No thanks VOPAK
Credit and thanks to local resident Marteen Koster and the Mornington Peninsula News for drawing attention to the risky plan to have a foreign-owned regasification plant in Port Phillip Bay (“Campaign to keep floating regasification plant out of the bay”, The News, 6/10/26).
A Dutch multinational company spewing chlorinated discharge into the bay we love? No thank you.
Thousands of Victorians are rightly opposing this proposal on health and environmental grounds, but the regasification plant would also be contributing climate pollution to our atmosphere.
This sort of dirty project has no place in our vision for an ecologically stable and clean energy future.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Lesson not learnt
The $250m Crib Point LNG import terminal near Hastings was stopped in March 2021, when the Victorian government rejected AGL’s proposal. The decision followed intense community opposition and a three-year environmental assessment, which concluded the plant’s chlorinated wastewater discharge would cause unacceptable damage to Western Port’s protected Ramsar wetlands (“State terminates AGL’s gas import plan”, The News, 31/3/21).
So it was surprising to read that a similar project, also releasing chlorinated water, is now being proposed in Port Phillip Bay (“Campaign to keep floating regasification plant out of the bay”, The News, 6/10/26).
Further investigation reveals that VOPAK’s proposed floating terminal would be moored within the outer marine boundaries of the Port Phillip (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar site.
Its proposed subsea pipeline would also cross the Western Treatment Plant, itself part of this internationally significant wetland.
The Western Treatment Plant supports more than 295 bird species and can provide habitat for up to 120,000 waterfowl. The Ramsar site also provides habitat for numerous nationally and internationally listed threatened species, including the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.
The irony is hard to miss: a project rejected to protect one Ramsar wetland is now being proposed within another. Have we learned nothing from Crib Point?
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Golf a dangeous sport?
Anne Kruger’s description of the interrupted Mornington Golf Club morning tea was a good read (“Pesky plovers”, Letters, 6/10/26). The Mornington Peninsula is fortunate to host eleven birds in the plover (Charadriidae) family, and the “airborne hooligans” at morning tea were almost certainly Masked Lapwings, previously called Spur-winged Plovers, common in our parks, paddocks and urban areas.
Unlike the smaller Hooded Plovers struggling to survive on our beaches, Masked Lapwings are thriving, helped by human modification of the landscape creating millions of hectares of their preferred open habitat.
Golf is clearly a hazardous sport in Australia, whether dodging emus in Dunkeld, chipping over crocodiles in Cairns or managing Masked Lapwings in Mornington. But golf courses are greenery in an increasingly urbanised environment and a 2023 study found golfers had a strong connection to nature and were aware of conservation issues.
The global movement towards more “nature-positive” golf, including integrated pest management and reduced synthetic chemical use, even rewilding, is helping to combat biodiversity loss.
The challenge is to keep the birdies on the scorecard and the biodiversity in the rough, without requiring golfers to wear helmets at morning tea.
Maggie Cowling, Coburg North
Plover confusion
Regarding the recent debate about hooded plovers – it’s important not to confuse them with masked lapwings. Hoodies are shy, retiring little birds, who are unfortunately becoming rare.
Masked lapwings are the protective, aggressive, dive bombing variety.
Jackie Tritt, Balnarring
Choose wisely
“What can one independent actually achieve?” It’s a fair question. But it’s also worth asking what a party MP is allowed to do.
A party MP is expected to support their party’s position, even when it doesn’t fit the needs of their electorate. As an independent, I can assess each proposal in parliament on its merits and speak up for Nepean without a party room’s approval.
A party MP has to consider how criticism of government decisions will affect their party. I can ask the difficult questions of whoever is in government, and keep asking until we get answers.
That matters when we’re seeking better services at Rosebud Hospital, safer roads or completion of unfinished local projects, like Flinders Pier. Our needs shouldn’t become more or less important depending on which party holds the seat.
A party MP is expected to vote with their party. I can support a good proposal from any side, seek changes where it falls short, and explain my decision to the people who elected me.
Independence doesn’t mean working alone. I would work with council, community organisations, other MPs and whoever forms government to build strong cases for local investment and pursue clear commitments.
Nor does it mean promising to fund every request. It means being honest about what’s achievable, following through and reporting back.
You should know how your MP voted, why they voted that way, and what they’re doing about the issues you’ve raised.
A party MP answers to their party first. As an independent, I’m accountable to you and you alone.
I answer to Nepean, not a party HQ.
Kim Robbins,
Independent candidate for Nepean
What sets Kim apart?
I have been working as a consultant and devil’s advocate for Independent Kim Robbins and it is an enlightening experience.
Kim is not without her opinions but is genuinely interested in other opinions and the logic behind them. She is quite willing to change or modify her opinions based on the information and will professionally and rationally discuss the issue. When she does “stick to her guns” she will take the time to explain why in a way that you can understand and appreciate her position even though you might not agree 100%.
She is quite willing to engage outside her echo chamber, listening rather than framing her objections while you are presenting your case, and responding in an appropriate manner. I have yet to see her “spit the dummy”.
If I continued with all the positive comments I could make, you would want to nominate her for sainthood.
It is important to me, and hopefully to you, that she does not have a political ideological agenda dictated by a political party and has the ability to see both sides of an issue, intelligently discuss it. Her vote would be based on our inputs not the dictates of a party platform.
There is much yet to be said on this election and I guess that I will return to my weekly commentary. I have actually been encouraged to reengage and many have encouraged me to do so.
To sum it up: My humble opinion is that Kim is the best person to represent us and our needs. For those of us who are fed up with government she offers an alternative to the political quadropoly we are currently stuck with. She is an alternative to populist politics and will certainly not lead us down the road to Trumpism.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Independent support
I am writing to express my strong support for Melissa Goffin, the endorsed community independent candidate for the seat of Mornington in the upcoming Victorian state election.
In the past, our region has been treated as an afterthought by major political parties. We need a representative who answers directly to the community, not to a political machine or party bosses.
Melissa Goffin transitioned to business ownership after a decade in public teaching, during which she served as President of the Victorian Teacher’s Association.
As a local businesswoman and the founder of Red Gum BBQ, Melissa understands firsthand the pressures facing families and local business owners, especially regarding the rising cost of living.
Her campaign focuses on fair funding equity to support education, housing and health. Gender equality, government transparencies and climate action are high on the agenda.
I am a local General Practitioner having been in the area for 42 years. I have first hand experience of what I consider to have been less than compassionate and competent governance in the past.
We cannot keep voting the same way and expecting different outcomes for our community. It is time for a change, and Melissa Goffin has the energy, business experience, and commitment to fight for our fair share in parliament
Jack Knobel, Mornington
Peninsula potholes
Anthony Marsh is concerned about potholes on VicRoads roads on our peninsula (“Pothole push”, Letters, 6/10/26).
It’s a pity that he wasn’t concerned about the unmade streets/roads that the council is responsible for when he was mayor.
Every time we get heavy rain we get more potholes and the existing ones have deeper holes. There are no footpaths on these streets so it’s very precarious to go for a walk, not to mention driving around the potholes whilst avoiding cars doing the same thing whilst driving in thevopposite direction.
We can report these potholes but it takes a long time to get any action. There are a lot of unmade roads on the peninsula and the council isn’t coping very well with it, and neither are the residents.
Climate change has played havoc with our streets/roads in recent times. I know the council can’t organise the weather but neither can VicRoads.
So look after your own areas of responsibility before criticising others.
Nerida Miller, Mt Martha
Who checks the checkers?
I’m writing this letter to express my concern over the now universal use of pencils instead of pens for voters to fill out ballot papers. It’s not rocket science to figure out that pencil marks can easily be rubbed out resulting in a skewed result. Am I the only one thinking this?
J. Cox, Mornington
Golden arches
So there I was at the Dromana BP service station, on a balmy spring day, patiently waiting to pay for fuel while four small children debated their choice and distribution of ice creams.
Always affable, my thoughts were only of the charm of children, and the good natured patience of the crowd around me.
On approaching the register, I casually remarked that the proposed construction of the McDonalds landmark had not progressed beyond the demolition stage.
“Oh yes,” I was told. “We didn’t want to inconvenience people over the Christmas period”.
Unlikely as it seems, I was struck dumb in disbelief.
The perils of this development have been well documented.
From the devious presentation of a ‘traffic survey’ taken during the Covid lockdown, to the complete disregard for the welfare of residents, this whole process has been a farce.
Has the penny finally dropped that this over-development may not after all be a golden goose resting beneath golden arches?
Or have the obvious limitations of this confined site finally become apparent to even its most optimistic supporter?
I wait in bewildered awe to see the outcome of a conflict between the welfare of a community, and the greed of a developer.
Go well Dromana people. May we still have a happy ending.
Mike Wilton, Safety Beach
Kindness of heart
A few weeks ago my wife and I dined out at a McCrae restaurant, to celebrate her birthday. Comfortable seating for two and a good position in the room, followed by a lovely meal.
We sat alongside a young couple and conversation soon flowed. They had been together for 13 years and we married for 59 years. Topics covered were about meeting of both couples, ours being in New Guinea in 1962. This surprised our young friends and they were keen to learn more. We were so impressed with their interest and we found out about them as well. Unfortunately they had to leave early and we were left to finish our meal but still talked about what a lovely young couple they were.
To make the night even more stunning was to learn that the young couple had already paid for our fixed price meal! We were so surprised and rather embarrassed by this show of kindness. The staff were aware of what had happened and explained what appears to be a custom for someone to forward-pay for another’s expense.
The sad part was that we could not thank our benefactors for their generosity in person. We would love to reciprocate and continue our common interests.
It goes to show that there are still some genuine and lovely people in our area and we wish them well.
Len Gregory, Safety Beach
BarleyCharlie@90.5
Here comes the (October) Sun? Cost of living; don’t they want to work? As a part time smoker on a basic pension I manage on $600 a week, minus a Gold Coast Winter visit?…
Clearly, AI, artificial intelligence, those in favour or against, the road to wisdom (don’t laugh), littered with potholes, significant, insignificant, you choose? Unsure exactly who can choose, knowing some 70% of those able to choose do NOTHING, as in the too hard basketful (some) a simple lifestyle (others). Zombies (sheep) or control, the difference for now, answer: Very little…
Anthony Marsh MP Liberal for Nepean, campaign sign front of my property? Top marks for comedy? Still, he’s a Sorrento enthusiast, a keen coffee gentleman (merlo coffee roasters?) and we all know how those Sorrento sheep vote…
The past 30 years, an intention to write a book, upmarket Carter Brown, sometimes called a novel. Always too busy, a 12-24 months job. I had a book of notes on it, to the blue rubbish bin, lack of raison debtre, thus, Barley Charley continues, subject to the goodwill of one, two, occasionally THREE readers, my severe hands tremor and shonky brain apparatus in working order, on a “good” day?…
Question: Is there a big brother lurking at the Bendigo Bank, City Branch? As mentioned I was hacked, eventually re-issued, Australian transactions ONLY, no reason given, NOT a local Rye decision. Likely a more satisfying answer if I was talking to my pussy cat. I could write to our genial PM Albanese, but he would pass it on to a friend, strangely called a “Public Servant” whose claim to fame can be described, accurately, as a master of NFA (No Further Action)…
And AFL football, gone, in favour of our super brainy millionaires playing for Cricket Australia. It follows therefore, I must remain on Planet Earth until at least the first Saturday come October 2027, and Lochie Neale, Jesse Hogan, Daicos & Daicos, Jordy De Goey. Sadly, no Lachie Sullivan no Bobby Hill…
Finally, Princess Pauline (Hanson). I find it satisfying to ignore the lady’s various diatribes, (ditto overseas billionaires) other than her one big TICK, namely her focus on law and order; a lay-down misere?…
Finally (for now?) Woolies “really really” home insurance; greed is good? Positivity forever, or dreaming?
Cliff Ellen, Rye
