Not only do they read the Herald Sun, many of them read it as truth!
I did ask why they were voting for Peter Dutton, which proved to be a peace maker, the smoking area unusually silent for 60 seconds.
The self righteous Greens (rather than militant) never, sadly, got a mention.
And so, our Liberal candidate in by a whisker, congratulations, thanks again to the darlings of Blairgowrie, Sorrento and Portsea.
It is what it is, or such is life? Go Pies. Even so…
Cliff Ellen, Rye
