Author: Stephen Taylor

MOUNT Martha Eco Park Active Recreation Hub is a step closer with the detailed design by shire officers approved by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council last week. The works will now go out to tender. A $5000-$10,000 sound impact study to be completed after the hub is built will be brought back to the council so any noise mitigation measures can be added. Community input and feedback last year led to the final concept plan being endorsed by the council in August 2020 after the project had been in the pipeline for a decade. (“Park talks continue after 10 years” The…

CONSTRUCTION delays have pushed back the opening of Sorrento’s Continental Hotel to March next year. The new Continental Sorrento will be opened in stages up until June 2022 following a $100 million rebuild. IHG Hotels and Resorts will manage the 108 hotel rooms and the main eatery will be Audrey’s restaurant. There will be a public bar, beer garden, atrium, poolside, street dining, late-night venue, 24-hour in-room dining, as well as event rooms and a sunset roof deck. A wellness centre will have a bathhouse, outdoor pool and gym. The historic hotel’s acquisition by restaurateur Julian Gerner in 2016 and…

ROSEBUD Respiratory Clinic has detected an average of 60 positive cases of COVID-19 in the past few weeks and 54 cases last week. The figures show the virus is still running riot on the Mornington Peninsula, as the bulk of the testing in the region is done at the Rosebud and Frankston hospitals and at state government-run pop-up clinics. Schools have been hard-hit, too, with outbreaks at Red Hill, Boneo, Rosebud, and Mount Martha primary schools, St Mary’s Hastings, and Peninsula Grammar. Dr Sally Shaw said Rosebud Respiratory Clinic offered free Rapid Antigen testing, with results sent to the patient…

A ROSEBUD man who spent 50 years in the television industry watched Friday’s state funeral for the legendary Bert Newton with more than a passing interest. The service at St Patrick’s Cathedral was, naturally, televised to a wide audience such was Bert’s popularity and his long-standing role as the quintessential essence of Melbourne. So the depth of feeling expressed by those who loved Bert didn’t surprise Ray Punjer one bit … Starting at Channel 9 in the late 1950s, Mr Punjer directed Bert on many of his most popular shows and counts himself as one of the great man’s closest…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has joined 14 other councils in Melbourne’s south east to form a company to deliver an advanced waste facility to process household rubbish rather than bury it. It is all part of the state government’s new circular economy policy – Recycling Victoria: A New Economy whose target is to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030, with an interim target of 72 per cent by 2025. The company, a so-called Special Purpose Vehicle called South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing Pty Ltd, has its own legal identity. It will provide advanced waste processing on…

RUBBISH dumping has been a problem on the Mornington Peninsula for years – and especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. It was exacerbated by the temporary closure of the shire’s transfer stations prompting recalcitrant residents to simply offload their waste in the bush. The shire’s Circular Economy and Waste team Leader Daniel Hinson said mattresses, household furniture and green waste were the major items dumped. Keep Victoria Beautiful Council says councils spent $89 million cleaning up illegal waste in 2019/20, with ratepayers left to foot the hefty bill. Worse, only a handful of dumpers were prosecuted. The KVB said while there…

DECADES of “neglect and lack of forward planning” by the state government have allowed Dromana Pier to deteriorate to such an extent that the end section has now been deemed unsafe and has been fenced-off from the public. The Dromana Association Save the Pier Committee says this was not unexpected but predicted “and it doesn’t make it any less unacceptable”. Built in the 1950s with a designed lifespan of 50 years this structure has exceeded this by nearly two decades, the committee says. “There’s been plenty of time to plan and budget for upgrades and replacement [but] this has not…

THE Save Westernport group is concerned about an environmental catastrophe posed by the possible sinking of the ex-HMAS Otama which has been lying idle near Crib Point jetty for several months. The group recently wrote to Nepean MP Chris Brayne and Hastings MP Neale Burgess saying the sub is “damaged and liable to sink without the continual pumping out of water which is taking place on a 24-hour basis”. It said details of the pumping were contained in a letter from Parks Victoria dated 2 July, it said. “As you are no doubt aware the ex-HMAS Otama is carrying 457…

EXTINCTION Rebellion activists put on a rowdy display outside Flinders MP and Health Minister Greg Hunt’s office in Somerville Monday 8 November. The group said the show was part of its “ongoing actions around the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow”. It featured passive protesters the Sybil Disobedients, “mothers” pushing prams, climbers on the roof erecting banners, “Scott Morrison” burning the world on a barbecue, banners and signs. “Over the past 18 months, Mr Hunt has assured [us] that he bases his management of COVID-19 on the science, evidence and modelling provided by expert advisors,” XR spokesperson Linda Pickering said. “We,…

IN the lead up to last week’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow Mornington Peninsula Shire and other members of the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance called on the federal government to “commit to an ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target underpinned by a clear plan to achieve the target”. The council welcomed the federal government’s commitment to a 2050 emissions reduction target but said the need for a 2030 emissions reduction target, aligned with the other developed countries’ commitments, was more pressing. “It is essential Australia makes an equitable contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order…

THE state government last week promised “significant support” to residents affected by severe storms which lashed the Mornington Peninsula, Friday 29 October. Premier Daniel Andrews would not detail the scope of the offer other than to say that those financially affected would be considered for compensation. Residents in the hardest-hit areas, such as Red Hill and Mount Eliza, were fed up after a week without power and feeling especially vulnerable, with big trees weakened by the wind threatening to topple or drop branches at any time. Resident Amanda Wrangles said a tree on her nature strip that had been reported…

MORNINGTON Community Information and Support Centre is in a campaign to lobby the state government to build 7000 houses a year for homeless people over the next 10 years. The campaign: 7000 Origami Houses for 7000 Homes, is being run by Community Information and Support Victoria. To raise awareness of the need for more social and public housing the group has made 7000 origami houses for a display at Mornington Village Shopping Centre that represent the 7000 homes that need to be built every year for the next 10 years. They are asking the state government to commit to building 70,000 homes…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has made a $10 million funding commitment towards the Peninsula Trail project over the next five years. But it wants the state and federal governments to “fill in the missing piece of the funding puzzle” by adding their contribution of $40 million. The 100 kilometre trail is a walking and cycling network linking rail trails and extending right around the peninsula from Baxter-Somerville and across to Merricks-Bittern on its Western Port leg, then across to Arthurs Seat, or on its Port Phillip Bay leg from Moorooduc down past Mornington to Safety Beach, Dromana-Red Hill, Anthonys Nose, Camerons…

AN arson chemist was investigating the cause of a fire which damaged the Dromana Courthouse last week. Dromana CFA First Lieutenant Justin Hellyer said crews from Dromana and Rosebud fought the blaze which appeared to start in a doorway at the rear of the building in Codrington Street, 5am, Thursday 4 November. When fire crews arrived the blaze had “severely damaged” the rear access area and parts of the roof and fascia were well alight. It took the 12 firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control with fold-up chairs and the magistrate’s desk destroyed. Plaster had to…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire received more than a thousand calls from residents reporting fallen trees after the Friday 29 October storm battering. SES crews, Fire Rescue Victoria, CFA and police met with the shire early last week to piece together a broad picture of the devastation and coordinate a recovery. Fire rescue crews were conducting assessments at properties requiring heavy machinery to remove trees endangering houses, and two CFA strike teams were conducting welfare checks on those considered vulnerable. Residents at about 260 properties requested assistance with building damage. A shire team was contacting them to assess the damage, determine their…

UNITED Energy said its crews were making “steady progress” in restoring power to its remaining 3400 customers – many on the Mornington Peninsula – affected by the Friday 29 October storms. However, the company warned that, while it was expecting to get most of its customers back up by Friday 5 November, there “will still be some customers affected by the single-premise outages who will be off into the weekend”. That would be another frustrating blow for residents hit by more than the loss of electric light over the past week. Many, especially in hillside communities, rely on power to…

UP to 12 people a week are being invited to receive a free hot lunch and dessert at the Holy Trinity Hastings Anglican Church hall. Now that lockdown has ended the meals, dubbed Trinity Tucker, are being served between 12-1pm every Tuesday, with the doors opening at 11.30am. No bookings are necessary. The service was paused in early August after opening in May, with the church paying for the meals with the help of donations from local businesses. Volunteers from the church will prepare the food for those doing it tough, in need, or just lonely and wanting to meet new…

A RED Hill South artist’s work reflects his love of the sea. Ron Farnill, 94, has been painting ships and maritime scenes for decades with his works regularly on show and being sold – such as at Oak Hill Gallery where last year he sold six paintings on the opening day of his exhibition. He also won the 2018 Oak Hill Gallery members’ exhibition and conducts watercolour painting classes and demonstrations there. One of Farnill’s works was shortlisted at this year’s Mission to Seafarers’ Maritime Art Exhibition. The winner of the virtual exhibition is yet to be announced. Mr Farnill…

RED Hill and Sorrento copped the brunt of the severe storm described by United Energy as the “largest weather event to hit our network” which lashed the Mornington Peninsula last week. Spokesperson Jordan Oliver said the company was working to get power back to 210,000 customers, including many on the peninsula. “We still have around 7300 customers without electricity and our teams are still responding to more than 2300 jobs,” he said on Monday. He said linesmen had been “working around the clock to restore power” since the storm struck, Friday 29 October. “We know how frustrating this is for…

A FULL scale CFA training exercise at Mount Martha on Sunday (7 November) will give firefighting crews practice at communicating and working with firefighting aircraft, measuring fuel loads and inspecting vegetation types, fine-tuning firefighting tactics and strategies and setting up command-and-control structures. The simulated firefight in Hearn Road will involve 20 CFA fire brigades from across the Mornington Peninsula, 30 firefighting vehicles, support vehicles, firefighting aircraft and about 150 personnel. “These large-scale training exercises are vital in ensuring our members and brigades are experienced and proficient in responding to fires and events in our local communities and continuing to provide…

A MOUNT Eliza woman says she will go to court rather than pay a $363 dog-at-large fine because Mornington Peninsula Shire Council will not show her any evidence of her dog being outside. Mannie Hughes said she has repeatedly requested proof of the alleged breach which occurred 5.55pm, 30 May, but the shire was “stubbornly digging in its heels”, telling her to pay the fine or await a court hearing. “I feel this is a total abuse of council power and waste of court time [and] money,” Ms Hughes said. “If the council issues an infringement then the person receiving…

RED Hill was like a war zone after storm-force winds overnight and early morning savaged the hillside community, Friday 29 October. Working frantically to clear away fallen trees and power lines, Sorrento SES controller Mark Daw described the scene as one of “complete and utter destruction”. “I’ve seen nothing like it in seven or eight years,” he said, surveying streets covered in fallen leaves, power lines and branches. “From early morning we’ve been working flat out to clear away the damage and the calls are still coming through. We’ve still got more than 100 jobs to attend to.” It was…

IN what is described as a “challenging and rewarding year” Mornington Peninsula Shire saw its annual income increase by 3.5 per cent to $264.4 million. Information contained in the 2020-21 annual report released last week shows the shire had a surplus of $7.6 million – up $2.2 million on the previous year. Most of the increase came from rates, waste services and capital grants. “While income from user fees decreased by $3.7 million as some services were restricted or closed due to lockdowns, total income for the year increased by 3.5 per cent to $264.4 million and $50.8 million was…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has declared a housing crisis to force the state and federal governments to provide more and cheaper accommodation for those in need. The list of people falling into the needy category outlined by Cr Sarah Race included those fleeing domestic violence, long-term renters, hospitality and tourism staff and rough sleepers on the foreshore. Cr Race successfully pushed for the declaration at council’s Thursday 28 October meeting saying similar housing problems also existed in Colac-Otway Shire, Surf Coast Shire and Byron Shire in NSW. “Housing across the peninsula is our number one crisis, from Balnarring to Portsea, Hastings…

NOTICES challenging Parks Victoria’s decision to demolish the historic section of Flinders pier have been torn down. Flinders Community Association put up the notices next to those of Parks Victoria rebutting four of its statements which they said were “misleading”. However, the association notices were ripped down while the Parks Victoria signs remained untouched. The association’s Charles Reis said the behaviour was disappointing. He said the FCA wanted to ensure the public was receiving correct information about the pier, and that information contained in the FCA notices was sourced from Parks Victoria’s own documents. “The truth is that Parks Victoria…

ACHING arms and shoulders next morning proved it had not been a dream – Crib Point resident Phillip Goepel had indeed landed his biggest fish so far. Out fishing with dad Greg, he had hooked a 141kg bluefin tuna at a depth of 33 metres not far from Seal Rocks, Friday 22 October. The pair, pictured, had left Stony Point about 10am and cruised the 70-metre line past Cape Schanck towards The Rip and then trolled skirted plastic lures on 37kg breaking strain line back towards Flinders. In 80 metres of water they were making a beeline towards Seal Rocks…

KANE Bentley is between a rock and a hard place having been double jabbed against COVID-19 while overseas but on returning to Australia found the vaccine – Sinopharm – is not recognised here. The Mornington resident says advice from the Health Department, confirmed by his GP, is that he should not get another vaccine as not enough research has been done on mixing them. He has also been told that the Chinese vaccine, which has been given the nod by the World Health Organisation, “could be approved here in weeks or months”. The wait is proving costly for Mr Bentley…

DOCTORS have written to the Premier Daniel Andrews and senior ministers warning about the health risks of opening another quarry at Dromana. The 120 doctors say dust could harm children at nearby Red Hill Consolidated School and an early childhood learning centre. Mothers at the school are also concerned about the quarry proposal being put forward by philanthropic trust, The Ross Trust, which owns Hillview Quarries. Hillview runs a smaller quarry on the Arthurs Seat escarpment and in 2018 applied to open a quarry of up to 43 hectares on land between two sections of the Arthurs Seat State Park.…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s 782 staff must be double dosed with an approved COVID-19 vaccine or risk losing their jobs, although there is no deadline as their ages put them on different vaccination schedules. Councillors are not included in the Chief Health Officer’s directions and have no specific requirements to be vaccinated “at this stage”. However, only those who are fully vaccinated will be able to enter a shire workplace or community facilities under the Victorian roadmap. Councillors are being asked to provide their vaccine status to the shire’s human resources department, which will pass their details to CEO John Baker…

BALNARRING Junior Football Club is taking steps to minimise the long-term effects of concussion among its players. The club recently took part in a trial with a machine that quickly tests brain health by scanning eyes and can show signs of the condition which can worsen with ageing. President Dan Chapman said the club looked at how it needed to be a leader in concussion management as “any decision made now affects the community in the next 50-60 years”. The club’s committee decided it needed the EyeGuide technology but faced a problem in finding $7000 to pay for it. A…