Open up boat ramp parking during winter
AS a local resident, I would like to raise a question about the use of public space at the Safety Beach boat ramp precinct.
I fully support the need for dedicated trailer parking during the busy boating season. During summer and holiday periods, those spaces are essential and should absolutely be available for people using the boat ramp.
However, outside the peak boating season, the situation often looks very different. For much of winter, the trailer parking area sits largely empty, while nearby parking around the chemist, café, pizza shop and public toilets can be limited, particularly on weekends.
Many locals and visitors stop in the area to support local businesses, grab a coffee, pick up a prescription, use the public facilities or simply enjoy the foreshore. Yet a large section of public parking remains unavailable, even when there is little or no demand for trailer parking.
This is not an argument against boat users. It is a question about whether public space could be managed more flexibly throughout the year.
The Mornington Peninsula experiences its highest visitor numbers during the summer months. Outside that period, would it not make sense to consider a seasonal approach to trailer parking, similar to the way other public spaces have seasonal rules? Trailer-only parking could remain in place during peak boating months, while some spaces could be made available for general public use during quieter periods.
Local residents support these businesses year-round, long after the summer crowds have left. It seems unfortunate to see valuable public space sitting empty for extended periods while nearby parking remains limited.
Perhaps it is time for a community discussion about whether the current arrangement is the best use of public space throughout the year.
Joanne Knight, Safety Beach
Taking a stand
Well done Peninsula Hot Springs on your recent public defence of respect and inclusion, surely the values that bring us together and make for the kind of community we want to belong to.
Maureen Donelly, Mornington
Healthcare subsidy
The Labor Party will lose my vote and many more with this disturbing proposal to cut the subsidy on our private health cover. It will result in thousands of people giving up their cover and starting to rely on the public system in their final years.
I have gone without to keep my cover for private hospital, I have an excess as it reduces the premium slightly.
I have experienced trauma in the public system – an example was in my 80’s having to fall from a high bed as there were no steps available.
Another stay I asked for another pillow to be able to sit up, and was told there were none available.
These are the least of the issues I experienced. I wrote letters of complaint regarding passing a kidney stone without proper medication, and ignored by staff while I placed bags of my vomit into the sink all night.
My advice is don’t get sick on Saturday night on the public system. My hair had to be cut once, as a plaster had been placed over the hole in my neck by a practising nurse and catching my hair. I actually witnessed the trained nurse instructing the newby.
We need to speak up to stop this proposed change happening.The public system is not coping now, with thousands of us ageing joining the waiting lists, it will be a disaster.
Maureen Piper, Mt Eliza
Wood-fire fan
Around this time every year we get sob stories and grievances against people burning wood in their Coonara heaters or in any other way, causing pollution, particularly particulate pollution and consequent irritation of the lungs, etc. (Wood-fire season, Letters 26/5/26).
I have a perennial mild occasional phlegm- cough probably due to irritation. In winter I often sit around a wood fire of some sort in someones garage, in company, consuming wood and alcohol on a Sunday afternoon. Traditionally Australian.
There is absolutely no effect on my mild coughing, breathing or lungs. On the contrary there is a very beneficial effect on my mental well-being and happiness. Try it.
I don’t think wood burning is a real problem. I put my mild cough down to particulates and various gases in the air caused by petrol and diesel vehicles.
I put my money where my mouth is (and my wallet), and have used LPG for 50 years. It is a much cleaner fuel with no particulate emissions, contrary to diesel which is full of it.
Instead of petty efforts to ban insignificant wood burning, why don’t activists advocate for LPG for Australia’s motor fleet?
And please don’t rave on about electric vehicles, the two realities are that for a busy family car, or holidaying, or towing, or working vehicles in this country you have to have internal combustion engines.
In any case, we don’t have and never will, sufficient electricity supply to recharge a national fleet of electric cars.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Not disappointed
I saw Jane Northwood’s letter to the paper complaining about the quality of the photograph on the front page of the Southern Peninsula News on 20th May (Extreme disappointment, Letters 2/6/26).
Yanni did his best given the strong morning sun and reflection off the water.
Those involved were thrilled to pieces that this wonderful community project made the front page, so thank you Yanni.
Mechelle Cheers, Chair, Rye Community Group Alliance
Worm readers?
In reference to Jane Spier (Bin issues, Letters 2/6/26), I too found the green bags flimsy.
I now use them to wrap food waste that cannot go into my compost bin and freeze it until my green bin goes out for collection.
My small bin inside the house is lined with a folded sheet of newspaper and placed in my large compost bin when full.
It never smells, and even the newspaper is enjoyed by my worms.
Renae Rhodes, Rye
Dirty money
Regarding the Jacinta Allan led Victorian Labor Government’s skewing new campaign funding laws to suit Labor, and its union paymasters (and indirectly, Labor supporting so-called Independents).
Frederic Bastiat’s words of:
“When plunder becomes a way of life for a group; they create for themselves a legal system” ring out like cathedral bells; heralding a new heir to the throne’s birth!
Howard Hutchins, Wantirna
Not a Dan fan
Brian Mitchelson is a Dan Andrews fan due to his success as our premier for 10 years (Dan Andrews fan, Letters 2/6/26).
I agree with his comments about the rail crossings as all Victorians benefit from this project. I do wonder though if Dan thought of the project or if one of his 90 advisers planted the seed.
Beyond that, Dan’s efforts saw debt grow to our current levels through inept financial management. His management caused a state lockdown to a point his government needed to borrow $400m from the federal government to pay government employees. During Covid, Victoria had 20,000 cases; five times than the next worst NSW with 4,000 cases. Unfortunately, Victoria had 400 Covid deaths while the total of the rest of the country had a similar number.
A recent inquiry into the Andrews government’s management of Covid was, to say the least, critical and left little if any praise of the government’s management of the crisis.
The real issue facing the Victorian public is the debt created by Andrews and Allan. It leaves a massive problem for any future government to manage, currently our interest bill is $14m per day, income $12m a day, our short fall against the principal borrowed is $14m per week, the per annum shortfall that gets added to the principal borrowed.
Currently, the laws made by previous and our current Labor government see criminals on six bail charges still in the public domain, car thefts are at levels way above the national average creating a $240m payout for the 12,000 vehicles stolen in the last year. The conditions of our major highways are appalling with little or no sign of an attempt to address the problems.
The debt the current labor party has amassed will continue to be a problem for our/your great grandchildren.
Bruce White, Safety Beach
BarleyCharlie@90
June, 2026. With a whimper? Have I run my race? Indubitably.
All up two books, Grains of Salt (600+) and another 200 as an addition to my meanderings (“Cocksparrows”) a boy into manhood (haha), and other aspects of my being here, NOT including my 38 years in theatre; overload?
I’ve had my say, clearly nothing earth shattering.
As repeated, it matters little if no one reads it; the idea of the fascination resting with me.
My gorgeous wife died in 2004, meaning, at long last, able to get a word in, day after bloody day, empty days, WITHOUT contradictions, Lah De Dah.
Healthwise a problem, hoping to see out another Collingwood premiership, but far from confident. The reality of luck, most of direct family and friends long gone.
My thanks to this newspaper, the Rye RSL, good doctors, and those beautiful ladies working at Woolworths and Rye RSL.
On other unimportant matters: White nationalists, the obvious question; at what age do they receive their brains? Suggest they adapt the “Go Dry July” – and extend until they grow up, December, 2036?
More rubbish – “This is another beginning for me. I love you now more than ever.” Television, “The Bold and the Beautiful” aka slow motion comedy? Still, different tastes, to each his/her own.
Neale Daniher said “Grieving doesn’t get you anywhere”. Seconded Neale. Friends change, or die; no surprise, we all change, decade upon decade.
Lucky I’m NOT with AAMI, or Vodaphone? Watched Fran Lebowitz on Sara ABC 7.30. Reminded of MY Pauly (Keating). Classy Lady. Perspective, meaning almost all of one’s reported grief, real or imagined, can be put into context by watching SBS almost nightly, 6.30PM.
And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.
Maybe not, nobody tells what’s around the corner. George Burns: “Say goodnight Gracie”…. “Goodnight”.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
