Has climate change vanished from the peninsula? It’s difficult to understand why six of the eleven Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors voted to scrap the climate declaration and plan rather than amend it, as Rod Knowles suggested (Climate plan canned, Letters 5/6/2025). As Kaye Mackay pointed out (For real or wrong?, Letters 5/6/2025), climate-fuelled weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.Most perplexing were mayor Cr Anthony Marsh’s comments that the decision would instead focus on “better drainage, protecting our coastline, sustainable infrastructure, and practical, measurable, community-linked climate initiatives” (Shire pulls plug on climate emergency plan, The News 29/4/2025). These are,…
Browsing: Letters
Coastal towns, not concrete jungles Nearly 700 people have now signed my petition calling on Mornington Peninsula Shire to halt the widespread and aggressive clearing of native roadside vegetation — a policy that is destroying habitat and leaving our once-leafy coastal towns stripped and lifeless.What I’ve since discovered is even more disturbing: our local towns are being treated as part of metropolitan Melbourne when it comes to road clearance rules. This “one-size-fits-all” approach has no place in small, coastal communities like Tootgarook — where nature strips once supported thriving native trees, birds, and wildlife, and where most roads don’t even…
A culture war in our shire council During last week’s council meeting, the deputy mayor, Cr Paul Pingiaro moved a motion that included the funding of Creative and Performing Arts be completely cut and six councillors supported it. As the founder of poetry event Poets’ Corner and a creative living on the Mornington Peninsula I think it is incredibly disappointing that the council don’t see the multitude of values, including economic, in funding creative and performing arts.By no longer offering the Creative and Performance Arts fund our shire is effectively removing opportunities for many individuals, local groups and organisations which…
Bring back the Baxter to Mornington train line The Frankston to Mornington line was cancelled after WWII and reinstated in 1966. In 1978 the line was replaced with a bus service. Now in 2025 the demographics of the Mornington Peninsula are radically changed in both numbers and age demographics. With retired and senior citizen demographics having increased, not only on the Port Phillip Bay side but the Western Port side as well, access to public transport for retired and aged citizens is becoming a major issue. Medical facilities and their supporting services in Mornington need to be accessible, hand in…
Call to pause and rethink tree destruction policies THE Mornington Peninsula is being stripped bare under the shire’s current tree management regime.This week, I returned home to find contractors savaging the once-thriving nature strips on my street. When I questioned the workers, I was physically pushed and had branches cut dangerously above me, striking my body. I have video footage of the incident, which left me shaken and dismayed.Beyond personal safety concerns, the greater tragedy is the devastation of habitat for our local wildlife — possums, birds, bats, and insects who depend on these trees for survival. These are not…
The strength of our vote As the federal election draws closer, all eyes turn to Canberra – but here in Flinders, the decision is ours. Our voices will shape the next chapter for our towns and coastlines, and the nation itself.This campaign has been lively, passionate, and – at times – sharp around the edges. That’s to be expected when the stakes feel high. People care. They’re paying attention, asking questions, and getting involved. And that’s something to celebrate, not shy away from. Flinders is no stranger to strong opinions and spirited debate. We’re a region of thinkers, doers, and…
Letters with lies Several recent letters, especially regarding Ben Smith’s candidacy, have contained demonstrably false statements (formerly known as lies), e.g. regarding Climate 200. Could The News please vet letters to the editor and either refuse to publish those containing demonstrably false statements or add an “editor’s note” to such letters pointing out the falsehoods? Lee Seldon, Somers Editor’s note: We get questioned about our approach to the letters page. We try and intervene as little as possible save for the most blatantly offensive, inappropriate or deceptive. To us, the letters page is the “Town Square” where people can mount…
A eulogy for the major parties Ladies and gentlemen, we gather to mourn our beloved major parties, who after decades of dedicated service to themselves, have finally succumbed to terminal irrelevance. Born of lofty ideals, they mastered the art of disappointing voters across the entire political spectrum. Their remarkable ability to transform idealists into bureaucrats was matched only by their talent for being simultaneously for and against the same issues. They leave behind a legacy of corruption investigations and parliamentary behaviour that would get kindergarteners expelled.In lieu of flowers, they request donations to their donors, Coles and Woolworths. May they…
Electioneering heats up Wandering through Dromana community market on Saturday (29 March), I was disappointed to see a Young Liberal Party campaigner and a Labour Party campaigner in a heated argument at the station where they were handing out flyers and tote bags. Accusations of “well you’re not doing this” and “you’re doing terribly at that” went back and forth – it was like watching my kids argue over Lego.I remarked “This isn’t a good look you two, no wonder people are sick of your parties when you can’t even be civil to each other at a community market. No…
A Verse for the ‘The Parties’ For goodness sake, don’t vote Independent.We have a two party system, we have to defend it.The rich from both sides, we must hold the power.We’re under attack at this critical hour. At stake is our very way of life.The helicopters, the polo, they’ll all be in strife.How will hospitality survive without corporate lunches?Labor and Libs, we must pull out all the punches! We must work together, have a planning retreat.Let’s head to Sorrento, to a clifftop, and meet.Labor bring caviar, Libs bring champagne.We’ll make up a plan, and start a campaign. The time has…
A cross–generation take on IWD WHEN Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) member Maureen Donelly and 83-year-old Marg Madge joined ten young people to prepare for an International Women’s Day (IWD) craft activity at Mornington Peninsula Shire Youth Services “Corner Youth Hub” in Mornington, it soon emerged that an intergenerational approach was the way to go.The two groups came together over an IWD community consultation project conducted by SWAN’s Women Against Gender-based Violence group. For the craft component of the project the young people created the letters EQUALITY in the IWD theme colours: green, purple and white.“During this activity we exchanged…
Cat o’ nine tails? Victoria’s current crime epidemic is out of control. Premier Allan and the Victorian government must urgently stop it. Our police and judiciary need much stronger powers than they currently have to help them deal with this epidemic. Our current bail laws are quite inadequate. So bring back something really strong. Bring back corporal punishment. Bring back flogging. “What a really cruel thought” some might say. But are such punishments as cruel as having family members killed or maimed for life by unlicenced teenaged thugs causing major car accidents in stolen cars? The answer is a very…
Ask these questions of election candidates Congratulations and thank you to the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula on the excellent federal election candidate forum held on 14 February in Mornington.Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) was very pleased to attend and hear all candidates acknowledging the critical issue of the housing and homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula.The plight of our homeless, the lack of social housing and the unfairness of housing affordability is a huge problem both for our business sector trying to attract a stable well-trained workforce, and for our community support organisations trying to find homes for…
Putting the case for hand beach cleaning I was relieved to read that the council plan to scale back hand beach cleaning has been postponed.As a coastal ecologist I first observed the impacts of mechanical raking in the 1990’s at Seaford Foreshore when it was introduced in response to syringes, later found to be sourced from a medi-vac company dumping them, washing up on the beach.At that time I had the job of collecting rubbish along that 3.5km section of foreshore. The benefits of hand collection were many. I was a presence on the beach which made people feel safer;…
Thanks to the brave and selfless firefighters A huge thank you to all the fire brigades from around the peninsula who arrived quickly and put out the lightning lit grass fire adjacent to Nepean Highway at Mt Martha last Sunday night. Luckily the grass had been cut for hay and bales moved. Volunteers arrived within minutes of my triple zero call and worked for hours, amidst frightening lightning. You people are so generous, kind and professional.Ann Scally, Mt Martha Dodgy donations It is interesting that in last week’s edition featured two different aspects of political donations. At the local government…
Landslide blame game The catastrophic landslide at McCrae on 14 January has receded from the front pages and the TV news reports but that is of little comfort to the 19 owners evicted from their homes. In the meantime, South East Water has been active in examining their areas of responsibility but the shire is strangely silent.To any long time resident of the area the shire, over many years, is the body clearly at fault. It is the one responsible for drainage, issuing building permits and tree removals. The hillside at McCrae has had natural springs emerge for over 100…
Our coasts are fragile The recent landslip at McCrae once again illustrates the delicate nature of many coastal areas of our Peninsula. In the past there has been numerous slips along the Esplanade between Mornington and Safety Beach. There was a large slip at Oliver’s Hill that closed part of the Nepean Highway. We also have futile attempts to rectify the Beleura Hill pathway that has slipped numerous times in the past and will inevitably slip again.Keith Humphreys, Mornington Time for a change Being of retirement age (& some!), I’ve seen my fair share of elections. I believe this time…
When will the peninsula burn like Los Angeles? MANY of the “before” photos of homes in LA looked very like those on the Mornington Peninsula around – Frankston South, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Mount Martha, Dromana, McCrae and others all the way to Portsea. What can be done to ensure that these homes never look like the “after” photos following the awful fires there last week? It couldn’t happen here! That’s what the LA residents thought.Brian Nankervis, Mornington McCrae landslip For a long time the local owners have been saying about the water flows and land moving in this McCrae area,…
Sound financial management essential for council Good to note mayor Cr Marsh and deputy mayor Paul Pingiaro (Council Rate Cap Set, The News 7/1/25) are keen to focus on core services and to eliminate unnecessary spending. Perhaps the mayor and council can address the excessive salary paid to the previous CEO when seeking a replacement CEO. A cut of at least $100,000pa would seem in order and would both provide additional funds for community use, and I believe would still attract quality candidates.Bureaucracies at all government levels tend to grow and get bogged down with meetings, committees, reports, and assessment…
Big barrier bungle Brendan Rees’ article (Residents call for removal of ‘unjustified’ road barriers, The News 18/12/24) is a balanced summary of the bewildering “Full Metal Motor Racing Circuit” treatment of Red Hill’s 60kmh hub. The shire seemingly forgot the Harvard Business School’s aphorism, “Consultants like to solve problems and can create them if none exist.”Somebody will have to develop a super-creative vindication if BITRE (Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics) assesses the Arthur Seat Road Black Spot project’s presumed benefit-to-cost ratio and actual crash data.Best of luck with that.Russell Kenery, Red Hill Important issues Several readers have expressed…
Development for development’s sake THE proposed redevelopment of ‘The Eagle’, atop Wonga, must not be given the go-ahead by Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. In 2020, the shire declared a Climate Emergency both as a responsible measure to limit climate impacts to these beautiful lands and under pressure from the community. We know that as part of actions to reduce greenhouse emissions and strains on the natural environment, we must reassess our use of material resources.This redevelopment is development for development’s sake. The current set up is fit for purpose – people experience the view, enjoy the quiet ride, and sit…
Love what you have – Cliff Christmas approaches, zooming as always, likely my last.Another fine year of letters courtesy of this classy local newspaper.A mix of all sorts. Right and left wing, the clever, not so clever, the consistently painful types, and the occasional gem.Self expression is good for the soul, no matter your opinion. In the end nothing matters but seeing it out there in print can at least contribute to the inevitable ups and downs of our daily lives.Ignore the fear tactics (cost of living) and have a happy Christmas.Love what you have.Cliff Ellen, Rye Overpass error I…
Dust suppression regression I too have been impacted by the rather staggering increase in dust suppression for our little road (Dust suppression hike “doesn’t pass the pub test’, The News 26/11/24). The council tells us that the new contractor would be “better for our community in terms of cost-effectiveness, sustainability and level of service”. I suggest those at council who made this decision should consult a dictionary to look up the meaning of “cost-effectiveness”.I was not aware of any concerns over the old contractor, but if the new contractor was responsible for the recent regrading of our street the council…
Letters a vital part of community discourse People write letters to newspapers for various reasons. Some use this platform to express frustration about current issues, complain about problems in their neighbourhoods, or share a range of grievances. Others submit positive letters praising various topics.However, the complaints appear to dominate letter submissions, particularly concerning issues like potholes, air pollution, plastic waste, animal welfare (including concerns about bandicoots), activities atop Arthurs Seat, and the need for clarity in the news. This is a legitimate forum for people to air their problems.While those complaints are valid, my attention was drawn to heartwarming stories,…
Pothole of the week I would like to propose a Mornington Peninsula community pothole competition!Readers send in photographs with Mornington Peninsula News Group being the judge.Could I suggest a prize of perhaps small spade and bucket?My photo was taken today on the Mornington/Flinders road not far from Flinders.A real tyre buster! Ranald Macdonald, Flinders Why overcomplicate it? I have been emailing the shire since January 2023 with suggestions as to fixing the damages sections of the Briars boardwalk (Calls for boardwalk fix as shire proposes options, The News 14/11/24) after the wild weather back in 2020 where a section was…
The scene of the crime When you throw out your rubbish, do you know where it goes? It’s like sweeping dust under a rug – just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s gone. The rubbish gets taken to a landfill where it’s buried in the ground, but it stays there, polluting the earth for years, sometimes forever. Plastic can stay buried for millions of years, hurting the planet as if giving it a good hard jab.Instead of hiding our waste, we should try to recycle and reuse more. Otherwise, we’re just leaving a big mess for future generations…
‘The News’ not the place to debate international issues I am not clear why correspondents (R. Steiner and H. van Leeuwen et al) feel the need to prosecute the merits or otherwise of any foreign nation generally – and Israel in particular – in the pages of The News.I am not clear why the atrocious conflict in Sudan is not arousing the same passion… Or the deaths of 17 children in 2023/24 who were known to Victorian Child Protection Services is not arousing the same levels outrage.I am clear that the UN is not a bastion of moral clarity, but…
Time for shire to seek financial solutions There is no doubt that the shire is headed for the perfect storm financial crisis. They are being hit with the same cost of living pressures that we are. Recently I have been hit with two insurance increases of 26% and after almost doubling last year, my gas rates have increased between 18% to 23% from August.Rate capping certainly plays a part, just like my pension increases do not cover my increased costs. At the time, rate capping was the only way to stop the abuse of raising rates by the sire and…
Embrace cultural heritage instead of a luge I do love the Letters page! It stimulates community debate and better ideas. After reading ‘Support the RAP’ (Ralph Catts) and ‘Don’t mention the luge’ (John Weir) in last week’s Letters page, I came up with a better proposal for The Eagle development.Arthurs Seat was called Wonga before colonisation. The history and culture of the local Bunurong/ Boon Wurrung people is awe-inspiring and important. It is of great interest to locals and tourists alike. It can be explored in an environmentally friendly way and is relevant for Australia today. An Aboriginal Heritage and…
Focus on local issues Candidates running for council (Candidates face more questions than there are answers, The News 8/10/24) should remember that their primary duty is to their community. The decisions of a local council member have an immediate and direct impact on local concerns, which is what matters most to their residents. By focusing on these local priorities, candidates can better serve their communities and significantly shape their future.Anne Kruger, Rye Take responsibility for your own rubbish As one who often collects rubbish from the Mt Martha cliffs and beachfront, I too despair at all the plastic, especially bottle…