The scene of the crime
When you throw out your rubbish, do you know where it goes? It’s like sweeping dust under a rug – just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s gone. The rubbish gets taken to a landfill where it’s buried in the ground, but it stays there, polluting the earth for years, sometimes forever. Plastic can stay buried for millions of years, hurting the planet as if giving it a good hard jab.
Instead of hiding our waste, we should try to recycle and reuse more. Otherwise, we’re just leaving a big mess for future generations like mine to clean up. We can’t fix this nightmare unless everyone commits to it. I know it sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but it’s worth it. If we don’t clean it up who will? Here was a small start. For Halloween, instead of buying lollies with lots of plastic packaging, my Mum just bought Smarties in cardboard and zero plastic.
These are the kinds of things you can do to make a difference.
Georgia Paxino (9 years old), Beaumaris
Election thanks
Thank you to all who took part in the Mornington Peninsula Shire election process.
I appreciate the trust given to me in being elected your Coolart Ward councillor.
It is a great privilege to represent you for the next four years on the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
I will try to ensure good governance through accountability and transparency.
Putting your hand up and being open to scrutiny and questioning takes self-belief and a willingness to work on behalf of you community; all council candidates should be congratulated for their efforts.
David Gill, Balnarring
Election pledges v conduct
In response to Stephen Batty’s letter (Compulsory forums, Letters 22/10/24), firstly I want to congratulate him for his successful campaign that earned him a seat at council for the next four years, to represent not only the residents of Mt Eliza, but also the interests for the whole of the shire. Secondly to applaud his late endorsement of a platform including his passion for pedestrian access to our coastal assets, repairs to the Beleura Cliff path and opposition of any future development that impinged on the Green Wedge.
On behalf of the >4000 residents who supported me, including hundreds of informal votes, that indicated preference for me, and the many fabulous residents I met campaigning, along with the promise of greater future council transparency by many successful candidates, I will be monitoring the performance and voting behaviour of all councillors, that matched their pre-poll pledges.
I am interested to see how, after pledging to ditch the shire paid parking policy, which does not apply to residents, how they intend to ensure the hundreds of thousand visitors over summer, will contribute to council costs and infrastructure maintenance, particularly now that we are also responsible for what was formerly VicRoads maintenance.
I sincerely wish all the new councillors every success, in managing the challenges of the next term.
Daniel McCaffrey, Mornington
Roads substandard
The inadequate maintenance on freeways and designated “main roads” in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, which are the responsibility of the state government, has long term implications from safety and cost viewpoints. The comparison with maintenance of local roads by the councils is stark.
Potholes are largely a reflection of inadequate preventative maintenance. The government claim that it is the result of flooding two years ago is a myth. Flooding occurred in limited areas. Pot holes are everywhere. Flooding also occurred on local roads. Asphalt resheeting work, where the new seal has peeled off, reflect failure for one or more reasons. The connection of the Frankston Freeway to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway is probably the worst local example.
Safety is compromised by the failure to repair damaged wire fencing and guardrails, fallen trees overhanging the breakdown lanes, high grass obstructing views at roundabouts on the Moorooduc Highway, signs that have fallen, small trees and branches growing through wire safety fencing, etc.
On a 2.5 kilometre section of the northern carriageway of Thompson Rd between McCormicks Rd and the Western Port Highway there are 17 areas of damaged fencing. Can anybody find a worse example? It was brought to the Minister’s attention in September. No action to repair the damaged fencing has happened since.
I agree with Gerard van de Ven (Shire CEO, Letters 5/11/24) when he suggests employing competent civil engineers to oversee road maintenance. However, the problem is at state level, not local government. Would the state employ a civil engineer to oversee its financials?
The sleeper in the road maintenance issue is the implications of deferring preventative works. The cost of preparatory works will magnify. Road safety will be compromised further. The future community will pay dearly.
Ian Robins, Frankston
The Eagle soars
I have heard rumblings on the Western Port side of the peninsula that the Eagle at Arthurs Seat is about to stretch its wings. Concerns are about development, overhead walkways, and bobsleds down the mountain.
When I was younger and lived at McCrae I remember my father driving us all up Arthurs Seat in a Vauxhall powered by a gas producer, to visit “the Garden of the Moon”, and for 6 pence, climb the concrete tower and buy an ice-cream from the kiosk. At the top of the tower were brass plaques, indicating where Seal Rocks was and far off places like Geelong.
In 1945 the population was about eight million and Arthurs Seat was a great tourist attraction. In the 50/60’s a bucket chair lift carried people from the bottom to the top and back in the fresh open air. A restaurant at the top offered fantastic views. These were wonderful, outrageous and carefree days.
Now in 2024 with a population nudging 30 million, possibly there is room for more people visiting this part of Australia. So the Eagle wants to spread its wings. What environmental disaster befalls the mountain? (incidentally it only makes the ‘mountain’ definition by 14 metres).
Is the outcry; a NIMBY response? Or do people want to go back to a concrete tower, the Garden of the Moon and the kiosk selling Peters vanilla ice cream? All those NIMBYs please remember that the peninsula relies on a base load of people to be resident in the depths of winter. The peninsula in winter needs the little cafes and coffee shops and restaurants to stay open.
So while you are up in Port Douglas or floating along the European rivers, think about the local businesses that need the tourists to keep them going.
Neil Hallam, Flinders
Air pollution
At last, the Mornington Peninsula has an air pollution station that allows residents to view emissions data in real-time (Air monitoring station installed in Hastings, The News 6/11/2024).
From the opening of the BP Westernport oil refinery at Crib Point in 1966 to the Esso LPG gas plant in 1970 and John Lysaght steel works in 1972, it has taken many years for the Victorian government to install air monitoring equipment at Hastings. However, the new station will only record particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 – hopefully EPA Victoria will extend this to other air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
According to the National Pollutant Inventory website for 2022/2023, the Esso LPG plant at Long Island Point, Hastings reported emitting 790,000kg of oxides of nitrogen, 620,000kg of carbon monoxide, 560,000kg of total volatile organic compounds, 34,000kg of sulfur dioxide, 6,200kg of PM2.5 and 6,200kg of PM10 particulate matter. The Bluescope Steel plant reported emitting 880,000kg of carbon monoxide and 110,000kg of oxides of nitrogen during 2022/2023. The proposed Esso ethane gas power station would generate carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants once operational.
The new air monitoring station at Hastings will also be useful for measuring air pollutants from bushfire, burn-offs, wood heaters and fireplaces. Local residents concerned about air or noise pollution or industrial odours should contact EPA Victoria on 1300 372 842 (24 hours a day).
Dale Stohr, Crib Point
Cost of tourism
“Hello Joe, Thank you for your follow up email regarding the cost of tourism on the peninsula. It is very difficult to put an actual dollar amount on the cost of tourism. I have found some information on the Mornington Peninsula Regional Tourism website. I have included the link and also some screen shots of individual pages”.
It’s not surprising that the Mornington Peninsula Shire doesn’t have a clear view of the financial impact of tourism, and they’re citing it as a contributing factor to financial issues. In any financially responsible organisation, understanding the costs would be a priority, as it affects planning, staffing, asset maintenance, and resource allocation. If a local government highlights tourism as a financial burden but lacks specifics on how much it’s costing them – whether through increased maintenance, infrastructure wear, or resource usage – it raises questions about their financial oversight. It could mean missed opportunities to leverage tourism effectively or to manage resources in a way that offsets costs.
In a well-run public corporation these figures are readily available. It could also reflect a broader issue of needing more specialised financial or operational management within the shire’s administration. Transparency and data-driven decision-making are crucial for gaining the community’s support and ensuring sustainable financial health. So without the data we are at a loss to know how much of our rates are paying for a tourist playground. So I am going to take a wag and say it is 27.5698%. Point made?
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Fishing guidance
I note the almost complete absence of “fishing advisory” signage on piers and ramps around the Port Phillip and the Western Port coastline. We were promised the installation of signs to inform what is or is not a protected marine species a few years ago- good luck trying to find one.
David Martin, Mt Martha
Fine fails to add up
It is absolutely outrageous that bush properties can be cleared for such a small fine (Green Wedge property for sale after land clearing fine, The News 7/11/24). One owner was stung only $15,000 for clearing one third of a 16 hectare block that backs onto a nature conservation reserve. That’s pittance, especially when compared to the payout expected from the sale of the property.
That there was no expectation to replant or regenerate the cleared vegetation is also deeply disappointing. Nature is priceless. If a financial price must be placed on it, then let that price accurately reflect the value nature provides in clean air and water, wildlife diversity, climate mitigation, beauty and health benefits. If we are to continue a capitalist system, it’s high time these natural ‘services’ were factored into our transactions.
Amy Hiller, Kew
Discussing all things
There isn’t any debate. The News is a paper to discuss, in “letters” or in other pages, any world events as well as local news (The News not the place to debate international issues, Letters 5/11/24).
For me, the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are troubles in far away places and nothing much to do with me. I remained neutral. Except that lately I have become horrified at the events happening in the Middle East. Thousands of unarmed, defenceless civilians including women and children are confronted by tanks, aircraft, bombs, shells and bullets every other day and being slaughtered where they stand. It never ends. (Using American supplied munitions, an unlimited supply of bullets and shells).
These events have brought my attention into sharp focus, it is clear that people must speak up; and for someone to tell The News and its correspondents like me to shut up and discuss only local issues is not only insulting but is obscene if you consider that not too long ago a European nation slaughtered millions of defenceless civilians just because they could.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Israel justified
I refer to two of your letters to the editor. It is interesting to note that both writers (Straightening the Truth, Letters 28/10/24) and (Who’s bending, Letter 28/10/24) are not telling the truth.
Firstly UNIFIL was in Lebanon in 2006 after the end of another war by Hezbollah against Israel, supposedly to enact the UN Security Council resolution 1701 to prevent terror infrastructures being built in the Litani Valley. UNIFIL did nothing for 18 years and instead watched Hezbollah building tunnels where munitions were stored. Consider that in one square kilometre, the IDF found 100 tunnel shafts. And documents were found that proved that Hezbollah was going to do an October 7 attack with the massive amount of weapons found. It might be worth both writers to look at UN Watch and COGAT if they would like to learn alternative facts not those spouted by Al Jazeera, Media Watch and such.
Al Jazeera is funded by Qatar with the sole purpose of undermining Israel. And both writers have conveniently ignored the fact that there would have been no wars if October 7 hadn’t occurred or if Hezbollah would have stopped lobbing rockets and missiles into Israel daily.
The IDF is protecting the country of Israel. The horrible descriptions espoused by these writers denigrate the only democratic country in the Middle East surrounded by hostile neighbours, except for Egypt and Jordan.
The IDF does not attack journalists deliberately – what the writer does not tell you is that many journalists are Hamas operatives or work for UNWRA which has proven to hide terrorists and which teaches hate against Jews in their schools.
Israel is doing the work of fighting extreme jihadism and if the writer wants to read an interesting book, try reading Douglas Murray “ The War on the West”. Might be more enlightening.
Tania Kaye, Balnarring
International or local?
While doing exactly that and promising us more (“UN is not a bastion of moral clarity” will be her topic for another letter), Bianca Felix questions the appropriateness of debating international issues in The News. If her advice is followed, at least one other letter and a number of articles within today’s paper would need to be culled. Fortunately, it’s not up to us letter writers to decide what goes in and what stays out.
There are residents with Lebanese and Palestinian background or family who are deeply concerned about what’s happening there. To cite a few inappropriate anti-Israel ‘hot head’ responses does not mean that any criticism of Israeli excesses in its assault on occupied territories and Lebanon is anti-Semitism. Having been to many of the Sunday City rallies, I have not witnessed one incidence of anti-Jewish rhetoric or behaviour. Indeed, there is a regular Jewish presence at these protests.
Bianca questions why we are focused on this particular conflict and not, say, the conflict in Sudan. The difference is that we are not directly involved in the Sudanese civil war. In the Middle East, we are closely aligned with our US allies in our support of Israel politically and materially, such as via arms supply. Therefore, given the disproportionately of the Gaza, West Bank and Lebanese carnage against Israeli military might, it is right we should criticise its response. To call an all-out assault on one’s illegal occupied territories “self-defence”, hardly fits the description of conventional ‘war’.
Finally, to call Robert Fisk “biased”, suggests a lack of thorough reading as it disregards the rigorous approach he takes in his book. His narrative is always backed up with detailed evidence and copious references. To then disagree with his conclusions, indicates an opinion bias that one is reluctant to abandon.
Henk van Leeuwen, Mount Martha
