Sound financial management essential for council
Good to note mayor Cr Marsh and deputy mayor Paul Pingiaro (Council Rate Cap Set, The News 7/1/25) are keen to focus on core services and to eliminate unnecessary spending. Perhaps the mayor and council can address the excessive salary paid to the previous CEO when seeking a replacement CEO. A cut of at least $100,000pa would seem in order and would both provide additional funds for community use, and I believe would still attract quality candidates.
Bureaucracies at all government levels tend to grow and get bogged down with meetings, committees, reports, and assessment but provide fewer visible outcomes. Sensible fiscal management must start from the top. I would also reduce the numbers of highly paid executive bureaucrats that have increased in number in the CEO’s office in particular, and in other areas, in recent years. A cut of up to 20% cut may be in order. Some other staffing may also need reviewing or reducing.
When the business is cash poor and cannot complete its core work in the community, then often some staff cutting or rationalising of programs is essential. There may also be some other peripheral aspects that council promotes that are not essential to core council business that can be reduced or erased.
We have a large municipality with many challenges facing council from roads, beaches, coastal management, tourism and many sporting and community services. Sensible fiscal management and additional funds appear essential to effectively fulfil these competing, but essential, needs.
I wish them well in the term ahead.
John Renowden, Mornington
Citizen’s panel
On 17 December, new Crs Batty, Rankin, Allen, Williams along with mayor Marsh, voted against hearing from community before abolishing the non-resident paid parking scheme, no alternative permit parking of revenue replacement scheme was provided, despite council officer’s advice that “…the reported payback period is expected to be mid-way through the third year of operation and approximately $38.7 million over the first ten years” While the 7-8m visitors are good for local business profit this does not cover costs to the community to maintain the supporting the required services and infrastructure.
The next day overflow items were addressed via Zoom and Cr Batty’s motion to abolish the Citizen’s Panel established in 2021, was carried endorsed by new Crs Rankin, Allen, Williams and Pingiaro, along with mayor Marsh, despite Council officer’s advice that (sic) “to fulfill obligations to the Local Government Act 2020. Central to the Act, was for councils to include deliberative engagement into their suite of community engagement activities. The Citizens Panel currently costs $140k …alternative is to recruit a representative panel and engage a facilitator for stand-alone projects, it is estimated that each project could cost up to $40,000. Each year the Citizens’ Panel is presented with seven projects/initiatives to discuss and consider. Based on this number, running these as separate projects could cost the Shire around $280k”.
These new councillors promised to reduce waste and maintain service, with these early days cost increases and cancelling significant revenue streams, are we looking at going down the road to state intervention, when we are ultimately unable to responsibly manage our financials?
Daniel McCaffrey, Mornington
Editor’s note: Daniel McCaffrey was the unsuccessful candidate for Kackeraboite Ward in shire’s 2024 election.
Housing disaster
At this time of the year we are thinking of those in our community who are finding it difficult to secure stable, affordable housing. Our local member for Mornington, Chris Crewther, in his Christmas community newsletter published some alarming figures on Victoria’s worsening housing and homelessness crisis. There is a wait list of 61,000! The state government has only increased social housing dwellings on the peninsula by 11 homes over the past decade! Of the 1,449 public and community housing properties, the shire provided statistics that 428 of these are currently out of action or vacant! The Mornington Peninsula now has the fourth highest level of housing needs in Victoria!
Why is there a hold up on the 428 homes now currently empty? Common sense tells us that if they need repairs then they need to be refurbished as quickly as possible so that our homeless community have adequate housing. My feeling is that our state of Victoria has become a state of disrepair and despair.
Carmel Coles, Mt Martha
Hydrogen project
It is pleasing to see that the backers may be finally coming to their senses with regard to the shipping hydrogen to Japan (Hastings hydrogen project in doubt, The News 07/01/25). While shipping the clean fuel hydrogen to Japan seemed like a sensible idea, it was always flawed because of the way the hydrogen was to be made.
Had the hydrogen been produced through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy then the idea had merit. However, the method chosen, converting brown coal to hydrogen was always flawed because converting coal to hydrogen still produces carbon dioxide, so there is no benefit to the environment and the proposal optimistically relies on carbon capture and storage (CCS), a technology that has not worked commercially anywhere in the world.
This is a project driven by a government subservient to the fossil fuel industry and by Japanese businesses that could see a government blinded by the fact that Japan got all the benefit of a clean burning fuel and leaving all the waste in Victoria.
Ross Hudson, Mt Martha
Bad idea from the start
The apparent abandonment of the coal to hydrogen project (Hastings hydrogen project in doubt, The News 7/1/25) has finally happened. It should never have been started! The project was going to produce enormous carbon dioxide emissions and the gullible public was expected to believe that this CO2 would be captured and stored underground – an impossible task and I believe all parties knew it.
I believe the intention was to let the emissions rip and pay a carbon offset tax. Yet the coal fired power stations in the Latrobe Valley, using the same coal, were shut down ostensibly because of carbon emissions. The hydrogen project would ultimately produce much more CO2 than the power generators did.
It makes you stop and think: does the government really believe the theory that minuscule amounts of the rare gas CO2 high in the sky will cause the planet to get hotter? If we were going to use our almost inexhaustible reserves of brown coal and produce vast quantities of CO2 then far better for us to use it to generate electricity for ourselves than to provide “clean, green” fuel for Japan. The only way to get clean hydrogen is by electrolysis of water requiring huge amounts of electricity. Nuclear.
If Australia is to eliminate domestic gas usage, convert our automotive fleet to 80% electric vehicles, continue massive immigration to prop up our economy, get some manufacturing industry up and running to make Australia great again, we will need five or six times as much electricity as is available now.
If we can’t use coal then we will have to go nuclear and start now, no matter how much our get rich investors in solar and wind may complain.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Birdrock’s birds
Like many others I would like to see the Birdrock Beach stairway restored. It is a much more attractive and negotiable access to the beach than the nearby steep bitumen ramp.
I note that the Birdrock action group spokesperson Sharon Forrest (Stairway repairs delayed again, The News 7/1/25) describes an important feature of the reef as “being a sanctuary for local and immigrating seabirds”. However, this significant aspect of bird protection is being ignored by most visitors to the beach. Even with the current limited access, dogs are allowed to roam freely, contrary to the required on-leash restrictions and despite there being nearby off-leash beaches. I have even seen a dog swimming to the rocky reefs and chasing the resting birds from their ‘sanctuary’!
I would not support a restoration of the stairway, which would further increase out of control dog numbers, until their owners take the sanctuary requirements seriously and keep their dogs on leash or take them somewhere else where they can legally be off leash and do no harm.
Henk van Leeuwen, Mt Martha
Cheesed off
I keep reading and being told that nuclear plants are emissions free (Chalk and cheese, Letters 7/1/25). They do have emissions, it’s called nuclear waste. We still haven’t talked about continuous building of storage containers, extraction and transportation from the proposed nuclear plants or even a place and structure to store it all. Wouldn’t parts and replacements every 20 years as stated be more economical than continuously getting rid of waste from nuclear plants that only have a life expectancy of 80 years, then spend billions again on new plants. Doesn’t a nuclear plant need any maintenance in that time? Not to mention also the mining and transport of uranium to feed the plants, will all those vehicles be running on batteries?
Listen to the scientific evidence here rather than a politician.
John Blogg, Somers
Ignoring facts?
M. Free (Chalk and cheese, Letters 7/1/25) claims that nuclear power is safer and cheaper than clean energy like solar and wind farms, ignoring the facts from independent scientists from CSIRO, who say differently. Also ignoring the fact that countries like Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain and Switzerland have been closing their nuclear power plants down to go more green. Also ignoring that facts of nuclear power plants accidents over the years but M. Free is claiming nuclear power is safe. Look what had happened in Japan, Ukraine and America as examples.
No, state and territories in Australia don’t want nuclear power plants and where is the nuclear waste going to be dumped because no one would want it in there town. Also, nuclear rods in these power plants need a lot of water to keep them cool. As Australia is a dry continent and is prone to droughts that can last years, where do you think they would get the water to keep the nuclear rods cool during these droughts.
What if we do have a nuclear accident, there may be more than one state or territory effected by deadly radiation and you want to risk all that because Dutton has convinced you that’s cheaper and safer with no evidence to back it up?
I’d rather listen to the scientists at CSIRO that know a lot more than a politician that is desperate to be the next PM.
Kerrie McCoy, Dromana
Neglect of road reserves
Cheers to Fred Crump for pointing out to all the sad state of our road reserves in a year when unusually hot weather is happening in our part of the country (Crump calls for action on ‘disgraceful’ road reserves, The News 7/1/25).
Knee high grass that is rapidly browning off should have been cut at least three weeks ago. The responsible authorities keep reminding us ordinary citizens to make our properties bushfire safe, but they themselves put all our lives at risk by the reckless neglect of their own responsibilities.
And when it comes to the state of our roads, disgraceful is the only word that comes to mind. Last year,when I cleaned a lot of flammable material from a council reserve near me and asked the shire to take it away, I was threatened with fines instead a thank you for my proactive actions. It took many months for the shire to remove the dangerous material; well past fire season.
So let’s hope the new councillors will treat us poor cash cows a little better. Not holding my breath.
Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach
What’s in a name
As a supporter of the nationwide community independent movement, I was surprised that Independent 4 Flinders’ organising committee chose to endorse a candidate who is an Ordained Minister in the Reorganised Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Although the congregation gave the church a makeover in 2001 by changing the name to “Community of Christ”, the church continues to use the Book of Mormon scripture. Perhaps the name change was simply because members had spent 130 years explaining they are not Mormons.
Although an increasing number of MPs in both federal and state parliaments have strong religious beliefs, only six Australian politicians have ever been ordained ministers. The most memorable is NSW MP the Reverend Fred Nile.
The lack of ordained ministers, priests and rabbis in our parliament is due, in part, to a widely held belief in the separation of church and state. The community independent movement is a grassroots movement that aims to ensure MPs represent their communities, not their church.
Annette Davidson, Northcote
Beware!
Come next month 89; where goest thou?
The past 15 years zoomed, unnoticed. Take note, if you are in your 70’s treasure the time, daily, or the zoom effect is in waiting. Maybe an individual journey, alone, despite the comfort (if lucky?) and satisfaction of family and friends, each on their own journeys. Fair enough. Up to you? Our Prime Minister is doing the rounds, for caring, or popularity, (also) come March?
I have the urge to listen. Alas, at last, I’m treasuring.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
Well done?
Mornington Peninsula Council Watch: “Well done Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors Williams, Pingiaro, Allen, Ranken, Batty and mayor Cr Marsh” for shutting down public consultation on two issues at the council meeting on 17 December.
Is Mornington Peninsula Council Watch against public consultation?
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Don’t despair!
Having read the letters (My despair, Letters 7/1/25), I hastened out of my hanging seat under the prunus tree to give hope to Bruce Wearing- Smith who, I suspect, is a consumer of mainstream media.
Bruce, don’t. They are harbingers of doom and gloom; purveyors of fear, doubt and malcontent. Their aim seems to be to keep us all in despair and on edge, thereby disempowered, and useful fodder for those who sponsor them.
There are several remedies for your despair.
One is to ditch the news and newspapers (apart, of course, from our wonderful local paper).
Two is to become a recipient of the Good News Network, which will tell you about wonderful things people are doing and inventing – kindnesses and problem-solving.
The third is to know that, yes, all our old systems may well be crumbling, because they are overdue for change and improvement. Mainstream media does not tell you much about the quiet improvements stirring out there, while they make much of the crumbling. New and better times might well be on the way, but, like any birth, it may be a painful process as truths come to light, cognitive dissonance punches us in the head, and old beliefs are seen through.
Yes, it looks bad now, but I bet when you’re gone and you look down, you will see your descendants reaping the benefit of the current apparent madness.
Keep heart Bruce.
Paula Polson, Dromana
