Browsing: Mornington Peninsula

Shire officers’ reports should be open to scrutiny If and when [Mornington Peninsula Shire Council] officers write a report, irrespective if it highlights misconduct, waste of resources, incompetence and, if allowed constructive criticism of procedures, office mismanagement and the like, from the CEO down to lower ranks of employees, they should all be subject to scrutiny and KPI performances. These officers reports should and must be able to be questioned and face scrutiny without fear or favour in an open public meeting. As paid officers of the shire their wages are paid out of ratepayers’ funds, and indeed from CEO…

OFTEN referred to as the men’s shed on wheels, the Sorrento Bay Riders and their cycling mates from around the Mornington Peninsula are leading the charge to raise money to support the Making a Difference programs at Victoria’s The Portsea Camp. Led by philanthropist Max Beck, the riders will hit the road on Sunday 1 October for the annual Sorrento Bay Riders Portsea Camp Challenge. The 65km for 65 children charity ride around some of peninsula’s most picturesque roads aims to raise $50,000 for inclusive wellness and camping programs, which work to build confidence, promote healthy bodies, healthy minds, and…

GRAFFITI removal and building maintenance contractors are being sought by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. The three-tender process is part of the council’s efforts to ensure peninsula residents and visitors enjoy “safe, clean and efficient buildings”. The council’s infrastructure maintenance services contract ends on 30 June 2024, with the council saying it is moving to working more directly with suppliers and contractors in a “shared risk” approach to the maintenance of more than 500 habitable buildings and 600 other structures like sheds, shelters and public toilets. Successful tenders will cover building maintenance across a range of services, including graffiti management. Graffiti…

Tony Duboudin A NEWLY formed quartet will feature works by Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert in a concert to be presented by Somers Chamber Music Society at Saint Mark’s Anglican Church, Balnarring, at 2.30pm on Sunday 8 October. The Hakea Quartet was formed by young musicians who are embarking on their performing careers. This group of performers – Fergus Ascot, Emma Amery, Sandra Ionescu and Sara Barbagallo – are graduates of, or finalising their studies at, the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and perform regularly in youth orchestras and teach. Several have won awards and studied overseas. The Hakea Quartet’s 8 October…

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Steve Holland says that Premier Dan Andrews’ plan to introduce a 7.5 per cent short stay accommodation tax will do “nothing” to fix the housing crisis. Holland said last Monday’s (20 September) announcement was a “huge disappointment” and would severely impact the “struggling tourism and hospitality sectors”. He said the levy would override the shire’s short stay rental local law and fail to solve the housing and rental affordability problem. The 7.5 per cent levy could add an estimated $42 a night for stays on the peninsula. “That’s $42 a night not contributing to our…

MOUNT Martha man Sebastian “Sabe” Saitta has been recognised for his selfless act of bravery 27 years ago when he stepped in to protect two female prison officers taken hostage by two offenders at Townsville Correctional Centre. On the day in question, Saitta – a former member of the Defence force and known as Sammy to his corrections’ colleagues – was a 34-year-old officer in charge of the maximum division, with experience in negotiation and de-escalation. Taking on the role of main hostage negotiator, Saitta disarmed one of the offenders who was holding a makeshift knife to a female prison…

REPORTS of animal cruelty on the Mornington Peninsula have dropped slightly in the past year, according to the RSPCA. The RSPCA Victoria recently released its statistics for the 2022/2023 year, with data revealing there were 281 reports of cruelty in the shire compared to 311 the previous year, lifting the shire’s ranking from sixth worst to eleventh. Statewide, the figures reflect the cost-of-living crisis, with a high number of animals surrendered or seized. For the first time ever, this year’s release includes the number of animals coming into RSPCA Victoria’s care via the Inspectorate for each local government area. Twenty…

AS a single mum of three boys, Celeste Sinclair has spent years seeking ways to provide her family with a safe home. Against all odds in a tough housing market, that has finally happened after charity Habitat for Humanity provided the lifeline Sinclair needed to step into the housing market on the Mornington Peninsula. The young family have just taken ownership of a new home in Crib Point, one of several properties built by Habitat for Humanity Victoria, which is part of the global Habitat for Humanity network, working in more than 70 countries towards its vision of a world…

By Ranald Macdonald FLINDERS resident Zeta Newbound attends weekly stretching classes at the Balnarring Town Hall on Tuesdays. A former schoolteacher and physical education instructor Newbound, who celebrates her 100th birthday on 7 October, actively participates in all the exercises. She was a pennant golfer and member of the Flinders Golf Club committee. Newbound and her late husband Maxwell have two children, with her daughter following in her footsteps as a teacher. The family had a weekender in Shoreham for 30 years when living in St Kilda, before moving to Flinders in the 1950s where they built a two-storey house.…

THE state government has backed Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s efforts to protect eight green wedge parcels of land. The C270morn amendment, which has been waiting for Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s stamp of approval since last year, will see the rezoning of eight parcels of land outside the Urban Growth Boundary and fix irregularities in the Mornington Peninsula planning scheme. The amendment affects 10 sites across Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Portsea and Shoreham. Leigh Eustace, a member of the Green Wedges Coalition and spokesperson for Save Reg’s Wedge – a grass roots group that unsuccessfully fought to prevent the development…

CONCERNS about fishers causing environmental damage in the Balcombe Creek estuary at Mount Martha are being investigated, following complaints about people leaving rubbish, trampling the bushland, and using the area as a toilet. One resident who walks the estuary boardwalk daily said groups of visitors from Melbourne were fishing at the estuary every day, causing significant damage by walking through the wetland areas to fish and relieve themselves in the bushes. She said she was also concerned about “unsustainable” fishing and claims she had witnessed fishers carrying away large bags of adult and juvenile fish. “I have tried to say…

A SMOKE-free trial run by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is among the finalists in the 41st annual Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria’s Tidy Towns & Cities – Sustainability Awards. In the litter category, the Safety Beach smoke free zone specifically has been hailed a success in navigating a smoke free environment. Since the original smoke free trial in April 2021, Beach Patrol volunteers have monitored the uptake of butt bins, with findings showing a significant decrease in butt litter. Local businesses were also surveyed, with 42 per cent noticing a reduction in butt litter near their businesses. The council has…

The Voice: It’s Your Choice, Not Ours – Councillor Mar Let’s be clear why the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has not taken a position on The Voice to Parliament and the reasons why. Australian citizens will be called upon to formalize their personal position from media, print and letterbox drops and place their vote at the polling booth on 14 October 2023. The Voice to Parliament is a personal decision where democracy is playing its important role that will help shape the future for Australia. I sought my information talking to locals, Bunurong Land Council and our friends at Willum…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council will launch mental health training for small businesses next month. Together with Mornington Peninsula organisation Speak & Share the council has developed mental health workshops for small businesses with a $15000 grant from Business Victoria. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said discussions around the importance of good mental started as early as kindergarten, and for young people mental health discussions came with little stigma because it was a natural topic to talk about for them. Holland said the state government was introducing legislation around occupational health and safety regulations in a bid to recognise hazards that…

VICTORIANS opposing what they think is unsuitable property development will have a new rallying point next week after the launch of a public declaration for a “Liveable Victoria”. The declaration is the joint effort of Planning Democracy, and Green Wedges Coalition. Planning Democracy was formerly known as Planning Backlash, an umbrella group formed by veteran planning activist Mary Drost OAM in 2003. Backlash was a loose alliance of 250 community groups across Melbourne and Victoria lobbying for more democracy in local and state planning. Planning Democracy convenor Kelvin Thomson – the former federal MP for Wills with a long involvement…

THE state government is considering a tax on short-term stays and Airbnbs, which are a dominant factor in the Mornington Peninsula holiday rental market and have been blamed for adding to the housing crisis. State cabinet considered a new levy of up to 7.5 per cent on short-stay accommodation like Airbnb on Monday (18 September). Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula CEO Joshua Sinclair said the “significant funding” must be re-invested on the Mornington Peninsula. “Our region will generate more than $10 million in revenue from a tax like this, and a significant portion of that should be spent on…

A probationary licence holder was been caught more than four times over the limit in Hastings on Saturday 16 September. The Hastings van was on patrol when they notice an illegally parked car on High Street about 3.50am. Officers checked the vehicle and found a woman slumped across the front passenger seat and asleep. The 39-year-old woman, who had been driving the vehicle, was taken back to a local police station where she returned an evidentiary breath test result of 0.18. The Crib Point woman was served with an immediate suspension of her licence and had her car impounded for…

THE local answer to the Archibald Prize, the Oak Hill Archies, is set to coincide with the “real” prize coming to the Mornington Peninsula. The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery expects up to 50,000 viewers will come to see this year’s Archibald works when exhibited there from 15 September to 5 November. The Oak Hill Archies will be at Oak Hill Gallery from Saturday 16 September. Oak Hill Gallery is a community arts centre designed to promote and develop the arts. Board member and artist Michelle Nixon said the event, which had a prize pool of $1000, had attracted some “remarkable…

THE Western Port Biosphere Reserve has retained its UNESCO status for the next decade and rebranded itself with a more contemporary logo. The two moves coincide with the state government’s “investment in marine ecosystems and blue carbon” through the foundation and the Bunurong Aboriginal Land Council. The UNESCO status renewal confirms the reserve as being south-eastern Australia’s only member among the 748-members from 134 countries in the world biosphere reserve network. The foundation’s CEO, Mel Barker, said UNESCO’s decision. Followed a “rigorous review” which also marked the Western Port Biosphere Reserve entering its third decade. “This is fantastic recognition of…

A FESTIVAL in October at Main Ridge will feature 100 singers performing to raise money for support programs for homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula. According to Mornington Peninsula Shire 35 per cent of peninsula residents are in rental stress, while 12 per cent of those experiencing homelessness are sleeping rough in cars or on the foreshore. Low income residents are being forced off the peninsula and away from their support networks and family as fewer than one in three peninsula rental properties are affordable, according to Southern Peninsula Community Support CEO Jeremy Maxwell. Maxwell said housing and homeless support programs…

IN a post-COVID world where many people are searching for meaning and purpose, one organisation is reaching out to offer a way to fill the void. The volunteer-based CFA is always seeking new volunteers to help it continue its mission of helping the community, responding to emergencies and supporting other services in times of community need. Mornington Fire Brigade is currently on a recruitment drive after its volunteer numbers have since 2016 dropped from around 80 to 30. Captain Michael Licciardo said the sense of satisfaction volunteers got from helping the community and being involved in something bigger than themselves…

VETS for Compassion, a not-for-profit organisation of vets and assistants, spent more than a week trying catch a skinny and wheezy ginger cat hanging around a factory at Hastings. After many attempts, the crew was finally able to capture the scared and hungry cat, which was treated by the vets and is now in care with Forever Friends Animal Rescue until it is ready for adoption. The animal, which was suffering from a respiratory illness, had been hiding under machinery, coming out from time to time at workers – almost asking for help. Vets for Compassion is a registered charity…

THE state government has announced that a terminal to assemble offshore wind turbines will be built at Hastings while at the same time saying there will be “a thorough environment effects statement (EES) process” before the project progresses. In a statement issued on Sunday (10 September) the government says the terminal will be built at the Old Tyabb Reclamation Area and be equipped “for the receival, assembly and installation of offshore wind foundations, towers and turbines as a multi-user facility, with new berths, heavy duty pavements and major supporting infrastructure”. Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and Ports and Freight…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is looking to strengthen planning controls around advertising signage following residents and councillors’ concerns about large, brightly lit neon signs in Mornington. A report presented to council on 8 September called for “strategic work” to tighten its planning policy in a bid to provide “better guidance” on major promotion signs. Cr Anthony Marsh pushed for the policy review after council lost a fight at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to ban a large, electronic sign in Nepean Highway, Mornington, with the tribunal finding that the sign adhered to all current policies. First published in the…

By Hugh Fraser* A DIVIDED and dysfunctional Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has voted down a motion by Cr David Gill to restore the right of councillors to transparently question council officers during public council meetings. Gill was right to bring this issue to the attention of council and the community. In a democratic, functional and responsible council, his motion ought to have succeeded. The democratic right of councillors to question council officers and senior management in council meetings is an essential council and transparent process. It assists in making a CEO, shire officers and management accountable to council and the…

LOCAL laws officers have started patrols at Shoreham Foreshore one week after the death a wallaby joey at Shoreham foreshore whose mother was apparently chased by dogs on Sunday 3 September. The death prompted an outcry from residents and the Shoreham Foreshore Reserve Committee, which is calling for greater awareness of the risk unleashed dogs pose to wildlife. The dead joey was found in the foreshore reserve on the Monday morning, following an incident on Sunday night in which it is believed barking dogs chased the mother and caused it to eject or lose her joey. Management committee chair Toby…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected a call that would have allowed officers to be questioned in public about the contents and possible consequences of their reports. The bid by Cr David Gill to clear the way for the public questioning of officers was defeated last week on the casting vote of the mayor, Cr Steve Holland. With one councillor absent, the vote was tied five all and Holland, in line with accepted procedure, used his extra vote as meeting chairperson to retain the status quo, which prevents the officers being questioned at public council meetings. In the lead up…

Carrum Downs artist Jaq Grantford has been named as the Archibald Prize 2023 ‘People’s Choice’ winner for her winning portrait of former Playschool presenter and beloved Australian personality Noni Hazlehurst. This month, the highly anticipated Archibald Prize 2023 opens at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery – the only Victorian destination for this popular event. Thousands of art lovers and curious cultural adventurers will head to Mornington to see the 57 portraits hanging side-by-side, including Jaq’s now famous portrait and this year’s winning work of Montaigne by Julia Gutman. Portraits have always intrigued the viewer: the eyeline, the position of the…

The Voice: Residents look to councillors for leadership I attended the 5 September public meeting of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting with the expectation that councillors would debate whether they should support a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum. I was deeply shocked and disappointed that questions regarding the referendum were dismissed, with the CEO advising that council would not be taking a position on this matter. Local councils play a pivotal role in representing and reflecting the sentiments of their community. The shire has previously shown its support for Indigenous rights and reconciliation in its Reconciliation Action Plan, so…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council is calling for nominations for its 2024 Australia Day awards. Nominations of a friend, family member or colleague in the categories of Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year until Friday 17 November if they have made an outstanding contribution to the community. Last year’s Citizen of the Year was Jack Van Der Zwart, in recognition of his work caring for foster children, cooking for the homeless in Rosebud and providing meals for the needy. There is also an opportunity to recognise events, through the category of community event of the year. The…