THE paid parking trial about to start near Flinders pier has been called a fiasco and one that will endanger people who would rather walk down a narrow than pay to park. Flinders Community Association president Mary Iles said the free e-permit offer for ratepayers and residents had “difficult to follow requirements, the website is unstable, and the process is a fiasco”. “Many other issues have been raised with council to ensure a far simpler outcome. Even a sign which has already been installed at the Flinders pier is misleading,”. The FCA have for months been actively campaigning about the…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has not provided details of who made the decision to fly the Pride flag outside its offices. It has been more than one month since the shire was asked for details by The News following readers’ complaints about costs and decisions connected to the flag being flown. The shire did not directly respond to questions about whether the flag would be flown permanently, who had decided to fly the flag, were councillors told and could other groups ask for their flag to be flown. However, following the publication of a letter – Help homeless, not flags (The…
CRIB Point Fire Brigade is holding an open day on Sunday 3 December from 10am to 2pm. This year the focus will be on families, and there will be activities for children. Anyone new (or not so new) to Crib Point is invited to join in, there will be a jumping castle and coffee, plus information on fire safety and smoke alarms, the fire danger rating system, getting ready for summer, and being a CFA volunteer. First published in the Western Port News – 29 November 2023
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire sees part of its mission as “keeping [the public] up to date with what is happening across the shire in an open and direct way”, but councillors have decided against publishing summaries of their secret discussions, or briefings. Cr David Gill said the summaries would help the public understand what topics were being discussed before they came up for a decision on a council agenda. “This is about transparency. It’s about inclusiveness. It’s about bringing our community with us when we’re discussing things,” Gill said. Briefings were noted on agendas, but the details remained secret, and it…
Federal cuts to transport needs are no surprise The cancellation of the extension of Frankston to Baxter line is no surprise as the federal government has no infrastructure revenue to fork out (“Budget cuts end travel plans” The News 21/11/23). Governments in Australia are not as wealthy as they used to be, partly because most of our gold was sold by a former Liberal treasurer for $300 an ounce and the rest what is left is in the vaults at the Bank of England not in the Reserve Bank of Australia, which is a government bank. Victoria is in debt…
RADIO station RPP Plus is about to launch a new online show In Good Company, giving listeners “two hours of amazing music from all kinds of astonishing artists”. Host Ross Woodward has been collecting music for nearly 50 years and has a “massive passion for all kinds of bands”. He says that over the years he has met Cold Chisel’s Don Walker, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Men at Work’s Colin Hay, Joe Camilleri of the Black Sorrows, Iva Davies of Icehouse, Jimmy Webb, Jimmy Barnes, Richard Thompson and Vika and Linda Bull. “A whole range of incredible artists…
THE rich history of the Mornington Peninsula has captivated the imaginations of many of those who have delved, but it’s also behind a new wave of history-based tourism. The interest in the peninsula’s past adds another feather to its cap, joining the beaches and the rolling verdant pastures as a reason to visit. History teacher and Eerie Tours proprietor Nathaniel Buchanan said his passion for history led him to the quarantine station at Point Nepean. “When I learned all about the history of the quarantine station I was amazed – it’s got a colourful, tragic and interesting past that many…
THERE is plenty of evidence, documented and anecdotal, that community gardens are beneficial to the environment, to the health and wellbeing of users, and can help reduce the impact of high cost of groceries while providing nutritious food. So, it’s no surprise that community gardens are increasing on the Mornington Peninsula, with a new one popping up in Balnarring and many established ones dotted around the peninsula. The Coolart Community Garden is now up and running in the space of a former herb garden, which was the original Luxton family’s vegetable garden that was overhauled in the mid-1980s. Spokesperson Julie…
POLICE from Rosebud responded to multiple calls on Sunday 20 November of a motorcycle being ridden dangerously in the Capel Sound area. Police were able to identify the offender and searched premises in Capel Sound early Monday morning. The 36-year-old suspect was found hiding under a bed and was arrested and charged with several driving related offences. He was bailed to appear at court at a later date and his Yamaha R1 motorcycle was impounded. Anyone with information about criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Mornington News…
By Zoe McKenzie* THE failure of the Victorian Labor government to address local infrastructure needs last week resulted in our loss of $300 million. The 90-day review, which took more than 200 days, saw two local projects dumped due to a lack of matching or completion contributions from the Andrews/Allan government: $225 million was lost to electrify the Baxter rail line, and $75 million cancelled for the Jetty Road, Rosebud overpass. Now, $100 million of the peninsula’s funding will be spent on a road project in Ballarat, in the infrastructure minister’s own backyard. Other funds that would have been spent…
By Despi O’Connor* THE Mornington Returned and Services League (RSL) has its first female president in Meryn Cooper. Cooper joined the Women’s Royal Australian Navy in 1981 and was based at HMAS Cerberus, Crib Point for her new recruits’ course, proudly wearing her uniform. She completed her category training on the base and as a cook was then posted to HMAS Albatross, Nowra Hill, NSW home of the Fleet Air Arm. Eighteen months later Cooper was posted to HMAS Coonawarra, in Darwin. Prior to 1985, women were not able to go to sea, so for her four years of service…
NEWLY elected Mornington Peninsula Shire Council mayor Cr Simon Brooks says he is honoured to have received the support of his fellow councillors. Brooks was appointed at last Tuesday’s (21 November) annual council meeting at Rosebud, along with deputy mayor Cr Antonella Celi. A second term councillor, Brooks first represented the Seawinds Ward from 2016 to 2020. In February this year, after losing the 2020 election, he was elected on a countback following the December 2022 resignation of Kerri McCafferty (“Brooks back in council on countback” The News 7/2/23). With a background in building and design, and five years as…
THE National Trust’s Mornington Peninsula branch is holding an auction on Sunday 3 December of paintings, drawings and prints donated by branch members and friends. Branch president Victor Sullivan said a chance remark during a gathering of members inspired the “unique fundraising idea”. “Conversation between colleagues drifted to the topic of what happens after downsizing when people retain some or even all of their much-loved art collections, but do not have wall space to hang items,” he said. “An appeal to members and friends has been hugely successful and we have gathered excellent examples of art for the auction.” He…
Police have discovered what is believed to be human remains in Port Phillip Bay as they continue to investigate a plane crash in Mount Martha on Sunday. They are believed to be the missing occupants of the plane, a 56-year-old Brunswick man and a 30-year-old Surrey Hills man. It comes after police located wreckage from the plane off the shore of Mornington on Monday evening. Water Police, Air Wing and Uniform officers have carried out extensive searches across Port Phillip Bay as part of a complex operation since the crash on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services were called to reports two…
MORNINGTON Peninsula four-piece indie rock band Teenage Dads has been jettisoned into the music media spotlight after winning the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA award last Wednesday. Teenage Dads was formed by self-taught musicians Jordan Finlay and Connor McLaughlin in Mount Eliza in 2015, with Angus Christie and Vincent Kinna joining the band later. They have been playing locally and toured Europe and America but have not yet hit the heights of commercial success. All that is set to change, with the band now recognised by one of the most prestigious industry awards for up-and-coming bands. Angus Christie’s father Greg…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is reconsidering its mechanical beach cleaning practices after doubts were raised about the effectiveness of the process. Rye-based environmental advocate and former Citizen of the Year Josie Jones said mechanical beach cleaning was creating more macro plastics on the beach and causing serious pollution issues. Jones has produced a report after spending months researching and collecting plastic waste from Safety Beach and Capel Sound to prove that mechanical beach cleaning does not remove all of the waste but shatters it into smaller pieces that get buried in the sand. “I have doubted the effectiveness of the…
Police have located wreckage following a plane crash in Mount Martha on Sunday afternoon. Water Police, Air Wing and Uniform officers have carried out extensive searches across Port Phillip Bay as part of a multi-agency operation. Emergency services were called to reports two small planes collided over the bay about 1.45pm on Sunday 19 November. One plane crashed into the water, the other safely landed at Essendon airport. After searching water, a large part of the body of the plane was located off the shore of Mornington. Police are working to remove the fuselage of the plane from the water,…
VISITORS are being urged to look out for hooded plovers nesting along Mornington Peninsula shorelines and help the birds by giving them plenty of space and keeping dogs away from breeding areas. Now in its third season, the Conservation Regulator’s Operation Save our Hoodies (SoHo), run in partnership with Parks Victoria and Birdlife Australia, is helping protect the threatened beach-nesting birds during their breeding season. Hooded plovers lay eggs in shallow sand scrapes and raise their chicks on beaches between August and March. They face threats from people trampling nests or scaring them into abandoning their eggs, and from dogs…
WILDLIFE groups have welcomed a proposal to remove kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula from the commercial kangaroo harvest scheme. If adopted, the changes will come into effect in 2025 and last until 2028. However, property owners will still be able to apply for permit to “control wildlife”. Public comments can be made about the Victorian Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan 2024-2028 until Monday 4 December. The Save Kangaroos on the Mornington Peninsula (SKOMP) group hailed the peninsula kangaroo’s removal from the plan as “great news”. Kangaroos are the peninsula currently included in the Gippsland harvesting zone, which wildlife advocates say distorts…
PLANS to improve Mornington Peninsula road and rail services came to a sudden halt last week with the federal government announcing cuts of more than $300 million from infrastructure projects. The move means the cancellation of both the Jetty Road, Rosebud overpass and the electrification of the train service from Frankston to Baxter. The $225 million promised by the previous Coalition government to duplicating and electrifying the line to Baxter came nowhere near to the estimated $1.5 billion needed. Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the federal government said the infrastructure cuts included “projects that were not realistically going to be…
SOCCER FRANKSTON Pines’ immediate future is on the line with the local club scrambling to avoid being booted out of State League by Football Victoria. That’s the bleak prospect facing the men from Monterey if they can’t pay a large percentage of a five-figure debt owed to FV by the end of this month. Last week the state federation announced that many clubs “failed to meet their financial obligations in 2023, resulting in a historic level of debt … nearing $2 million.” It then delivered the bombshell news that “clubs unable or unwilling to meet their financial obligations will be…
CRICKET PROVINCIAL A MASSIVE century by Harley Peace-Stirling has secured an important win for Pines. Sorrento set Pines a target of 113 to score to win. Pines looked shaky batting on day one, and finished up at 5/51 at stumps. Pines looked much more comfortable on day two. On the back of a brilliant knock of 109 not out by Peace-Stirling, they easily surpassed their target. Some excellent bowling saw Long Island get a win over Old Peninsula last Saturday. Long Island were in a good position coming into day two – they scored 261 runs on day one. A…
EARLY on Sunday morning last while putting a prisoner into the cell at the watch-house, on a charge of drunkenness, Senior–Constable Culhane and Constable Graham were wounded, the result of revolver shots. From details to hand, it appears that the two officers mentioned had arrested a man named Hannah, a former policeman, lately stationed at Brighton, on a charge of drunkenness, and while locking him up a shot rang out. Constable Graham fell to the ground. Senior-Constable Culhane, who was turning out the light, rushed to the assistance of his fellow officer, when another shot was fired, striking the senior…
No environmental benefit in brown coal to hydrogen It is pleasing to see that the state government may be finally coming to its sense with regard to the shipping hydrogen to Japan (“MPs under pressure over hydrogen” The News 14/11/23). While shipping the clean fuel hydrogen to Japan seemed like a sensible idea, it was always flawed because of the way the hydrogen was to be made. Had the hydrogen been produce through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy then the idea had merit. However, the method chosen, converting brown coal to hydrogen was always flawed for the…
RYE residents and visitors can now enjoy a new public artwork: Ngalamba: to stop and wait a while. Produced by artists David Wood, of Bent Metal, Daniel van de Wiel, of It Stands Out and Shanai Kellett, of Maloga Art, the wall sculpture represents the story of Bunurong’s five seasons. The commission came about after Rye Community Alliance reached out to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, in consultation with Binturong elders. Both schematic and organic, the sculpture celebrates the local Bunurong people’s connection to country. Inspired by the life cycle of the leptospermum laevigatum – the coastal tea tree, an…
ZETA Newbound, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, lives independently, drives her manual car, attends events and participates in discussions regarding current topics. The president of Flinders Probus Club, Rose White, said the club had organised a surprise This is your Life Power Point presentation and a birthday lunch for Newbound following a monthly meeting at Flinders Yacht Club. “Eighty-five of us kept the secret and Zeta was amazed,” White said. The presentation traced Newbound’s life from her 7 October birth 1923 in Lewisham, England, where Australian parents were working. Her mother Meta was a professional violinist and her father,…
THE Rosebud-based four-part Southern Peninsula Choir is evolving and expanding its repertoire under the guidance of musical director Serena Carmel, who took over after the retirement to Germany last year of Antony Ransome. Under her direction the choir conducted a workshop in October as part of the Mornpen Positive Ageing Festival. The choir has a biennial scholarship that aims to promote interest in classical choral singing for young people on the Mornington Peninsula.. Winner of this year’s scholarship program was Ava De Vries, 14, who also won the encouragement award two years ago. Singing teacher Cheryl McDonald began teaching De Vries…
A CREDIT card inside a wallet stolen from motor vehicle at Safety Beach overnight on Saturday 30 September was used the following day at Woolworths, Mornington. The card was used to buy items worth $923.70 and police have released an image of a man (above) who may be able to assist with their inquiries. Anyone with information in urged to contact either the Mornington Peninsula CIU on 5978 1400, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au First published in the Mornington News – 21 November 2023
POLICE numbers will still be bolstered on the Mornington Peninsula for up to four weeks during schoolies celebrations, despite crowds expected to be down this year. But with public drunkenness no longer being a criminal offence in Victoria and police now having to arrange safe options for drunken revellers, could be plenty to keep them busy. Superintendent Fiona Bock, above right, said all indications were that the peninsula would not be the top choice for school leavers this year, with many headed interstate or overseas. “But we will still have a strong police presence because our aim is to allow…
SIXTY-five truckies were intercepted on Peninsula Link and around the Mornington Peninsula on Monday (13 November) and 58 driving offences recorded in a crackdown on heavy vehicle driver behaviour. Operation Hauler involved the Somerville Highway Patrol, Victoria Police heavy vehicle unit and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator between Carrum Downs, Hastings and Rosebud and surrounding industrial estates. Senior Constable Travis Perkins from Mornington police said the peninsula had seen an increase in heavy vehicle collisions causing road trauma. This year has recorded the highest quarterly collisions involving collisions with heavy vehicles in the past five years. Already this year there…