Potter review needed to restore faith in shire
Thanks Cr Anthony Marsh for continuing the push for scrutiny on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s decision making processes about the Harry Potter: A forbidden Forest Experience being held at the wildlife sanctuary at The Briars.
At the January Save Briars Sanctuary public meeting the mayor Cr Simon Brooks advised the packed venue that councillors were in favour of undertaking an analysis of the process that led to the approval of the largest event in the peninsula’s history being held in the sensitive and precious wildlife sanctuary at The Briars. This commitment was well received and afforded some assurance that there would be critical evaluation and assessment of the shire’s processes and perhaps also its adherence to master plans that are the result of substantial community consultation and resources.
However, approximately one month ago on ABC Radio, the mayor informed listeners that the promised review was not going to be undertaken until after the Harry Potter event had concluded. Additionally, he revealed that it will be part of an overall event evaluation that would examine everything with respect to the success of the event.
We consider that this approach falls well short of the anticipated analysis. The popularity of this experience is not an indicator of good governance or operations. A review of the council’s approval process should not be influenced by outcome – success or failure. The investigation should identify if there are shortcomings that need improvement. In this case, the outrage regarding location approval.
Now that Cr Marsh has alerted us to even more failings in the shire’s process, it is critical that no stone is left unturned (Potter review takes centre stage, The News 22/5/24). It is imperative that some confidence and faith in our shire is restored by an honest and transparent review.
Louise Page, Tyabb
Community misled
Cr Anthony Marsh has alerted to us to the game playing that is now occurring regarding a review of the processes leading to approval of the Harry Potter event at The Briars wildlife sanctuary (Potter review takes centre stage, The News 22/5/24).
Senior officers and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council must have known that this decision would be highly controversial and distressing to the community. To keep plans secret until tickets were already being sold, to mislead the community regarding the thoroughness of the reports that was the basis for the decision, and then to deflect any embarrassing questions with the non-disclosure defence could be seen as an attempt to blindside residents into a situation of having to accept the decision, despite major misgivings. In doing, so they caused much pain and anguish for locals, many of whom have devoted significant time and effort at The Briars in the belief that the master plan preserved and protected the beloved wildlife sanctuary.
This is not the first time that this council has disregarded an approved master plan (the result of significant shire resources and effort by community) in order to favour powerful vested interest. The Tyabb Airport Precinct Plan is another. It has been subsequently ignored by the shire, leaving residents to fight their own battles at VCAT in an effort to protect Tyabb’s rural amenity. Furthermore, Peninsula Aero Club was given $350,000 of ratepayer money – another decision that was made behind closed doors and leaves many questions unanswered.
These instances and, potentially, the “several other examples” referred to by Cr Marsh, represent a failure of ethics, not just of process. Shire officers and councillors need to remember who they represent and must be open and accountable for how and why these decisions were made.
Keith Old, Tyabb
Scoring councillors
The importance of the Mornington Peninsula environment for health and wellbeing was well illustrated in articles in the 25 May edition of The News. Prospective counsellor and new mum Pippa McPherson has started a gardening club for young people at the Rye Community House (Club to help young people ‘grow’). As McPherson says, “working with plants is therapeutic.” Likewise, Pearcedale resident Craig Gobbi’s fight to protect the peninsula’s green wedge-zoned land for its “recreational and community health” value further indicates how local residents are stepping up (Social approach to save Green Wedge).
In her letter, Election anticipation, Katrina Larsen hopes that the forthcoming council election will deliver a more environmentally empathetic group of councillors from those who approved a theatrical event in a wildlife sanctuary. Our natural environment and unique biodiversity within it are under enough threat from climate change. Some local government areas are being proactive by developing pre-election questions for council candidates and summary scorecards as additional information on candidates’ environmental attitudes and commitments. A good example from the previous election can be found on the Kooyong Votes Climate webpage.
The poor results from the 2022 and 2023 Mornington Peninsula Shire community satisfaction surveys suggest the election of several new candidates is well and truly on the cards (Shire again misses survey satisfaction, The News 21/6/24).
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Marginalising Christians
Mornington Library is wonderful; I’m a frequent borrower. This week there is a wall display promoting books with a “Queer”, LGBTI theme, which is fine. I asked a staff member if in another month we could have a similar display, this time devoted to books with a “Christian-Biblical” theme.
I know that myself and friends who identify themselves as Christians would welcome this as we are beginning to feel increasingly marginalised in today’s society. It seems Muslims may have a better time. Friends working for a municipality north of Melbourne were asked to show respect to Muslims during Ramadan, but no similar request was given to employees to show consideration to Christian staff during their Lent Easter celebrations (or indeed people of other mainstream faiths). I welcome feedback.
Monica Hughes, Martha Cove
Danger from religion
It’s about time the people still excusing the behaviour of [Israel’s prime minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and his troops in Gaza face up to the reality that crimes against humanity by one side, don’t excuse the same and worse by the other side. We could have had peace and a two state resolution of this sad situation in the 1990s if the extreme right of Israel wouldn’t have assassinated Yitzhak Rabbin.
Ever since, Israeli governments have been the stumbling block to a two state solution and encouraged the atrocious behaviour of the religious nutters in the West Bank. Beware politics and religion ever getting too close in Australia.
Rupert Steiner, Balnarring
Send coal to Ukraine
“Winter is going to kill us”: Ukraine ambassador’s plea for Australian coal, heartfelt and to the point. Australia’s response? They support Ukraine in other ways.
The government should be ashamed of such a miserly act for excuses made for not sending coal to Ukraine.
Coal is used for thermal power, heating, and electricity, especially for industry, so they can keep going. In simple terms, it is a matter of survival. This coal is needed for heating during the bitter Ukrainian winter months ahead.
Denying the shipment to Ukraine means that the children will freeze, the elderly die from the cold, and the doctors and nurses will try to keep hospitals from freezing over. We have so much coal which, I might add, we send to many other countries.
We all want the war between Ukraine and Russia to end and the war between Israel and Palestine to stop. We can assist both wars more convincingly, but we must jettison from the wings of the USA to then become a true force to be reckoned with. We should make our own decisions. Until then, prioritise correctly, whether it’s Labor or the Coalition.
Anne Kruger, Rye
Signs waste money
There’s a through street in Capel Sound called Broadway. Since last October, we have had three big rented electric roadside signs. These signs keep telling drivers, day and night, that “roadworks are coming and expect delays”. Duh.
How much rent is spent each week on these signs? What a waste of rate/tax payers’ money. You would think that the few hundred reflective bollards along Broadway would say the same.
And, why would an experienced mob like VicRoads plant foliage at roundabouts that blocks a driver’s view of traffic?
Check out Peninsula Link extension at Boneo Road, Rosebud: scrub at roundabout trimmed but still too high to see over. Check out Pen Link, Moorooduc Road underpass: long planted grass blocks your view. I thought VicRoads was the expert in safe road design?
Warwick Spinaze, Tootgarook
Restrict alcohol
Frankston Council has a policy of rubber stamping liquor licenses for off premises liquor sales, which means alcohol can be taken home and cause drunkenness and violence to women and children. Alcohol has historically been associated with family violence and voices are being raised to stop delivery of alcohol to homes to try and stop the scourge of family violence. The council should stop its support of take away alcohol licenses and do something constructive to stop family violence in Frankston.
Russell Morse, Karingal
