Parks vegetation provided its own protection
There is a small bush reserve between Shire Hall and Mills beaches encircled by a popular walking track. Recent notices erected advise that the “Friends” are restoring the bush”, which means they are removing introduced species which are not natural such as tea-tree and replacing them with grasses and shrubs.
A further notice advises “Management” requests visitors to stay out of the area to protect the vegetation which, if the area had not been “opened up” in so many places and the scrub had remained dense, there would be no reason to stray off the beaten track.
There is much admiration for residents who volunteer to work on community projects, but I would have preferred they had directed their efforts elsewhere as, to my mind, the area being left to grow wild was far more attractive than it is now. However, Mornington Peninsula Shire has informed me that the work being undertaken is in accordance with its biodiversity plan, in which case perhaps an effort could be made to remove the cones and stakes supporting the many plantings which have not survived and the proliferation of loose cones now littering the area and fast becoming an eyesore. Also, it would be good to see dead foliage removed rather than left to further detract from the attraction of the reserve.
I can’t help wondering if the shire would be better directing residents’ rates to more pressing needs of the peninsula.
Beverley Treloar, Mornington
Historical work
I recently worked during one weekend as a volunteer for the Mornington Historical Society in the beautiful Old Mornington Post Office at the end of Main Street. I met some fabulous people, locals and even some young people from France. It’s a small but interesting site and more volunteers are needed so I encourage people to think about it. I only help out every few months for an afternoon.
And I recently did a clean-up of things from my parents old home, clippings of my dad’s work at BP and Esso and donated these to the organisation. Please think of the society when you do the same – please don’t automatically send things to the tip.
Susan Blackburn, Mornington
Missing in action
Well, I am totally gob smacked. An opinion poll has the Liberals gaining ground against Labor and I cannot for the life of me see why.
The Liberal and National parties continually hoodwink their respective electorates into believing the Liberals will be good for them. That’s a load of rubbish. They’re good for the wealthy side of the spectrum but, not us, the battlers.
How often do we see the Liberals promise millions of bucks for a project during election time only to shelve it once they’re elected and then trot it out again at the next election or blame the Labor Party for not honouring the liberals promise?
The Jetty Road [Rosebud] overpass is a case in point. Another is the upgrade of Rosebud Hospital promised by [former Liberal leader] Matthew Guy. Now, the Liberals are agitating for Labor to honour a Liberal promise yet again.
We had a good Labor representative for Nepean in Chris Brayne, who was ousted after he had done so much. We had a LNP representative prior to Chris who was the state education minister who I believe did nothing for our schools, Moorooduc Primary comes to mind.
I read that the state Liberal leader is being challenged and it was reported that [Nepean MP] Sam [Groth], our state rep. is one of the challengers. Strewth, he’s only been in the job five minutes. As they used to say in the army, “the ink on your paybook is still wet”.
John Cain, McCrae
Nuclear wrong turn
Assuming that nuclear energy will win votes at the next federal election for the Coalition is naive. Electability requires quicker, more effective responses to pressing issues like cost of living, and nuclear is hamstrung by very long lead times.
Meanwhile, we need to keep the lights on, replace aged coal plants and address climate change now and every year ahead, not in two decades time perhaps.
It would be daft in this large sunny, often windy land of ours not to back nimbler renewable energy strategies combined with various forms of energy storage to counter wind and solar intermittency.
Jim Allen, Panorama SA
