Time for shire to seek financial solutions
There is no doubt that the shire is headed for the perfect storm financial crisis. They are being hit with the same cost of living pressures that we are. Recently I have been hit with two insurance increases of 26% and after almost doubling last year, my gas rates have increased between 18% to 23% from August.
Rate capping certainly plays a part, just like my pension increases do not cover my increased costs. At the time, rate capping was the only way to stop the abuse of raising rates by the sire and I worked for several months with the Essential Services Commission on the program. It is still important but needs a new look in terms of how calculated.
Should the shire apply for a rate cap variance I would be the first to object. They have left at least $25m dollars on the table for several years and until they “fix” that problem do not deserve a variance.
I have been an advocate for shire-wide permit parking for several years to no avail. We still have councillors and, amazingly, ratepayers who vote in favor of a free ride for tourists at ratepayer expense rather than a significant revenue stream in favor of ratepayers who would not be affected by the program. There are still traders who think it is better to have tourists fill a parking space all day while at the beach rather than turnover of parking spaces every hour or so.
If Council Watch wanted to do something positive for councils they would be spending their time aggressively advocating against cost shifting without funding rather than bashing councils and councillors. And the shire has yet to consult with ratepayers, using strategic planning techniques, what services they want to do without.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Eliminate gender pay gap
As I sat down this morning to read the local newspaper, I couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded by the main front page article (Shire reduces staff gender pay gap, The News 15/10/24).
As a woman who has worked all of my life (and raised our children), how is it that we are supposed to be punching the air to celebrate a reduction of 12% in pay inequity between the genders? Are we supposed to be happy with the residual 12.4% pay gap?
As the local newspaper, representative of all people, you should be demanding why a pay inequality still exists at all! Not writing an article that delivers the facts, but does not challenge the council and all other employers to do what’s fair and moral and pay women the same as men, now! Get active in helping change.
Roberta Orton, Mornington
Rewarding experience
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The campaign has officially ended, and as I conclude my term as your councillor, I’m reflecting on the incredible journey that brought me here. Four years ago, a casual suggestion from a friend (possibly even a joke) led me to make a spontaneous bid for council in the 2020 elections. To my surprise, I was elected – and what followed was one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my life.
Representing our community has been a true privilege and honour, filled with highs and lows, lessons learned, and moments I’ll carry with me always. As I wrap up this council term, I want to say how deeply proud and grateful I am for the trust you placed in me. It’s been an unforgettable experience. I’ll share more about what’s next (“take two”) soon, but for now – my sincere thanks.
Anthony Marsh, Mt Martha
Straightening the truth
Anthony Clifford’s letter (Bending the truth, Letters 22/10/24) suffers from either a child-like innocence that believes everything that the IDF serves up, or from a selective view that only accepts what he wants to hear. The evidence that the IDF and various extreme right-wing Israeli governments have deceived and falsified the truth over the past 76 years is prodigious and incontrovertible.
The atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank are too numerous to cover here. But the fact that the UN over these years has often exposed their trickery, duplicity and mendacity in the provision of disinformation has made the UN a major target in their military and political projects. This is also the case for journalists who have dared to report on what is really happening on the ground in Gaza and now Lebanon. As a result, 179 UNRWA employees, 224 humanitarian workers, 140 journalists have been killed, many by deliberate targeting.
There are numerous resources for the evidence of a history of IDF/Israeli lies, but for a particularly rigorous approach I suggest the relevant chapters in Robert Fisk’s book Night of Power – the Betrayal of the Middle East. He does not absolve Palestinian and other militant groups of atrocities, but when it comes to the use of brutal and disproportionate violence and destruction, Israel is a clear winner.
Henk van Leeuwen, Mount Martha
Who’s bending?
If anyone is bending the truth in the war against humanity by Israel, it’s coming from the Israeli government and its armed forces (Bending the truth, Letters 22/10/24). The UN forces in the middle east were put there in consensus by the whole world, including Israel, and should be treated with utmost respect. Getting shot at by the ever-increasingly aggressive armed forces of Israel is not their mandated mission. If Mr Clifford thinks it’s OK to massacre 90 innocent people to kill one Hamas operative, as happened some months ago, I respectfully disagree.
Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach
Scant information
Residents are seeking more than the scant, sketchy detail provided at a recent information session about the expansion of the Arthurs Seat Eagle tourism facility, including base station, summit station and luge track. Because of the lack of consultation regarding this proposal in our in our State Park of Aurthurs Seat, I have questions of concern.
How will the project’s footprint impinge on the Fire Overlay for access by emergency services?
I agree with Nigel Atkins (Consider the fire risk, Letters 8/10/24). “This is putting the communities of Dromana, McCrae, Arthurs Seat, Main Ridge and Red Hill at serious risk from fire.” State fire agencies recently noted in catastrophic fire conditions it estimates it would take less than ten minutes for fire to travel from the bottom to the top of Arthurs Seat, with only one road escape directly from the top to the bottom.
Has there been a Cultural Heritage Assessment by an accredited agency? I note that “Wonga”, the First Nations name for Arthurs Seat, is a culturally significant site for them. Has there been a recent and thorough Fauna Impact Assessment and has there been a recent thorough Environmental Impact Assessment? Arthurs Seat State Park has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the state. So many animal and plant species are considered threatened or endangered.
After the massive backlash by the community that put a stop to The Harry Potter Experience at the Briars Sanctuary and No Quarry, I would have thought the two wealthy businessmen behind this would certainly have consulted wider with First Nations Peoples, environmental groups, shire councillors and residents before planning this project. Social capital and positive community sentiment are critical for any tourist venue, especially if it is an intrusion into people’s backyards and state parks.
Julie Gunn, Dromana
Green credentials?
The peninsula covers a large area under various wards. Running for the Mornington Peninsula council and residing in a different ward doesn’t prohibit anyone from running in another ward. (Eligibility notes – to become a candidate in a local council election, you must be enrolled in the council you are contesting). Also, not every ‘promise’ made during the campaign will be fulfilled once on the council. It’s easy to promise many things, but it’s a different story once elected to the council, as other councillors’ perspectives must be considered. Each vote holds equal weight. Despite J. Hansen’s extensive reasoning about why specific candidates should be evaluated (advertisement, The News 16/10/24) it’s pretty bold to assign grades to them.
Anne Kruger, Rye
Luge not a fait accompli
It is very concerning that the huge expansion of the Arthurs Seat Eagle’s existing premises plus a tower, over road walkway and toboggan ride with “fun features” up and down Arthurs Seat State Park seems to have been presented by the wealthy developer’s promoters as a done deal.
The impression given to listeners to a radio program and at the brief “information” invitation evening in Dromana, was that a special agreement, bypassing the shire and the local community, had been reached with the state government.
This left people feeling there was no hope in protesting. This is not true.
A Ministerial Permit Application for the proposal has been lodged with the state minister for planning, Sonia Kilkenny, but is currently still waiting for approval. Please sign the petition, contact your local members of parliament, talk to the newly elected councillors, and write to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council asking them to take a stand and make your voice heard.
Everyone loves living here and visiting the peninsula because of the environment. We as a community have to draw the line and do everything we can to protect it.
Esther Gleixner, Flinders
Roundup unacceptable
It is disappointing and unacceptable that the glyphosate-based weed killer, Roundup, has been used in community playgrounds (Outrage over playground weed killer, The News 23/10/24). Parents are rightfully outraged at the risks this poses to children in spaces meant for safe play.
As we celebrate Children’s Week, with the theme “children have the right to a clean and safe environment”, let’s also remember the risks that Roundup presents to wildlife and insects. For example, bees exposed to glyphosate lose their ability to keep their colonies at the right temperature, threatening bee reproduction and consequently the health of ecosystems essential for future generations. Let’s work together to create conditions where our children and the environment around them can thrive.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Post office closure
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the closure of the post office in central Frankston.
My parents moved out in 1951 from England. Dad served in the Royal Australian Navy. My parents took us to the post office. Mum used to say, “make sure you pay your bills kids”. We relied on it. Once you pay your bills, you feel relieved.
The whole of Frankston is upset and devastated at losing this post office. We need a good Samaritan to come forward to open a post office. To bring it back. Disabled people cry in my arms when I go around with petitions. How they are suffering to walk half an hour each way or take transport that costs $20. We need the post office back. We rely on it!
Pauline Stannells, Frankston
Hi-vis for all?
Mr Schapenack states that he has trouble seeing motorcyclists (Stand out suggestion, Letters 22/10/24).
If he has been to Spec Savers recently, then it is more likely he isn’t looking properly rather than a problem with motorcyclists choose to wear. Maybe cyclists and pedestrians should also be forced to wear high visibility clothing, as they can be even harder to see. Learner motorcyclists wear a high visibility top as an extra safety measure because they don’t yet realise that many drivers are not looking out for them. With experience, motorcyclists always assume that they haven’t been seen and ride defensively to avoid people with poor driving skills. October is motorcyclist awareness month and, with today’s drivers being more distracted than ever, it is timely to remind drivers to look out for motorcyclists.
Peter Shearman, Bittern
Keep watch
With spring bringing warmer weather, Royal Life Saving – Australia is asking all owners of backyard pools to check their pool fences and pool gates as a matter of urgency. Children under five are curious and fearless, and their love of water puts them at risk of drowning.
Tragically, every year in Australia we lose on average 20 young children to drowning, with half of all drowning deaths in young children occurring in backyard swimming pools. The majority are aged just one year old. This is because the risk of drowning triples at the age of one year, when children become more mobile. We know that eight times the number of children who die go to hospital after a non-fatal drowning incident. That is more than 150 children aged under five each year, some of whom will be left with life-limiting disabilities.
While active supervision is the best protection against childhood drowning, no parent or caregiver can watch a young child 24 hours a day. Ensure that you have a functioning and compliant pool fence and working gate as an additional barrier between young children and water for all those moments when life intervenes – the phone rings, the doorbell rings, another child needs your attention – can literally be life saving.
Wet weather conditions can wash away topsoil and weaken fences. Check no fence posts have come loose from the ground. Make sure the gate is still self-closing and self-latching and is never left propped open under any circumstance. Pack pool toys away so they are not an overwhelming temptation, and empty portable pools when not in use. It is also a good time to brush up on CPR skills ahead of summer.
By spending a bit of time checking the pool fence, pool gate and the area around the pool is secure, including no furniture or structures that little people can climb to access the pool, you could prevent a tragedy.
Keep watch and protect the littlest members of your family.
Justin Scarr, CEO – Royal Life Saving Society – Australia
