JUST as ripples radiate from a stone dropped into water, Sorrento-based Polperro Dolphin Swims hopes to spread lessons from its Cool Changes climate action program. Developed by Polperro in conjunction with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Cool Changes is a two staged program for community groups and schools. As well as quoting the Dali Lama Polperro’s Judy Muir said Cool Changes was based on “our mantra: education plus inspiration (from nature) equals action (at a community level)”. The Cool Changes program starts with two day-long free workshops, one for schools, another for community groups. The workshops will hear from speakers about…
Author: Keith Platt
A STATE election promise by the Liberal Party to spend $10 million on a “a comprehensive erosion plan” for Port Phillip has been compared to “throwing envelopes of cash off Portsea pier”. Futurefish Foundation director David Kramer said the erosion plan – announced in two media events on the Mornington Peninsula by Liberal candidates for the Mornington and Nepean electorates – showed “ignorance” of existing work and studies by experts. “These studies have produced a range of options to restore Portsea beach and prevent the wave action that caused the sand movement in the first place,” Kramer said. He had…
MELBOURNE-based artist Julian Clavijo has been hired to create a “thought-provoking and impactful mural” about climate change on a wall in Hastings shopping centre. Clavijo was chosen by Mornington Peninsula Shire’s public art panel after it called expressions of interest in May. The shire will not say how much he is being paid. Work on the six metre high by 24 metre long mural on the wall of Ritchies IGA in Salmon Street will start next month and is expected to be finished in December. A statement issued by the shire says painter and sculptor Clavijo is renowned nationally and…
BOTH major political parties took to Mornington Peninsula beaches last week in a bid to win hearts, minds and votes. With fewer than 90 days before the Saturday 26 November state election, candidates are beginning to make their presence felt among voters: putting up signs, shaking hands and offering photo opportunities. The Liberal candidate for Mornington Chris Crewther started off the week with Brighton MP James Newbury and meeting supporters at Hawker Beach, Mount Martha. The pair jointly released a statement saying that “a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals government” would commit $10 million on “a comprehensive erosion plan” for…
WELFARE groups and community houses on the Mornington Peninsula’s are facing unprecedented demand for free meals and food packages, as a result of homelessness and cost of living rises. The lingering impacts of the pandemic have left people struggling to make ends meet and charities are having to fill in the gaps. A growing number of homeless people are also lining up for food as the peninsula faces a shortage of affordable rental properties. It is estimated that 1000 people are homeless every night on the peninsula, being forced to sleep in their cars, tents or couch surfing. Earlier this…
HUNDREDS of millions of litres of treated water are poured daily into Bass Strait from a pipeline near Gunnamatta. The dumping of this potentially useful resource follows a $412 million upgrade to the Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme that fell short of producing water suitable for human consumption. Although treated to a much higher quality than the sewage that flowed from the ocean outfall up to 2007, the water contains “forever chemicals” and other pollutants, according to Clean Ocean Foundation CEO John Gemmill. “The use of this water has stalled because of state government policy relating to recycled water, lack…
THE two-minute film Dreamweaver Jacquie Beddows won the My Local Film Category at this year’s Peninsula Film Festival. The documentary about Jacquie Beddows shows how someone who has had a life changing event can turn around their own life and the lives of others through a love of music and painting, determination, and hard work. The film made by Heather Forbes-McKeon and Yanni Dellaportas has been entered it into the Australian based international short film Focus on Ability Film Festival. The Australian open finalists can be viewed and voted for at www.focusonability.com.au until midnight Tuesday 30 August. “We aren’t interested in prizes, but…
ACCUSATIONS of a takeover by “the Mornington faction of the religious far right” have split sections of the Liberal Party on the Mornington Peninsula. The scheduled annual general meeting of the party’s Dunkley Federal Electoral Conference ended within 10 minutes of Its start on Wednesday 27 July, and was rescheduled and held last week by the party’s state secretariat. The former chair of the conference, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor and Liberal Party member for 10 years, Steve Holland, refused to attend because “the behaviour was so poor the first time around that I didn’t want to witness that again…” Holland…
THERE was a collective sigh of relief in households throughout Mount Martha when news broke that “Paddy has been found”. Paddy, a golden retriever, had gone missing the same afternoon that his owner became disoriented while out for one of their regular walks. Geoff Spinks, 86, was “lost” for about five hours and reunited with family and friends about 10pm on that cold and wintry Sunday night in early August. As soon as Geoff was made comfortable at home the searchers’ focus swung around to the missing Paddy, a dog that rarely leaves his master’s side. Staying connected through the…
DEVELOPER owners of a heritage listed former hospital in Mount Eliza are reviewing their plans after being refused a permit by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). The general manager of Hengyi Pacific Simon Manley last week said after the VCAT refusal that “the pathway forward for us is clearer now” and plans for a “luxury retirement village” would be revised. The former Mt Eliza Centre (built in the 19th century as a family mansion), “pool house” and chapel at 33 Jacksons Road would be retained and restored and “refurbished respectfully” in the revised…
WORDS, narrative and music will take precedence in April next year at Sorrento when more than 45 authors, playwrights, journalists, academics and musicians attend the inaugural Sorrento Writers’ Festival. The four-day festival is planned by journalist, podcaster, former bookshop owner Corrie Perkin “to celebrate literature in Australia, inspire big ideas and encourage bold thinking”. The not-for-profit event is predicted to “encourage deep thinking and compelling conversations” through meet the author events, speeches, panel discussions, a business seminar, readings, musical performances, children’s programs, and a book club. “The Sorrento Writers Festival will be a time for open minds and open hearts.…
PUBLIC donations have helped Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation pay for a greenhouse on French Island and support research into protecting bryozoan reefs. Like corals, bryozoans are invertebrate animals, and have established reefs unique to Western Port. Biosphere foundation CEO Mel Barker said the money being used for the two projects resulted from the recent $50,000 in 50 days fundraising campaign. Barker said the donated money would pay for a greenhouse to be used by French Island Landcare to establish a nursery and community garden. While in the marine environment the money would go towards a research project into protecting…
A NEW door has opened for anyone who feels isolated, lonely or wants to spend time among other people. Open Door operates under the “umbrella” of the New Peninsula Baptist Church, Mount Martha, but is not run by or for the church. “This is not a targeted outreach program, but a desire to be present for those who are lonely, isolated, or just needing to make that all important connection with others and, hopefully, build meaningful relationships, something we all need,” co-organiser Ann Harding said. “A friend, Lesley Strang, and I both felt that we wanted to create a safe…
LESS than two months after seeing its in-home care responsibilities for more than 3500 people taken over by two private companies, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council wants the federal government to “give assurances” that the new system is working. The move to outsource the services was made by the previous Liberal National Party government, but the changeover was made six weeks after the election of the Labor federal government. Since the shire handed over its responsibilities, the two companies signed up for the peninsula have admitted staff shortages have left some clients without help. Last week councillors voted to seek “assurances”…
RSPCA Victoria and Lort Smith Animal Hospital have joined forces to encourage owners to annually vaccinate their cats to curb a spike of the infectious viral disease feline panleukopenia. In the past three months, RSPCA has diagnosed 20 cases of feline panleukopenia compared to one case in the same period last year while Lort Smith Animal Hospital has diagnosed 50 cases. The outbreak has forced RSPCA Victoria and Lort Smith Animal Hospital to lengthen the stay for some cats before they can be adopted. About 80 per cent of unvaccinated kittens who contract the disease die. Symptoms include loss of…
A CLOSE encounter with Port Phillip’s resident dolphins during a day on the bay can be memorable. But there is a right way and several wrong ways to enjoy the experience – preferably from a safe, non-threatening distance. Dolphin Research Institute executive director Jeff Weir says the bay is a “giant nursery for dolphins, so it’s crucial we show them respect”. The institute is set to release a summer Dolphin Distancing campaign, but Weir last week was prompted to speak out before it gets underway following reports of dolphins being harassed at Canadian Bay, Mount Eliza. “Sharon”, who did not…
MARIANNE Dalton, of Balnarring, was “placed in a queue” after a doctor said she required the type of in-home help previously provided by Mornington Peninsula Shire. The shire has handed over its responsibilities for the type of service Dalton was eligible to receive to two commercial providers chosen by the federal government. The doctor filled out the request for two hours of home help a fortnight in June last year but, after hearing nothing by October, Dalton called the appointed provider mecwacare only to be told that her paperwork had not been misplaced but “I was in a queue, they…
IT was a gourmet catch of the day on Sunday (7 August) for three friends aboard No Excuse when fishing off Phillip Island’s Woolamai beach. After leaving Wasternport Marina, Hastings at about 8.30am the three, Christian Ellul, Sean Quinlivan and Ben Gargaro, hooked onto a southern bluefin tuna about one kilometre offshore. It took about 40 minutes to bring the 106 kilogram fish onto the boat. Ellul said he had been trying for about 10 years to catch a tuna of that size. Although classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species, recreational and commercial…
THE Animal Justice Party has endorsed Austin Cram as its Upper House candidate for Eastern Victoria in the November state election. Eastern Victoria includes the three seats of Hastings, Mornington and Nepean. The seat is currently represented by four MPs, Cathrine Burnett-Wake (Liberal), Melina Bath (The Nationals), Harriet Shing (Labor) and Jeff Bourman (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers). In October last year, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Steve Holland missed on being chosen to fill the Liberal Party vacancy in Eastern Province created by the resignation of Edward O’Donohue. The position was won by Burnett-Wake. The Animal Justice party’s candidate Cram lives…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is going to keep track of financial pledges made by candidates in the lead up to the November state election, similar to what it did before the May federal election. The pledge tracker will list the dollar amounts of promises made for specific projects in the shire but not broader issues such as climate change, social welfare, education or integrity. Missing from the tracker will be election issues that do not attract a financial commitment, such as whether the shire should be classed as regional or metropolitan. The shire is pressing for a peri-urban classification, Liberal…
ALTHOUGH it may be redundant as a source of domestic drinking water, Bittern Reservoir and surrounding bushland is home and a source of sustenance to many native birds and animals. Bittern is the smaller of two water storages within the 1000 hectare Devilbend Natural Features Reserve and on Sunday 24 July was circumnavigated by a group of 18 members of Birdlife Mornington Peninsula. Armed with binoculars, cameras and spotting scopes, the group recorded sightings of 43 bird species. Birdlife Mornington Peninsula holds two walks a month, which usually end with lunch and a discussion about birds seen and, maybe, heard.…
THE state government is likely to drastically reduce the amount of land set aside for port related purposes around Hastings. The decision to investigate using the land for non-port industries follows the decision to build a container port at Bay West, near Geelong. Already under consideration is a 350 metre long multi-purpose double berth jetty to be built on 35 hectares of reclaimed land between the BlueScope and Esso jetties off Long Island Drive, Hastings. The government has set a two-year time limit on reviewing how much of the “port-related” land should be kept and how much “unlocked”. The Hastings…
THE Save Westernport community group has joined calls for a full investigation of the likely environmental effects caused by an ethane gas fired power station at Hastings. The group, which was instrumental in preventing AGL’s floating gas import terminal being anchored at Crib Point, says essential details are missing from Esso’s plans to generate power at Long Island Point. It says the need for Esso to find a use for its excess gas raises questions about the viability of the Esso plant and, faced with declining gas resources in Bass Strait, suggests it should be “considering decommissioning its operations at…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor Paul Mercurio is hoping his next move on the political front will be to state parliament as the new MP for Hastings. Perhaps more widely known for his dance moves while playing the lead role of what he hopes will be the prophetically named Scott Hastings in director Baz Lurhmann’s 1992 movie Strictly ballroom, Mercurio has been signed up as a candidate by the Labor Party. Now, 30 years after the release of Strictly Ballroom, Mercurio has teamed up with Nepean Labor MP Chris Brayne for a special showing of the movie to promote their respective…
Mornington Peninsula Shire is starting a feasibility study after identifying three possible sites for a “world class” regional arts and conference centre. Council-owned properties at Hastings, Mornington and Rosebud have been recommended by consultants as the best of 23 possible sites for the cultural arts centre. The cost has been estimated at $110 million to $150m with possibly an extra $60m for a “future workplace” if Mornington is chosen as the location. The financial projections come with a warning that construction costs are likely to blow out by 3-4 per cent a year. The shire’s 2021/22 budget included $350,000 for…
RETIRING Liberal MP for Hastings has yet to publicly respond to reports that he was suspended from state parliament and then banned from attending party events or involving himself in Liberal affairs following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards parliamentary staff. Two Melbourne metropolitan newspapers last week reported that the Department of Parliamentary Services had launched an investigation into the alleged misconduct by Burgess which started in November. The allegations led to Burgess being banned from attending parliament for one month, which was followed in April by Liberal Party leaders telling him not to attend party event or be involved in…
RED Hill artist Michael Leeworthy is drawing on his talent and promotional skills to make Hastings the “cultural capital” of the Mornington Peninsula. He uses words to illustrate the affection he feels for Hastings and says he is indebted to its businesspeople for giving him “an opportunity to be self-employed back in the 1970s”. Describing himself as a secondary school dropout, lacking in self-confidence and starting work at 16, Leeworthy says he came “very close to getting into trouble”. “I was a window dresser to a major clothing chain and at night I would do letter drops under any shop…
ALTHOUGH they “invested” thousands of dollars on their election campaigns, six of the nine failed candidates for Flinders have been repaid more than $10,000 by the Australian Electoral Commission and may have more to come. The AEC automatically pays more than $2 a vote to candidates who receive more than 4% of the primary vote. Candidates can also claim the same amount of money a vote over the minimum 4% by claiming against their campaign costs. The money is paid by the AEC to registered political parties and to candidates standing as independents. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Despi O’Connor who,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has called on the state government to investigate health risks and environmental impacts of a plan by Esso Resources to use ethane gas to generate electricity. Esso has an oversupply of ethane, a by-product from natural gas used at its fractionation plant at Long Island, Hastings. The company says burning the gas – or flaring-off – is the alternative to setting up an ethane-driven electricity power plant. It says the plant will produce enough electricity to power 35,000 household a year will increase the peninsula’s greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent a year. While the decision…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor Desi O’Connor wants to make it clear that her decision to suspend campaigning for last month’s federal election was due to questions over her employment as a teacher by the Victorian education department and not retaining her role as a councillor. “Just a clarification that I did not suspend my campaign because I was still holding an elected position as a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor,” she said. “The suspension occurred because I discovered that being a public school teacher constituted holding “… any office of profit under the crown…” – Section 44 (iv). Therefore, there was…