RESIDENTS involved in the Save Flinders Pier campaign have welcomed the planning being undertaken by Parks Victoria to restore the historic structure, despite the pier not being expected to fully open over summer. It is believed the Flinders Foreshore Precinct Conservation Management Plan needs to be reviewed and reworked to accommodate the pier’s restoration and reflect Heritage Victoria’s mandate to protect the state’s important heritage assets. Spokesman for the Save the Flinders Pier campaign, Charles Reis, said Parks Victoria had committed money for the pier’s safety works, but the complexity of the project required time and commitment. “While funding for…
Author: Liz Bell
TOURISM and business operators from the Mornington Peninsula got together at the “explore connections” event in Rye last Tuesday (8 August) to talk about tourism following one of the worst winters even seen on the peninsula. But the vibe was positive, and the focus was clearly on the future and shining the light on the many industry developments and opportunities in the region. Spokesperson for the not-for-profit Sorrento Beachside Tourism group Kera Zaltsberg said there was a lot of positive energy and sharing of “big plans” at the meeting for the southern peninsula. “Winter hasn’t been a great time for…
JACQUIE Beddows says her art has been a defining way to move forward in a positive direction. “It has enabled me to reconnect with my local community through setting up and facilitating Art for Wellness – a supportive and inclusive group for people suffering from communication issues due to stroke, Parkinson’s, acquired brain injury or Alzheimer’s,” she said. The Mornington Peninsula resident lives with significant brain injury due to an aneurysm, stroke and brain surgery. “I had to give up a career I really loved as a support worker with new mothers and pre-school children. I’ve tried to not let…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Waste Wise says the container deposit scheme to be introduced in November will be a game-changer in terms of reducing recyclable waste on the peninsula. Victoria’s container deposit scheme, CDS Vic, is expected to reduce the amount of recyclable litter that ends up on the streets and beaches. The scheme will reward Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every returned eligible can, carton and bottle. The scheme also provides charities, community groups, environmental organisations, sports groups and educational organisations with ways to raise money. Co-founder of Mornington Peninsula Waste Wise and national Boomerang Alliance spokesperson, Birte Moliere, said…
THE future of some Mornington Peninsula kindergartens is uncertain because Mornington Peninsula Shire cannot afford extensions needed to accommodate state government reforms. “We are committed to continue our long-standing partnership with the state government through planning for the needs of children and families in our municipality, but we cannot fund these necessary upgrades or continue to maintain these facilities on our own,” the mayor Cr Steve Holland said. “We are obligated to allocate funds in our budget equitably to benefit the whole community, including facilities for seniors, people experiencing vulnerability, young people, community groups, sporting groups and community support organisations.”…
WELFARE services, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and residents took to the streets of Rosebud on Friday for a walk and rally to call for an end to homelessness on the peninsula. The walk came as the peninsula’s only crisis accommodation looks set to close. The event was a collaboration between Fusion Mornington Peninsula, Mornington Community Support Centre, Western Port Community Support, Southern Peninsula Community Support and the shire. The walk started at 4pm at Rosebud pier and went along Pt Nepean Road and past Memorial Hall, to finally gather for a rally at the sound shell, where there was a…
MEMBERS of the veteran community came together with family and friends at Dromana Cemetery on Thursday (3 August) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. A vigil was held at the graveside of Michael Poole, of Dromana, one of 523 Australians who died in Vietnam between 1962 and 1973. Poole, who was killed by a landmine explosion in 1967, served with the fifth battalion. More than 3000 Australians were wounded in the 11-year conflict and the Dromana service was one of hundreds held around the country as communities reflected and paid tribute…
POLICE and the education department are investigating a series of intimidating incidents at Somerville McDonalds, following continued aggressive and disrespectful behaviour by school students. A hand-written sign banning Somerville Secondary College students from the store was removed on Friday, two days after it was placed there by a staff member attempting to protect his staff and customers. The McDonalds franchise was not aware of the sign or student ban at the Somerville store. Bad behaviour by groups of young people has been an ongoing issue at the fast-food restaurant, including the throwing of food, staff being abused and spat at,…
IT’S well known among equestrians that being around horses can have a therapeutic effect on mental health, but there are also a range of physical and social benefits that come with riding these beautiful animals. The coordinator at Riding for the Disabled Peninsula, Jenny Stidston, says the program is helping riders gain confidence, and at the same time improving their coordination, balance, muscle development and communications skills. “RDA helps to enrich lives through specialised programs and a relationship with horses, and it can be very helpful for people with a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities,” she said. Stidston says…
HASTING’S resident Melissa Stevens’ life could have had a vastly different outcome if not for the openness of her employer, The Hastings Club, to employ someone with a recognised disability. The 46-year-old has low lung capacity, a side effect of the autoimmune disorders she lives with and struggles with shortness of breath and fatigue. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to work. The opportunity to get back into the workforce has given the hospitality worker a new lease on life, new friends, new energy and best of all, new-found confidence. Stevens had previously worked in the cleaning industry for…
HASTINGS housing advocate and rental agency manager Karen Taylor says it was a tearful moment when she handed over the keys for a rental property to a family of four who had been homeless for nearly a year. “I always look forward to handing over house keys. It’s such an exciting time for all involved, especially for the people moving in. But that day was extra special,” she said. The family she was giving the keys to was trying to find a home in the midst of a rental crisis but, to make matters harder, 27-year-old mother Caitlin Scown had…
THE international animal welfare group that exposed the horrors of live sheep export and animal baiting in the greyhound industry has praised Mornington Peninsula Shire Council for taking a stand against the state government’s kangaroo harvesting program. Animals Australia, known for its hard-hitting campaigns to end animal cruelty, said the councillors’ “courageous” public opposition to the slaughter of kangaroos was a good example of a council taking the lead to reflect its community’s values. The council recently passed a motion to request the shire be excluded from the commercial kangaroo shooting industry – a move that would protect kangaroos and…
A PLANNING application for a two-storey, licensed restaurant with rooftop bar in Mount Martha has been refused amid concerns it could change the character of the popular tourist spot. The proposal for a licensed restaurant and cafe at 3A-5 Bay Road, Mount Martha was supported by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council officers who recommended its approval with amendments, despite objections about potential noise, parking and the size and style of the building. Officers’ amendments included acoustic screening in outdoor areas and “appropriate bicycle parking spaces in the footpath area adjacent to the site”. Councillors at their 25 July public meeting determined…
AN application for a theme park on green wedge land at Boneo has attracted 98 objections and 36 letters of support. Although submissions to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council regarding the $47.7 million theme park and recreation centre closed in late June, objectors are hoping for a public forum to air their grievances about the “inappropriate” proposal. Neighbour Simon Stuart said the 80-hectare property operating as The Ranch horse riding and camping centre, is surrounded by broad acre grazing farms and market gardens, and the development would “change the character of the area permanently”. It is believed the revamped park will…
THERE were smiles and tail wagging all round on Sunday morning after emergency services saved a pet dog that had fallen over a cliff at Cape Schanck. In a rescue operation that involved multiple services, including Boneo and Rosebud CFAs, FRV Rosebud with support from Dandenong, and Sorrento SES, Lola the dog was successfully retrieved from a cliff ledge 15 metres from where she fell. The dog’s owners said they had been visiting the area on Saturday afternoon when their pet broke from its leash and went over the cliff edge. It was a tense night for the family, as…
NEW data from the Peninsula Community Legal Centre indicates that 42 per cent of renters seeking assistance from the organisation had received a notice to vacate their homes from their landlord, representing a six per cent increase in the last six months. This increase occurred against a backdrop of a national rental crisis fuelled by record-low vacancies, a critical lack of affordable and social housing, and a cost of living crisis. As well as Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, the legal service covers residents in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs. CEO Jackie Galloway said the situation for renters was worse now…
YOU could say whisky in in the McIntosh family’s blood, in more ways than one. Apart from enjoying the odd winter-warming tipple, former financial advisors Stuart and Naomi McIntosh ventured into new territory with a giant leap of faith in 2013, turning to an old family tradition – whisky distilling – to forge new careers. Just a few years later, their love affair with single malt whisky has grown and their own Somerville-made whiskies are getting noticed around the world. The McIntosh family’s Chief’s Son Distillery had won many awards since they began 10 years ago, with the most recent…
EMERGENCY services are warning of a heightened fire risk this summer, with below median rainfall expected over the coming months followed by a hot summer. The Westernport Group of Fire Brigades is moving its fire season preparations forward from November to mid to late September and early October due to changes in the medium to long-term weather patterns for Victoria from the Bureau of Meteorology. The forecasts for the period August to October signal a greater than 80 per cent chance of a strong El Niño event beginning in August. Group officer David Breadmore said the forecast, combined with an…
THEY can be cuddly, cute and charismatic, but also one of the country’s most contentious animals. Through no fault of their own, tens of thousands of homeless cats and kittens run wild in every corner of the country, hungry and homeless, and left to survive on their own resources. However, a Mornington Peninsula volunteer-run animal welfare group is making inroads in the battle to rehome unwanted cats and litters, increase desexing rates and educate the community about responsible pet ownership. Peninsula Cat Rescue president Sarah Beamish said one of the group’s main missions was to find homes for the hundreds…
TWO Mornington Peninsula neighbours and horse enthusiasts are helping each other out in a bid to raise money for charity Angel Flight and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Andrea Laws-King, 63, of Tuerong, is training for the 220 kilometre Winton to Longreach endurance ride on 29 July, which she admits will be “challenging”. The reproductive biologist will be one of 32 riders attempting the ride, which she will undertake with the help of two friends acting as “crew”. In a twist of good fate, her neighbour, Peter Moran, is an Angel Flight pilot who has completed 195 missions for the…
VOLUNTEERS have had their work cut out for them this winter, with strong winds and rough seas washing up thousands of pieces of plastic and other rubbish into Mornington Peninsula beaches. Beach patrols and other volunteer-based groups around the peninsula have been trying to keep the foreshore areas litter free. This month’s clean-ups saw dozens of volunteers brave the cold, wet conditions to clean up the remnants of recent storms, pulling out hundreds of items from bottles to fishing line. Much of the plastics and waste washed discovered on the peninsula’s beaches gets trapped in seaweed after washing in from…
AFLW player and former Mount Martha Primary School student Sarah Hosking inspired students at the school recently when she visited to give a talk on her experiences in the women’s league. The Richmond player spoke of being drafted and now playing AFL Women’s, the emotional side of footy both on and off the field and respect for the game and opposition. Mornington district coordinator of School Sports Victoria, Cameron Sweatman, said the students were inspired by Hosking’s energy and positive words about determination and respect. In particular, year 6 students and AFLW hopeful Billie Raymond, who has been selected to…
NEW gaming legislation is expected to have a significant impact on the Mornington Peninsula, where around $68 million is lost at pokies venues every year. The statistics highlight the continuing cost of gambling addiction in the shire, where 820 machines operate in 17 venues, the second highest number of pokies outlets of any Victorian municipality after Geelong. The state government’s reforms are aimed at making the state’s gambling harm protections the strongest in Australia. Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Melissa Horne announced the changes last week to reduce gambling harm at venues with electronic gaming machines across the state. At…
HORSES from a Mornington Peninsula property are among animals from around the state that have recently died from a mystery illness being investigated by health experts. Agriculture Victoria on Sunday confirmed 10 horses had died suddenly on properties on the peninsula, in south-east Melbourne and south-west Victoria since 4 July. It has been reported the affected horses died shortly after suddenly falling ill, and local vets and experts are working with the government body to identify possible causes. Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cooke said the investigation was in its early stages. “It is not yet known what has…
ONE of Victoria’s top police officers says the Mornington Peninsula is a “safe place” to live despite media reports. Mornington Peninsula Local Area Commander, Inspector Terry Rowlands gave this assurance last week (13 July) after the release of community sentiment survey results which recorded community perceptions about crime and safety. Victorians had been asked since 31 March to report their community safety concerns, engagement preferences and experiences of local police. The inspector said that media speculation on reporting of serious and violent criminal offending, “and more specifically the ‘sneak in’ type of home invasions”, could heighten fear in the community. …
AN accident involving at least three cars crashing into a fallen tree near Tuerong has strengthened calls for more stringent pruning of roadside trees. But the call has been questioned, with some residents believing that driver behaviour and speed is at fault. The issue has highlighted the great divide between Mornington Peninsula residents who want to retain its “green credentials” and moderate driver behaviour, and people who want a more urban-like environment where they can drive at speed. In the latest incident, several cars are believed to have hit the fallen tree in Balnarring Road during wet conditions, around 6pm…
DETAILS are still emerging about a collision between a bus and a truck at Safety Beach on Wednesday 5 July. The bus was carrying up to 20 passengers when the collision occurred mid-morning at the intersection of Dromana Parade and Prescott Avenue. The 44-year-old bus driver and a 17-year-old male passenger who is believed to have lost several teeth in the crash were taken to Frankston Hospital. Several passengers were treated at the scene. It is believed the smash caused the bus to career into a property’s front fence before it ploughed into an adjoining fence and home. One witness…
AN application for a $48 million dollar “action sports” centre on 80 hectares of green wedge land in Boneo has been submitted to Mornington Peninsula Council. The proposal is to amend the permit for a camping and horse-riding business, previously known as Ace-Hi, then The Ranch, which has been operating for the past 40 years. It is believed the revamped facility at 810 Boneo Road will accommodate up to 700 people at a time – close to double what is currently permitted – with plans for a wake boarding dam, artificial snow, a skateboard park, convention centre, seven-day liquor licence…
THE overturning of a permit refusal for a large, illuminated sign at the gateway to Mornington has angered residents and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. VicRoads gave the go ahead to a planning permit for the double-sided billboard, it was opposed by council but approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2020. Before the appeal hearing VCAT members visited the site and the applicant Drive By Developments agreed to reduce the height of the 18.5 metre sign by five metres and the display area of 15 metres to 12 metres. VCAT member Michael Deidun found the commercial site was…
OBITUARY Kim Save, 20/1/1953-15/6/2023 ROSEBUD identity Kim Save was remembered on Sunday 25 June in a colourful send off at Rosebud Funeral Services and later at the Peninsula Beer Garden that celebrated her zest for life. Mourners were asked to dress in colour, in a fitting celebration of a colourful life. Kim Save was known for her unique sparkle, loud voice, and infectious spirit. She was wife to Bill, loving mother to Kate, Jane, and Billy, and devoted grandmother to Chloe and Mia. Her daughter Kate said Kim lived a vibrant and joyful life. Many will know Kim from her…