Mornington
Morni ngton
23 February
Your guide to what’s on this weekend for peninsula families
Conley
2016
Seaside serenity > Page 3
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Outdoor inspiration ART tutor Jan Oliver, left, says painting on location in Mornington, “inspires artists to be more experimental and this makes them feel creative, like good artists”. She believes Monet had the same feelings in the gardens at Giverny in northern France. Ms Oliver chose inspiring locations - Beleura House and Mills Beach - for her summer arts classes for students from the University of the Third Age (U3A). “When painting large trees in the historic gardens of Mornington we tend to use watercolours,” she said. “I encourage everyone to follow the methods of Sir Hans Heysen, Australia’s most notable landscape artist, when paining giant gum trees.” The summer program was inspired by Ms Oliver’s series of informal classes last year and previous experiences working outdoors with artists on a course in Cornwall, England. Short and year-long courses and activities are at U3A Mornington, 5-17, Currawong St, call 5975 9773 or visit u3amornington.com.au
Five-year plan for ‘carbon neutrality’ Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has adopted a five-year plan to become “carbon neutral”. Adoption of the plan last week follows the decision to close the Rye tip by the middle of next year. Waste will be exported from the municipality, effectively reducing the shire’s greenhouse gases and making it easier to gain carbon neutrality accreditation through the federal govern-
ment-administered National Carbon Offset Standard. Councillors opposed to closing the tip say ratepayers will pay up to $60 a year extra for waste to be taken off the peninsula; those in favour put the figure at closer to $30. Emphasis on the shire’s desire to achieve this standard was underlined late last year when it sent a three-person delegation to the 29 November 11 December United Nations climate change conference in Paris. The mayor, Cr Graham Pittock, Cr Hugh Fraser and the then renewable
resources team leader Jessica Wingad returned from the COP21 conference with an invitation for the shire to commit to an international Compact of Mayors to minimise climate change. The shire’s presence at the conference has been criticised as being unnecessary by members of the public and at least two councillors, David Garnock and Andrew Dixon. Cr Pittock and Fraser are yet to present reports to council, although Cr Pittock did invite the public to an “open presentation” about the Paris talks on Monday 21 December. The meeting
at council’s Roesbud offices was held amid wide criticism of the trip on social media. The requirement for the reports to be made was part of a council motion limiting their council-paid conference costs to $6000. Ms Wingad’s attendance was described as being to “learn the latest global trends and their potential application locally”. Ms Wingad will now head a new climate change, energy and water unit within the shire. The unit, according to a news release,
“is responsible for leading the shire towards carbon neutrality and long-term climate change resilience across the community and organisation”. The same news release says the shire’s carbon neutrality policy “will return a financial payback to the shire and its community”. "The policy sets out how the shire manages greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations and ensures that its net emissions are equal to zero or better annually,” Cr Pittock is quoted as saying. Continued Page 17