CONFUSION over the approval process for removing pine trees has prompted Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to clarify the rules. Rapid urbanisation of the peninsula and the age of pine trees that were planted decades ago as wind breaks means many of them are being removed. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said radiata pines, – the most prolific pines on the peninsula – are native to the United States but are well adapted to the peninsula and can spread and colonise areas of native bush and roadsides. They are classified as an environmental weed on the peninsula. As much of the…
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MPs should vote for what Indigenous people want Both Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie and Mornington MP Chris Crewther have suggested the Voice referendum should be on the question of recognition alone. However, there is a simple reason not to do this: it is not what Indigenous people have asked for. Indigenous people have told us that symbolic recognition in the constitution is not enough. To ignore their request for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament would be insisting – once again – that white Australia knows best. I hope both MPs reconsider their position on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament with…
FIREFIGHTERS at Mount Eliza and Frankston CFAs have welcomed some new volunteers, but still need more to be ready for the coming fire season. Over the past three months the volunteers have completed the nationally recognised CFA firefighter training, which is split into 30 hours of practical and 20 hours of theory. It also lays the foundation for firefighters to undertake further specialised training required to respond to structural fires or other complex emergencies. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer, as either an operational or non-operational member, can register their interest at: cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteers-careers/volunteer-with-cfa First published in the Mornington News –…
MORNINGTON Football Netball Club is celebrating an unprecedented milestone this year, with all six of its girls’ junior and women’s seniors teams making the finals. The achievement comes eight years after the club first fielded a women’s team in seniors football and five years since Mornington Junior Football Club fielded its first girls’ side. In junior girls football, the club is represented in under-12s, under-14s and under-16s and has 61 registered players. In senior football, the women are represented in divisions one, two and three and have 94 registered players. “We’re incredibly proud of what the girls and women have…
THE theft of a Chicago Bulls bomber jacket from a Rosebud opportunity shop has led to a heart-warming and generous act of kindness from a stranger as well as some rewarding publicity. Volunteers at the Boneo Lions op shop in Ninth Avenue were horrified when a shopper stole the donated jacket right from under their noses last Saturday (29 July), managing to grab it and leave the store before anybody noticed. Volunteer Sonya McCormack said they were just as shocked when a customer came in last week and, on hearing about the jacket, donated $100. “We just wanted to say…
MEMBERS of the veteran community came together with family and friends at Dromana Cemetery on Thursday (3 August) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. A vigil was held at the graveside of Michael Poole, of Dromana, one of 523 Australians who died in Vietnam between 1962 and 1973. Poole, who was killed by a landmine explosion in 1967, served with the fifth battalion. More than 3000 Australians were wounded in the 11-year conflict and the Dromana service was one of hundreds held around the country as communities reflected and paid tribute…
POLICE and the education department are investigating a series of intimidating incidents at Somerville McDonalds, following continued aggressive and disrespectful behaviour by school students. A hand-written sign banning Somerville Secondary College students from the store was removed on Friday, two days after it was placed there by a staff member attempting to protect his staff and customers. The McDonalds franchise was not aware of the sign or student ban at the Somerville store. Bad behaviour by groups of young people has been an ongoing issue at the fast-food restaurant, including the throwing of food, staff being abused and spat at,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have been told that investigating dropping the car park near Flinders pier in a paid parking trial would have “serious implications” for the entire project. Flinders, Sunnyside Beach, Mount Eliza and Schnapper Point, Mornington are the three car parks earmarked for the paid parking trial over summer. Major project coordination team leader Marcus Harris, in a report to this week’s public council meeting (Tuesday 8 August) said excluding Flinders from the trial would delay quotes for the vehicle identification cameras to be used in the paid parking trial. Harris said Flinders and Sunnyside car parks were…
BILLS from South East Water are expected to increase this financial year. South East Water has announced changes to its billing system, which are expected to increase the average cost of a household bill by nearly three per cent. South East Water is removing its fixed sewage disposal charge and incorporating its sewage disposal into a new water usage tariff from 1 July. South East Water managing director Lara Olsen said the change would make billing “simpler” for customers, “making it easier for them to budget, and continuing our digital metering rollout across the south-east”. “Our digital metering rollout is…
IT’S well known among equestrians that being around horses can have a therapeutic effect on mental health, but there are also a range of physical and social benefits that come with riding these beautiful animals. The coordinator at Riding for the Disabled Peninsula, Jenny Stidston, says the program is helping riders gain confidence, and at the same time improving their coordination, balance, muscle development and communications skills. “RDA helps to enrich lives through specialised programs and a relationship with horses, and it can be very helpful for people with a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities,” she said. Stidston says…
Utes and SUVs leave little space for parking cars The time has come to have a good look at car parks. Most were designed when people drove cars, and a Ford or Holden station wagon was considered a big car. Nowadays they look like babies compared to the massive utes and SUVs which are filling our streets. Vehicles such as the Dodge Ram and the soon to be introduced Ford F150 leave no room for others to get into or out of their vehicle if they are unlucky enough to have one of these park next to them. I drive…
TWO people have been arrested and charged following a spate of alleged home burglaries on the Mornington Peninsula over the past month. Crime investigation officers received reports of six holiday homes being targeted in the Rye area between 3 and 29 July. Most of the properties were accessed using house keys left for future renters. The homes were then allegedly ransacked, with large quantities of white goods, appliances and furniture stolen. No resident or renter was inside at the time. Following inquires, police arrested a 34-year-old man and 36-year-old woman in Rye on Friday 4 August. Both were charged with…
POLICE have arrested and charged seven youths following a spate of alleged offences on the Mornington Peninsula and across Melbourne’s southern metropolitan region between Monday 5 June and Sunday 23 July. The incidents include alleged home invasions and the theft of motor vehicles and petrol, as well as criminal damage, robbery, burglaries, and affrays in the Rosebud, Cheltenham and Parkdale areas. Police will allege some of the charges relate to the alleged serious assault of a 15-year-old girl at a shopping centre in Cheltenham at the weekend. The six boys and one girl – all from Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs and…
Mornington Peninsula Shire last week injected a bit of showbiz into its lobbying for money and support from the state government. The mayor Cr Steve Holland and CEO John Baker last Wednesday took to the stage in Queen’s Hall, Parliament House to remind MPs and anyone else moving through the hall that the peninsula has problems as well as drawcards. Baker told the assembled audience – including councillors and council officers – that about 4000 of the peninsula’s 170,000 residents were experiencing homelessness. “Predominantly it’s women sleeping in cars with kids,” he said. “Typically, they’re divorced, they’ve been left with…
A GIFT from an anonymous donor to Ambulance Victoria has seen an extra 20 automated external defibrillators installed across the Mornington Peninsula over the past two years. The AEDs are located at sporting clubs, community group venues and individual properties. Ambulance Victoria acting area manager Metro 10, Jo Wilton, said the donation was a significant health boost for the peninsula. “Every day, around 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest and only one in 10 survive,” she said. “Minutes matter in cardiac arrests and when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, the person’s chance…
RED Hill South and Sorrento have won silver and gold medals in their respective categories at this year’s Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards. The Victoria Tourism Industry Council awards highlight tourism businesses and the value they bring to their towns and communities in regional destinations across Victoria. Thursday (27 July) night’s wins confirms that Sorrento and Red Hill are popular for such things as their natural beauty, dining and accommodation, outdoor activities and art. Sorrento will now represent Victoria in the Top Small Tourism Town category at the national awards. Red Hill South’s entry in the Top Tiny Tourism Town…
COMMUNITY decarbonisation organisation Repower Mornington Peninsula held a lunch on Sunday 23 July to celebrate its achievements over the past couple of years. Members of the core committee and the postcode-based satellite groups from across the peninsula met to share their plans and activities and communication strategies for spreading the word on how to reduce emissions and transition to a more energy efficient future. Attendees included representatives from Flinders, Mount Martha, Red Hill, Main Ridge, Balnarring, Rosebud, Rye, Mount Eliza, Shoreham, Sorrento, and Mornington. Repower committee member Belinda Rodman said that shortly after the meeting Repower was notified that the…
NEW data from the Peninsula Community Legal Centre indicates that 42 per cent of renters seeking assistance from the organisation had received a notice to vacate their homes from their landlord, representing a six per cent increase in the last six months. This increase occurred against a backdrop of a national rental crisis fuelled by record-low vacancies, a critical lack of affordable and social housing, and a cost of living crisis. As well as Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, the legal service covers residents in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs. CEO Jackie Galloway said the situation for renters was worse now…
COUNCILLORS have warned that the planning powers of all Victorian municipalities are threatened following the release of a report by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and the influence of former Mornington businessman John Woodman on several planning decisions by Casey Council. Mornington Peninsula mayor Cr Steve Holland says the state government will use IBAC’s Sandon report to “further centralise power. The worst possible response”. The Premier Daniel Andrews said he would follow the IBAC report’s recommendation of setting up an inter-departmental taskforce to coordinate the implementation of 34 “recommendations to promote transparency in planning decisions; enhance donation and lobbying…
VOLUNTEERS have had their work cut out for them this winter, with strong winds and rough seas washing up thousands of pieces of plastic and other rubbish into Mornington Peninsula beaches. Beach patrols and other volunteer-based groups around the peninsula have been trying to keep the foreshore areas litter free. This month’s clean-ups saw dozens of volunteers brave the cold, wet conditions to clean up the remnants of recent storms, pulling out hundreds of items from bottles to fishing line. Much of the plastics and waste washed discovered on the peninsula’s beaches gets trapped in seaweed after washing in from…
NEW gaming legislation is expected to have a significant impact on the Mornington Peninsula, where around $68 million is lost at pokies venues every year. The statistics highlight the continuing cost of gambling addiction in the shire, where 820 machines operate in 17 venues, the second highest number of pokies outlets of any Victorian municipality after Geelong. The state government’s reforms are aimed at making the state’s gambling harm protections the strongest in Australia. Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Melissa Horne announced the changes last week to reduce gambling harm at venues with electronic gaming machines across the state. At…
SAUSAGE sizzles and a “community walk” are planned to raise money and highlight the plight of an estimated 1000 people on the Mornington Peninsula who each night struggle to find somewhere to sleep. Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Steve Holland said there had been no response to pleas for more state government help from the council and the municipality’s three community support centres. Nothing has changed since outlining the problem to the Premier Daniel Andrews last October, but the shire will continue its lobbying for more government help as part of this year’s Homelessness Week (7-13 August). “The continued lack…
ONE of Victoria’s top police officers says the Mornington Peninsula is a “safe place” to live despite media reports. Mornington Peninsula Local Area Commander, Inspector Terry Rowlands gave this assurance last week (13 July) after the release of community sentiment survey results which recorded community perceptions about crime and safety. Victorians had been asked since 31 March to report their community safety concerns, engagement preferences and experiences of local police. The inspector said that media speculation on reporting of serious and violent criminal offending, “and more specifically the ‘sneak in’ type of home invasions”, could heighten fear in the community. …
THE first of the four surveys to gauge public satisfaction with the performance of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council starts this week and will be completed by the end of the month. The mayor Cr Steve Holland said quarterly surveys would provide the shire with “more timely feedback”. Results of the four surveys commissioned by the shire will form the basis for the annual review of municipalities made on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. A “review of methodologies” has seen the shire hire Metropolis Research to conduct the four “community satisfaction surveys”. The decision by shire directors…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has hired a Melbourne based social research company to conduct a “satisfaction survey” of residents. The shire says 400 interviews will be conducted with a “representative sample of residents”. The survey has been designed to assess the shire’s performance and identify services that need improving. The shire’s decision to commission the survey follows two consecutive years of poor results from community satisfaction surveys of municipalities made on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (“Shire again misses survey satisfaction” The News 21/6/23). Results from the 2022 survey saw the shire rated at an “all-time low” followed…
THE results are in for one of the largest reviews of heritage places in the Western Port and the hinterland region in nearly 25 years, with comment open until 28 July. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council recently commissioned a heritage review of Watson, Cerberus and Red Hill wards to identify places of heritage significance that should be protected under the heritage overlay of the peninsula’s planning scheme. The overlay is designed to ensure heritage places are conserved and enhanced and that new development does not adversely impact their significance. The review was undertaken by experts and identifies places recommended for heritage…
THE state government’s plan to continue its Kangaroo “harvesting” program and potentially increase the cull rate on the Mornington Peninsula has angered wildlife advocates who say the peninsula’s native marsupials should be protected. Victorian harvesting quotas are based around population figures of seven zones, with controversial aerial surveys last year estimating that kangaroo numbers in the Gippsland zone, which includes the peninsula, Wellington Shire and South Gippsland, had increased since 2018 to 17700, and across Victoria to 2,418,000. The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Change recently announced the culling program – which put the kill quota of eastern grey…
INCREASING numbers of pet owners on the Mornington Peninsula are giving up their animals because they can no longer afford to look after them. Pet rescue groups say they are overflowing with unwanted and surrendered animals, while social support groups report that they are getting many requests for help to feed pets. Rising household costs and power bills mean there is nothing left in many family budgets to feed animals. The last straw is when animals need veterinary care, or owners have to pay expensive release fees if their pet ends up in the shire’s animal pound. Western Port Community…
PET owners are being warned to be vigilant when walking their dogs and to keep them on leads, after several incidents involving animals being poisoned on the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is investigating but unable to give further details of the poisoning of a dog in Tootgarook. It is not the first-time pets have been targeted, with a number of dogs poisoned in recent years in Mount Martha and Mornington after eating animal remains believed to be baited with rat poison. Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue group is warning of a spike in dog baiting. The group is aware…
ELECTRONIC permits issued during a nine-month paid parking trial will be linked to individual licence plates to prevent them being shared. The plan to charge visitors to the Mornington Peninsula for parking in foreshore areas has sparked a hostile reaction from many residents, despite other Port Phillip bayside councils already having paid parking in place. While the trial will begin in summer and run for at least six months, the shire says it will use feedback and results to decide whether to make it permanent. The shire has allocated $1.16 million over two budgets to pay for the paid parking…