RESIDENTS’ battle to save a manna gum overhanging a road in Balnarring has been lost. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have given the go ahead for the tree to axed because it is too close to the road and the legal liability it would face if the tree fell. The decision at council’s 22 February meeting was the second time the tree had been ordered to be felled after officers were told in November to look for other ways to manage “the hazardous manna gum” in Balnarring Road. A follow-up report on 22 February by principal transport engineer Doug Bradbrook stated…
Author: Keith Platt
THERE were smiles all round at the $500 a head lunch featuring a speech by former British prime minister Theresa May as diners looked out over the greens at Peppers Moonah Links Resort, Fingal, on Sunday 13 February. The event was held to raise money for Liberal Party candidates to campaign in the Hastings and Nepean state electorates. Briony Hutton is contesting Hastings, currently held by retiring Liberal Neale Burgess. Retired tennis professional Sam Groth was last week confirmed as the party’s candidate for Nepean, now held by Labor’s Chris Brayne. One of the Nepean Liberals’ organisers said the “really…
THREE of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 11 councillors are willing to comment about allegations of complaints being lodged about them – and against one another – with the Local Government Inspectorate. One councillor sees the LGI as a “secret kangaroo court”, another states that he is legally limited in answering questions, while the third hoped that the election of Cr Anthony Marsh as mayor would ”shift focus from … negativity and concentrate on moving forward with a positive attitude”. Several sources have told The News that up to 15 complaints – most, if not all, subsequently withdrawn – by councillors about…
FLINDERS MP Greg Hunt has waded into the debate over saving an historic wooden section of Flinders pier. Mr Hunt says it is “essential that any historical and environmental impacts are meticulously considered” by the state government which has earmarked a 180 metre section of the pier for demolition. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said the pier issue would be open to “a 60 day community consultation in the near future”. “When this opens, I’ll be advising the whole Flinders community to submit their views on the pier,” he said. Charles Reis, of Flinders Community Association, says the pier fell into…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has agreed to lobby for electric trains to run between Frankston and Langwarrin as the first stage of a service to Hastings. The estimated $650m to $850m cost for six kilometres of double track would include parking for thousands of cars, allowing peninsula residents to park and catch a metro train to Frankston and beyond. At its second last meeting for 2021 (7 December) the shire’s councillors voted unanimously to lobby for a two-staged approach to having an electric train service to Hastings. Cr Paul Mercurio (endorsed Labor Party candidate for Hastings at the November state…
AN artificial reef being installed off Point Nepean next month will give anglers a spot away from busy shipping lanes to catch yellowtail kingfish. The reef will have 16 large concrete structures set in clusters of four about 50 metres apart. “Identical concrete modules have been deployed off the New South Wales coast at Shoalhaven and have proven to be outstanding in attracting Yellowtail Kingfish,” Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer said. “They quickly obtain weed growth and provide a perfect reef in strong tidal waters.” Once in place, the Nepean reef will be the largest artificial reef in Victoria. Mr…
FISHING broadcaster, writer, tackle shop owner and Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer says he might seek Labor Party pre-selection for the state seat of Mornington “if someone taps me on the shoulder … and I’m in the mood”. Labor is expected to wait until after mid-year before choosing its candidate for the seat held by Liberal David Morris for the past 16 years. Mr Morris missed out on being re-endorsed by the Liberal Party which chose Chris Crewther as its candidate. Mr Crewther held the federal seat of Dunkley for one term (2016-2019) after it had been held by former…
TREES brought down in the 29 October storms are still blocking public access steps to Daveys Bay Beach, Mount Eliza. The trees were growing on private property, but the steps are on public land and maintained by Mornington Peninsula Shire. Commodore of the Daveys Bay Yacht Club Leigh Cummin said club members had been given the use of a private access to the beach, but members of the public were struggling to climb over or through the fallen trees. He said the steps had been blocked during one of the club’s busiest times with “hundreds of schoolchildren visiting for summer…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council wants public opinion about nude bathing continuing at Sunnyside Beach, Mount Eliza, but a state government MP says his private polling has already provided the answer: going without clothes is all right. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said voting on his Facebook poll gave unanimous support to “optional clothing” rules to continue at the secluded bayside beach between Mount Eliza and Mornington. Late last year, the council flagged that it would seek public opinion before approaching the government over the issue (“Call for fresh look at nude beach” The News 22/11/21). Since the beach was gazetted as…
THE medium has been chosen and all that is needed is a message. The Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch has launched a competition for designer t-shirts celebrating the organisation’s tenth anniversary. T-shirts with the winning design will be sold at the DSAMP’s 10-year event on 19 March, with proceeds going towards the running of future events and buying equipment. The event planned for 22 January was cancelled due to COVID-19. DSAMP committee member Gary Miller said the t-shirt designs for front and back must be line illustrations (no photos) in one or two colours and include a line such…
MEMBERS of the Liberal Democrats and anti-vaccine mandate group “freedom fighters” were waving placards on the Peninsula Link’s Golf Links’ Road overpass at Baxter on Friday in what they called a fight for “choice”. It is unclear whether the group got the attention its members had hoped for, but they held their placards to catch the eyes of passing Melbourne-bound drivers. Meanwhile, vehicles left from the BP service station at Baxter to join the Convoy to Canberra, also opposing mandated vaccines. Organisers had claimed 300 vehicles would be in the convoy, but the actual number could be counted on two…
THE Victorian Governor Linda Dessau has been asked to investigate the “due process failings” of state government departments involved in approving appointments to the Bass Park Trust. Although no longer Mornington Peninsula Shire’s chosen representative on the trust, Cr David Gill never received approval from the Governor in Council during the four consecutive years he held that position. His place on the trust was filled last June by the now mayor, Cr Anthony Marsh, although Cr Gill is still invited to attend meetings by the trust (“Trust says ‘no’ to council’s chosen delegate” The News 15/6/21). Cr Marsh said on…
THE Voices of Mornington Peninsula group will support Dr Sarah Russell as a candidate for the seat of Flinders in the federal election expected in May. The group’s first choice, Claire Boardman, withdrew from the electoral race just weeks after being chosen saying it was more important to stay in her job as the state government’s deputy commander for COVID (“Candidate withdraws due to Omicron effect” The News 24/1/22). Now, after a series of meetings to decide whether to actually back a candidate, Voices of Mornington Peninsula last weekend decided on Dr Russell. Five candidates are already campaigning for the…
CELLAR doors are all about selling and drinking wine, but a campaign launched on the Mornington Peninsula last week aims to help drinkers keep track of their alcohol consumption. “Scratchies” and other resources are being handed out at cellar doors and festivals will show how many tastings add up to a standard drink. “With wineries typically located a long drive away from cities, it’s imperative that wine tasters know how much they’re consuming in order to make responsible choices,” Health and Aged Care Minister, Flinders MP Greg Hunt said, when launching the national campaign at Crittenden Estate, Dromana. The Stay…
WATCHING a dog leap high into the air after a bouncing ball or snap a thrown stick as it races along at full gallop is a sight to behold. But the agility and speed of dogs can be their downfall. Their bodies can be twisted in unnatural ways as they maintain eye contact with the ball and misjudging a protruding stick can lead to nasty gashes or, worse, a stabbed eye or mouth. Dogs and other domestic animals are road trauma victims and sustain injuries in many different ways and circumstances. While most injuries can be treated by veterinarians, the…
COLIN Lane has been endorsed as the Greens candidate for the seat of Flinders in the federal election now expected to be held in May. Mr Lane is a civil celebrant who conducts weddings and funerals and works part-time as the finance manager for a Mornington Peninsula winery. He says a priority of his “platform” is protecting the peninsula’s threatened natural features. “Seeking better outcomes for our younger generation, more full-time employment opportunities, free tertiary education, and housing schemes that provide more affordable housing for young people are all primary policy positions,” Mr Lane said. Mr Lane joins four other…
EVENTS were cancelled because of COVID, and warm weather saw packed beaches, but Australia Day on the Mornington peninsula remained on track with flag raisings, official awards, citizenship ceremonies and an Indigenous Survival Day at The Briars historic property. Mornington’s Main Street was closed to traffic and instead of a grand parade, park carnival and night fireworks presented a market day atmosphere with live music and family fun. Flag raising ceremonies (usually followed by a community breakfast or barbecue) were held at Sorrento, Hastings and Mount Eliza, while Rosebud saw Mornington Peninsula Shire name its citizen and young citizen of…
THE installation of one-way gates is part of the release plan drawn up for the hundreds of kangaroos trapped on a private Cape Schanck property. The kangaroos have been on the property since late September 2021 and appear to have literally dodged a bullet following the voluntary surrender of a licence to shoot by the property’s manager. The plan to return the kangaroos to the neighbouring Greens Bush section of Mornington Peninsula National Park has been drawn up by community groups, animal welfare groups and concerned neighbours (“Volunteer call to help ‘save’ kangaroos” The News 25/1/22). The one-way gate is…
IT is quite likely that a Viking ship built in Hastings will make a record voyage from Australia to Denmark. However, the ship will be carried aboard a modern day freighter rather than setting sail and relying on the stamina of oarsmen. Asbjorn Pedersen attributes his fascination with the square rigged ships to the “Viking blood running through my heart”. Now living in Mornington, Mr Pedersen was born on Bornholm, a small Danish island in the Baltic Sea, about 100 kilometres north of the fortress of Jomsborg. The fortress was the headquarters of the legendary Jomsvikings, a group of mercenaries…
THE Liberal Party is expected to announce its candidate for the seat of Nepean, held by Labor’s Chris Brayne, in late February. Nominations to be the Liberal candidate closed on Monday (31 January) and the Nepean State Electorate Conference is holding a $45 a head “meet the candidates” function at Safety Beach Sailing Club on Wednesday 9 February. The night is billed as “an important event to attend, to meet the contenders who will be responsible for the Mornington Peninsula”. Elsewhere on the peninsula, Briony Hutton (Liberal) and Paul Mercurio (Labor) will be contesting the seat of Hastings now held…
THE regular shipment of liquid hydrogen from Hastings has come one step closer to reality with the arrival last Thursday of the purpose built tanker Suiso Frontier. The ship’s arrival coincided with the state government announcing an agreement with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) to support research into storing carbon dioxide (CO2) underground, a key part of the commercial success of commercial hydrogen-from-brown-coal production in the Latrobe Valley. However, even if the viability of CCS (carbon capture and storage) research is proved, experts, including the CSIRO, have suggested the cost of making hydrogen through renewable electricity powered…
COVID has curtailed this week’s (Wednesday 26 January) Australia Day events on the Mornington Peninsula for the second year running. However, a festival atmosphere will be created in Main Street, Mornington with live music and “family friendly” events organised by Mornington Chamber of Commerce. The traditional street parade and activities at Mornington Park have again been placed on hold. The regular community-organised Australia Day events at Rye, Dromana and Rosebud have also been cancelled, although they will go ahead at Mount Eliza, Hastings and Sorrento. The Briars historic property at Mount Martha will host Our Survival Day 2022 – Reconnection,…
THE Voices of Mornington Peninsula group is again searching for a candidate to contest the seat of Flinders in the coming federal election. Outdoor meetings will be held this week in Balnarring, Dromana and Rye to replace Claire Boardman who has resigned as the group’s chosen candidate. Ms Boardman said that staying in her job as the state government’s deputy public health commander for COVID was “the strongest contribution I can make to community”. Her choice to stand down as the VMP candidate leaves three formal candidates for Flinders: the Liberal Party’s Zoe McKenzie, Labor’s Surbhi Snowball and independent Despi…
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help ensure the safe transfer of about 600 kangaroos from a private property at Cape Schanck into the neighbouring Greens Bush section of Mornington Peninsula National Park. Campaigners to save the kangaroos have praised the property’s manager for relinquishing the permit he had been given to shoot the kangaroos. “The hard work … has paid off and the newly formed Save the Kangaroos of the Mornington Peninsula (SKOMP) thoroughly welcome the recent development of the manager of the Cape Schanck property deciding on 13 January to withdraw the kangaroo shooting permit,” group spokesperson Mary Waterman…
THE movement of vessels in and out of Western Port is again attracting attention and raising concerns. Long time backers of the plan to bring the submarine Otama ashore as the centrepiece of a tourist attraction fear it is about to be towed away and scrapped. Several sources have told The News that a semi-submersible ship will be used to take the submarine to Navy dockyards in South Australia. The cost of taking the Otama to South Australia has been put at $5 million while Parks Victoria has spent an estimated $1m in the past year on moorings and work…
ALL federal election candidates will be under pressure to agree to work towards adopting policies to tackle climate change, including opposing heavy industry around Western Port. Community groups, businesses and other organisations throughout Victoria are being asked by Environment Victoria to sign an open letter calling for action on climate change. The Western Port Climate Alliance (WPCA) is one of five groups in the state seeking signatures on letters worded specifically for their region. Carmen Bush, spokesperson for the WPCA, said the signed letters would be delivered to all federal candidates, including current MPs. The open letter calls for “faster…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has corrected information released about CEO John Baker’s $425,000 salary package. The new figures do not change the total of Mr Baker’s remuneration but correct an “administrative error”. Council’s 14 December meeting was told that his new, increased base salary was $386,363.64, not the $382,500 as stated in an official news release following a council decision that his salary was not confidential. The corrected figures show his superannuation to be $38,636.36, not $42,500 as previously stated. Council agreed to give Mr Baker a rise at its 15 November meeting and ordered a news release on 7 December.…
THE illegal appropriation and locking up of public land could be costing Mornington Peninsula Shire millions of dollars. The shire’s “encroachment task force” is compiling a list of known breaches by private property owners and also appealing to the public to provide details of other instances. Some residents of Kilburn Grove, Glenisla Drive and Elmie Terrace, Mount Martha are upset about a wire fence and “land grabbing” along an access lane in the Sir Walter Burley Griffin-designed subdivision. Other breaches have been identified throughout the shire, often where private properties adjoin reserves. Cr David Gill said the appropriation of public…
THE Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane has been asked to investigate events leading up to the adoption last year of amended governance rules by Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors. The Nepean Ratepayers Association has told Mr Leane that differences among shire councillors had led to “a complete breakdown in the democratic process”. It wants Mr Leane to “ascertain if this council and its executive officers have exercised sound judgement and good governance practices and are fit and proper people to continue in their respective roles”. The association has told Mr Leane that some councillors were deliberately not told about the proposed…
HUNDREDS of kangaroos remain fenced in on a farm property at Cape Schanck, unable to return to the neighbouring national park. The kangaroos have been on the property for more than three months and although a moratorium has been declared, a permit still exists for the landowner to shoot them. Craig Thomson, of the Save Mornington Peninsual Kangaroos group, said being trapped for so long appeared to have changed the kangaroos’ normal behaviours “and they are demonstrating what could be interpreted as significant stress”. He said the situation had not changed despite media attention and negotiations between Mornington Peninsula Shire,…