A tree planting photo op won’t save our wildlife
Councillor’s tree planting efforts might make for a nice photo op, but it’s a hollow gesture when so many trees planted by the shire along our roadsides are already dead, ripped out, or doomed from the start – shoved under powerlines or too close to footpaths where they’ll be hacked back before they can ever cast a shadow.
While the shire pats itself on the back for planting saplings, the sound of chainsaws tells a different story. Mature, life-sustaining habitat trees are being felled or butchered constantly, leaving native wildlife homeless, displaced, and vulnerable. Possums, birds, and other’s don’t “adapt” – they suffer and die.
I started a petition to stop this destruction, and over 1,000 locals have signed. The shire has had it in front of them for months, yet they’ve done nothing meaningful. The vegetation keeps disappearing, and with it, the life of this peninsula.
You can find the petition here:
chng.it/twdC8ccrxH
Token tree planting is not conservation. It’s PR. We need to protect the habitat we already have before there’s nothing left to save.
Natalie James, Tootgarook
Save the gatehouse
Thanks to The News for giving readers an update on what is happening to the historic Norman Lodge gatehouse (Gatehouse dismantling due to commence next week, The News 12/8/25).
I have to ask why it has taken so long for Heritage Victoria to set a deadline for action to be taken.
I raised the condition of the gatehouse back in February 2018 with them , along with the shire, local councillor and the National Trust, to name a few.I received return correspondence from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning advising they were “concerned about the condition of the gatehouse and would be taking steps to ensure that the owners do not neglect their responsibilities under the Heritage Act”.
As nothing appeared to be taking place I again followed up with the department in 2019 and the response “ the possibility of a property on the Heritage Register falling into disrepair” and “ issues of this nature are in breach of the Heritage Act 2017 and dealt with by my enforcement/compliance team”.
With a response of the nature, one would think the matter was in hand and the building saved for posterity. However, in 2024 with a storm bringing down a huge branch over this hapless building a representative of the owner stated “he could reassure those concerned that the building would be repaired as stipulated under the Heritage order but there was no time frame at this stage”.
The owner has guardianship of the gatehouse for nearly 20 years and has let it deteriorate. Heritage Victoria has been pussyfooting too long before enforcing an order for dismantling the gatehouse.
Do we now have assurance that the building will be carefully restored with all its original features saved? This should be under the full supervision of Heritage Victoria.
Beverley Treloar, Mt Marta
Climate reversal
Six years ago, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council unanimously declared a climate emergency and committed to a Climate Emergency Action Plan. Since then, climate change has worsened considerably – the last decade being the hottest on record. So, as a non-resident, it’s hard to grasp why on 22 April this year the council voted to discontinue both the declaration and the plan.
Given that most climate sceptics are men, I wondered if gender played a role. Perhaps it did. In 2019, five of 11 councillors were women; in 2025, it’s now only two. Yet, despite representing Nepean — the ward arguably most at risk from sea-level rise — Cr Andrea Allen voted to discontinue.
While the April meeting reaffirmed the council’s “commitment to climate resilience,” Cr Bruce Ranken still opposed the need for council projects to account for emissions, a stance verging on climate denial.
The main challenge for local government is cutting community emissions. Scrapping $160,000 in climate-action grants that backed community projects undermines mayor Cr Anthony Marsh’s claim the council is “getting on with the job” (Climate action and arts action the focus of community meeting, The News 12/8/2025).
Good luck to the Peninsula Climate Alliance — 15 local climate groups — whose good work deserves renewed support.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
The Sensible Centre
Since the election, Zoe McKenzie and her liberal party have decided to win back voters by moving to the ‘sensible centre’. As a result her party has:
- Had a liberal party elder, tell her party that liberal party men needed to be protected from some liberal party women
- Decided to review liberal party support for Net Zero
- Decided to oppose the Victorian Government’s codifying of Working from Home
- Decided to oppose the rest of the world, in the recognition of Palestine
Zoe, I think I see a flaw in your parties cunning plan
Bob Impey, Mornington
Flagging a point
I beg permission to respectfully remind those of your correspondents who ascribe a lack of knowledge of Australian history and/or loyalty to the long defunct British Empire to those who object to the divisive custom of flying the Aboriginal flag alongside the national flag at schools and public buildings of the following facts:
- Estimates of the number of distinct aboriginal mobs/clans/language groups/ nations (choose own preferred euphemism for tribe) that existed in 1788 vary from 250 to 600. There has never been a united aboriginal nation.
- The concept of a national flag was foreign to the aborigines, who in any case did not have any material from which one could be made.
- The Aboriginal flag first appeared in about 1970, as the flag of a political movement. Thus to display it is an act of political partisanship.
- The ancestors of all of us have been on this earth for the same length of time (although why anybody thinks this is relevant to the question of the flying of flags escapes me).
Perhaps somebody could explain how flying the aboriginal flag alongside the national flag on public buildings and schools, and thus teaching our children that those who have an aboriginal ancestor are not part of the general population “unites us”.
Albert Riley, Mornington
No fan of Albo
Mr Albanese will go down in world history as the Prime Minister who showed no respect or love for Australia. He has tramped all over our truthful history, culture and traditions. Never acknowledging the hardships of the convicts brought here and dumped for as much as stealing a loaf of bread to feed their hungry families. You only have to visit Port Arthur to view the inhuman conditions of the prisoners.
Of course there were real criminals among them too. These people were granted plots of land on release sometimes.
The decedents of these settlers and other free arrivals were the very men and women who fought in two world wars. Many thousands killed or maimed for Australia. Wives and women never knowing if they would see their loved ones. Living on rations. Women keeping the farms productive to feed them.
Albanese kissing the feet and wagging his little tail for the Chinese. How they must laugh behind his back. Our markets flooded with Chinese cars. The explanation re Chinese war ships on our borders. Ah well everyone is doing it. The change to the market acceptance of American beef. What a weak leader.
The Aussie way of peace, helping a friend, mateship, and goodwill to our neighbours, a fair go for all has destroyed . Now our freedom of speech and freedom of religion are challenged regularly.
Until we have one country, one people, under one flag there will be turmoil.
Maureen Sharpe, Bittern
Park support
A show of appreciation to the Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors who rallied behind the Notice of Motion I submitted last council term, voting unanimously to preserve 11A Allambi Ave Parkland in Capel Sound at a recent Council meeting in Tyabb.
This outcome stands as a testament to the councillors’ recognition of the vital importance of open space within the community and their commitment to responding to the community’s needs regarding health and wellbeing, opportunities for social connection and the enjoyment of family time in this public space, not only for current residents but for generations to come.
Thank you to the Capel Sound Community Group and the Capel Sound community for their united front in support of the parkland and attendance at the recent council meeting. A special mention to Kazzie McIntosh for her dedication and tireless work on the “Friends of the Allambi Ave Parkland” Facebook group to engage wider communities and share the local community’s aspirations and ambitions for this council owned land.
There are more hurdles to jump before the process can begin to rezone the parkland to a Public Park & Recreation Zone (PPRZ). One step at a time.
Debra Mar, Mt Martha
Market moves
It’s been almost a year since the Red Hill Agricultural and Horticultural Society was awarded the contract for the market Red Hill. As a local artisan who makes and sells here on the peninsula, I’ve seen first-hand just how important this market is — not only for stallholders, but for the community who come together each month.
What’s disappointing is that some still claim the market is “temporarily closed”. That may be true for a former operator, but it isn’t the reality. The Hill and Ridge Community Market at Red Hill is very much alive — running on the first Saturday of the month (September to May) at Red Hill Reserve.
Markets aren’t just about trade; they’re about celebrating creativity, sharing local produce, and keeping community spirit strong. This one deserves our support. Let’s spread the word that the Red Hill market is alive, well, and thriving. See you Saturday 6 September, 9am–2pm.
Georgia Symmons, Safety Beach
Lost soul
I dream one day of living in a world which will have as much compassion for the man who shot a mother kangaroo in the face and left her to die with her joey, as for the kangaroo (Joey rescued after mother shot and left to suffer, The News 12/8/25). Terrible things must have happened to him or his ancestors, to estrange him so completely from his humanity.
Paula Polson, Dromana
Be aware
One hundred years ago a textbook of brutality was loosed upon the world – Mein Kampf. Now, hiding behind the safe anonymity of their masks these evil neo-nazi blackshirts are emerging from our suburbs, parading and chanting, regurgitating the same hateful rubbish under the guise of free speech.
Our world has seen, fought and defeated this philosophy before. Once again it needs to be stopped, now, by all legal means available, consigned to the ugly footnotes of history.
Bruce Wearing-Smith, Somers
