We support the Arthurs Seat Eagle upgrade
AS a long-time holiday maker and family resident of the Mornington Peninsula, I am writing in strong support of the proposed Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE) 2026 Upgrade Plan. As someone who values both environmental protection and responsible tourism, I believe this project successfully integrates economic growth with sustainable design and community benefit.
The ASE team has demonstrated a clear commitment to environmental stewardship throughout the engagement process. The integration of the new experience centre, luge, and observation tower has been thoughtfully designed to complement the natural landscape and encourage environmental appreciation.
Importantly, the upgrade will reduce travel pressure on other natural sites by offering a contained, well-managed attraction that channels visitor activity responsibly. This approach aligns with best-practice sustainable tourism principles.
Economically, the benefits are undeniable — over 100 local jobs, increased visitor expenditure, and stronger regional branding for eco-based tourism. The project also provides opportunities for environmental education and awareness through the new experience centre.
With careful management and continued community engagement, the ASE upgrade will serve as a benchmark for sustainable regional tourism development in Victoria.
David Rolleston, Long Contracting
AS a long-time resident of the Mornington Peninsula, I am writing to express my full support for the 2026 Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE) Upgrade Plan.
Arthurs Seat has long been a source of local pride, and this proposed upgrade represents an exciting step forward for our community and local economy.
The introduction of three new attractions — the experience centre, luge, and observation tower — will create a destination that rivals any in Australia. This investment will not only attract more visitors but also encourage them to stay longer and spend more within our region.
I am particularly pleased that the project will create over 100 local jobs during construction and once operational. Many local families, trades, and small businesses will benefit directly from the opportunities and flow-on spending this investment brings.
The ASE upgrade will diversify tourism on the Peninsula, making it less seasonal and more sustainable year-round. It will also provide valuable regional marketing opportunities, helping showcase everything our area has to offer — from nature and food to arts and adventure.
This is a forward-thinking, community-building project that balances tourism growth with environmental care and local benefit. I strongly endorse it and look forward to seeing the Arthurs Seat Eagle become one of Australia’s premier tourism experiences.
Jonathan Long, Long Contracting
AS a local business owner and resident on the Mornington Peninsula, I strongly support the Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE) 2026 Upgrade Plan. This visionary project will be transformative for our local economy and community. The inclusion of new tourist attractions such as the experience centre, luge, and observation tower will elevate ASE into one of Australia’s premier tourism destinations.
The project’s potential to create more than 100 local jobs during both construction and operation is highly significant for small businesses like mine, which rely on steady visitor flow. Increased visitation, particularly from overnight and interstate travellers, will deliver substantial flow-on benefits for accommodation providers, restaurants, retail outlets, and local producers.
Importantly, the upgrade diversifies the region’s tourism offering and strengthens the Mornington Peninsula’s reputation as a world-class destination for families, nature lovers, and adventure seekers alike. The investment will also provide new marketing opportunities, allowing our region to compete more strongly within the national and international tourism markets.
The ASE upgrade represents sustainable economic growth through responsible private sector investment. It will stimulate employment, attract new visitors, and encourage repeat visitation — all of which are crucial for the long-term prosperity of our community.
I wholeheartedly endorse the ASE Upgrade Plan and look forward to the many benefits it will deliver to our region and the broader Victorian tourism industry.
Richard Long, Long Contracting
Honesty and integrity
FLINDERS MP Zoe McKenzie is being deliberately deceptive in her cries for “honesty and integrity for the Teals” (Transparency, for some, with election data released, The News 28/10/25)
McKenzie is still raking over the coals of the election where she won against the independent Ben Smith.
McKenzie full well knows that there is no Teals party, it just a creation of the lazy major parties and conservative media.
Smith was an independent. For McKenzie to query and complain about Smith’s donations and spending is just simply hypocrisy writ large.
Will McKenzie, for the sake of “honesty and integrity” divulge how much was spent on her campaign and where the money came from? I doubt it.
McKenzie also has the advantage of getting support from the Liberal Party advertising in general, she doesn’t have to disclose this because it was nationwide advertising, not seat by seat. An easy out created by the major parties to avoid scrutiny.
So come on Zoe, detail the total spend by you and your party in Flinders, or is “honesty and integrity” just for other people.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Proud contributor
I was a proud contributor to Ben Smith’s campaign in two ways.
I made direct donations, and I donated to Climate 200 as did thousands of other like-minded voters who are sick and tired of the secrecy and the manipulation of electoral funding laws designed to protect the environmental vandals who bankroll the legacy parties.
We need more politicians who speak truth to power not party hacks who are virtually mute when it comes to representing their constituents.
And guess what? I’m not from Sydney; I live on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. However, I’m happy that some Sydneysiders also contributed to Climate 200 funding for many Indies around the country, just as I did.
Phil Riley, Somers
Needs a mirror?
Much amusement to read of Zoe McKenzies’ quoted “spray” highlighting “Through conniving, deceiving and dodgy dealing over preferences, the ‘blow ins’ tried to use their big bucks to buy Flinders” (Transparency, for some, with election data released, The News 29/10/25).
In the words of noted political commentator Professor Daffy Duck, “Ho ho, it is to laugh!”
Zoe do you possess a mirror? I have a spare in my garage. You are welcome to it. I find them useful for a spot of self reflection. Bless
David Martin, Mt Martha
Petrol con
Driving from Mount Martha Thursday the 30th via the Sea Road Ferry to Warrnambool and Friday the 31st onto Hamilton.
I was astounded by the range of petrol prices that where available. Two service stations in Warrnambool were offering petrol at $161.9 per litre while others where at around $189.9 for a Litre.
Hamilton on the Friday petrol was $179.9 to $189.9 a Litre.
Geelong varied from $163.9 per litre to $193.9 per litre.
Petrol in Mornington when we left on Thursday was well over the $220.9 per litre.
Between these service stations from highest to lowest there was at least a difference of around 60 cents per litre. Talk about gouging!
Oh yes I forgot most of them are affiliated with the major rip of supermarkets. They seem to do what they want without consequences.
So what hope does the motoring public have, very little it seems.
Come on elected politicians on the Mornington Peninsula and elsewhere what are you doing? Whether you are in government or opposition the public will remember how you are doing nothing about the variation in the petrol pricing.
Gerard van de Ven, Mount Martha
Transparency
I am saddened to learn councillors voted down Cr Gill’s motion to change governance rules to increase “scrutiny, transparency and accountability” at the 14 October meeting (Councillors vote down ‘transparency’ motion, The News 21/10/25).
To reiterate, Gill’s proposal included “the right to ask questions of council officers and ensure the chair has a stated and recorded reason to reject a councillor’s question”.
Additionally, it ensured “potential subjectivity” and “clear, objective definitions for the kind of motions the chair can reject”.
Most importantly, it proposed a “right to move a dissent motion against the chair.”
This, surely, is imperative to democratic freedom.
Ann Scholes, Mount Eliza
Cat problem
The Sunday Age a couple of weeks ago included an article about banning the importation of Bengal cats into Australia because of their origins that included in the breeding Asian Leopard cats.
We were shown they are larger than other breeds and more effective as hunters. A particular fear is their interbreeding in the wild.
I have a Bengal from the Cat Protection Society 12 years ago. I was advised to keep it indoors to which it seamlessly adapted. A happy, always inside cat. Highly social, a person centred personality. No monster.
Different to other cats? They are certainly athletic. But all breeds are natural and effective predators. The kindest kitty will take down anything that moves.
We love our pets. What is the answer to cuddling kitty but protecting our wildlife? Keep her permanently inside. (Sorry about the litter change every day.)
How can we encourage owners to do this, a council requirement? Without exception, destroy any cat found out of doors and heavily fine the owner.
Interbreeding in the wild? All cats as pets should be neutered before sale. Only breeders should be allowed fertile animals and their containment should be strictly regulated.
As to cats in the wild, we have let the cat out of the bag long ago in the same way that we have always done with our thoughtless, ignorant and uncontrolled damage to the natural environment.
Should we single out one breed with the fanciful belief that any cat is different from the rest? All cats outside should be regarded in the same way as foxes. Vermin to be destroyed.
And the Bengals? Many generations of breeding and just a cat.
Max Garrard, Mornington
Truce? What truce?
Israeli warplanes struck Gaza on Tuesday night, shortly after Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the military to carry out “powerful strikes” in Gaza, in the latest test of the increasingly shaky US-brokered ceasefire.
A strike on a residential building in Gaza City, and an area close to al-Shifa hospital was also struck.
Netanyahu is considering moving the yellow line dividing Gaza in two, to place more territory under IDF control, or halting the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are calling on Netanyahu to resume the war.
The reason is that Hamas has not returned the rest of the bodies is they are buried under the tens of millions of tonnes of rubble Israel submerged them with.
I made a quote in a previous letter (Peace? For how long? Letters 21/10/25), “Just wondering if the real agreement to the deal was not to get hostages back, get Palestinians back to their destroyed homes to look for their dead buried under the rubble and then when they are densely consolidated, initiate a cost reduction initiative to kill more people per bomb than before”, which seems to be coming amazingly true.
Nostradamus ain’t got nothing on vituperative me!
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Barley-Charlie@89
This ageing process? Melanomas? They say it’s no big deal, so would I, concerning others, not if it joins my life cycle?
Generally, personalities become set, in stone, not always thankfully.
Some, again not many, back themselves and peter out in their seventies, or some tradies, earlier.
Half a dozen maybe more, at my RSL, disappeared covid. Females, change of life early fifties, so they say?
Exercises are the key; no smoking, no alcohol? Pfft! Miscued. A believer in backing myself come what may, and not too often, crashing, as one, as all us, do, dusting off, the next time, Av-a-go-yer-mug?
In sporting life not so much, watching my mighty Magpies, but not quite.
Nervous, tape it, visualise, the victory, wait for the final score, stressed. Win or lose bye bye stress? Eureka! Go Pies, despite tremor.
A win watching, to the cot an hour past midnight. A loss, ‘La Mer’ from Tinker Taylor, song and movie. Weird really.
I only came to Rye what was, to my mind, a godforsaken spot way down south, during my darling wife’s breast cancer. Two years to blend in, now it’s godforsaken Melbourne?
‘C’est la vie’ or ‘Such is life’, said Ned Kelly (supposedly) or, assuming a resident, as in breathing, come March 86 – Go Pies!
Overseas we can but wonder, more Israeli airstrikes, more children greeting God, turning our cheeks, including Donald Trump, busy with the South China seas, Albo, The Philippines, Japan, and obviously here? The lucky country indeed, so far…
Cliff Ellen, Rye
