VICTORIA’S fisheries department is proposing to close its Mornington station and replace it with a “community office” in Carrum under a new model stakeholder groups fear would lead to weaker compliance and increased illegal fishing. The community hub would be “education only”, according to the Community and Public Sector Union (CSPU), with nine engagement officers to serve the whole Port Phillip and Western Port Bay areas, resulting in a 66 per cent staff reduction.Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has not made a formal announcement on the changes. Instead, a spokesperson said in a statement its future was “focused on education and…
Author: Brendan Rees
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will take a closer look at how ratepayer money is spent in its fight against climate change after some councillors claimed “wasteful projects” were not delivering community results.Councillors voted in favour of a motion at their 28 January meeting for shire officers to prepare a report to help councillors make informed “strategic and budgetary decisions” regarding its climate emergency declaration.Deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, who introduced the amended motion, said it was about “critically evaluating whether we as a council are delivering real, measurable outcomes for the people of the Mornington Peninsula”. “Ratepayers deserve to see how…
THE Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad has responded to more than 30 rescue calls this summer, prompting a concerning rise in the number of incidents across the region. It has been one of the busiest seasons for the search and rescue service despite safety campaigns from Safe Transport Victoria urging boaters and jet skiers to be prepared before heading out.The Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad is a not-for-profit volunteer marine search and rescue service, which has been based at the Blairgowrie marina for 58 years. It operates 24-7 with 31 local volunteers responding to all calls in southern Port Phillip Bay and…
GUNNAMATTA Surf Life Saving Club’s Jill Douglas has been awarded a Life Saving Victoria national medal recognising her 15 years of dedicated service.The award, which is part of Australia’s national honours system, acknowledges those who “risk their lives to protect or assist the community in enforcement of law or in times of emergency or natural disaster”. Recipients must have served a minimum of 30 patrol hours per year over 15 years to be eligible for the medal.Douglas, who is one of the club trainers and assessors and the junior bronze lifesaver camp coordinator, expressed her commitment to volunteering was not…
A RECENT spate of youth crime across the peninsula has pushed fed up residents to the brink, with a protest held outside the Somerville office of Hastings MP Paul Mercurio on Friday afternoon, 21 February.The small group of demonstrators were calling for immediate action to address the rising concerns surrounding youth crime in the community. Holding placards emblazoned with messages like “End violence”, “Enough is enough”, and “Tough laws, safer streets”, the protestors, a mix of concerned residents, stood united in their demand for changes aimed at curbing the surge in criminal activity in the area. The peaceful protest saw…
A recent spate of youth crime across Hastings has pushed fed up residents to the brink, with a planned protest expected to occur outside the Somerville office of Member for Hastings Paul Mercurio on Friday afternoon, 21 February. They are calling for action as local campaigners spread the word on social media that youth crime was “out of control” and encouraged residents to “make a stand” at the peaceful demonstration that organisers said would run between 4pm to 7pm. “Improvements in youth crime, unsatisfactory sentencing laws, improvements in policing and other local issues,” one post read. Over the past few…
A MT ELIZA teenager who gave up his time during year 12 to create positive outcomes in the Mornington community has been nominated for a young achiever award. Finn Mackay, 18, volunteered at Mornington MP Chris Crewther’s office last year, helping with administrative tasks and various community projects including beach hand cleaning. For his efforts, he’s now in the running for the 2024 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards under the community award category for Victoria. The awards aim to recognise leadership, dedication and pursuit of excellence among young people up to 29 years of age.Mackay, who was 17 at the time…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has made an ambitious bid to secure more than $5.6 million in funding to fix dangerous and high-risk roads under the federal government’s Black Spot program. The council has put forward a total of 12 projects across the peninsula that either have a history of serious crashes or are at risk of accidents occurring including $1.22 million for the Capel Sound area and almost $1 million for the Mornington area. A formal submission has been made by the shire under the 2025/26 Black Spot program, with a response from the federal government expected in June, but there’s…
SOMERVILLE Recreation Reserve would be upgraded under a $5m plan if Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie is re-elected and the Liberal Party takes office at the federal election. The proposed revamp would benefit the football, netball and cricket clubs, as well as the Somerville Scout Group, whose hall is in desperate need of repair.Currently, 49 sporting teams call the reserve home, which has cricket nets, six tennis courts, two netball courts, three pavilions, two playgrounds, an oval, a scout hall, public toilets and a bowls club.But McKenzie said many of these clubs were relying on facilities “that belong in the last…
AMBULANCE response times on the Mornington Peninsula have climbed by an average of almost a minute and a half over the last quarter, new figures show, as demand remained “steadily high”. Frankston and Kingston local government areas also recorded slightly slower response times after new data was released by Ambulance Victoria last week for the October to December quarter.Code one “lights and sirens” emergencies are measured from the time of a triple-0 call being answered to the first ambulance arriving at the incident scene – with a statewide response time target being 15 minutes. On the Mornington Peninsula, 60.1 per…
SILVERS Circus’s decades-long presence in Mornington is facing an uncertain future as its current home at the Bata shoe factory site prepares for development.The site at the corner of Nepean Hwy and Oakbank Rd, known as the gateway to Mornington, has hosted the circus for the past 30 years, but this summer will officially be its last as it begins a desperate search for a new home, which the circus hoped would remain in Mornington.“Unfortunately, that site is now being developed so we need another home for us,” Simon Tait, representing Silvers Circus, told The News. “We’ve become almost like…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors will push for a compulsory lobbying policy to be created at local government level to improve transparency and best practice standards. Councillors voted unanimously at their 28 January meeting to call on the state government to introduce mandatory regulations for council officers and councillors state-wide as part of a lobbying policy to “help ensure transparency and accountability in decision making”.Currently Victoria does not have any lobbying regulations at local government level, meaning influences could operate unchecked and potentially undermine public trust, particularly when councils consider multi-million-dollar development proposals.Cr David Gill led the charge in proposing the…
The owners of two fast-food franchise stores including one at Rosebud Plaza could be hit with almost $250,000 in fines for allegedly breaching child employment laws. The Donut King operator will face 70 criminal charges this month after the state’s child employment watchdog Wage Inspectorate Victoria found it had breached the Child Employment Act between 1 January and 6 July last year. It has been alleged the stores, including Donut King in Berwick, which trade under Minto Nominees Pty Ltd, had employed three children under the age of 15 without a licence on 30 occasions and failed to ensure children…
FLINDERS MP Zoe McKenzie has pledged $500,000 in funding to help boost jobs and opportunities for adults with different abilities at Sages Cottage in Baxter, if re-elected. The heritage-listed cottage sits within a 38-acre farm and café run by people with a disability. It is operated by not-for-profit disability support group Wallara Australia, which welcomes more than 50,000 visitors each year.McKenzie last week announced a promise to fund an inclusive jobs hub initiative at Sages Cottage allowing it to expand its workforce and increase visitors, if re-elected at the federal election this year. Currently 80 special needs young adults operate…
ARMY veteran David Locke knows all too well the inner battles that can follow after leaving the service.For years the 37-year-old Rye resident, who was deployed to Afghanistan, grappled with the weight of post-traumatic stress and a sense of isolation. “I was pretty cooked … I worked for a few years (after leaving the army in 2012) but mentally couldn’t handle it,” he said, which included a time of self-medicating with alcohol and drugs to cope.But it was his love of fishing that ultimately helped him reclaim his life, and more recently, the discovery of Veterans for Fishing (VFF), that’s…
Firefighters contained a scrub fire that spread over two hectares in Cape Schanck, with a water-bombing helicopter called in to tackle the blaze on 6 February. The fire broke out near Long Point Rd about 5.50pm which saw 15 fire vehicles respond including units from Boneo, Rosebud, Main Ridge, Rye, Dromana, Moorooduc fire brigades and Fire Rescue Victoria pumper 95. Ambulance Victoria was also in attendance but no injuries were reported. The fire was declared under control just before 8.20pm. Crews stayed on scene until 10pm to ensure the area was safe. CFA also issued a community advice message for…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have united in imploring the state government to immediately ban all donations from property developers, gambling businesses, and politicians to candidates running for local councils.Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the move at their 28 January meeting after Cr David Gill led a motion to end the three streams of financial contributions for candidates, as well as set a cap of $500 for all other donations ensuring the process is “transparent and it is accountable”.“The state government has the power to make these changes,” said Gill, who has made similar pushes in previous years. “It’s not…
A FATHER whose life was narrowly spared after a tree fell on his moving car last August in Tuerong says he’s “overwhelmed with gratitude” towards his rescuers.Mark Stockwell was driving home on Coolart Rd when a freak storm caused a large tree to crash directly on top of his car. He was trapped for 90 minutes as CFA crews from Hastings, Langwarrin and Dromana, as well as SES, Ambulance Victoria, and Victoria Police tried to free him from the wreckage.“I don’t really remember much about it. I just recall thinking, ‘I think I’ve been in an accident,’ and I was…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has postponed any decision on the future of a controversial hand beach cleaning trial at all Port Phillip beaches due to “further work” being needed.The matter was set to be considered by councillors at their 28 January meeting after deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro moved an urgent business motion last December calling for the hand cleaning trial to end “with immediate effect” and to reinstate a mechanical rake method. But a report prepared by council officers was withdrawn just hours before the meeting was to be held. It will instead be presented to councillors no later than…
COUNCILLORS voted to kill off paid parking for good at last week’s Mornington Peninsula Shire council meeting, putting an end to the contentious trial that faced widespread backlash from residents, business, and various groups.The shire had tested paid visitor parking at Sunnyside Beach, Mt Eliza, Schnapper Point (near the pier), Mornington and near Flinders pier in the trial that was halted on 14 September last year. The trial was initially intended for 12 months after starting in December 2023 but lasted only nine months after community concerns prompted the shire to suspend it for further review. Issues included beachgoers using…
A CAPEL Sound house has gone up in flames in a blaze suspected to have been sparked by an e-scooter battery.Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria crews responded to the incident at Wynne St after a caller to triple-0 reported the fire just after 3am on 29 January. “Firefighters arrived at the Wynne St scene within seven minutes, finding the property well alight,” an FRV spokesperson said. Those inside the home at the time managed to evacuate safely.“Crews conducted an aggressive external attack on the fire, bringing it under control at 3.26am,” the spokesperson said. Firefighters also contended with…
THE Dolphin Research Institute has renewed calls for boaters to be careful around dolphins in Port Phillip Bay after young calves were “clearly distressed by vessels” earlier this month.There are at least seven dolphin calves only weeks old and are still totally reliant on their mother, the institute’s executive director Jeff Weir said. But he said researchers had unfortunately witnessed “profound tail slapping,” where dolphins “vigorously bang their tail fluke on the water in a graphic distress response that can be seen and heard hundreds of metres away”. “It’s a sign that vessels need to give them space,” he said.“The…
A GROUP of reckless pranksters have faced a fierce backlash from residents and beach users after performing a dangerous stunt involving glass at Mothers Beach in Mornington.The males involved, believed to be youths and YouTube attention-seekers, reportedly placed several glass picture frames beneath the surface of the sand about 2pm on 21 January while the beach was packed on a hot day. The News understands about five of the picture frames, which bizarrely depicted American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, were buried at various spots along the beach near Schnapper Point with water bottles placed on top of each one in…
EXTENSIVE testing is continuing following a landslip in McCrae with a total of 20 homes having now been evacuated.Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Anthony Marsh confirmed it could be weeks if not months before homeowners returned to their properties as the site was yet to be deemed safe, adding it “remains a complex and evolving issue” and the “risk of further landslides is unknown”.“We assure the community that we are diligently investigating the source and cause of the landslide, with community and site safety a priority. We are in direct contact with affected residents and homeowners and will continue to provide…
RESIDENTS fighting a proposed major development of an adventure park in Boneo have been left seething after the state’s planning minister intervened before a planned tribunal appeal. The proposal involves a $47.7 million expansion for a leisure and recreation facility at The Ranch, a 200-acre adventure park at 810 Boneo Rd, which sits within the green wedge. Under the plans, a new indoor and outdoor skateboarding facility would be added, along with mountain biking trails and BMX tracks, dry-ski snowboarding slopes, and two wakeboard lakes.Despite the proposal attracting 107 objections, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors granted an amended planning permit last…
AT 66, Wayne Hinton is still going strong on the field after decades of dedication as an Australian rules umpire. The Mornington resident’s fairness and commitment to the game has made him a familiar and respected figure at a local and state level after 45 years of umpiring. “I love getting out there and just trying to do my right job,” he told The News.For his services, Hinton was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of the Australia Day honours “for service to Australian rules football as an umpire”. His impact on the game is…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has launched legal action against the Peninsula Hot Springs following allegations it was using an overflow carpark that was shut down in December. The spa and wellness centre’s overflow carpark which accommodates 106 staff parking spaces and 348 overflow parking spaces at Devonport Drive in Fingal has been operating since 2018 without a permit.However, a formal permit application by the hot springs seeking to continue the carpark’s use was knocked back by the council at their 17 December meeting following an uproar from residents and it being “inconsistent” with the “objectives and decision guidelines” of the green…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Mayor Anthony Marsh will invite a meeting with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny expressing growing community concern over a proposed redevelopment of Arthurs Seat Eagle.The $25 million plan involves expanding the popular tourist attraction including adding a new observation tower, a pedestrian bridge over Arthurs Seat Rd, a function centre, a luge ride attraction and an “experiential interpretive centre” – all of which would be delivered over three stages.However, a petition launched by “Save our Seat” last October has warned that Arthurs Seat state park was in “grave danger” if the plans went ahead. “Private developers are planning…
A CONTENTIOUS citizens’ panel aimed at helping shape the peninsula’s future at a cost of $150,000 to ratepayers has been given the flick by Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors.The panel, established in 2022, has seen 150 members participate in “gaining valuable insights into the many challenges facing council” as well as developing a community vision to 2040. Through the forums panellists provided councillors with “a rich data source to assist them with their decision-making” as part of “deliberative consultation” as stated in the Local Government Act. Last year the budget allocated to the 2024 panel was $140,000 with each panellist receiving…
PLANS for a new housing estate near Mornington racecourse that would see 250 homes built has gravely concerned residents who say it would impact their amenity and cause traffic issues.Mornington Peninsula Shire has received two planning applications that propose to subdivide land into 57 lots and 59 lots that border Racecourse Rd, Watt Rd and Carbine Way. Named the “Woodbyne Estate”, the proposed precinct would cover 13 hectares, with the permits including the proposed removal of the council-owned Watt Rd plantation reserve, creation of reserves for new public open spaces and removal of vegetation.The combined permits apply to privately owned…