Author: MP News Group

By Kelly Parkinson AGL’s Crib Point gas import jetty aims to help bring more affordable gas to Victoria, in a safe and environmentally responsible way. From the start, we’ve been clear. We will follow all assessment requirements that are asked of us by the Victorian government and all regulatory bodies. AGL has always been comfortable being held to these standards. Our sense of urgency on this project has always been driven by concern for security of supply of gas for the years ahead. As with all AGL projects, we take community consultation seriously. Since announcing Crib Point as the preferred…

It seems unlikely, but there is now a connection between Kirks Hotel in Mornington and the Royal Albert Hall, London: both venues have featured performances by the Australian Welsh Male Choir. The choir is about to return from UK tour which included a concert at Australia House in London for High Commissioner George Brandis and guests. But it was also while in London the choir performed at the 26th London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall. Recognised as one of world’s major massed choral concerts, the Australian choir sang with 16 other choirs including those from…

A DONATION of 200 “comfort kits” from a class of year 12 VCAL students at Padua College, Mornington will help patients at Frankston Hospital’s emergency department. The kits contain combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, ear plugs, socks, eye masks, anti-bacterial wipes, pencils and Padua Puzzles, which members of the class created themselves. Student and project manager Gus Gordon said the kits included common sense items: “When people come into the emergency department it often isn’t planned – so they might not have the basic things they need like a toothbrush and toothpaste. “We wanted to do something to help the local community,…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has “had enough of dumped waste in our reserves, foreshore, beaches, streets and parks”, according to the mayor Cr Bryan Payne. He is calling on residents to report those illegally dumping rubbish so they can be fined up to $9500. The cost of cleaning up the rubbish is about $700,000 a year – with more than 2300 cases reported in 2017. In the first five months of this year, 1532 cases were reported. Residents are asked to note the time, date, location and items of waste, as well as any identifying information, such as vehicle registration or…

CHARCOAL sketching, marbles, skipping ropes, wool craft and butter making were just some of the activities enjoyed by Osborne Primary School pupils as they celebrated the school’s 145th anniversary last week. They are their parents and teachers dressed up in period costumes for the photo booth and took part in a range of “olden day” activities at the special evening, Thursday 18 October. “A fun night was had by all,” teacher Meaghan Woods said. “It reflected a united, positive community feel. “Osborne has enjoyed an incredible 145 years of education with many more years and budding, enthusiastic students yet to…

A ROSEBUD pest contractor was fined $4000 at Dromana Magistrates’ Court last week after pleading guilty to supplying 1080 bait to a farmer who was not authorised to use it. The court was told restricted chemicals such as 1080 can only be supplied to authorised users, but that the contractor gave the bait to a truffle farmer at Main Ridge to poison feral pigs. Agriculture Victoria chemical standards officers raided the property in mid-2016 and seized two pails of the pig bait which the farmer said was supplied by the contractor. He was fined $9500 after pleading guilty to using…

THE Liberal Nationals say they will conduct a feasibility study into a recycled water scheme to service Mornington Peninsula farmland if they win government at the Saturday 24 November election. The study will examine whether the water can be used to supply farmers. “With 70 per cent of the Mornington Peninsula zoned green wedge land, and with some of the best farmland in the state, it is crucial we have a long term plan to preserve and fully utilise this precious rural hinterland,” Liberal candidate for Nepean Russell Joseph said. Melbourne Water reportedly daily discharges an average 350 million litres…

RYE Community Group Alliance has been awarded the $1000 Keep Victoria Beautiful Gift Fund prize for its project: A Clean Rye Protects Marine Life – Do the Right Thing. President Mechelle Cheers said the campaign would run over the peak tourist period as a litter prevention strategy to keep marine debris out of the bay. “It is targeted at tourists who leave behind huge amounts of plastic and other litter every summer,” she said. “We hope to highlight through the great work of Rye individuals and groups that, as a community, we value our coastal environment and expect visitors to…

Like nearly every family ours has felt the severe impact that mental health sickness inflicts on the sufferer and the community around them. This is a challenge we as individuals and Peninsula Hot Springs as an organisation have take on. One of our many strategies and activities is the hosting of Ride for Relief an awareness and fund raising bike riding event on Sunday 21st, October. All proceeds from this event go directly to support the great work of Mentis Assist, an incredible in-the-trenches mental health organisation on the Mornington Peninsula. Here are links to the event and to the fundraising…

Somerville Highway Patrol officers caught a motorcycle speeding at 70kmp/h over the speed limit in Pearcedale last night. Police clocked a silver 2013 Triumph Trophy motorbike allegedly travelling at 170kmp/h in a 100km zone on the Western Port Highway just after 9pm. The motorcycle was intercepted and immediately impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1280. The driver, a 48-year-old Hastings man, is expected to be charged on summons with excessive speed. Victoria Police News – Thursday, 18 October 2018

“RHYTHMS FOR RAIN” EVENT will take place in Flinders Village on Sunday 21 October. The launch will be on Saturday 20 October from 6pm-8pm at the Flinders Bakehouse Café, Cook Street Flinders. Sunday is the day we welcome people to come and support this event in Flinders Village. Rob Lindsay a Musician and Peninsula resident has coordinated the whole event and collected his ‘muso’ friends to play. There will be collection containers at each venue and the local Flinders District Lions Club will be collecting and supporting. All funds raised go to ‘Need for Feed’ a Lions Project. 100 per cent…

The Maladiction Longboarders Club has again teamed up with the Disabled Surfers Association, Mornington Peninsula (DSAMP) for a fun surf competition to help finance surfing days at Point Leo for people with disabilities. Last year’s inaugural contest saw 13 teams compete in costumes riding waves at The Pines, Shoreham. This year’s competition will be held at the same beach from 10am on Saturday 10 November.  Teams can be made up of either two or four surfers. Contestants are being encouraged to again wear costumes but this year they can ride their own boards. “Crazy” surf moves will attract extra points.…

The Liberal Party has thrown a lifeline to the Otama submarine that has been anchored near Crib Point for the past 17 years. Hastings MP Neale Burgess on Sunday (14 October) said a Liberal Nationals government would bring the vessel ashore at Hastings, if it wins the Saturday 24 November state election. Mr Burgess said his party would work with the Oberon Association, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Western Port Chamber of Commerce to create a potential tourist attraction out of the submarine. He said feasibility studies and business cases had shown “what a great tourist attraction the Otama would…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Hockey Club had five players represent Victoria at the Women’s Masters Championships in Bunbury, Western Australia on Thursday 27 September. Four of the women, Emma Brown, Kim Trezise, Julia Ashmore and Margaret Nettleship, returned home with silver medals from the national competition while Rebecca Gipp finished just shy of a bronze. Mornington Peninsula Hockey Club goalkeeper Julia Ashmore said “it was a great result from everyone”. Ashmore, who usually plays in the over-45s, competed in the over-40s Victorian team which had to merge with the over-45s due to the lack of numbers. Ashmore said the side had their…

THE Peninsula Film Festival is proud to announce a new partnership with AGL. AGL has come on board as Naming Rights Sponsor and will support the Peninsula Film Festival activities which include the expansion of a new, music festival to be held at Hastings Foreshore. Festival Director Steve Bastoni said the relationship with AGL means the Festival can grow to include the Western Port side. “We are excited to have AGL onboard and this means we can continue to keep the short film festival FREE to attend and also offer a low-cost ticketed, music event at Hastings,” he said. The…

Running for the train will take on a whole new meaning next month when the steam train K163 competes for speed against a group of children. Mt Eliza Rotary Club, Mornington Railway and Peninsula Health have again teamed up to run the Kids’ Fun Run with K163 to raise money for Frankston Hospital’s paediatric ward and special care unit. “I think the Kids Fun Run with K163 is a very important event because the paediatric and special care units are here to provide world-class care for children and families in our local community,” Peninsula Health’s clinical director of paediatrics Dr…

Entries from interstate will be among the 850 works exhibited at next year’s Mornington Art Show. One of the feature artists at the show will be Kathy Van E and the art show judge is Lyn Mellady, who will also exhibit some of her work. One of the show’s organisers, John Renowden, said the Mornington Art Show “remains as the biggest and best quality art show on the Mornington Peninsula and one of the best in Victoria, according to the comments of various show judges and submitting artists”. Being held by Mornington Rotary Club for the 47th year, the show…

MORNINGTON Peninsula detectives were last week searching for five of seven cars stolen from Jeff Wignall Ford, Hastings, 2.20am, Tuesday 9 October. Company spokesman David Christianson said burglars smashed a door to the dealership in Frankston-Flinders Road and stole keys to the cars. Four were new and three used cars. The keys also allowed the offenders to remove security bollards out front to make their getaway. The burglars used one of the stolen cars, a Subaru Outback, to rob a K-Mart store in Hall Road, Carrum Downs, at 1.50am next day. Two men reportedly used a crowbar to steal three…

A MAN with “extensive local government experience in the UK combined with commercial expertise developed as lead partner at both Ernst and Young and KPMG in the UK and Australia” is Mornington Peninsula Shire’s new CEO. John Baker was last week named to succeed Carl Cowie who left Friday 30 August after almost four years at the helm to take up the vacant CEO’s position at Nillumbik, in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne. The new CEO will pocket a yearly $380,000 over his four-year term with annual salary reviews. Likewise, his performance will be reviewed annually by the council…

Mornington Peninsula Shire has employed two investigators and two prosecutors in a crackdown on illegal buildings. Seven owners or builders have been prosecuted in the past five months and a further 15 cases are already listed with the Magistrates Court or are under investigation. The investigators and prosecutors make up a “compliance arm” in the shire’s statutory building unit. The team is responsible for the investigation, enforcement and prosecution of breaches of the Building Act 1993 and the Building Regulations 2018. The court has imposed fines of up to $25,000 for works done without a building permit as well as…

National under-16 long jump champion Aiden Hinson on Saturday made the first jump on Western Port Little Athletics Club’s new long jump track to open the season. The club member took to the air after Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Kate Roper and Flinders MP Greg Hunt cut the ribbon to declare the runway open. Mr Hunt also tried the jump and was quickly followed by club member, Kayla Trezise. The new track – step up from the old asphalt runway – was paid for by the the shire, the federal government and Western Port Secondary College. “Aiden has shown how…

Police are investigating after a dog was attacked and left with serious slash injuries at Capel Sound last month. The incident happened on Point Nepean Road just before midnight on 29 September. A witness told police that he saw two men attacking the dog, Bear, after it had been involved in a fight with their dog. The witness said that following the fight, one of the men put their dog into their car before both men were involved in attacking Bear with a sharp instrument. Police are appealing for anyone with information or any householders who may have CCTV footage…

THE Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is excited to bring its finest players, and a gorgeous repertoire, to Frankston Arts Centre for a wondrous evening of classical music. Celebrate Beethoven’s gleaming diamond of the chamber repertory in this special program which also features works by Ravel and Richard Strauss, highlighting the strength of the orchestra’s strings, woodwind and brass. The program will feature Richard Strauss’ Hasenöhrl Till Eulenspiegel (einmal anders), Ravel’s Duo for violin and cello and Beethoven’s Septet. Enjoy an evening of classical music with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, November 3, at 8pm. There will also be a pre-show…

GREEN waste can be dumped for free at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s transfer stations on 19, 20 and 21 October. The stations are at Truemans Road Rye, McKirdys Road Tyabb, and Watt Road Mornington. Opening hours are 8am-4pm Friday and 8am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Residents or ratepayers may dispose of waste using residential vehicles and trailers, with no commercial vehicles or commercial green waste accepted. Green waste includes all types of garden waste and untreated timber. Proof of residency, such as a driver’s licence with a current address or current rates notice, will be requested. Residents can opt-in to receive a…

BOOMERANG bag volunteers on the southern peninsula played host to the originators of the recyclable cloth bag movement at a breakfast at the Cooee cafe, Capel Sound, last week. Founders Tania Potts and Jordyn de Boer, as well as Anthony Hill, of Plastic Pollution Solutions, came from Queensland to meet and acknowledge the work of their southern counterparts in making the bags and spreading the word. “They came to meet us because we have such great Boomerang bag support here on the peninsula,” Seawinds Capel Sound Boomerang bag coordinator Val Rowe said. “It was a meeting for all of the…

HART Marine staff treated their newest creation with kid gloves as it was driven slowly down Main Street, Mornington for its launching at the public club boat ramp last week. The 15.6 metre fibreglass Queensland police boat will operate out of Hervey Bay. Its French ORC Pantocarene design wave-piercing hull is powered by two MTU Series 60 engines producing 615kw of power at 2300 rpm. The ORC hull is said to provide fast and fuel efficient running, combined with excellent sea-keeping. Fuel capacity is 3500 litres. The vessel sleeps four people and is fitted with Garmin navigational aids. This is…

THE Victorian Seniors Festival got off to a flying start with a Get Active Expo at YMCA Camp Manyung last week. Pam Platter, above, was just one of the seniors took the opportunity to get active on the giant swing and ropes courses, while enjoying other activities and stalls. The festival aims to celebrate the lives of seniors and arrange activities that normally would not be available. The YMCA program encourages seniors to not let their age restrict them and get active in the great outdoors. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 9 October 2018

A MAN died when his car hit a tree leaving White Hill Road, Red Hill, on the weekend. The incident occurred about 150 metres from Arthurs Seat Road, 10.50pm, Saturday 29 September. The driver, a 20-year-old Mornington man, died at the scene. He appears to have been the sole occupant of the car. CFA, police and ambulance crews attended. Senior Constable Stuart Anderson, of Somerville Highway Patrol, said White Hill Road was closed between Arthurs Seat Road and Sheehans Road for several hours after the crash and again on Sunday, to allow police to take photographs and measure skid marks…

TASTY eucalyptus leaves, lots of naps, cuddles from mum – welcome to the world of Banjo, the first koala joey born at Moonlit Sanctuary, Pearcedale. Banjo arrived after months of suspense for sanctuary staff. Now, energised by his mother’s nourishing pap, Banjo is ready to ride on her back and see the world through the leaves of the gum trees. In his first days, Banjo spent a long time in his mother’s pouch attached to her teat. As he grew bigger he would appear from time to time, occasionally poking out a leg, then an arm, or his head. Some…