Bumpy ride for wheelchairs
The new roundabout at the corner of Myers and Hendersons roads, Bittern is a safety hazard. More specifically, the secondary speed bumps just before the roundabout are a significant hazard to anyone who is travelling in a wheelchair.
While the initial speed bumps on the approach to the roundabout have a gentle gradient and stretch the full length of the land to allow a smooth ride over them, the secondary speed bumps are higher and only partially cover the lane. This means that the car travelling over them is rocked far more violently, even at low speed.
The net result is a wheelchair passenger who is jostled twice in rapid succession – with the second “bump” being quite violent. We can speak from experience that the result is a wheelchair passenger who is thrown about, and whose restraints are pushed to the maximum.
Who approved such a design?
We will be considering a formal complaint with the Victorian Human Rights Commissioner because of these risks.
If Mornington Peninsula Shire is serious about being more inclusive and better considering the needs of its disabled residents, then its staff need to consider these sorts of matters.
For example, I have already had some discussion about access to the forthcoming changing places toilet in Flinders. Without a proper zebra crossing between the park and the hall, the facility becomes useless to park goers.
I have been told it is a matter for VicRoads, but is the shire going to advocate to VicRoads? Or is it up to the individual to do so?
Bianca Felix, Bittern
Parking problem
For two years, with the help of Cr David Gill and Mornington Peninsula Shire, friends and I have been trying to get disabled parking bays outside the Balnarring chemist and post office, to no avail.
There are two disabled parking bays on the other side, which was once the chemist and the newsagency, but to walk across from these is difficult.
Balnarring has become a very busy shopping area and to get a park near the chemist and post office is not easy. Many elderly people still pay their bills at the post office and have to visit the chemist.
I have been told that it is up to the body corporate, so how about considering your elderly patrons of which there are many, and who have lived here for well over 30 years and supported the shops.
Julia Bartlett, Somers
Sack the council
Sack Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and call in an administrator.
The Mornington Peninsula used to be a good place to retire, not any more. We are expected to pay our rates and if you are aged over 65 you get nothing in return.
The home help department has been shut down and it takes 12 months to get help from the alternate providers if you are lucky.
The potholes in the roads are pathetic, the Beleura Hill pathway has been closed and they refuse to build a footpath in Kenaud Avenue, Mount Eliza.
It is rumoured that they are going to leave the residents hungry and abandon meal on wheels.
Maybe we should all refuse to pay our rates.
Terry Young, Mount Eliza
Art for all
Kudos to Mornington Peninsula Shire for the provocative modern art installations on the north bound Moorooduc Highway, between Craigie and Bentons roads. At first I mistook it for thoughtless dumping but noting the piles have been there for most of this year, it dawned on me that they are, in fact, wonderful and thought provoking modern art installations.
Perhaps meditating on the themes of willful inaction in the face of the inevitable entropy of the universe or, in particular, the culture-rich life of the peninsula.
Kudos to the mayor [Anthony Marsh], safely home from his recent kayaking adventure, and special mention to the officer overseeing cultural development.
Rate money well spent.
David Martin, Mount Martha
Colour confusion
We recently saw the usual jockeying during our federal election. Now we are closing in on a state election with more of the same.
Clive Palmer is an investor who wants influence in Canberra, so he finances and starts up his own political party. People may or may not like his politics, but his method seems legitimate.
Simon Holmes a Court is an investor who seems to have the same aim, but his method is completely different.
He finances a group, mainly women, to stand as “independents”.
They all share the same mantra, and they identify as a group by adopting the teal colour as their “brand”. It seems like the party you have when you don’t want to dirty your hands by having a party.
Who would think it’s OK to politicise the teal colour for their own benefit when that colour is the “brand” colour for ovarian cancer fundraising and support, both in Australia and Internationally?
Would you brand a political party or movement with a Red Cross, or breast cancer pink?
When I wear my Ovarian Cancer Australia teal shirt as a sign of support for the charity, I now get questioned about my politics rather than the cause.
As a supporter of OCA, I ask these women to have a good look in a mirror and consider the choice they have made.
David Mason, Mount Martha
Fish with care
As any angler worth their salt fishing for recreational purposes is fun and can be very rewarding once you land a fish that is within the legal size (“Petition to tackle fishing ‘problem’ at marina” The News 27/9/22).
Having been a fisherman for some 40 years it is disappointing to read about the behaviour of some fishermen whose angling practices are appalling. What made me sad, was to think these fishermen were defecating in the bushes which is just outrageous and leaving their fishing waste and other rubbish behind.
To read the story made me rather angry, as this is tarnishing the good anglers.
Mount Martha and Mornington are great fishing locations, and I would like to stress that myself, and my fisho friends, would never do such damage to the environment by leaving line, hooks, wasted plastic bait bags and such in a beautiful part of our area. We always clean up before leaving.
It is also good practice for anglers to watch for the public when casting a line as I agree with the comments about this in the article. Those who do not look before casting are just not showing the angling practice.
Keep it safe, don’t take undersized fish, and clean up after a fishing session.
I am forever cleaning up line and bait bags and hooks from the pier, even when I am on a walk and not fishing. It’s just not good enough for the angling community.
Rob Heels, Mornington
Target hopeful
The year 2030 is an important year for climate targets. It is also the year that my two oldest grandchildren will turn 18 with all the rights and responsibilities that age brings, gulp, and I will turn 80. A fitting present for all three of us will be the realisation of the nation’s 82 per cent 2030 renewable energy target.
As an octogenarian I will be happy with 80 per cent, but the extra two per cent will be the icing on the cake. Am I hopeful? I must be. As Dostoevsky said: “To live without hope is to cease to live.”
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Rental responsibilities
Having so obviously cashed in on the scarcity or rental properties on the Mornington Peninsula, avaricious landlords (and their complicit estate agents) now must ensure their properties meet all obligations of the recently update tenancy laws.
Regardless of the high rents, moral responsibility toward tenants is rarely evident.
Many houses on the peninsula were originally built as inexpensive, second houses for summer stays and do not now meet standards for all-year dwelling. Often these buildings have numerous unaddressed problems and are certainly not homes in which renters may live a secure, dignified and comfortable life.
Their lack of a social conscience has been observed by many.
Sarah Davies, Blairgowrie
‘Gain’ disappears
I am delighted and heartened by your report (“Speed limit ‘disaster’ under investigation” The News 20/9/22). I was driving 47kpm in that spot [Nepean Highway and Davey Street, Frankston intersection] and had no idea there was a 40kpm limit. I rarely drive there.
Yes, I paid the $227 fine, what else are we to do? Just suffer? I’m nearly 77 and my income is tiny.
I enjoyed the $250 bonus for looking into the costs of different power companies – especially as it was all handled for me by Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke and his lovely staff.
Well, I said to myself “that pays for the fine.” Life’s swings and roundabouts.
Now there’s no pain from the fine and no gain from the bonus.
Evelyn Lawson, Karingal
Historical ‘facts’
The Australian Wars (SBS TV) pretty much puts forth the factual vicious vitriol of the brutal colonisation which occurred in every country colonised by the monarchy: USA, India, Australia and Canada for starters (“God save the king” Letters 27/9/22).
The Commonwealth is something to be proud of so long as we continue to ignore the colonisation, slavery, child theft and general treatment, even today, of the original owners of the land. Even in the nasty USA they, at least, signed treaties before they stole the indigenous land.
I might be so bold as to suggest that [Victorian Greens MP] Samantha Ratnam – accused of being insensitive, ignorant, uneducated, having no knowledge of our history or understanding of Australian culture and encouraging division among Australians – displays a greater understanding of Australian culture and knowledge of our history than many Australians.
Jo Lenzo, Safety Beach
Support thanks
Thank you to the people impacted by dementia, community members and healthcare professionals who marked Dementia Action Week 2022 (19-25 September).
While Dementia Action Week is only one week each year, the conversation and action to eliminate discrimination continues year-round. For information and tips on how you can continue to make a difference in your community, please visit discrimination.dementia.org.au.
Maree McCabe AM, CEO Dementia Australia
Preserving maritime history
Max Bryant is the president of the Western Port Oberon Association and not the only person fighting to save the submarine Otama, the whole association is. We are running also running our maritime museum as well and we are all unpaid volunteers trying to preserve our maritime history (“Submarine sorrow” Letters 20/9/22).
Holbrook, NSW only has the top half of the [former HMAS] Otway there, not the whole submarine, which was scrapped in Sydney. The Holbrook council bought the pieces and trucked them back to put them on top of the concrete mound in a park.
The museum at Holbrook has some funding from the council and a benefactor, which WPOA has never had. Further to that, WPOA members have been to Holbrook museum many times and know quite a few people there, so I hope that you can see just how difficult it is to try and preserve our Victorian maritime history without any financial help from anyone.
The Victorian Maritime Centre in The Esplanade, Crib Point opens 10am-3pm every Saturday and Sunday and weekdays for booked group tours.
Please come and visit us.
Rosey Kendall, secretary Western Port Oberon Association Victorian Maritime Centre
Letters – 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number – can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
First published in the Mornington News – 4 October 2022
