Secrecy over Potter show highlights council failings
There is no doubt about the huge public opposition to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council secretly giving The Briars wildlife reserve over to Warner Brothers/Fever for two months to conduct their Harry Potter show.
Secretly doing a deal with a multinational entertainment group to stage a major event that will dramatically affect Mount Martha residents and pose huge environmental problems for The Briars slaps in the face of the “transparency and consultation” that we expect from our councillors and council executive.
The public only found out about it when tickets went on sale four or five months after the deal was done.
Feel good statements about economic benefit for local traders, minimal harm to the environment and no problem for the native animals, are fanciful spin at best.
Council’s own event policy document states is Objectives as being “to ensure there is a consistent, accountable and transparent approach in the administration of events”.
Under Key Principals: “Environmental – encourage and/or supporting events that will not negatively impact the amenity of the region’s natural and built environment.”
Also: “Limiting the impacts of events on roads, reserves, parks and foreshores and other public areas … ensuring events are conducted sustainably with no detrimental impact to the environment or amenity of an area or location.”
As for our councillors, their code of conduct’s overarching principals binds them to comply with the Local Government Act 2020, section 9(3) governing “community engagement principles” and “public transparency principles”.
With such blatant disregard for the above, is it time for a line in the sand with our council?
Do they need to be reminded that The Briars belongs to and is funded by the community?
David Mason, Mount Martha
Show a money spinner
When is a sanctuary not a sanctuary? When it’s The Briars.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has elected to turn the only publicly owned wildlife sanctuary on the peninsula into a Warner Bros theme park.
Of course it is a money-spinner, so I’m sure it will continue if it’s successful. The council needs the money. Our rates aren’t high enough.
It seems we don’t need wildlife sanctuaries anymore. Such a shame because I thought they were important.
Fay Sicker, Mount Martha
Separate reality
Move over Brian Cox. Our Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has proved the existence of a multiverse here on Earth. For a while I was baffled by the signs on bins that asked one to use the QR code if the bin was full, with no QR code present; by the signs pointing down to the ground indicating the presence of the new cash for cans system, with no outward sign of a subterranean can receiver or cash dispenser; by the large sign on Hillview Reserve telling us for a decade about a non-existent playground – even more baffling in that this now seems to be in Red Hill rather than Seawinds, according to the latest Penwide [council newsletter]. Then it slowly dawned on me that our shire has succeeded in creating its own alternate reality – where words and signs trump action.
And a fine tuning on this is of course “community consultation”. Once it has been spoken of and the sign is up, one can consider it done.
Comparison with Hobson’s Bay, where a beautiful new pier is built as soon as needed; a long stone seawall is quietly erected for the sake of future needs; mature street trees are planted and looked after; a full professional theatre is built for local performances; tasteful wooden beach shelters and benches for outdoor eating appear – all with no fanfare, bragging or fuss on the part of the council – indicates there are indeed alternate universes. And within Victoria.
Perhaps if photos of councillors were banned from all shire publications our little section of the multiverse might be more outward focussed – towards the needs of the people – rather than (not sure really where the focus is currently) flags maybe?
Paula Polson, Dromana
Public in the dark
As a regular visitor to The Briars wildlife sanctuary, I was surprised to learn of the deal Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has struck with Warner Brothers to stage a Harry Potter spectacle there.
In the interests of open government, I invite council to say:
- Who initiated contact between council and Warner Bros?
- When did discussions between them begin?
- On what date did the parties reach agreement?
- What amount, if any, is Warner Bros going to pay council under any and, if so, what licence agreement?
- What steps, if any, did council take to consult stakeholders (such as Friends of the Briars, CFA) whether and, if so, where the spectacle should be staged?
- On what date was the question of the spectacle first placed on an agenda for discussion or consideration by council?
- When did council meet to consider whether to authorise its officers or employees to enter into any and, if so, what agreement with Warner Bros?
- Did council consider the above question in closed session; before any and, if so, which of its elected councillors; subject to the imposition of a precondition that any councillor who wished to vote on the question had to sign a commercial-in-confidence undertaking?
- Before making its decision to enter into an agreement with Warner Bros, what regard, if any, did council pay to the nature and extent of the impact of the spectacle on The Briars’ wildlife and the sustainability of the amenity of the sanctuary?
In the absence of council’s answers to these questions, one is left to conclude that council has kept ratepayers and stakeholders in the dark, and that it sees itself as immune from public scrutiny in an environmental matter of the first importance.
Nicholas Green, Inverloch
Flag not blissful
Ignorance is not bliss. Living in this modern day world that we all find ourselves living in today, ignorance is a commodity that none of us can afford.
Many on the Mornington Peninsula are not pleased with the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council flying the LGBTQIA+ flag outside council officers (Pride is International and Flag congratulations, Letters 19/12/23). Contrary to both these letters, while peninsula residents are welcoming of diverse backgrounds many are not welcoming to the agenda behind the LGBTQIA+ flag. Ignorance is not bliss.
The opposite word(s) for bliss according to a simple Google search is “misery”, with other similar words such as sadness, unhappiness, calamity, woe, just to name a few.
In fact, ignorance produces everything opposite to the word bliss, especially when LGBTQIA+ discos and formals are organised by our shire for 10-year-old children with our rate monies. This was done in May of last year just prior to these virtue signalling flags were flown.
Those of us who push back against this flag are not ignorant to the agenda behind it. Nor are we prejudice toward or against any adults for the lifestyle they choose. We are simply protecting children against everything that bliss is the opposite of.
Many in the gay community say that this flag does not represent them either.
Break through your blissful ignorance and protect the children.
Felicity Benson, Mornington
Proud Australians
The Pride flags being flown on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council offices seems to be simple virtue signalling.
Surely the best way to demonstrate inclusion is to do away with all the symbols of minority groups and have a general acceptance that no one is excluded? It is the majority that apparently must bend to the will of the minority.
By way of example, we have the High Commissioner in London (another “retired” politician at the trough) cancelling the Australia Day function – a charity fundraiser – because a small but vocal minority is offended by the majority celebrating this country’s national day.
There is no longer a parade in Melbourne to celebrate Australia Day.
The last time I went into the city for Australia Day I was incredibly impressed by the diversity of the multitude of national groups wearing the national costumes of the land of their birth (or of their forebears), but so very proud to be Australian. As a migrant myself, it is something I share with so many.
Jack Wheeler, Mornington
Death duties
Trying to fix the problem of carnage on our roads with decades old methods are not working. Have we reached the bottom of the barrel on road carnage? How much lower can it go?
Of 190,939 deaths in Australia, 1253 were due to roads (.00656 per cent). How low can road carnage go? How much do we spend to get it lower? I think we might be spending too much on a problem that will never go away?
If we want to save lots of lives we should spend millions of dollars on the big five that might actually be solvable: heart disease (18,643 deaths), dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (17,106), COVID-9 (859). cerebrovascular diseases (9829), lung cancer (9048).
If you want to use the “but the effect on the extended family and community”, that is a problem for all of the above, not specifically special to road carnage.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Helping each other
The hottest year on record, 2023 was a year marred globally by war and extreme weather events. In Australia it was also a year tarnished by disinformation and social division, evidenced most clearly throughout the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum campaign and outcome.
Most of us, however, want peace, a stable climate and to close the gap of Indigenous disadvantage.
So how do we move forward in 2024? We listen and learn from each other. We find common ground and we work together to create the society and environment we want to live in.
In 2024 we encourage governments to work for people and planet instead of big corporations, we support truth, and as much as possible we bring optimism to every interaction. One community garden, shared meal, or donation to charity at a time, each of us can contribute to a positive future.
Amy Hiller, Kew
A plea to Harry Potter author J K Rowling
Dear J K,
I’m writing to you with an appeal. I’m sure you get a zillion of these letters each day, but I’m hoping this one reaches your heart.
In the little town where I live, Mount Martha, there is a small park with an old sanctuary for rare Australian birds, wildlife and plants. Most of these are small shy nocturnal creatures with the beautiful powerful owl at the top of the food chain.
At night you can tour through this sanctuary and, armed with a pale red light, you might catch a glimpse of a koala, possum, or any of the small ground dwelling marsupials and plants that are nurtured within its boundaries.
The reason for this letter is that yesterday, buried in the fog of Christmas activity, it was revealed that Warner Brothers and our local council will be hosting a Harry Potter night time extravaganza inside this little sanctuary. This will attract thousands of visitors, lighting, sound and generating infrastructure.
There is a lot of money changing hands for this event and it is being presented as a fait accompli and no one, especially the traumatised animals, will have any influence over these decisions. I am appealing to you in good faith and with your considerable influence over all things Potter, to please reconsider this venue choice?
There is a lovely community forest within one kilometre of this site that would make a wonderful enchanted forest with all the same amenities and no environmental impact whatsoever.
I’m sure Harry Potter fans worldwide would applaud this consideration for the fauna and rare plant species at The Briars sanctuary. Please help if you can?
Best wishes.
Anthony Wood, Mount Martha
(and the tiny residents of The Briars, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Australia)
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 – 9 January 2024
