THE 21,000-tonne gas rig Ocean Monarch is anchored for maintenance between Cowes and Observation Point, Phillip Island. The 107-metre-long rig was towed into Western Port last Tuesday (21 May) afternoon by two 4000 tonne, 87 metre offshore tug and supply vessels, the Far Saracen and Far Senator. Michael Harvey, chief executive officer of the Victorian Regional Channels Authority, said the Ocean Monarch needed “sheltered waters” so divers could work on “some issues” that had been found with its lower hull trim tanks. The rig is likely to stay in Western Port for three to four weeks before being towed back…
Day: May 28, 2019
BURGLARS cut locks to gain entry to sheds before stealing equipment valued at $10,500 from a Somerville vegetable grower over the weekend. Pivato Vegetables, of Tyabb-Tooradin Road, Somerville, lost a HP laptop valued at $2000, unregistered trailer ($500), generator ($1000), Spitwater pressure cleaner ($7000) and Unimig welder ($1800) in the overnight raid, Friday 24 May. Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic said the offenders reportedly spent some time inside the sheds before driving away. First published in the Western Port Times – 29 May 2019
RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on planning for the Mornington Peninsula’s future. The Neighbourhood Character Study, which will affect the whole shire, and the Western Port Coastal Villages Strategy, which will only affect Western Port towns, are both in their draft stages. The shire says the Neighbourhood Character Study is designed to retain the “unique values” of residential areas, capturing the key characteristics of each area. The Western Port Coastal Villages Strategy will provide policy and guidelines to manage development on public and private land to retain and enhance township character and address climate change impacts relating…
A “LOUD and clear” message from the recent waste forum has prompted Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to demand that the state government “introduce a container deposit scheme as soon as practical”. Speaking after the Tuesday 15 May council meeting, the mayor Cr David Gill said: “We heard loud and clear from passionate community groups that we need to take action in ensuring plastics and glass are recycled. “We fully support a container deposit scheme as part of the Municipal Association of Victoria’s rescue our recycling action plan. It is an important measure and will help bolster community education.” The shire…
MATTHEW Precht, 18, is dancing for joy after being awarded a year-long tuition scholarship in classical ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. The boy from Bittern has also been invited to attend Joffrey’s summer school. But while Matthew hopes to fly out on Sunday 9 June, he still has to raise $63,000 for housing, visa applications, food, commuting fares and daily living expenses. The former Padua student was awarded the scholarship at the Victorian Dance Festival in April where he qualified out of 140 applicants. His mother Annette Precht said they had received an invoice for the…
PENINSULA Aero Club is blaming “a small noisy anti-airport lobby group” for making it observe a “holy hour” ban on flying. The 9.30am-10.30am restriction on Sunday take-offs and landings from the Tyabb airfield has been ignored for more than 40 years. The All Saints Church, which the flying ban was supposed to protect from noise, ended its Sunday services in the 1970s. But an unholy row lit up last week when the aero club suddenly withdrew its request for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to delete the restriction from its permit. Aero club president Jack Vevers said planes were now “forced…
Two people have died and a third has been injured following a collision in Mount Eliza late last night. Investigators believe a vehicle was travelling north on the Nepean Highway when it collided with an oncoming vehicle about 11.15pm. The driver and passenger of the north bound vehicle died at the scene. The two are yet to be formally identified. The male driver of the other vehicle sustained non-life threatening injuries and has been transported to hospital for treatment. Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or with dash cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333…