ALTHOUGH humans rely on soil for food, clean water, fuel and natural fibre production, nutrient cycling, animal feed and more, it is an under-appreciated resource, says peninsula Landcare Network officer Jacqueline Salter. “This year is International Year of Soils and to celebrate, Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network is inviting landholders to learn more about their soils and how to protect them at a Farm Planning 101 workshop,” she said. “Experienced soil officer Lindsay Hyde will guide small property owners through basic introductory soils training and hands-on activities to help participants understand healthy soil function and productivity.” Deborah Jobson has done Mr…
Day: November 30, 2015
SHIRE councillors have agreed to spend up to $19,000 to survey residents about changing the name of Rosebud West to Capel Sound. The change was proposed in July by a group of Rosebud West residents who said there was a disconnection between the name and the area’s real character “and the impact this has on the pride we feel about our place”. Spokesman Terry Wright said changing the name was not the sole solution to improving the town but it would “bring a new identity, a new character; we hope it builds on what was done during the [2007-13 Rosebud…
ANOTHER Sorrento development proposal in the historic commercial precinct of the town has effectively been rejected by way of last-minute councillor changes. It is almost certain to go to VCAT, where the planning tribunal recently overturned an earlier refusal by Mornington Peninsula Shire in the heritage Ocean Beach Rd. Council is considering taking that tribunal decision on appeal to the Supreme Court. Such appeals can only be made on points of law. Nepean ward councillor Hugh Fraser and Red Hill ward councillor Tim Wood are both experienced lawyers. In the current application, council planners recommended approval of the mixed use…
FRUSTRATION boiled over into bitterness and rowdiness at the 23 November Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting, with two councillors exiting the chamber before business was concluded. Tension had been building over a series of meetings as a group of the more conservative councillors led by Antonella Celi and Anne Shaw were outvoted on topics generally dealing with development and planning. On 23 November, with Cr Graham Pittock in charge of the first meeting in his mayoral year, the unruly behaviour began when Cr Antonella Celi tried to head off a move to change the name West Rosebud to Capel Sound.…
YACHT clubs on council-managed land are paying vastly different rents with Rosebud paying almost five times more than Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. The disparity was revealed when Mornington Peninsula Shire was asked for new leases by Rye Yacht Club and the Sorrento club. Sorrento has been paying an annual rent of $572 for its 4633 square metres prime foreshore site between Holyrood Ave and Calcutta St. It has 3500 members. Rosebud has been paying $2466 but this will be cut to $1000 after the council introduced a new formula for rents. Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club’s rent will increase to…
DUNKLEY will have a new elected representative after the next federal election. That result a certainty after Liberal MP Bruce Billson announced he is quitting politics last week. In a statement released last Tuesday (24 November) Mr Billson said he will not seek re-election and “decided it is the right time to ‘hang up the campaign R.M. Williams’ [shoes]”. The former small business minister’s exit from politics follows a 20-year stint as a parliamentarian including 12 years as either a cabinet or shadow cabinet minister. Mr Billson was axed from cabinet by incoming Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after Mr Turnbull…
LINEMEN are scrambling to replace up to 30 kilometres of faulty power lines on the Mornington Peninsula amid fears they could cause bushfires. This follows claims that sparks from faulty lines have this year caused three or four fires in Main Ridge and Red Hill. Nepean MP Martin Dixon fears the power lines will not be replaced before they cause more fires. “Stringing it out is not good enough,” he said. “Under the current plan they will not be replaced for years.” The official fire ban season started yesterday, Monday, and it is understood United Energy’s power line replacement plan…
SUB-DISTRICT TOOTGAROOK’S Matthew Whelan can do anything on a cricket field. He’s extremely talented and his best is as good as we’ve seen. On Saturday against Skye, Whelan strode to the crease with his side in a spot of bother at 2/37, but left the ground with the team score at 301. Whelan had 174 next to his name. Together with Travis French, who scored 80, Whelan dominated the Skye attack and set the side up for a solid victory after completing 80 overs on 9/327. Pat Clinch picked up three wickets for Skye. Frankston YCW made tough work of…
DISTRICT CARRUM is in a world of pain as it enters the second day of its match against Flinders. After bowling out Flinders for 227, Carrum slumped, scoring an ordinary 4/29 after facing the final 14 overs of the day. Boom recruit and skipper Andy Johnson again failed with the bat, caught by Simon Parrott off the bowling of Matt Burns for a blob. Johnson has just 54 runs in four hits for the season. Fellow recruit Jake D’Atri was also removed without troubling the scorers – his side was reeling when Shaun Foster – as usual – came to…
PROVINCIAL Mt Eliza’s season went from bad to worse on Saturday, being bowled out for 121 against Long Island. Languishing just above Rye at the bottom of the ladder, the Mounties’ top order were brittle as the team slumped to 6/35. Nick Baron (26), Matt Travena (26) and Jordan Fuhrmann (22) were the only batsmen to break 20, while skipper Justin Grant again failed with the bat, making just 12 runs. Long Island’s opening bowlers Scott Phillips and Andrew Tweddle were superb as usual. ‘Flippa’ bowled 21 overs and finished with sensational figures of 4/26, including 11 maidens. Tweddle was…
Australia’s finest female soul voices unite to bring their soul party to the Peninsula. Starring Rita Satch, Chelsea Wilson, May Johnston (Deep Street Soul), Lisa Faithfull (Soul Safari) and Carla Troiano (Mayfield). 2015 has been a massive year for Women of Soul with sell out appearances at Melbourne Recital Centre’s Summersault Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival, Darebin Music Feast, Meeniyan Town Hall and The Shadow Electric. Their debut collaborative album “Women of Soul” featuring 11 Melbourne based soul vocalists was featured nationally on ABC Radio National, PBS, RRR and Eastside Radio and nominated for Best Soul album of 2015 at The…
Few rock bands exude a musical culture born of global influence with the finesse and polish of The Tea Party. 1.6 million albums sold worldwide under EMI and a cult Australian following are testament to that. The Canadian rockers took an extended break in 2005 but have come back with a vengeance, touring extensively in Australia and Canada and even releasing a new album since reforming in 2011. Frontman Jeff Martin now calls Australia home, having built a secluded musical retreat on 100 acres just outside of Byron Bay. He calls his new rural studio ‘Riverhouse’. “My roots are here…
ON and after 1st inst, the morning mail for Melbourne will close at 9.15 a.m, in lieu of 7.55 a.m. *** MESSRS Brody and Mason will hold a clearing sale at the Mechanics’ Institute, Mornington on Friday next of household furnishings in the assigned estate of Mrs A. E. Bell. *** THE “Wattle,” Club will hold a euchre party and dance in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ fund, in the Frankston Mechanics’ Hall on Saturday 11th inst. Good prizes will be given to the successful players and at the conclusion of the play a short dance will be held. ***…
YOU know the Christmas season is close when you see Santas on motorbikes. Vic Trikers and Ulysses Bikers are holding the 15th annual Peninsula Toy Run from Frankston to Rosebud on Saturday. Riders will assemble in the car park at Frankston pier from 7.30am and depart in convoy at 9.30 sharp. The run heads down the Nepean Highway to Rosebud via Mornington and Dromana, picking up donations on the way. Organiser Phil Matthews of Ulysses Club’s Mornington Wanderers branch said the ride was open to all motorcyclists who enjoy travelling in convoy and want to put a smile on the…
IT’S now common at bayside beaches to see someone standing on a surfboard with a long, single-bladed paddle. The paddlers seem to effortlessly glide past, often silhouetted against a setting sun and sometimes with a dog on board. Stand up paddleboards (SUPs) provide an enjoyable exercise but, until now, have really been only available to the able bodied. Matt Drysdale, a committee member of the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch since 2011, decided the SUP experience should be available to everyone. He explained his desire to make a SUP suitable for the disabled to members of SOLVE, a group…
A SHERIFF’S operation in Mornington last week nabbed 16 people with 178 outstanding warrants valued at more than $55,000. A roadblock on Mornington-Tyabb Rd used numberplate-recognition technology to spot offenders. Payment was received from 12 people on the day to finalise 45 warrants worth more than $15,000, a spokesperson said. One driver with six warrants worth more than $2000 was notified that their driver’s licence and vehicle registration would be suspended if they did not arrange to pay within seven days. “It is disappointing that so many people continue to ignore their fines and let their situation spiral out of…
MENTION Steve Warner to parents in Mornington or Mt Martha and you’ll more than likely get the response, “oh, yes, he taught our kids how to play guitar”. Actually, you can substitute drums and several other instruments to that statement. It seems that Warner’s been around the area teaching music forever. But what is less known is Warner’s extensive background and presence in the Melbourne music scene and commercial world, extending from advertising jingles to composing for television documentaries and serials. Last weekend saw a piece of his musical history repeated: the re-release of his solo, self-titled album, Steve Warner.…
MORNINGTON fisherman Neville Hutchins was in a sombre mood last week when he found out legislation to ban commercial netting in Port Phillip had been passed in the Parliament. “We knew it was coming but Dalton [his brother and fishing business partner] and I are very disappointed. Our customers are ropeable and I don’t think many of them will vote Labor in future.” More than 2500 people have signed his petition in the past year calling on the government to reverse its decision. The brothers are fourth generation peninsula fishermen with George Hutchins arriving at Mt Martha in the 1850s…
AN “alarming increase” in alcohol and other drug-related problems by elderly residents is being tackled by healthcare professionals in what’s billed as an Australian first. Peninsula Health’s Alcohol and Other Drug Services Program manager Stephen Bright will present the guide at a conference, Thursday. “When we think about who experiences harm caused by alcohol, most people think about young people,” Dr Bright said. “However, data shows the rate of risky drinking among young people has been decreasing, while risky drinking among older adults has been increasing. “There is a similar trend with regard to the consumption of cannabis. This is…
RESIDENTS living near shire bushland reserves or with an interest in them can contribute to new fuel management plans released by the council last week. The shire has 233 bushland reserves and draft maps for each one will guide fuel management for the next five years. The plans will be on public exhibition until Thursday 21 January. The mayor, Cr Graham Pittock, said the overall objective of the maps was to engage the community, assess bushfire threats, and guide risk reduction. “Meaningful risk reduction depends on the shire communicating its plans and work programs as well as understanding how residents…
AFFABLE new shire mayor Graham Pittock was given a damned good tryout at his first council meeting of 2015-16. He remained affable almost throughout the four and a half hours the meeting ran. Close to the end all smiles had faded. It was a heavy agenda, possibly too heavy for a single meeting. Some participants, despite this, adopted a leisurely pace, taking some items up side alleys and down the garden path. All this came to a head late in the night when tempers were getting frayed. Cr Pittock suggested one exasperated dissident councillor, Anne Shaw, might care to leave…
MORNINGTON racehorse Claro El Banco is living up to his name for nine owners whose relatively small outlay in buying him could result in a big payday in January. Spanish for “Clear the Bank”, the name sums up the fortunes of the two year old which is part-owned by Roy and Liz Farrell, of Dromana, track ambulance driver Peter Seaman, of Somerville, Bobby Nissen, of Mornington, and six others whose involvement has added colour to the gelding’s rags to riches story. Bought for $80,000 at the Magic Millions 2015 Gold Coast yearling sale in January by trainer Jason Petch, Claro…
A CONFRONTING project focused on domestic violence is on display at Chisholm TAFE’s campus in Frankston. The student initiated ‘Counting Women’ T-Shirt Project, has a T-shirt for each woman in Australia murdered by a partner or ex-partner this year. Each T-shirt lists the woman’s name and details where possible and is accompanied with relevant newspaper articles and a blackboard updated with the current death toll, 78 in 2015. Chisholm group coordinator of community services Dr Ilsa Evans said the project had been a pivotal assignment for Diploma of Community Services students. “Highlighting this topical issue is of critical importance to…
WILD weather last week saw crews from Volunteer Marine Rescue at Mornington and Hastings called out to several rescues. VMR spokesman Tim Warner said the Mornington crew was called out last Wednesday at 5pm to search for a man missing near Frankston pier “We launched the boat within 15 minutes of receiving the call from Water Police and arrived at the search area 15 minutes later,” he said. “Unfortunately, a short time after we arrived the Police Air Wing spotted the person who was deceased. Our thoughts go to the family, and all volunteers who attended.” Mr Warner said the…
THE lost campaign to continue commercial fish netting in Port Phillip has had a devastating impact on established participants. One Rye fisherman of long standing was too upset to talk last week with his livelihood – and way of life – coming to an end. Seafood Industry Victoria CEO Johnathon Davey said many bay fishermen, after fighting the impending ban for five or even 10 years, had “developed mental health issues which have not been thought through” by decision-makers. The Fisheries Amendment Bill 2015 passed in state parliament last week specifies that net fishing will be phased out by 2022,…