Has climate change vanished from the peninsula?
It’s difficult to understand why six of the eleven Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors voted to scrap the climate declaration and plan rather than amend it, as Rod Knowles suggested (Climate plan canned, Letters 5/6/2025). As Kaye Mackay pointed out (For real or wrong?, Letters 5/6/2025), climate-fuelled weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.
Most perplexing were mayor Cr Anthony Marsh’s comments that the decision would instead focus on “better drainage, protecting our coastline, sustainable infrastructure, and practical, measurable, community-linked climate initiatives” (Shire pulls plug on climate emergency plan, The News 29/4/2025). These are, in fact, core elements of any sound climate action plan – so why throw the whole thing out?
Has climate change vanished from the peninsula? On the contrary, it has worsened since the plan’s adoption in 2019 with the last two years the hottest since global records began in 1880. Of the 122 Australian jurisdictions that have recognised or declared a climate emergency, only Port Macquarie-Hastings and now the Mornington Peninsula have reversed that stance.
One goal of the original plan was net zero emissions by 2040. The graph at climate.nasa.gov/evidence/ clearly shows why emissions reduction is necessary. Ironbark Sustainability’s Snapshot tool showed some reduction in emissions from the electricity and gas sectors between 2018–2023, but no improvement in transport emissions. Is Marsh aware of this data, and will his new direction address these major emission sources? If not, why not?
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Climate conundrum
They say a week is a long time in politics and that also goes to letter writers to this paper. Stephan Graley (More proof, Letters 3/6/25) must have thought he was on safe ground praising climate activist Greta Thunberg as the messiah of the global climate movement. Ooops! Before his letter could be published, there was dear little Greta, choofing across the Mediterranean Sea on her latest publicity tour, taking food parcels to Gaza. All good you say except for one small problem. No more inconvenient wind or solar powered vessels for Greta. No, when you need to get somewhere in a hurry it’s back to good old fashioned diesel.
We have had many letters criticising the six councillors who voted for the removal of funds for, among other things, the arts, a first nation group and what the previous council called the climate emergency.
My point is, where is the emergency? Australia wide green projects are being delayed and in the case of green hydrogen, shelved. Why should our rate money be spent on an emergency that doesn’t exist. When was the last person to die in a bush fire on the peninsula? Drowned in a flood? Killed in a cyclone? Swamped by rising sea levels? Yes, climate change is happening but an emergency it certainly isn’t.
My question is this. If our shire was to spend a billion dollars on mitigating CO2 levels on the peninsula what difference would that make to the weather in India where they are churning out coal fired power stations everyday.
M. G. Free, Mount Martha
On the war(path)
The Mornington Peninsula Shire is reviewing use of footpaths by traders (Shire reviewing footpath policy, The News 3/6/25). They are conducting a survey – “community consultation” they call it. I hold these surveys and the results in contempt. You have to notice the article in The News, in this case a small article, easily overlooked, then get onto the internet address and then participate. Who would bother? I recall reading recently about such a survey getting four responses. Anything less than 1000 responses, perhaps 3000 if it’s important, should make the survey invalid, if the council was honest. This survey method should not be used at all because it is nonsense, childish, incompetent, dishonest, pointless, proves nothing. But that’s council for you.
I say that footpaths are a public thoroughfare and not to be used for billboards or shop stock out the front which are a nuisance and an obstruction. As for the “pavement cafes”, these things are a cheapskate way of extending the premises, simply for more profit. They are a definite nuisance and obstruction. No, they do not add character or charm. Hordes of tourist drongoes loitering in the streets is bad enough without further obstruction. On some market days, needing to get to the post office or bank, I have had to walk on the roadway to get through.
I say to council, if this is what you call community consultation, then don’t bother. Go back to kindergarten and learn another method. Just pass your resolutions and laws, as you were going to anyway, and pretend that you listen and care.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Rethink the path
The 20 May decision made by council, to construct a bike path through endangered remnant ecosystems in the Mornington railway corridor, disregards state and federal regulatory protections for endangered species. It also ignores recommendations of council’s own natural systems team (employed for their environmental expertise), and of their Biodiversity Conservation Plan based on the Victorian government’s Biodiversity 2037 strategy to halt biodiversity decline.
This decision also contradicts recommendations of the Environmental Impact Assessments commissioned by council over many years, and dismisses advice from multiple consultant teams commissioned by council to explore alternative routes.
Moreover, the railway corridor is not council land – it belongs to VicTrack and is leased to, and managed by, the Mornington Railway Preservation Society. Friends of Mornington Railway Reserve care for remnant native bush along the corridor, assisted by grants from VicTrack in partnership with Landcare Australia. VicTrack is well aware of the high biodiversity values of the railway reserve and remains committed to its protection.
The railway corridor is just 14 metres wide on each side of the railway. Based on the Baxter section, the actual footprint of the proposed path would require six metres of that land. Consequently the trail is likely to destroy almost 50% of the indigenous vegetation. Due to edge effects, fragmentation, soil compaction, root disturbance of large trees and loss of an irreplaceable ancient seedbank, what remains would also be negatively impacted.
We are not opposed to the bike path itself; just to any alignment through the railway reserve, as environmental impacts far outweigh the benefits of a convenient cycling route. Consultants’ reports offer several alternative routes for the path. The fate of this precious remaining remnant of our natural heritage, is far too important to be settled by a popularity vote or convenience alone.
Jeanette Miller, Mornington
(On behalf of: Friends of Mornington Railway Reserve, Balcombe Moorooduc Landcare Group, Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group, Mornington Environment Association, Friends of Tanti Creek, Friends of Williams Beach, Mt Eliza Association For Environmental Care, Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association)
Voices heard
Once again, I am heartened by reading the Mornington Peninsula News Group letters page.
Folks are standing up to protect native vegetation, explaining the history and science of climate change, and calling out the blockers in the council (Coastal towns, not concrete jungles, Letters 3/6/25).
With Albanese’s Labor letting Australians down by allowing Woodside’s North West Shelf project to pollute the atmosphere with fossil gas until 2070, we need as many voices as possible calling for protection of our climate, our environment and prosperity for our kids.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Restore funding
I recently received a Charge org. petition and discovered that our council wants to cut funding for Willum Warrain. This is very disturbing especially in Reconciliation Week. At Willum Warrain the board have taken the marginal tip land leased to them by the council and worked hard to rehabilitate it. They have built a beautiful community there welcoming First Nations people and allies alike.
This action by six councillors is reminiscent of how Indigenous people have been treated since colonists occupied and stole their land. They have been herded onto the margins of settlement and starved of resources.
It is important that this funding for staffing is restored to the Aboriginal Gathering Place in the interests of justice, self-determination, community well-being, cultural preservation and awareness, and Reconciliation.
Valerie Campbell, Mornington
Have you visited?
Mornington Peninsula’s unique Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association and Gathering Place is a facility well-attended by its many Indigenous members and also includes a good number of associate members.
I believe council is considering a major cut in funding to this organisation. This will seriously affect efforts in promoting Indigenous culture with many and varied programs and activities for both men’s and women’s groups, an elders group, mothers and babies, and also a Koori Kids Youth Group. Willum Warrain is also a well-used resource for educating school students and others about aboriginal culture, with attendees in their thousands.
Have you visited Willum Warrain, 10C Pound Road, Hastings? It is a very worthwhile experience.
Vivienne Daniels, Mornington
Consultation?
They Call it Consultation.
If you ask the mayor and his clique of five how they made the recent decision to scrap funding for Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, they will say it is based on community consultation and the need for belt-tightening. Don’t be fooled by the spin – I will wager that in reality:
- No consultation participant said they wanted to cut Willum Warrain’s inclusion subsidy.
- No council officer recommended cutting this vital subsidy.
- No consultative review either internal or external of Willum Warrain was undertaken.
- Almost no extra funding was diverted to help homeless people on the peninsula.
- No one asked for $200 000 additional funding to go towards increasing the hordes of visitors that stream onto the peninsula each summer.
- No resident’s rates are going to drop as a result of depriving the aboriginal association of funding for its critical work.
Can the Mayor and his five explain then on what basis the funding decision was made? Personal preferences?
Maureen Donelly, Mornington
Overreach
None of the six councilors had a mandate to thrash the peninsulas art funding, climate action, Willum Warrain or any other cultural or environmental programs. They did never indicate before their elections that something as anti social as this was being planned. Nor did they consult with the wider community. No thinking person would have voted for this insanity.
It is high time to reinstate some of this funds and programmes before the budget is passed. Hopefully one of the six will discover their civil responsibility and move some amendments to the budget, to restore sanity and civility to our shire.
DOGE policies are not what our peninsula needs. Community consultation and civil discussion and inclusion of citizens would be much appreciated. Hopefully one of the six will have the guts to do the right thing.
Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach
Hard to pay the rates
At 91, life can be difficult. Sometimes the shire doesn’t help. I normally pay my rates at the Balnarring Post Office, this time only to be told they don’t take rates payments anymore. Based on my latest notice, it indicated payments can be made at shire offices. I went to the Hastings office, only to find it does not open until 1pm (no mention of this on notice). I went back following day. After waiting for 15 minutes (sitting down) I got to pay. Then was advised… as from the following Monday, payments can be paid at a post office.
Not happy.
John Hodgson, Balnarring
Sick and tired
I am really sick and tired of hearing about two things from the Liberals. The trillion dollar debt: 2013 libs elected, debt $257.378b, 2022 labor elected, debt $895.235b, $637.857B increase under libs, 2024 Labor debt $906.939b – a miniscule $11.704b increase
The $250 energy decrease: Liberals vowed to cut wholesale electricity prices by a quarter in 2019, but the AEMO’s data shows the average price in the eastern states rose a disturbing 104% in 2022. Actual Price Data (AEMO, averages): 2019 $85, 2022 $174
I could go on but the only thing you can depend on is that if a word comes out of a politician’s mouth you better fact check it.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Mt Martha Mystery
At the Victorian Maritime Centre Museum, we have a number of signed copies of the book Blood On Borneo. The book is written by the late Jack Wong Sue; we launched the Victorian release of the book at the restaurant on Arthurs Seat some years back. It was a fitting site as this was where Jack and his fellow Z Force members completed their intelligence training.
In the book, which Jack typed with one finger owing to a stroke he refers to the Mount Martha Agriculture Research facility. We are trying to determine exactly where this establishment was located. It refers to a guard house located on the southern end of a road bridge over a creek. This section of road was blocked off as no go military area.
We believe the facility in question may have been the present Mount Martha Community House. We are hopeful that someone may be able to confirm or shed some light on the whereabouts of this facility.
I attended Jack Wong Sue’s funeral in Perth. Jack was given the very rare honour where his funeral was conducted inside the SAS Campbell Barracks in Swanbourne, a suburb of Perth Western Australia.
Jack Wong Sue, OAM, DCM, JP, also known as Jack Sue, was a Chinese Australian from Perth, Western Australia. Wong Sue served as a member of the commando/special reconnaissance section, Z Special Unit, during the Second World War and was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
If anyone has any information please email me on: maxbry@tpg.com.au
Max Bryant, President. Western Port Oberon Association Inc. Victorian Maritime Centre
I’m out?
As in a big poker game/pot, “I’m out.”
Truly, occasionally, life has indeed been a cabaret, not so much now, meditation time, scooter time; do they sell scooters for two in case I meet a friend?
On friends, three cheers for our ever ready Cancer Council, warnings on the pack, another as one opens the pack, another on each cigarette, successfully pushing the battlers and the pensioners to the welcoming cashed up crooked sellers, not to mention the smiles on the faces of the longer living (apparently) self righteous non smokers.
Have a nice day. Almost out, not quite.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
