WESTERN Port almost scooped the pool at this year’s Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards which were announced at a virtual event in Beechworth on Saturday night. Hastings was crowned overall Tidy Town winner while the region won various awards as well as receiving high commendations in two key projects. The Keep Victoria Beautiful event aims to recognise and celebrate grassroots initiatives and positive actions taken by individuals, community groups, schools, businesses and councils across rural and regional Victoria. These include initiatives that protect the environment, reduce waste, preserve heritage, change behaviours, increase social wellbeing, celebrate indigenous culture and encourage…
Author: MP News Group
NEIL Armstrong, above, has been appointed CEO for the next two years of the Western Port Oberon Association. A justice of the peace and a former Mornington Shire councillor and a board member of Metropolitan Ambulance Service and other non-profit organisations Mr Armstrong was awarded an Order Of Australia Medal in 2019. Western Port Oberon Association president Max Bryant said Mr Armstrong had an “amazing background as an administrator and will bring a strong strategic focus to our current operations and long term plans”. He said the association’s “key projects to be completed over the next 24 months” were finding…
THE discovery of an illegal eastern corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) at Hastings has prompted police to ask if anyone has information about it or any other exotic species of reptile. The white snake was found in a backyard on Hodgins Road, between Marine Parade and Victoria Street, Sunday 13 September. Witnesses had reported numerous sightings of a white snake loose in the area several months before its capture. The albino-like reptile – an exotic pest – was probably kept as a pet before its escape. Police said it was illegal to import, keep, breed, trade or release the snakes in…
EXPERIENCED drivers are being sought to help supervise learner drivers as part of the Transport Accident Commission’s L2P Program on the southern Mornington Peninsula. The program is paid for by the TAC and managed by the Department of Transport. Volunteers from across the peninsula have been assisting learner drivers who do not have access to a supervising driver or a vehicle since 2009. Mornington Peninsula Shire wants to recruit 10 mentors to help the learners achieve their 120 hours of driving as required for their test. An L2P mentor is described as someone who is “enthusiastic about contributing to the…
THE demise of suburban bank branches is continuing with the Rosebud branch of the ANZ shutting its doors on 18 March 2021. The bank’s general manager for Victoria Michael Wake reeled off what have now become standard responses to bank branch closures (“ANZ withdraws from Mount Eliza” The News 28/9/20). “Every year we see 10 per cent less transactions at our branches because our customers no longer use them for everyday banking like they used to,” he said. “While branch activity has declined, we’ve seen a spike in demand for many of our non-branch roles, such as customer contact centres…
APART from national issues, the federal budget contained few specific finance packages for the Mornington Peninsula. The largest was nearly $1.5 million for Stopping Buruli ulcer in Victoria, the flesh eating ulcer that in 2019 became prevalent on the southern peninsula. The budget also included $300,000 for “pedestrian safety upgrades” at Arthurs Seat. The Buruli money will support 22 research projects under Professor Tim Stinear at University of Melbourne. Buruli ulcer (BU) is described as a destructive skin and soft tissue infection that can cause permanent deformity. The National Health and Medical Research Council says the ulcer is caused by…
MORNINGTON police are planning to step up patrols against flashers on the foreshore between Mount Eliza and Mount Martha this summer. Senior Sergeant Paul Edwards said the problem was “not of epidemic proportions, but it does rear its head from time to time and we want to stamp it out”. Senior Sergeant Edwards said flashers were known to frequent narrow and winding tracks and trails leading to and from beaches and near beach boxes. “It’s a seasonal thing and we will be mobilising police on foot and on bike patrols, especially near the Balcombe estuary,” he said. A Southbank man…
STRONG winds brought down a gum tree in Esperance Court, Mount Martha last week. “The tree narrowly missed a child when it fell, 5.30pm, Thursday 8 October,” resident Klaas Kalma said. “It could have been deadly if a car had been coming up or down the court.” Mr Kalma said last year he discussed the inherent danger of having large eucalypts on nature strips with a Mornington Peninsula Shire arborist. “I think they are inappropriate for that purpose when other smaller native Australian trees are plentiful,” he said. “The shire tested the tree on our nature strip and considered it…
A ROSEBUD man has been charged with aggravated carjacking, false imprisonment and a raft of driving offences after he allegedly stole a taxi at knife point and forced the driver to sit in the passenger seat while he drove to Mornington, early hours Friday 2 October. On arrival he shook the driver’s hand and said they were “mates”. Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Henry, of Somerville CIU, said the 18-year-old, who had allegedly been armed with a box cutter, turned himself in to Rosebud police later in the day and was “remorseful and made full admissions”. Detective Henry said the man…
A BLACK Jeep was stolen from a property in Balnarring last week. Hastings Senior Sergeant Warren Francis-Pester said the thief entered the back door of the Balnarring Beach Road house and stole the car’s keys and a mobile phone from a kitchen bench, 3am, Wednesday 30 September. The owner said he heard a car start but thought it must be his neighbour’s. He realised the keys, and car, were missing when he awoke later in the morning. His son’s laptop was in the back seat. Council staff reportedly found the man’s personal papers, picnic table and a roof rack in…
BURNING-OFF restrictions will be eased on small properties during October. Open air burning is permitted 9am-4pm, Fridays and Saturdays, on blocks between 500-1500 square metres, provided that the property is within Mornington Peninsula Shire’s bushfire prone area; the burn-off is for fire prevention; no more than one cubic metre of vegetation is burnt at any one time; the fire is not within 10 metres of any neighbouring dwelling, and the general fire safety provisions are followed at all times. The easing of restrictions on land less than 1500 square metres aims to assist owners reduce fine fuel in the lead…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire says it is paving the way for more footpath trading and a new “parklets” program to support restaurants and cafes as COVID-19 restrictions ease over spring and summer. It says additional outdoor dining spaces are crucial for food businesses to re-open and remain profitable while complying with social distancing measures and space restrictions. Streamlining the permit process required by business to boost outdoor dining space and making it quicker, easier and cheaper for businesses to apply, are keys to the process. Affected businesses can apply for grants of up to $5000 from the state government’s $87.5 million…
By Zoe McKenzie MANY Mornington Peninsula residents look forward to the annual mid-year arrival of tens of thousands of spider crabs around Rye, Blairgowrie and Sorrento piers. Around the full moon in June, masses of the slightly creepy, tall, brown, Australian giant spider crabs march into the southern peninsula shallows. No one really knows why they like this area so much, but we know what happens when they arrive. They gather in giant mounds and, using the safety of numbers, throw off their hard shells and grow new ones. The creatures that gather to feed on those who find themselves…
KAREN Langdon made the most of a supply of cloth left over from the temporary closure of Boomerang Bags’ Rye branch to make face masks for the homeless. The Rye resident last week presented up to 60 masks to Vinnies’ Kitchen in the band hall, Point Nepean Road, Rosebud. “We can’t deliver the Boomerang Bags because of COVID-19 but we are still happy to help,” Ms Langdon said. “Everyone is looking for masks; it’s a huge problem for the volunteers and the homeless at the kitchen.” Ms Langdon made three designs to Department of Health and Human Services’ standards: one…
FLAMES and thick black smoke pouring from chimneys at ESSO’s Long Island Point fractionation plant at Hastings followed a plant malfunction on Monday 21 September. Plant manager David McCord said the flaring was a safety mechanism designed to ensure “pressure relief” in the event of an emergency. Mr McCord said similar flaring events could occur anytime and were usually of “short duration”. Hastings-based photographer Celia Furt said the permanent gas flames roared even higher during the flaring and produced large clouds of black smoke. “It was quite impressive and lasted 10-20 minutes,” she said. “After that the permanent gas flames…
CAGE traps are being used to help eradicate feral cats on French Island. The aim is to create a safe haven for hundreds of species of birds, marsupials and endangered native animals on the island which is said to be already fox-free. Amanda Paul, communications coordinator of Westernport Catchment Management Authority, said soft-jawed leg traps and “curiosity” baits were not being used as previously stated in The News (“Closing in on island’s final 100 feral cats” 23/9/20). First published int he Western Port News – 30 September 2020
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol members driving a vehicle equipped with automatic number plate recognition last week tracked down a Frankston man in Brunel Road, Seaford, for the second time this year. They did a quick U-turn and found the green Holden ute beside some factories on Stephenson Road, 12pm, Thursday 17 September. The 36-year-old driver had his ute impounded again for at least a month with a release fee of $961. He will, once again, be summonsed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date. Police said the ANPR-equipped vehicles were constantly patrolling Frankston and Mornington Peninsula roads. They…
TRADIES have been hard hit in the Balnarring area, with thieves stealing more than $17,000 worth of tools overnight, Monday 21 September. Detective Senior Sergeant Al Paxton, of Somerville CIU, said tools including drop saws, laser levels, nailing guns and drills had been stolen from utilities parked in Seabreeze and Fauconshawe streets. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 29 September 2020
A SAFETY Beach man has been interviewed by police and released pending summons following a “serious” car crash at Baxter, 6.30pm, Sunday 20 September. The man, 43, was driving a Holden Caprice which collided with a Nissan Navara ute which flipped onto its roof in the south-bound lanes of Peninsula Link near the BP service station. The Nissan ended up in the north-bound lanes with the driver receiving serious injuries. Senior Constable Edan Luff, of Somerville Highway Patrol, is urging anyone who saw the collision, or who has dash-cam footage, to email him at VP40746@police.vic.gov.au , or call Crime Stoppers…
THE 40-year-old Art Red Hill will go virtual from 18-30 October despite being delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Participating artists include the Mornington Peninsula’s Janet and Mike Green, Neil Williams, Michael Leeworthy, Sophie Perez and Elizabeth Clancy, along with Melbourne artists Skye Jeffreys and Ingrid Brooker. Their works will be among hundreds by artists from the peninsula and around Australia available to view and buy. Their work will include paintings, photography and works on paper, jewellery, glass and ceramics, and sculpture in all sizes. “There is art to suit every budget and quality remains high with organisers only offering…
TELSTRA has switched on 5G sites at Somerville and Cape Schanck. “We’re pushing ahead with the roll out of Telstra 5G and we’re reaching more and more people with the next generation of mobile technology,” regional general manager Loretta Willaton said. “Every week we’re expanding Telstra 5G to more areas so, as more 5G devices go on sale, customers can have the latest devices on Australia’s best network.” More than 1500 Telstra 5G sites are on-air across “selected areas” of 53 Australian cities and towns, Ms Willaton said. “More than 1000 suburbs nationally are more than half covered by Telstra…
ARTIST members of Studio Sorrento are using images provided by their fellow member photographers for inspiration. Paintings and drawings of the images are being added to the online Isolation 2020 exhibition. The photographs are posted online for the artists to choose. Topics include animals (domestic and wild), scenes, waves, trees, flowers, cloud formations, people, sunsets and sunrises. The artists are encouraged to interpret and paint or draw the image of their choice. More than 30 works have been completed and added to the evolving online exhibition and artists are being invited to become involved. A physical showing of the works…
POLICE say they are ramping up patrols to prevent out-of-towners flocking to holiday hotspots on the Mornington Peninsula. The aim is to ensure that only peninsula residents or others travelling with a permitted purpose arrive in the area. Police say they will have a “highly visible” presence at checkpoints on arterial roads, mobile vehicle checkpoints and ongoing patrols as part of Operation Sentinel. A note on the police Eyewatch social media page said anyone pulled over at a vehicle checkpoint could expect to have their licence and work permit checked by police and their residential address confirmed. “Police will also…
BLAIRGOWRIE Yacht Squadron’s Sailability program has won this year’s Australian Sailing Victorian Inclusion Program of the Year award. The aim of the program is to make sailing available to participants from all backgrounds and of all ages and abilities. Volunteers from a group of 30 run the program on Tuesdays, at weekends and on holidays. Since 2002 donations and the use of the yacht squadron’s facilities have enabled a fleet of eight Hansa 303 purpose-built yachts to get young sailors on the water. Footage of the yachts in action and stories from those involved can be seen on YouTube (search…
THE ANZ bank is moving out of Mount Eliza. The branch, which closed in March, is believed to have been in Mount Eliza Way for the past 40 years. The bank’s general manager for Victoria and Tasmania Michael Wake blamed the decision not to reopen on a drop in customers. “Our customers aren’t using branches for their everyday banking like they used to and each year we see a 10 per cent reduction in customer transactions,” he said. “At the same time demand in many of our non-branch roles, such as customer contact centres and the operations team, which manages…
SEAROAD Ferries has resumed its weekend service between Sorrento and Queenscliff following last week’s lifting of restrictions in regional Victoria. CEO Matt McDonald said the lifting of restrictions would allow the “‘recovery” to begin and hoped to see the Mornington Peninsula and metropolitan Melbourne soon “move in line with regional Victoria”. The changes allow people from regional Victoria to use the ferry service to drive from Geelong to Phillip Island. “During stage three and stage four we have continued to move our customers who, ultimately, rely on the service,” Mr McDonald said. Permitted travel has included food supplies, emergency services,…
KYLE Llewellyn, who was diagnosed with cancer twice as a child, is not one to take it easy. Later this month he will tackle the gruelling 4x4x48 Challenge to mark the end of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Mr Llewellyn, 20, of Rosebud, will run four miles (6.4km), inside every four-hour block over 48 hours on 29-30 September. The aim is to encourage children with cancer to focus on something positive to help get them through their treatment and to never lose sight of their goals. “I hope that by doing this challenge I can show kids currently going through treatment…
MOUNT Eliza’s Geoff Nyssen will be going all out for Sunday’s annual MY Mount Eliza Run & Fun Festival raising money for the Snowdome Foundation to find a cure for the terminal blood cancer, multiple myeloma. Everyone, including pets, can join 8am-12pm on the day on Facebook. The virtual event will include live entertainment, challenges, promotions, prizes, silent auction and physical activities. Mr Nyssen was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2014, and despite COVID-19 restrictions is determined to go ahead with this year’s festival. “We plan to engage and connect around the core values of empowerment, wellness and community,” he…
THE smiles on their faces said it all when children were allowed back to the playground at Hastings on Monday. As the easing of COVID-19 restrictions took hold, three-year-old William Caufield, of Bittern, was happy to be back on the swing, while sisters Sari, three and Mila Barr, six, began the climb up to the cubbyhouse (and normality). All the playground equipment was soon being given a workout as parents took the time to stand back and appreciate the benefits of seeing their children mingle with others who had also been locked out for weeks. “Drop in numbers a positive…
HERE’S a way to keep the children occupied and creative during the school holidays – Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October – with a series of activities they can enjoy from home. The young ones can get artistic by crafting collages, creating indigenous animals and learning about their habitats, as well as creating watercolour and food dye artworks. Those keen to get crafty now can take part in the activities already online, so there’s no need to wait until the holidays. Artist/educator Jill Anderson has created a series of creative activities inspired by works from the Mornington Peninsula Regional…