Repair the Stairs
Further to last week’s article (Urgent call for stair repair, The News 24/9/24) relating to the fact that the stairs to Birdrock Beach have been closed for over two years, I have two very clear and concise questions that I would like to put directly to the CEO, CFO and director of planning and environment.
When closure signage was erected at the top of the stairs in late 2022, it clearly stated that “the repairs to the stair infrastructure would be considered as a proposal for inclusion within the 2024/2025 shire budget”.
Why weren’t the repairs to these stairs included within the 2023/2024 budget as clearly indicated on the signage?
If the proposal and costings were not submitted for consideration, why not? Was it due to a lack of priority from within the shire?
Based on the fact that the shire has a total annual salary figure of $98 million (an increase of $16 million in just the last two years), it was obviously not a decision based on lack of funds. It seems more likely it was a lack of will.
All ratepayers within our coastal wards need to ask the executive of the shire and relevant council officers, why does coastal infrastructure and access rate such a low priority for allocating funds?
Don’t ask your councillors as they are in ‘caretaker’ mode. Demand answers to these questions from the shire management itself.
Sharon Forrest, Mt Martha
Make stairs a priority
Thank you, Becca Smith, Mt Martha for your letter (Birdrock Beach action needed, Letters 17/9/24). I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments and would like to add my concern to the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s continued lack of action into getting the stairs repaired.
Birdrock Beach stairs were closed to the public in December 2022 – over 725 days ago. We are approaching our third summer of having no local beach. My husband and I, as have many of our neighbours, bought into this area because this beautiful beach was located at the bottom of our street – there is no sandy beach within walking distance now.
The only other way to access the beach is via a very steep and dangerous fire track; this itself is covered in moss and can only be used by those game enough to do so – there are reports that many of the locals have slipped and hurt themselves on this track. In addition this means that the beach area has had no maintenance or cleaning at all during the time the stairs have been closed.
I urge the shire to prioritise having the stairs repaired ASAP.
Gaylene Cowan, Mt Martha
New Shire Digs?
Recently, we were informed that the shire had selected two preferred sites for the location of the ‘next generation’ of consolidated municipal administrative offices, noting that both locations were in prime real estate locations. However, at no stage has the community been advised as to what the ‘next generation’ of office accommodation should/will comprise.
Hopefully, the shire has taken account of the experiences gleaned from the two years of COVID, which fundamentally changed the landscape of how an organisation can function effectively, without everyone attending a defined workplace. To this end, I trust that the shire has a well developed functional brief prepared, that takes account of the changes in work practices that we now see and, as importantly, what may arise over the life of the building?
I also question why the need for a prime location, given that most administrative functions of the shire could be accommodated through ‘hot-desking’ in a campus style accommodation located in non-prime real estate locations; such as the Dromana or Rosebud industrial estates, for example.
After all, what percentage of the shire’s employees worked from home during COVID and was service compromised?
Would the community not be better served through a series of shop front/service centres in strategic/accessible locations, with real time communication available for specialist enquiries located in the campus? Perhaps one existing location is kept purely for ceremonial occasions, council meetings, etc.
Just another issue for our next council to consider, as the cost of any new facility will be a ‘hot topic’ for all ratepayers.
Stuart Allen, Dromana
Green waste weekend?
I would like to congratulate the shire for being proactive in providing a free green waste weekend after the storms a few weeks back. But it may have been useful to let us know it was on. The fact is I didn’t know and neither did anyone I asked about it. Maybe you’re only interested in providing services to those tech-savvy enough to find out about them online. Nice thing to ponder now seniors month is here.
C Jenkins, Tyabb
Loo critic
As a public service, I believe the council should disclose the details of the individual / company responsible for the recent redecoration of the public toilets in Tyabb. The result looks like the work was completed at night, during a power cut, by a particularly slapdash toddler!
Jonathan Atherton, Tyabb
Habitat clearing
Neither Dr Hiller or Ray Peck have answered my query regarding loss of wildlife habitat for our native animals. Ray Peck criticises the agricultural industry and the mining industry. At least the farmers are trying to feed us, and the mining royalties allow the government to offer huge subsidies to the renewable sector. Perhaps Ray Peck could write to the Beijing newspapers re their 30% of the world’s total emissions, compared to Australia’s 1.3%.
Sue Glenn, Mornington
Potter’s cozy contract
Concern surrounding the location for the Harry Potter event at The Briars Sanctuary was expressed by people from all walks of life. Wildlife experts, ecologists, environmental and indigenous groups, lawyers, planners, Harry Potter fan clubs, local residents and many others spoke out against the secretive deal between the shire and Warner Bros.
The story went viral, with national and international attention including a petition of over 23,000 protest signatures.
This grassroots campaign succeeded in having the event moved to The Briars’ Community Forest. Warner Bros. clearly realised their brand was being damaged.
The shire presumably agreed to have this event held on shire land because it was going to be a money spinner. On January 30, Mayor Brooks and CEO John Baker told us that they had negotiated a multi-million dollar sum for use of The Briars. The CEO said this revenue would fund The Briars’ operational costs for a decade. Now, it turns out the CEO and shire instead allowed this event to go ahead for “break even”.
Save Briars Sanctuary requested an independent review. The shire presented their review on 16 September. It did not address why the shire thought it appropriate to hold the event in a wildlife sanctuary. It did not address the operational costs of holding the event, including the hundreds of shire staff hours.
When a councillor asked Baker how much the shire had received from Warner Bros., he replied “We made only a little bit”. So little in fact that it will be hidden under general revenue in the budget because it is ‘commercial in-confidence’. The shire can’t manage to fix The Briars’ boardwalk for their constituents, yet they managed to fund roads, lights, car parks and much more for Warner Bros. No wonder they wanted such a cushy corporate agreement kept hush hush.
Ann Scally, Mt Martha
History repeats?
In your history article last week (100 years ago this week, The News 24/9/2024), it was reported that a Willis-Knight (Willys) vehicle claimed a record 419.4 miles on one gallon of petrol. (148km per litre). In 1924.
In 2024, I read elsewhere a sales specification for a popular Chinese small electric vehicle with a 51Kwh battery, a claimed range of 415km on one charge. Both articles incredible, in the old fashioned sense of the word.
Here, I can’t resist reporting that away back to around 1959. My first car was an old 1928 REO coupe, with a “dickie” seat at the back and without the optional electric starter motor. You had to use the crank-handle.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
A Call for Integrity
Democracy, like the climate, is on a slow but accelerating path to destruction. We have recently seen significant shifts to the right wing in Germany, UK, France and then, of course, there is Donald Trump. Like the rest of the world, Australia is also subject to extreme right wing movements that use fear to encourage imperialism, militarism and tyranny.
This shift is occurring because, as statistics show in Australia, people are becoming disillusioned with ‘democratic’ systems and see these right wing parties as their hope for change. They feel that the major parties are polarised and only interested in their ideologies, instead of good governance and co-operation. Electors are angry because of dissatisfaction over the performance of the traditional parties.
Labor, Liberals and Greens are engaged in trying to destroy each other rather than addressing the issues we face. Yet they have no problem working together on issues like this: “Independent MP Helen Haines is furious at what she calls a “stitch up” between Labor and the Coalition that weakens the transparency of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. (The Guardian: 12/9/24) Haines states “The bill as currently drafted means serious findings could be made about an MP, but they could face no sanction and the public could never know.”
The Guardian continues: “Robodebt department head Kathryn Campbell was among 12 public servants who breached the code of conduct 97 times. Two former DHS heads were named in the report after an inquiry by the Australian Public Service Commission but will not face sanctions.”
No wonder that we have had enough! Our politicians need to do better. Transparency, integrity, co-operation for the best interests of our country, true representation of our electorates (and not vested interests), long term vision – this is what we call for.
Pam Pitt, Rye
Pam Pitt is an organiser for “Independent for Flinders
Candidate openness
With the elections coming up shortly for shire councillors, wouldn’t it be wonderful if all candidates, new and old, could publicly issue honest, clear and practical statements disclosing their specific policies, why they are standing for council, their employment history and experience, and their political alliances and convictions?
For too many elections we have been insulted with motherhood and vague statements such as “I will serve my community in accordance with their wishes”. We want and deserve a vibrant hard-working team of councillors who honestly tell us voters who they really are, their beliefs, and what they will actually do for our peninsula.
Ian Dalton, Rosebud
Bring back our post office
I am writing today to express my disappointment and grief regarding the loss of the post office situated in central Frankston as a part of the local working community, here in Bayside Shopping Centre. This situation has turned things very upside down. The loss of the local post office has impacted thousands of people. It has had a huge negative effect on the businesses and the residents; especially the elderly and the disabled people.
I am one of the younger generations in my 20s and I am appalled to hear the comments from Australia Post that they may bring a post office back in the future. How is that even a responsible comment to be made the people who need the post office now. And the elderly may not even be around to see that day.
The post office is a source of help for people. It’s not just about parcels and letters. It’s about their livelihood. They use this facility to pay bills as not everyone can keep up with modern technology.
Yes, there are other people post offices in the area, but this can be quite a way to travel for many people. Not all have transportation, so public transport can take up to an hour to do around trip and walking even longer. Paying for a taxi or Uber is not sustainable as it costs a minimum of $20 round trip. I would be mortified if this was my grandparent.
It’s so easy for somebody to say we don’t need a post office when it’s not affecting them directly. Please reconsider your choice. This is so very important to the people of Frankston. It needs to be reversed and put somewhere in Frankston CBD.
Violet Pacheco, Frankston
Let Them Eat Cake
The people in your letters section do nothing but complain. They must be so stressed out.
Maybe they need to get a holiday house so they can get away from it all and relax. It has certainly worked for me.
Liz Sarkie, Hampton East
