WORK to redevelop the Sorrento ferry terminal precinct is awaiting state government approval. Mornington Peninsula Shire is working with Searoad Ferries, the Department of Transport (VicRoads) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions on the project which will aim to improve traffic safety and provide road upgrades near the terminal. The state government has provided $2.5 million to the shire for the project. Proposed road works include a roundabout at Point Nepean Road/Hotham Road, Sorrento, upgrades to Hotham Road between The Esplanade and Point Nepean Road, and 40kph speed zone on Ocean Beach Road and surrounding areas. Once the…
Author: MP News Group
HAILED as the international ‘Queen of 70’s Pop’ Helen Reddy was Australia’s very first truly international superstar. In 1973, her iconic song I Am Woman became the unforgettable anthem of the women’s liberation movement and made her the very first Australian to ever win a Grammy Award. During her remarkable career she placed three #1 hits on the US Billboard charts and six more in the US top 10. She sold over 25 million albums and played to sellout concert houses right around the world. She even hosted her very own prime time series on U.S.Television. Then, all…
ICONIC mainstay festival Sunset Sounds is thrilled to get Victoria in on the action, set to delight music lovers at Hastings Foreshore Reserve on November 28. This epic Sunday session will kick off at 1pm (gates at 12pm) and will wrap by 8pm and will feature an impressive lineup of some of the country’s most prized singer songwriters; Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray, Kasey Chambers, Josh Pyke, Ben Lee, The Church, Kyle Lionhart and D’arcy Spiller. Tickets go on sale at 10am AEST on Friday July 2. Excited to be headlining Sunset Sounds at Hastings Foreshore Reserve, Xavier Rudd says, “It’s…
MARGARET Fulton – ‘the first lady of Australian food’ was born in Scotland in 1924, moving to Glen Innes, NSW with her family when she was just three years old. After her schooling years Margaret moved to Sydney to pursue her dream of becoming a cabaret performer, however she ended up living next door to a “lady” of the night and working in a nuts-and-bolts factory, a job she couldn’t get away from quick enough and finally landing as a position as a cooking teacher at The Australian Gas Light Company. Her career as a food writer was soon to…
By Joseph Misuraca A RETIRED surgeon used his time in Victoria’s lockdowns to paint birds – all 270 of them. David Freedman, 76, of Mount Martha, has included 240 of the paintings in a book, Australia’s Birds, which he co-wrote with stepbrother Richard Steele. The 2019-20 bushfires forced a variety of birds to flock to Melbourne’s fringes, including Mr Freedman’s property in Mount Martha. “Some eastern rosellas started nesting in a bird box for the first time,” he said. This prompted him to begin painting birds in June last year. With all these paintings completed, he developed the idea of…
AN ice bucket challenge proved a hit for Beleura Junior Football Club players last week after they had to cancel the much-anticipated dunk tank. The club, which plays at Dallas Brooks Park, Mornington, raised around $4500 from the sale of beanies and Sock it 2 MND socks, with all Beleura players wearing the socks for their matches. More than $1700 was raised in donations to the ice bucket challenges. All Beleura coaches took part, as well as a “couple of good sports from the opposition”. Mount Martha Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank was a major sponsor. Guests on the…
By Joseph Misuraca A MOUNT Eliza couple are working on a new statewide health initiative to track and improve children’s wellbeing. Dr Jolyon Ford, 51, and his wife, Jo Ford, 49, are working at Peninsula Health on ‘GenV’. The program is designed to track Victorian babies born between 2020-2022. Its goal, according to the GenV website, is to achieve “a better approach to child health, development and wellbeing in Victoria”. It’s a voluntary program, and one of the largest of its kind. The research study is being carried out by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at the Royal Children’s Hospital.…
PORTSEA lifesavers placed second in Round Four of the Open Women’s Tube Rescue and third in the Open Men’s IRB Rescue at Lorne on Saturday 19 June. On the Sunday they won Round Five of the Open Men’s Tube Rescue. The Inflatable Rescue Boat teams were competing in the final carnivals before returning to Lorne for the Victorian IRB Championships, 3-4 July. Life Saving Victoria said all teams performed well in “challenging conditions” in the back-to-back events. Despite cold and choppy surf conditions, particularly on the Saturday, the teams all stepped up to the challenge and put on what were…
FANCIED competitors in the Australian Ninja Warrior TV show which returned to Channel 9 last week train together on the Mornington Peninsula. The show aired on Sunday 20 June with Zak Stolz making it into semi-final one on Tuesday 29 June and Charlie Robbins heading straight into the grand final after winning the Power Tower in Heat 4. Ashlin Herbert also heads straight to the grand final after winning the Power Tower in Heat 2 and Troy Cullen makes it to the semi-finals. Sarah Blackmore doesn’t make it but will cheer on the Mornington ninjas from the sidelines. As one…
THE Yawa Aquatic Centre at Rosebud will open to the public on Friday 9 July. The later opening came about after Victoria went into its fourth lockdown earlier this month meaning the Friday 25 June opening target was not viable. Construction continued under the restrictions, but access to the centre was limited and put a halt to essential training. Belgravia Leisure was not able to host new staff on site to undertake swim teacher, lifeguard and emergency management training. To be able to open, all staff must be trained, qualified and, importantly, be familiar with the centre. With restrictions easing,…
SPEED limits in a host of Dromana streets will be cut to 40kph. This follows the Safer Residential Areas community consultation process in 2018 when 77 per cent of respondents told Mornington Peninsula Shire that vehicles were travelling too fast in residential streets and around the town. The project was approved for funding through the federal government’s Black Spot Program. The 40kph limits will affect streets including William, Seacombe, Carrigg, Beach, Pier, Odonahue, Heales, Verdon, Codrington, Permien, Foote, Clarendon, Hodgkinson, Ligar, James, Marcus, Judith, Noel, Marna, Solander, Graeme, Seacombe, Williams, Karadoc, Gibson, Arthur Seat and Francis, as well as Spencer,…
PENINSULA Community Legal Centre has praised recent changes to Victoria’s rental laws, which include the introduction of “basic standards” and which limit rent rises to once a year, as making renting “fairer for everyone”. It says the revamped laws “strike a better balance between strengthening renters’ rights and protecting vulnerable tenants while providing appropriate protections for owners”. The legal centre aims to assist tenants living in private rental properties. For more than a decade it says it has supported tenants who “have not been given a fair go under the previous laws which created a power imbalance that favoured landlords”.…
THE new Marna Reserve netball courts have opened at Dromana. The $530,000 upgrade is open to sporting clubs and the community. Marna Reserve is home to Dromana Netball Club and Dromana Football and Netball Club. Mornington Peninsula Shire funded the new courts from the council’s 2020-21 Budget as part of the Sports Capacity Plan. Four outdoor courts have been renovated into two new netball courts which comply with Netball Victoria standards. Other improvements have been made to the lighting, fencing and surrounding landscaping and paving. The renewal of the courts will provide safe and compliant courts of a higher training…
DATA in last week’s council budget papers revealed the greatest increase in valuations across the Mornington Peninsula occurred in the townships of St Andrews Beach, Merricks Beach, Boneo, Blairgowrie, Point Leo, Merricks and Cape Schanck. Valuations team leader Lauren Ashley, speaking to the General Valuation Return and Valuers’ Report on Tuesday 22 June, said this had come about as residents “sought out lifestyle properties and lower density housing and took the opportunity to work from home in the popular holiday areas”. “They were among many regional areas to experience a surge in housing prices as demand outweighed supply,” she said.…
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash which occurred in Somerville this morning. Officers were patrolling when they came across the single vehicle crash at the intersection of Frankston-Flinders Road and Bungower Road about 2.10am. Police attempted to revive the female driver, who is believed to be in her 40s, but were unsuccessful. Investigators believe the driver lost control of the vehicle which ran off the road and crashed into a tree. Anyone who witnessed the crash or with dash cam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via crimestoppersvic.com.au…
INTERNATIONALLY significant wetlands around Western Port Bay are being protected thanks to a $20,000 contribution from South East Water. The money will aid the Ramsar Protection Program which lists the wetlands, pictured, as being of international importance. It will help reduce threats through the control and eradication of feral cats, foxes, rabbits and goats, and remove invasive weeds, such as African Boxthorn and Spartina. The wetlands are important feeding grounds and nurseries for various plant and bird species. A number of Indigenous cultural heritage sites also sit along the Western Port shoreline. Since 2010, the Ramsar Protection Program has been…
THE Bays Aged Care has opened a $20 million redevelopment at Hastings expanding its capacity from 75 to 90 places. The centre, in Victoria Street, offers private and government-funded respite care, memory support and dementia care, a new Dialysis unit for related treatments, extra rooms for sole occupancy and couples, and improved dining and lounge areas with fireplaces, terraces, and courtyards. The home was completed last year, however, celebrations had to be put on hold until now. “With aged care in focus at the moment, it is with great pride that we show the community our state-of-the-art home,” The Bays…
EXTREME weather events over 9-10 June have highlighted why operations like Operation Regal over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend are vital, police say. Its major focus was on ensuring and enforcing safe driving practices. Reports are continuing to come in about weakened trees falling on the shire’s rural roads, many of which have 60-80kph speed limits. Most are winding and few have good lighting after dark. Rosebud police captured this scene on White Hill Road, Red Hill, to demonstrate the danger when trees come down, generally without warning. “If you are using the roads, drive to the conditions,” police say.…
A LANGWARRIN man appeared at Frankston Magistrates’ Court last week charged with 60 offences following an incident in Langwarrin in which two police officers were allegedly assaulted. The most serious charge was assaulting police, with the others including theft of a motor car, handling stolen goods, as well as drug and bail offences. No application for bail was made and the 40-year-old was further remanded to reappear next month. He had earlier been arrested at Mont Albert, along with a 47-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman, who arrived there in a stolen car, and whom police believe are “associates”. The…
POLICE are searching for the driver of a car which collided with a motorcycle in Humphries Road, Frankston South, about 7pm, Saturday 12 June. The rider suffered serious leg injuries in the incident which occurred between Blake Court and Cummins Lane. The car is likely to have damage to the rear driver’s side. Anyone who saw the crash, has dash-cam footage or information which could assist in identifying the driver should contact Leading Senior Constable Jon Shields, Somerville Highway Patrol 59781300, or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 22 June 2021
A TRANSPORT Accident Commission sign on Eramosa Road East, near the Somerville Primary School, spells out the real reasons to drive safely. The signs are part of a campaign by the commission to curb road trauma and reduce the number of serious accidents. In the past five years, 37 people have died on peninsula roads, with four deaths so far this year. The peninsula is the second local government area to pilot the TAC program, Drive Safely Because, which highlights local reasons to drive safely leading to a safer community. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 22 June…
McCRAE lighthouse will be lit up in yellow on Tuesday 29 June to raise public awareness of the condition known as scleroderma. The lighthouse will shine bright to generate support and to raise funds to support the 6000 people impacted by scleroderma and raise funds for research into fighting it. The Lions Club of McCrae is supporting the Shine Like a Sunflower campaign against the chronic condition that causes thickening and hardening of the body’s connective tissue. Louise Inglese, of Mornington, was diagnosed in February 2016 by her gastroenterologist. “The diagnosis came as a huge shock as I had never…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has begun trialling smoke-free areas at various places this year to reduce butt litter and to encourage people to not smoke in public areas. The areas include the Safety Beach, Mount Eliza and Rye foreshores, the shire offices at Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud, Civic Reserve at Mornington and the Point Leo Foreshore area. The anti-smoking campaign is supported by beach patrol, community groups and Peninsula Health with the aim: “To make the peninsula happier, healthier and smoke free.” Another concern is that as cigarette butts are made of plastics they can take up to 10 years to…
Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash in Mornington this afternoon. Emergency services were called to the Nepean Highway to reports a grey SUV crashed into a tree about 1.25pm. The female driver, who is yet to be formally identified, sadly died at the scene. Her male passenger was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations are ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Victoria Police News – Saturday,…
Detectives from Major Collision Investigation Unit have charged a woman over a fatal collision which occurred in Moorooduc earlier this month. It’s alleged two vehicles collided at the intersection of Stumpy Gully and Mornington-Tyabb roads about 5.55am on 11 June. A 56-year-old Tyabb man, died at the scene while an 18-year-old man from Tyabb was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 20-year-old Mornington woman, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The 20-year-old has since been charged with dangerous driving causing death and has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 23 June. Victoria Police News -…
A MAN who forced entry to Chisholm TAFE, Frankston, last month stole a number of hand held power tools from a store room. The man entered Building B through a construction area by removing a plywood board, 1.35-2.17am, Wednesday 19 May. He is described as Caucasian, mid/late 60s, medium build, grey hair with receding hairline, wearing a long navy blue rain coat, navy pants, black boots and carrying a green reusable shopping bag. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Senior Constable Brendan Fontana at Frankston CIU, 97845535 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern…
RAMRAIDERS managed to steal a valuable off-road bike from a Mornington bicycle store last week despite their foray taking an unexpected turn. The pair backed a Holden Commodore station wagon at speed into the front glass doors of the Sealy Cycles store at Peninsula Home, Nepean Highway, 4.30am, Wednesday 9 June – where it promptly got stuck. Detective Alex Montgomery, of Somerville CIU, said the force of the entry caused $20,000 damage and wedged the car so firmly inside that SES crews were called to help, and a tow truck was needed to pull it out later that morning. Store…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol members last week targeted drink and drug drivers visiting fast food and bottle shop drive throughs across the Mornington Peninsula. During involved in Operation Drive Thru, Friday and Saturday 4-5 June, they pulled over 67 vehicles for breath-testing. Two drivers were found to be over the limit while one refused further testing. They will all be summonsed to appear at court at a later date. Of the 65 oral fluid tests conducted 14 drivers were found to have drugs in their systems, with three drivers refusing to be further tested. Seven unauthorised drivers were detected, eight vehicles…
UNITED Energy crews on Friday had restored power to more than 80,000 homes and businesses following severe windstorms which swept the Mornington Peninsula, overnight Wednesday 9 June. However, customers were being advised that some areas may not have power for a “number of days”. Extra crews were being dispatched peninsula as restoration efforts continued. “Our emergency team, control centre and field crews have worked through the night to restore power to customers,” United Energy’s Jordan Oliver said. “An incredible amount of damage has been caused by fallen trees and debris, with our priority continuing to be on the safety of…
RYE Pier will be closed for five months from late August-early September while a 270-metre section is replaced and widened from the foreshore to the low landing. The works will include a safety railing and solar lighting. The new section will also be “built to cater for future sea level rise”. “Parks Victoria is undertaking vital works at Rye pier to make it safer for locals into the future,” regional director marine and maritime Jo Richards said. “Rye Pier is an important part of the Mornington Peninsula foreshore, and this work will go a long way to make it safer for…