Day: July 18, 2016

FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt has been appointed Industry, Innovation and Science Minister in the ministerial reshuffle announced today by the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Hunt replaces Christopher Pyne who has been given the new role of Minister for Defence Industry. Josh Frydenberg replaces Mr Hunt, taking an expanded environment and energy portfolio. All three remain members of the Cabinet. As Environment Minister Mr Hunt was the target of many protests throughout Australia and particularly outside his Hastings office. “I am delighted to have been appointed to the position of Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science,” Mr Hunt said in…

SOUTHERN Metropolitan Region Crime Team Investigators have charged an 18-year-old Langwarrin man following two aggravated burglaries and a burglary in Rosebud in which a Kia car was stolen. They occurred at houses in Eighth Av and Tarwarri Av, 8 July. Police arrested the man at 7.40am Wednesday. He was charged with numerous offences, including aggravated burglary, intentionally causing injury, assault, theft and burglary. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on a later date. The Kia was recovered at Langwarrin Football Club the following day. Sergeant Anthoula Moutis, of the media unit, said the police has escalated their…

HEARING of children being frightened by masked youths banging on walls and peering through windows at a Rye children’s holiday camp struck a chord with Southern Metro Region police inspector Karen Nyholm. “I’ve got kids myself,” she said. “I heard the kids were frightened and I understand and appreciate the concerns of the carers. “I know I’d hate to see my kids frightened.” Worried carers at the Camp Australia program at Rye Primary School mid-month reportedly placed crying children under tables to comfort them during the incident before calling 000. Some mothers are said to have criticised police for taking…

A PLAN to sell a section of tree reserve to the owner of an adjoining property for $83,000 has been knocked back by Mornington Peninsula Shire after claims it was “under valued” by more than $200,000. The 275 square metre strip of land at 2A Langford Rd, Sorrento, was transferred to council ownership in 1978  from VicRoads (then the Country Roads Board) as part of a subdivision of the surrounding land. But recent plans to remove the tree reserve status and sell the land to its neighbour for $77,000 plus costs have failed, after councillors voted to seek a valuation…

THE final financial steps are in place for a viewing platform and beach access ramp to be built overlooking the beach at Point Leo. A project of the Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch, the platform will be at the end of a boardwalk running from the lifesaving club to the beach. The six metre square viewing deck will be open to the public and also provide lifesavers with uninterrupted views along the beach. Steps and a wheelchair access ramp will run from the deck to the sand, making Point Leo the first surf beach on the peninsula to have…

CAR thefts on the Mornington Peninsula shot up to 356 in the year to March – compared with 265 last year and 290 in 2014. At the same time there were 318 reports of malicious damage to cars on the peninsula – up from 260 last year and 244 in 2014. Despite this increase, claims by RACV insurance policy holders on the peninsula for stolen cars have dropped over the past year, according to acting general manager Insurance Mark Geraghty. The insurance provider said it had received 10 claims for stolen cars and 20 claims for deliberately damaged vehicles. Mr…

A PENINSULA production company, Peninsula Film Office, has won Best Short Film Screenplay at the Amsterdam Film Festival for their film – The Gift. Written and directed by Peninsula Film Office director, Steve Bastoni, The Gift is about isolation and re-connection and how a small act of kindness, like a ripple, can have far reaching and profound affects.    The Gift was made in association with Mental Health Australia and premiered at this year’s Peninsula Short Film Fest in February. Director, Steve Bastoni said he felt honoured to be recognised for the film. “It is a terrific accolade and it’s…

STORM damage has forced the closure of a section of  Mornington’s newly restored pier. East Port Phillip and Western Port area chief ranger Reece Taranto said nine concrete wave screen panels and handrails facing the bay were dislodged during last Tuesday’s (12 July) storms. The outer section of the pier is closed, but the public can still access the inner section, including the lower landing, as these areas were not damaged. “Once the pier has been properly assessed, we will reopen the areas that are safe to use,” Mr Taranto said. “Until the project engineers have had a chance to…

WHALE watchers are recording the “busiest season on record” as sightings pour in from Western Port and Port Phillip. “The 2016 whale season has turned into a record breaker around our bays.  We’ve just had our busiest weekend of sightings ever,” said Dolphin Research Institute, research officer David Donnelly said on Wednesday. “Winter in our bays and surrounding coastal waters has become something of a busy time for keen whale watchers. Large whales are now so regular in our waters that sightings have become an expectation rather than a novelty.” Mr Donnelly said although “hunted to the edge of extinction…

AN absorbable heart stent was inserted in a Peninsula Health patient. This breakthrough for the health service was achieved by Associate Professor Jamie Layland, one of a few cardiologists in the world who has inserted this new absorbable stent. He and fellow cardiologist Robert Lew, also of Peninsula Health, are part of a worldwide team investigating the use of absorbable stents in patients with heart disease. A stent is a small mesh tube used to treat narrow arteries in the heart. Traditionally, a metal-based stent is placed in an artery of patients undergoing a coronary angioplasty – a procedure which…

TWO Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors who attended a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris late last year have fulfilled their requirements to report on the trip and itemise their expenses. Councillors Hugh Fraser and the mayor Graeme Pittock spent 10 days in Paris and attended several other sessions, including the climate summit for local leaders and seminars on renewable energy, smart cities, waste, urban agriculture, low carbon development and water and climate finance. At the Monday 11 July council meeting, Cr Pittock said it was worth noting that there had been no conference fees, no public transport costs, and…

ROB Lippiat is reviving the days when paddle steamers regularly circumnavigated Port Phillip. But he’s not about to embark on a voyage of the bay, it’s more about looking at the past in scale, about 100 to one. Lippiat is building model replicas of the boats and admits to doing things by halves. His wooden boats and split down the middle and mounted on mirrors. “I used to make them complete, but this way they can fit in with any decor,” Lippiat says while sitting at his workbench in Mt Martha. “That was more than 14 years ago when I…

INVESTORS snapping up prime Mornington Peninsula land for apartments and townhouses are facing opposition from a council divided over development amid claims of electioneering. After lengthy debate at the Monday 11 July council meeting, councillors voted to overturn officer recommendations to support proposals for 14 townhouses in Bentons Rd, Mt Martha, and two separate applications for six two-storey townhouses and 14 townhouses, both in Green Island Av, Mt Martha. Residents applauded as Briars Ward councillors told the meeting they had a duty to protect the neighbourhood character of the peninsula’s towns. However, their celebrations might be premature, with council officers…

NEPEAN LEAGUE THE Devon Meadows Football Club was a super proud club on Saturday night. But it had little to do with the 13.10 (88) to 10.11 (71) victory against finals aspirants Rye. It was more about how the Meadows went about the entire day after star player, two-time league medal winner and favourite son Beau Miller lost his fight with cancer. After being diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer a couple of months ago, Beau lost his fight last Thursday, leaving behind wife Stephanie, two young sons and a football community that adored him both on and off the…

PENINSULA LEAGUE PINES bounced back from a shock defeat last week to inflict a savage loss on Bonbeach in MPNFL Peninsula Division football on Saturday. Pines coach Patty Swayne scoffed at suggestions pre-match that there was daylight between Bonbeach and the top three sides after the Sharks had won seven of its past eight games. However, Bonbeach coach Steve Hughes might have been right after the Sharks were made to look second rate by the Pythons, going down 4.12 (36) to 17.6 (108). Pines’ loss last week to Edithvale had a little to do with the fact that full back…

SOCCER By Craig MacKenzie ROSEBUD Heart is the only senior team throughout Victoria’s State Leagues with a perfect record. While the fledgling club has achieved a rare feat in only its second year of competition the mood among local clubs was one of gloom as tribute was paid at last weekend’s matches to former Skye United president and FFV Chief Financial Officer Chris Attard, 52, who died last week. Skye drew 0-0 away to Harrisfield Hurricanes on Saturday but the club remains a genuine title contender in State League 4 South. Heart’s relentless push towards promotion from State League 5…

BY the death of Mr J. F. Hodgkinson, the district loses an old and highly esteemed resident. He possessed many natural talents besides being good with the brush and pencil, he was also a fine etcher. A lover of good poetry, he was an original thinker and a keen student of nature.   His life exemplified two well known sayings “Talent is developed in solitude” and “They whom the Gods love, die young” for he passed away at the early age of 45 years.   He will be greatly missed by the residents of the adjoining properties. His practical advice…

A WOMAN was found burnt to death in Rye this morning (Monday). A passer-by found the woman on fire near the intersection of Peter and Betty streets and extinguished the flames around 7am. Police spokesperson Natalie Webster said the matter was being treated as non-suspicious. Emergency services were called to the scene about 7.15am. The woman’s identity has not been released and the exact circumstances are yet to be determined. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on…