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Hoping for clean air at nationals BALCOMBE Grammar School’s aerobics team “Balcombe Spirit” is training hard for the national championships in Launceston, Tasmania, next month. The team won its way through to the nationals via events in Geelong in May and the state finals in Werribee, where the girls won silver. School Aerobics National Championships have been held for more than 20 years. In Tasmania, the Balcombe girls will compete against teams from around Australia. Sheridan Hull of the school said the girls were excited to be competing in Tasmania. “Their coach Niki Hind of Peninsula Sport Aerobics and Fitness in Baxter is to be congratulated for her amazing effort in achieving fantastic results with the girls,” she said. Silver girls: Balcombe Grammar School’s aerobics team, from left rear, Layla McKinley, Tessa Hull, Vashti Lane and Kate Martin. Front, Sarah Astall, Summer Wilson and Miranda Pidal.
No surprise in rate rise No more than daily coffee costs for high value properties By Mike Hast COUNCILLORS on Monday night approved a rate rise of 6.8 per cent when they signed off on Mornington Peninsula Shire’s almost $150 million budget for 2011-12. Last year’s rise was 6.2 per cent. Defending the increase, Cr David Gibb said the increase meant people in his ward of Rosebud would pay an average $39 extra a year. “The highest value house in Rye of $1.9 million would pay an extra $240 a year, about the cost of a cup of coffee
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each week,” he said. Three councillors voted against the rise, Anne Shaw (Mt Martha area), Frank Martin (Red Hill) and Antonella Celi (Rosebud West). Cr Bev Colomb was absent, but had disagreed with the 6.8 per cent rise when the draft budget was released in late May. The budget and rate rise was approved 7-3. After the meeting, some pro-rate rise councillors told The News the anti-rise councillors were grandstanding for the media. “They may have voted against
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the rise, but they are quite happy to take the money for projects in their wards,” one said. During debate at the meeting in Rye Civic Hall, several councillors said they did not want to put rates up, but costs of running the shire had gone up. “People from Melbourne who have moved permanently to the peninsula expect more,” Cr Lynn Bowden said. “There is more pressure on our rate dollars, but we’ve not wasted those dollars. We have no choice; we have to increase rates.”
Cr Leigh Eustace said water, power and gas companies did not worry about putting up costs. Cr Frank Martin said the 6.8 per cent increase and borrowing $600,000 would enable shire debt to be reduced by $3.75 million to $35.2 million, but he proposed a 5.8 per cent increase and borrowing $1.5 million. “This would mean we could cut our debt to $36.1 million, just a few hundred thousand more. It would give us much the same result” with less pressure on ratepayers.
The only major change from the draft budget was the addition of $400,000 for sporting pavilions, with $371,000 coming via a windfall from the Grants Commission, which has changed the formula for allocating money to councils. The balance would come from part of the $52,000 budget surplus. CEO Michael Kennedy told councillors he and finance manager Geoff Emberson were looking at ways to inject $1 million into pavilions for the 201213 budget. Continued Page 4
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THE Mornington Peninsula and southeast region lost its most experienced journalist on Monday when Mike Morris died at age 68. Mr Morris was a senior journalist with Fairfax Media’s suburban newspaper division, writing for The Weekly papers in Frankston and on the peninsula. He was editor of the Dandenong Examiner in the early 1990s when it was bought by the Hastings-based Independent News Group, which in turn was bought by Fairfax in 2006. Fairfax closed the Examiner and he was transferred to the Chelsea Independent and then Frankston Independent, which was renamed Frankston Weekly last August. The veteran journalist, who served with the Australian Army, was born and educated in Melbourne, and worked on the ground-breaking Nation Review in the 1970s. He moved to NSW and was editor of or senior reporter with a number of newspapers circulating in the southern suburbs of Sydney. On Wednesday, former Independent News Group editorial director Tony Murrell said “Mike Morris was the best journalist I ever employed”. “He was a foot-slogging reporter who ferreted out stories in pubs and clubs and in the bowels of government at all levels. “He was a man of great sensitivity and possessed a highly developed sense of social justice. He despised those who sought advantage over the powerless and dispossessed and he worked diligently to expose them. “An extremely good columnist,
Rest in peace: Mike Morris was equally at home analysing the complexities of chess and the human character.
Mike was always at the precipice when highlighting corruption, hypocrisy and plain bad form. “Mike challenged authority every step of the way and I admired him for that.” Mr Morris died after a short illness, although he was still working for Fairfax at its Mornington office, where he collapsed on Monday morning.
A service will be held at 2.30pm at Gateway/Grant Funerals in Wells Rd, Chelsea Heights, on Friday and later at Chelsea RSL, his home away from home. Mr Morris is survived by brother Peter, sister Marita, nephews and nieces, and his step-daughter Aislinn and her daughters Keeley and Kara. Mike Hast
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Mornington News 28 July 2011
New art heralds season’s change By James Clark-Kennedy IN the exhibition Hint of Spring there is a sense of the warmer months approaching, emerging growth, and potential energy all around us set to explode into bloom and life. Wendy Grace’s Manyung at Mt Eliza August exhibition is well timed; having passed mid winter many of us have an eye to the sky or the garden for hints of spring. “Victoria is a very four seasons state and those seasons are so distinct – it’s something I love about this state, you always carry that sense of the season that’s here and awareness of the season that’s coming.” Wendy’s awareness as an artist has much to do with her affinity with nature and the cycles of nature: ”I’m drawn to the patterns of the seasons, and their colours.” In the works that make up Hint of Spring, warm colours pool and disperse into organic forms and echo the rhythms of the season. Born in 1961, Wendy completed a Diploma of Visual Arts, and a Bachelor of Fine Art and Honours at RMIT University. She is a photographer and painter who exhibits regularly in Melbourne. In 2010, she was a finalist in the Albany Art prize and the Broken Hill Open Art Prize and her work is represented in public and private collections in Australia and United States. She sees her exhibition as being about “the warmth that we gravitate to in the depths of winter ... I saw some spring blossoms coming”. Yet the works are not simply flora and fauna. In the forms and colours “there are lot of analogies in the work to my own life at the moment”, Grace says. An awakening energy that anybody who has embraced spring after winter will share. Wendy Grace’s ‘Hint of Spring’ Exhibition runs August 4–28, Manyung at Mt Eliza, 1408 Nepean Hwy, Mt Eliza. Call 9787 2953.
Spring turn: Wendy Grace uses her art to trace the change in the season.
MP says ignore poison Pen Link freeway letter By Mike Hast AN anonymous person or group has sent letters to Mt Martha landowners claiming more land will be compulsorily acquired for the Peninsula Link freeway currently being built between Carrum Downs and Mt Martha. The 27-kilometre freeway will join the northern end of Mornington Peninsula Fwy and the southern end of Moorooduc Hwy near Craigie Rd, well inland of where the letters have been circulated. Mornington MP David Morris said the letters, claiming to be from a VicRoads general manager, were bogus. “The letter seen by my office claims that a last-minute variation to the Peninsula Link project will
require additional and substantial land acquisition in urban Mt Martha, along a new freeway route never considered in the context of the project,” he said. “The cowardly actions of the anonymous person or group behind these false claims should be condemned.” Letters have been sent to residents of Sefton Grange estate, which is on the north side of Craigie Rd between Dunns Rd and Racecourse Rd. A letter has also been sent to Osborne Primary School in Craigie Rd, addressed to principal Liz Klein. Ms Klein told The News she did not want to comment on the letter apart from saying: “It’s old news now; we’re happy to move on.”
Mr Morris said the intended Peninsula Link route had been identified more than 40 years ago, and had been included on road maps for almost all of that time. “The final route of the freeway was agreed following public discussions over a number of years. “Any variation to the route, or extension of the freeway to the coast, would require the same … process.” No variation or extension has been discussed, he said. “The claims made in the document are a ... fabrication, and appear designed to cause maximum distress to residents of Mt Martha, and particularly to those who believe the may be directly affected.” The freeway was conceived dur-
Bogus: A copy of the fake letter sent to Osborne Primary School saying more land would be needed for the Peninsula Link freeway.
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Mornington News 28 July 2011
PAGE 3
NEWS DESK
Public has say on council future By Keith Platt THE process gets underway next month to decide if there should be any change to the number of councillors in each of Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 11 wards. The review by the Victorian Electoral Commission begins with public information sessions on 3 August at Hastings, Rosebud and Mornington. The deadline for submissions follows two weeks later and the VEC will issue its preferred options on 5 September. The shire has already made it clear that it wants to retain the status quo of one councillor in each ward and began a campaign in its May Peninsula-Wide newsletter to convince ratepayers. A public hearing will be held on 12 October to hear oral submissions. The shire’s campaign includes mailouts to clubs and organisations, and website space (‘Shire starts campaign to stay the same’, The News 21/6/11). The unattributed Peninsula-Wide article says single-councillor wards are “clearly the favoured system of our community”. It says residents “overwhelmingly rejected a push for multi-councillor wards” during the 2005 electoral review. The article does not mention that a check of the submissions made during that review showed an alignment of views by councillors, shire employees and Liberal Party members. Peninsula-Wide quotes the mayor, Cr Graham Pittock, as saying “a move towards multi-councillor wards would open the way for party politics or voting ‘blocs’ to enter council”.
CURRENT boundaries and voter numbers for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council were established after the 2005 review. The boundaries of Balcombe, Cerberus and Red Hill wards were changed in a subdivision review in 2008.
Briefly Fire warning THE CFA has again issued a winter fire warning after a spate of accidents involving heaters and fireplaces. CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson said CFA and MFB brigades had attended more than 300 house fires since the start of winter. “Three Victorians have tragically lost their lives, but most of the fires could have been prevented,” he said. “People must be vigilant and check their heaters to ensure they are in good working condition, and also ensure they have a working smoke alarm.” He advised people to check smoke alarms were working, check heaters are working efficiently and chimneys are swept, talk about how you would get out of your house if there was a fire. Be vigilant and plan ahead. For more information, visit www. homefiresafety.com.au
Peninsula web talk The VEC review will consider the number of councillors for the shire and the shire’s electoral structure. Victorian Electoral Commissioner Steve Tully said “anyone interested” in the review could attend one of the three public information sessions. A guide for submissions explaining the review process will be available at the sessions. “The review considers a range of information, including arguments and evidence put forward in public submissions,” Mr Tully said. “Any person or group can make a
written submission to the VEC on the review. Submissions are not required to be elaborate documents and should be limited to the scope of the review.” The Wednesday 3 August public information sessions are at 7.45pm at the Hastings reception room, 21 Marine Pde, Hastings; 4pm at the Rosebud shire offices, 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud; and 6pm at the Mornington shire offices, 2 Queen St, Mornington Preliminary submissions close at 5pm on Wednesday 17 August. Submissions can be made online at vec.vic.gov.au, emailed to review.
morningtonpeninsula@vec.vic.gov.au, faxed to (03) 9629 8632 or posted to the VEC. Responses to the VEC’s preliminary report must be made by 5pm Wednesday 5 October with the public hearing being held on Wednesday 12 October. The VEC’s final report will be sent to the Minister for Local Government and any changes to the peninsula’s electoral structure would apply at the next council general elections in November 2012. For details call the VEC on 131 832 or vec.vic.gov.au.
COMMUNITY advocacy group Peninsula Speaks has a new website that it says is more interactive and informative. The group was founded in 2008 to preserve the environment of the Mornington Peninsula, including opposing incremental development and government policy threats to the green wedge. A spokesman said the group welcomed comments and stories from anyone concerned about the environment. “Archives will be added to the site as we receive content.” The website address is www.peninsulaspeaks.org and items can be sent to penspeaksweb@gmail.com.
Rate rise no surprise Continued from Page 1
Director of sustainable organisation Kevin Clarke told the meeting the shire had the sixth lowest rates in Victoria. This has been queried by the Municipal Association of Victoria and a shire ratepayer group, which claimed the rates were going up nine per cent. Dr Kennedy told several community budget presentation meetings during June and July the MAV figure was wrong as it included the $130 green waste bin charge, which was paid by residents who opt-in to the service. The MAV had incorrectly included a new, increased charge of 20 per cent for owners of vacant land, he said. After the meeting, Cr Gibb told the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers and Residents Association the increase in the dollar was up 6.8 per cent from last year. However, ratepayers association secretary Alan Nelsen said revenue from all charges meant an increase of nine per cent. “The shire is trying to give the impression that the rate increase is 6.8 per cent in the hope that ratepayers will not become aware of or alarmed about the true increase in cost to the community,” he said.
“After almost a decade of increasing borrowing, the shire now proposes to cut $3.75 million off its debt. “This is a whacking turnaround of $5.25 million in one financial year and we believe the shire is leaving itself open to accusations of incompetence to have a high borrowing strategy in previous years and now try and reduce it by such a high rate increase.” Last month when releasing the draft budget, mayor Graham Pittock said it was a “livability budget”. Dr Kennedy said the shire was committed to ensuring rate increases were within the limits of affordability. “We strive to make best use of every dollar through ongoing review processes that focus on efficiency, effectiveness and innovation across everything we do,” Dr Kennedy said. Mr Emberson told the budget meeting the shire had carried over $11.6 million of capital works, unspent due to various factors including bad weather, Peninsula Link freeway construction, longer project completion times, and longer permission times for projects from the state government and private landowners.
Beefing up the farm THE owners of small farms on the Mornington Peninsula are being offered free advice in running beef cattle by the Department of Primary Industries. Three half-day workshops in August will cover such topics as cattle nutrition and health, growing better pastures and selling cattle. “These sessions should give landholders a broad overview and a basic refresher on various issues and management considerations regarding beef cattle production systems on small land holdings,” Mornington Peninsula Shire’s rural business officer Gillian Stewart said. “Feedback from rural landholders in the agricultural audit project, undertaken in 2010, indicated people were keen to access the latest agricultural technology to build knowledge and
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Mornington News 28 July 2011
skills through being involved in practical hands on learning activities.” Fiona Baker of the DPI hoped the workshops “will strengthen the connection between landholders across the shire and provide the impetus for a more formalised small landholder network to develop to provide further technical support and information exchange for a range of agricultural enterprises in the future”. Workshops: Cattle nutrition 9-12:30pm Saturday 20 August; Cattle health, 9-12:30pm Saturday 3 September ; Growing better pastures, 9-12:30pm Saturday 10 September. To register for the workshops in the Main Creek hall, Main Creek Rd, Main Ridge, call Gillian Stewart on 5950 1833 or 0459 177 363.
No extra cheer in beer for Hillmen By Keith Platt IT has been a season of hard knocks for Red Hill footballers. Halfway through the season they have notched up just two wins and are already looking ahead to next year rather than making the finals in 2011. Plagued by injuries in the early games, the club also had a bad start off the field when it was booked for breaching liquor licensing laws. Volunteers running a beer tent at the Sunday 9 January Red Hill Country Music Festival were surprised when confronted by three uniformed police. The police from Dromana said the club was breaking the law selling unopened cans of beer; not having a fenced off area for drinking; and allowing drinkers to leave the fenced off area – a charge that was eventually dropped when the case was heard in Dromana Magistrates’ Court. “I felt it was a bit harsh when they charged us and that we should have just copped a warning,” club president Roger Siverson last week told The News. “I accept the police have a job and no one likes bad vibes with the local police. “If it had been a hotel or a private company they’d have had every right, but we were a bunch of locals trying to keep the local football and netball club running. It was a bit rough. “It was a BYO event and people were walking everywhere with bottles of wine and stubbies. “We had taken up the offer to run
the tent when the cricket club dropped out and there was some confusion over who would bring the fence.” Mr Siverson said there was a delay in the fence being brought to the Red Hill Showgrounds by a club member who was a poultry farmer. “He was running late and unfortunately the police arrived first,” he said. Mr Siverson said the club had pleaded guilty, although no conviction was recorded or penalty issued. “We’ve come out of it and learnt our lesson and the mistake won’t happen again,” he said. Mr Siverson said the club had just managed to break even on the day and made sure it complied with the law when running the beer tent at the Red Hill Show in March. “We’ve always had a tent at the show but no fence, although the requirement was clearly written in the licence agreement. “At the show we made sure the fence was there and had a club member on guard to make sure no one wandered off with a drink.” Regarding the footy, Mr Siverson said “it’s been a tough year and we hope to get back next year”. It has been a massive fall from grace for a team that had made the preliminary finals in 2010. At one stage this year Red Hill had 17 injured players and was playing under-18s in the seniors. Last weekend Red Hill defeated Tyabb, but remains second bottom on the ladder.
Running to victory: Red Hill footballers on their way to defeating Tyabb, their second win during a horror, injury-plagued season. Picture: JJ Adams
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THE Federal MP for Flinders, Greg Hunt, headed off on another long walk on Monday 25 July – this time to raise funds for and awareness of autism. To help launch the walk, Mr Hunt was joined by the leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott, for an early morning swim at Mount Martha. After the swim, Mr Hunt and Mr Abbott met with community members and attended a community breakfast. They met with local occasional care providers and local kinders to discuss issues regarding funding
cuts and staff ratios. They also met the operators of a small injection moulding company to discuss the impact of a carbon tax on the viability of their business. Mr Hunt walked around his big electorate of Flinders in 2004 and 2007, both election years, to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. His ‘Walk for Autism’ started at Arthurs Seat and ends on 12 August at Phillip Island. Mr Hunt’s first walk raised $65,000 for diabetes research and his second more than $55,000.
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PAGE 5
NEWS DESK
Great white’s comeback for fish
Keeping tag’s on shark’s course
Tagged: A great white shark is fitted with a radio transmitter which, for a year, can be used to track its movements whenever it breaks the surface of the sea.
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Mornington News 28 July 2011
By Keith Platt THE Mornington Peninsula-based White Tag shark research group has electronically plotted the course of a great white shark as it travelled up the east coast from Gippsland. White Tag’s research is focused on the Bass Strait corridor but intends at some stage to investigate other sites such as Western Port, Lady Julia and Percy islands, Port Fairy, Cape Bridgewater and Portland. “We want to specifically concentrate on Corner Inlet, inside and out, as we know large sharks mix with smaller sharks here,” Kent Stannard, who established the White Tag trust, said. “We are almost convinced this region is the point of origin for an east coast population of white sharks. We have the one juvenile shark tagged, that being the one before Christmas at Corner Inlet and its movements out of Bass Strait to the Port Stephens area and back to Bass Strait has cemented our beliefs this is the point of origin.” Mr Stannard said White Tag was preparing for National Science Week and running a program series with the CSIRO at the Melbourne Aquarium, including a talk by scientist Barry Bruce, recognised as Australia’s foremost authority on great whites. White Tag is now affiliated with commercial fishermen out of Corner Inlet, Surfing Victoria,shark fisherman and west coast South Australian tow-in surfer Jeff Schmuker. Mr Stannard has contributed to an article with Jock Serong at Surfing World and recently spent a morning with “shark enthusiast” and filmmaker, George Greenough. “By getting regular updates on shark activity in other areas around the Australian coast we are starting to gain a better understanding on the movement patterns and behaviour of white sharks on a seasonal basis. “This gives us a network of reliable eyes and ears around the country of people who are constantly on the water. “The satellite tag can only send signals when the shark breaks the surface and it needs to record three surface breaches to plot a point. “The tag has a battery life of about 12 months if it doesn’t foul up, which is always possible. “The Corner Inlet shark has a satellite tag fitted to its dorsal fin and an acoustic tag in its stomach lining. The acoustic tag sends off signals to un-
derwater listening stations moored to the ocean floor which record a shark’s behavior, such as when it arrives and leaves an area and how long it stays there. “The satellite tag will drop off near to the 12 months while the shark will retain the internal tag forever.” Mr Stannard said White Tag planned to position a series of listening stations in Corner Inlet to continuously record the behaviour of tagged sharks in the area. “While it first appeared the shark was hugging the coast, these juveniles operate out to the 120 mile contour, which is from inner shore out to the edge of the continental slope. “Ultimately, when the satellite tag drops off we will be able to record the temperature, light levels and depths the shark swam to.” Mr Stannard said the main prey of juvenile sharks were coastal schooling fish such as salmon, snapper and mullet. “As they move into sub-adulthood – about 2.8metres long - they begin to explore new areas and depths and incorporate larger prey into their diet. “This shark has almost confirmed our thoughts that Victoria’s Corner Inlet may be the nursery and pupping ground of an east coast population of white sharks. “For some reason, the juveniles don’t appear to want to go any further west than Wilsons Promontory, which seem to be the cut off line.” Mr Stannard said these juvenile sharks “may well be genetically hard-wired to know this is home range … and this may have something to do with the land bridge that once ran from the mainland to Tasmania”. “We have also found populations of sharks on the western side of Wilsons Promontory out and around to South Australia and Western Australia.” Tagging in the future will help find out if there is any mixing of these populations. “All points on the compass suggest Bass Strait may hold the key to the reproductive and birth cycle of the white shark,” Mr Stannard said. CSIRO scientist, Barry Bruce, will share the latest research on the movement of great whites and their behaviour in Australian waters at Melbourne Aquarium’s Ocean Theatre 5.30pm-7.30pm Sunday 14 August and midday-2pm on Tuesday 16 August, $15 on presentation of the National Science Week Program Booklet at ticketing.
‘Shameful extinction’: Left, Hans Brunner with a specimen of a bent-wing bat. Above, a young bandicoot. Right, visitors to Moonlit Sanctuary in Pearcedale admire a common wombat. Both species are now technically extinct in the wild on the Mornington Peninsula. Pictures: Alison Kuiter and Moonlit Sanctuary
Loss of native fauna on the peninsula By Dr Hans Brunner Original fauna H W Wheelwright and Edmund Hobson in the 1850s wrote: â€œâ€Ś the Peninsula was thick with wildlife, with herds of kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, many echidnas and koalas and glorious birds, all unused to man and quite tame and inquisitive. [There were] wonderful trees and abundance of silver wattles which, when in blossom, made the whole country golden and the whole atmosphere filled deliciously with their sweetness.â€? Henry Tuck and others also stated that kangaroos were like herds of sheep and could never be shot out, and bandicoots and possums were in hundreds and that the native cat was one of the commonest animals. Mrs J Cavill, who lives next to the Moorooduc Quarry Reserve commented in her masters thesis: “In the 1930s we found bush around us, a whole wonderland of animals, wild flowers, birds, hollow trees, gullies and ground water ways. “Koalas grunted all night, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, bush rats and water rats, flying foxes and bandicoots were abundant and tame. At night the frogs roared in the darkness. In the evening, swarms of birds arrived in v-shaped formations and landed on the swamp. Black and tiger snakes were common around the huge “Moorooduc Swamp that lay below our property and brown snakes and copperhead were a nuisance around the house. “Our delight in exploring the swamp with its sheets of water, covered with swans and ducks, and its spongy is-
lands of moss and tee-tree was always tempered by fear of these snakes. “On our horse rides there was a never-failing source of interest in the discovering new wild flowers, gullies of maiden ferns, orchids, minute wild strawberries, egg and bacon bushes, and swathes of pink and white heath.� There were several other similar reports made by Wheelwright and Hobson, mentioning many other species and all describing the Mornington Peninsula as teeming with wildlife. Based on historical and recent re-
sums, was sent to Melbourne for food. Animals were also destroyed because of competition with sheep and cattle. Much of the land was then used for farming and for fruit orchards. The clearing of land caused massive soil erosion and megatonnes of good soil were washed into the sea especially along Balcombe Creek. With the ever-increasing number of people arriving on the peninsula, the remaining natural bush was gradually destroyed and fragmented. Chris Tzaros recently worked out
Koalas grunted all night, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, bush rats and water rats, flying foxes and bandicoots were abundant and tame. cords, there were at least 40 native species of mammals on the peninsula in the early days. Much the same could have also been said about the many species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Hobson in 1837 observed the gigantic crane or brolga and the native turkey (Australian bustard). They are now listed as threatened fauna in Victoria. Loss of native fauna With the arrival of pioneers and settlers, timber cutters removed nearly all the mature trees on the peninsula and shipped them to Melbourne or used them to build railway lines or as fuel to drive stone crushers, etc or to clear land for grazing. Kangaroos were slaughtered in their thousands on single drives and some of the meat, together with koalas and pos-
that for every 100 hectares of woodland cleared, between 1000 and 2000 woodland-dependent birds are lost. These figures could be even higher for mammals, reptiles and amphibians. With this drastic decrease of suitable habitat for most native birds and mammals, many species have now become locally extinct. Doug Robinson has estimated that about 50 per cent of birds that originally existed on the peninsula are now either locally extinct or are threatened. Ground-nesting birds have suffered most, especially because of predation by foxes and cats. A Mr Woolley and others used to shoot ducks in the 1880s for a living until they were almost shot out. Later, larrikins delighted in the shooting of wildlife when the pubs
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closed at 6 o’clock. In the Moorooduc Quarry area, bandicoots and kangaroos lasted until about 1940 and wombats and the eastern quoll until about 1960. By 1970 koalas, sugar gliders and antechinuses were still present but have since declined drastically and have become extremely rare. The antechinus is now close to extinction in the Frankston area. There is also a growing concern over a serious decline of invertebrates. Subsequently, there are concerns for the future of many species of bird, mammals and amphibians that feed on them. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation as well as the overuse of pesticides have to be the main reason. In summary, we have taken over all the prime land on the Mornington Peninsula and the Frankston area. The rest of nature is forced to make do with what is left, which amounts to less than 5 per cent of a much-reduced quality of habitat, especially because of weed invasion and too small and isolated bushland blocks. Plainly, this is the major factor resulting in the ongoing, local species extinction and in an increase in ecosystem stress. From 40 original native mammals on the peninsula, 25 or 63 per cent are locally extinct or endangered. From 40 original native mammals in the Frankston area, 31 or 77 per cent are locally extinct or endangered. Surveys of 80 bushland reserves on the Mornington Peninsula by Malcolm Legg showed that an average of 5.9 mammalian species were native and 5.6 were introduced (dog, cat, fox,
house mouse, black rat, brown rat and rabbit). Surveys of 15 bushland reserves on the Mornington Peninsula by Malcolm Legg showed that an average of 4 mammalian species were native and 5 were introduced (dog, cat, fox, house mouse, black rat, brown rat and rabbit). We now have, in a large number of reserves, more introduced mammals than native species. This does not include farm animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, deer, etc that take up land originally used by native mammals. Recently, two more species were listed as extinct, the wombat and the southern brown bandicoot. The local loss of the bandicoot comes despite all the lobbying and bipartisan political support; insufficient efforts have been made to save this species. The southern brown bandicoot was in great numbers all over the peninsula and its disappearance during the last 30 years has been well recognised and documented. This is yet another frustrating, shameful, local extinction story of an iconic Australian species. ď Ž Dr Hans Brunner of Frankston is a renowned zoologist and animal forensic expert whose work is internationally recognised. He published the world’s first book on hair identification and is the author of many peer-reviewed scientific and technical papers. He has trained forensic investigators and worked for international scientific organisations. A master of applied science, he has taught at Deakin University, Swinburne College and Chisholm Institute.
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PAGE 7
NEWS DESK
Homes take back seat to history By Mike Hast MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council’s refusal of a demolition order for a damaged heritage-listed house in Barkly St, Mornington, reveals a harder line on preserving historic properties. But there are only 71 houses on the Mornington Peninsula heritage register, with a further 327 places of historic significance not protected. Councillors narrowly voted against the demolition request by owners Elio and Angela Giucastro on Monday last week. After a willing debate, the vote was 5-5 and the motion to refuse demolition was passed on the casting (deadlock breaking) vote of Cr Lynn Bowden, chairwoman of the development assessments committee. Earlier, councillors were told by a shire planner the house was not beyond repair and the Giucastros had “not adequately considered alternative development schemes for the site that would retain enough of the heritage fabric of the dwelling to preserve its significance while still allowing for modern additions to the house”. Joseph Alesci, a peninsula-based lawyer representing the couple, presented an engineer’s report and a heritage consultant’s report that said demolition was the only reasonable option. The council was told repairing the house would cost more than $700,000, far above the couple’s budget for a new home. Mr Alesci refuted claims the Giucastros had allowed the house to deteriorate: “My clients did not cause the
fires; they called police, they boarded up the house to keep out vandals.” He said the Giucastros had tried to negotiate with the council. “The level of repair work is huge and there would be little left of the original house after it was fixed up.” He said the Giucastros were prepared to incorporate significant elements of the original design in a new building. A report by the shire’s senior planner, Nicholas Harrison, which was reviewed and added to by Director of Sustainable Environment Steve Chapple, stated the property had been subdivided in 2003 by then-owner Denise Hassett. A lot at 27 Empire St on the side boundary of 42 Barkly St was created and a house built by Ms Hassett. “The development of the second dwelling and subdivision of the land were completed in 2006,” the report stated. The Giucastro bought 42 Barkly St in late 2006 and applied to demolish the house in June 2008, claiming it needed restumping and significant other work. This triggered an inspection of the property and research into its significance, with the council asking for interim heritage protection, approved by state Planning Minister Justin Madden in November 2008 and made permanent in February 2010. During this time the Giucastros were left in limbo. Mr Harrison’s report stated the shire had gained heritage protection for the property because of its “significance to the Mornington Peninsula as a sub-
Uninhabitable: The derelict house at 42 Barkly St, Mornington, has been damaged by three fires and squatters, but the shire council has refused permission for the owners to demolish it.
stantial residence and surgery built by Mornington’s most noted early medical practitioner, Dr James Louis Edgeworth-Somers, and lived in continuously by medical practitioners from its construction in about 1920 until 1995”. “The house, with its prominent location, distinctive style, scale and quality, and separate surgery entrance, clearly expresses the status and occupation of its original and subsequent owners. “The architectural style is notable as an unusual example of a two-storey Federation bungalow-style house with Mediterranean influence, in the local
Membership of the Crib Point Stony Point Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Inc Nominations are being sought from the community for membership of a Committee of Management that will manage the foreshore reserve in Crib Point/Stony Point. The Committee is responsible for the day to day management, care and protection of the foreshore reserve on behalf of both the local community and the wider Victorian community. This is a unique opportunity to become actively involved in management of a highly significant area of coastal reserve. Key attributes being sought include interest and enthusiasm, a commitment to caring, protecting and managing the foreshore reserve of Crib Point/ Stony Point and an approach to the task that includes maximising community involvement and participation. Specific interest or skills in one or more of the following areas would be highly regarded: • Community liaison, education and/or training • Tourism and marketing • Committee and meeting procedures, and administration • Business management • Asset management • Financial management/accounting • Aboriginal and cultural heritage
Further information and nomination forms are available from Mr Brendan Kavanagh, Department of Sustainability and Environment on (03) 9296 4521.
All registrations of interest will be considered.
Customer Service Centre 136 186 PAGE 8
Mornington News 28 July 2011
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Expressions of Interest close Friday 12 August 2011. www.dse.vic.gov.au
itage house had deteriorated enough to allow demolition. She said not enough had been done to protect the house from vandals. Ms Walsh conceded 42 Barkly St had “slipped through the heritage net” as there was no heritage protection when it was bought in 2006. Voting against demolition were councillors Bev Colomb, Leigh Eustace, David Gibb, Lynn Bowden and Graham Pittock. For demolition were Frank Martin, Anne Shaw, Antonella Celi, Reade Smith and Bill Goodrem. The decision will be appealed in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
House of horrors for owners’ grand designs
Expressions of Interest
• Knowledge of community diversity, interests, needs • Coastal ecology • Knowledge of local natural environment • Environmental management • Human resource management • Legal affairs • Sport and recreation
context. “The house [is associated] with the noted musician Dorcas Jessie McLean who achieved fame as a violinist and whose estate financed a scholarship for musicians at Melbourne University.” The report stated the dwelling “had been allowed to fall into a state of neglect and the owners of buildings that have identified heritage significance should not benefit from a lack of action to protect such buildings”. Judy Walsh, president of the peninsula branch of the National Trust, told councillors it was a great shame when the council had to determined if a her-
By Toni Brient ELIO and Angela Giucastro said they were “frustrated and disappointed” after shire councillors refused them permission to demolish their fire - and vandal-damaged house in Barkly St, Mornington. The couple bought Bloomfield Lodge in 2006 and feel that five years of planning and negotiating with the council have proved futile. The 1920s California bungalow was placed under a permanent heritage overlay earlier this year. “We were very frustrated and disappointed,” Mrs Giucastro said after the council verdict on Monday night last week. “We just wanted to build a beautiful home there.” She said the house was uninhabitable due to vandalism and fire damage, and now they face a “costly VCAT battle” later this year. However, the Giucastros agree that it could have been avoided. For these well-known and long-term locals, who were willing to compromise on many of the design elements of the new structure, the council meeting was “onesided” debate. “Even if we had won on Monday night, we still would have to send the plans to the council and they still would have to approve them,” Mr Giucastro said. “I just don’t think [the council] listens to the people; they’re playing with our future, our lives, our family,” Mrs Giucastro said. She said 14 people lodged formal objections to the shire against the demolition, but they had produced a 100-signature petition in support of it.
Also in support of demolition was heritage consultant Robyn Riddett, hired by the Giucastros. Based on her research, she concluded that “it would be acceptable to demolish Bloomfield Lodge”. Ms Riddett found that Dr James Louis Edgeworth Somers, the much-loved first owner of the house, was a “wealthy investor” who owned a number of Mornington properties. She stated Dr Somers had closer ties to heritage-listed “Tarfayah” in nearby Albert St, which he owned and lived in, than the Giucastro property. Tarfayah is owned by Joseph Alesci, who represented the Giucastro at the council. Ms Riddett said the subdivision of 42 Barkly St by its previous owner, Denise Hassett, cost much of the integrity and historic value of the property. This was later refuted by Mornington area councillor Bev Colomb, who said the subdivision had not affected the view from Barkly St, the key “public face of the property”. Shire councillors Antonella Celi and Anne Shaw, who voted for the demolition, have been in discussions with Mr Giucastro since the meeting. No date has been set for the VCAT hearing, but the Giucastros are prepared for it. “We just want to get on with our lives,” Mrs Giucastro said. The writer is a media student and a family friend of the Giucastros.
No penalties for runaway rig By Keith Platt NO action is being taken against any person or company involved in an incident that saw a 1700-tonne oil rig break free from towlines in Western Port last January. A preliminary investigation by Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) has ruled out any infringement of regulations or work practices. There was no written report and the investigation appears to have consisted of little more than phone calls and a follow-up letter to the Western Port harbourmaster. The Victorian National Parks Association said the incident underlines dangers to shipping in the bay and called on TSV to release details of what caused it. Western Port harbourmaster Shane Vedamuttu told The News that correct procedures had been followed when the Kan Tan IV oil rig broke free as it was being loaded aboard the semisubmerged carrier vessel MV Transporter. He said the TSV had told him in a letter to “make another risk assessment before another one [oil rig] comes, but that always happens anyway”. Mr Vedamuttu said a rope being used by tugs to hold the rig in position above the semi-submerged Transporter had broken because “the wind and tide was too strong for this particular vessel”. “It was a brand new rope and the other ropes then had to be let go. “Theoretically I’m in charge of the operation and the port, but there was
Secured: The Kan Tan IV oil rig finally aboard the semi-submersible MV Transporter after breaking loose in Western Port.
Picture: Andrew Mackinnon of aquamanships.com.au
a pilot and the rig operator on board. “There have been some problems previously, but nothing major. Sometimes you can’t turn a rig around in the Cowes anchorage.” Mr Vedamuttu said once the rig had been secured by tugs he instructed that it and the 53,800-tonne MV Transporter – which had dragged its anchor – be taken to Port Phillip, where tidal cur-
rents were not as strong, for the transfer operation to be completed. “The Transporter was supposed to be able to hold off against the maximum [Western Port] tide – that’s what I was told – but it couldn’t.” Lisa Faldon, TSV’s acting director maritime safety, said the preliminary investigation had been conducted by her predecessor who saw no reason for
any further action. She was unable to release details of what had gone wrong because of privacy provisions in the Marine Act 1988. “This places an obligation on us to treat, with utmost confidentiality, sensitive information provided to us, including information provided by commercial operators.” Ms Faldon said TSV is “satisfied
with the operational improvements proposed to be taken by the operator to prevent a recurrence of this type of incident, and will not be taking any further action”. She said a formal investigation was not seen as being necessary. Ms Faldon said she was unable to disclose what had actually gone wrong but said there had been no breaches of marine safety or any other laws. “I am unable to disclose the specifics of the changes in operational procedures that have been put in place, however TSV is satisfied that they are sufficient to prevent a recurrence. As a formal investigation did not take place, a report has not been prepared.” National parks association marine and coastal project officer Simon Branigan said the failure of the loading operation “further busts the myth that Western Port is a natural deep water harbour – it has fast-moving tidal currents not only exposing over 40 per cent of the bay at low tide, but also complicating large equipment transfers”. “Any findings from investigations that Transport Safety Victoria conducted in regards to this incident should not be a closed shop – the public needs to be made aware of what operational changes have been implemented to safeguard the bay’s marine environment from shipping accidents.”
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Mornington & District Historical Society The next coffee morning of the Mornington & District Historical Society will be held on Tuesday August 9th at 10.30am in the Friendship Room of St Marks Church, Barkly Street, Mornington. Entry $5.00 each. As part of our 150th anniversary celebration series of talks, this month we feature the town of Rye. Ern Jennings, a member of a long standing Rye family will talk about the history of Rye. All are welcome join us for an interesting couple of hours and enjoy coffee, biscuits and a chat with society members. The Mornington & District Historial Society have a new addition to their display. A bright and shiny letterbox out side on the grass area. It has been lent to the Society by Australia Post as part of the town’s 150th anniversary celebrations. We are quite lucky to have it as there are very few of this type of pillar box left in the country.
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PAGE 9
NEWS DESK
September brings something new to the air By Mike Hast THE renovation of a former classroom block at the old Mornington Secondary College is almost complete and community radio station 3RPP will start broadcasting from there in September. The radio station will move from its long-time home at Moorooduc Coolstores and occupy half of the block. The studio is next to Peninsula Community Theatre and performing arts centre Studio@PCT in the school’s former Findlay Hall and library on land at the corner of Wilsons Rd and the Nepean Hwy. The renovation of the second half of the block will start this year after Mornington Peninsula Shire allocated $350,000. It will be used by various community groups and provide a second meeting area in Mornington to support the meeting room at the library in Vancouver St behind the shire office. The classroom renovation is being done by several Rotary clubs including Somerville-Tyabb, Hastings Western Port, Mornington, Mt Martha, Dromana, Rosebud, Rye and Sorrento. Managing the project is SomervilleTyabb Rotarian Dick Cox, a former harbourmaster of Western Port, in conjunction with a registered builder, Point Leo-based Staff Building & Contracting. The project has radically transformed the classroom block, which for years had been home to pigeons and had fallen into disrepair. “These new cupboards and shelves came from a bank,” said Mr Cox as during an inspection with Cr Leigh Eustace and The News. “We’ve pulled in many favours to renovate and equip the station.
“The toilets and hand basins were donated by Swan Hardware and the kitchen came from Sandown Constructions in Braeside.” Workmen on the roof were installing steel sheets donated by BlueScope Western Port. The extraordinary 14 by seven metre performance studio will bear the company’s name. The studio, based on the design of a mainstream station’s performance studio, can accommodate a brass band with players sitting on a 75-millimetre thick stone floor. Walls are 250mm thick (2.5 inches). Other big supporters include CSR, which donated insulation batts, and Bendigo Bank community branches on the peninsula, which donated $80,000 for new equipment and relocation costs. Studio 1 will be the CSR Studio and number 2 the Bendigo Bank Studio. The studios are five metres by five metres with room for two presenters and four guests, a far cry from the tiny studios at Moorooduc. They have double-glazed windows overlooking the former school grounds, now owned by the shire. Other features include a large voiceover and production room, control room for the BlueScope Studio, boardroom, presenters’ room, offices, storage areas and toilets. Cr Eustace said the next stage of preparing the meeting rooms would include renovating the former girls’ toilets, to be used by patrons of Peninsula Community Theatre and the meeting rooms. The boys’ toilets and an adjacent plant room would become a storage area for community groups. “This is a fantastic community project that shows what can be done when the shire council and motivated
Room to play: Leigh Eustace and Dick Cox outside Radio Port Phillip’s new studio in Mornington.
community groups work together,” Cr Eustace said. He said the project had been inspected by councillors from neighbouring municipalities as well as members of service club, and all had been deeply impressed with the facility. “The innovative project could be a model for other shire building projects,” he said. Radio Port Phillip station manager
Brendon Telfer, formerly of Radio Australia, said the station would use the move to Mornington to relaunch 3RPP. “We’re upgrading antennas on our towers on Arthurs Seat and Mt Eliza, buying new studio equipment, revamping all our administrative and operating systems, changing parts of our programming and even redesigning our logo,” he said. “3RPP has been part of the peninsula
community for almost 30 years and this is a fantastic opportunity to reinvigorate our connection to everyone interested in broadcasting and local radio.” Mr Telfer said the performance studio would by offered to musicians young and old from all walks of life. Details: Radio Port Phillip, phone 5978 8200 or email Brendon Telfer at manager@3rpp.com.au.
Rosebud spoilt for choice when it comes to grog THE Emu felt like a drink; a glass of plonk or two to go with a homemade curry. Luckily I was in Rosebud where there are now nine liquor outlets between Lonsdale St and Boneo Rd; a distance of three kilometres. Four outlets are within one kilometre; two up the McCrae end have one shop between them. Spoilt for choice, Emu thought. Speaking of choice, on Monday night last week our shire council knocked back a plan for a First Choice liquor “superstore” on the old Swan Plumbing Hardware site next to Aldi. (Swan has moved to Henry Wilson Dve in the light industrial estate off Boneo Rd.) The First Choice liquor store would be about the same size as Aldi, but have 41 car parks compared to Aldi’s 103. Buying grog’s faster than groceries, apparently. The 1200-square metre store would have an entry off McCombe St at the rear, next to a physiotherapist, which is handy if you do your back carrying slabs. Shire planners said yes, but the councillors said no, citing the state government’s “cumulative impact” rules introduced in April. Cumulative impact refers to the positives or negatives of putting licensed premises in the one area. Pubs, clubs or bottle shops. The law refers to an area reaching “saturation point” and the councillors went with this interpretation. One more liquor shop in Rosebud
PAGE 10
Mornington News 28 July 2011
was one too many, they said. A bit like the reverse of the alcoholic’s lament: one drink is too many, 1000 is not enough. At the council meeting, the bloke representing First Choice spoke to the council for three minutes, answered a few tricky questions and returned to the public gallery to listen to the debate (see main story page 1). Forty minutes later he left the council chamber in a state of shock, probably thinking about telling his bosses the bad news next morning. The council has set itself up for a massive bunfight. The owner of First Choice is Coles, bought in late 2007 by Wesfarmers, which also owns the Bunnings hardware empire. Coles/Wesfarmers and its great rival Woolworths (Safeway in Victoria) dominate the Australian supermarket sector with 80 per cent of sales. They compete vigorously in the liquor market, too. Coles/Wesfarmers also owns Liquorland and Vintage Cellars, while Woolies has BWS (beer, wine, spirits), Dan Murphy and Cellarmasters. Can you imagine the boss of First Choice being told the bad news about Mornington Peninsula Shire refusing his liquor superstore? It’s enough to turn a man to drink.
Don’t follow the leader
The boss is in the building
POOR Rupert Murdoch. Did you watch him being grilled by the British politicians over the News of the World phone hacking scandal? It was on the telly very late last Tuesday. The Emu had drifted off on the couch and was woken by everyone yelling. Some lunatic hit Rupert with a shaving foam “pie”, his 42-year-old third wife Wendi Deng leaping like a kung fu master to her husband’s defence and whacking the lunatic. Then all hell broke loose. Some media commentators said Rupert performed poorly during the MPs’ grilling and that his son James, head of the Murdoch empire in the UK and Europe, appeared far more composed, although now many are saying he has more questions to answer, which is code for “some of his answers were less than complete”, which is code for... They’re right about Rupert: the last time he had to answer tough questions from anyone was when he was in short pants at school or facing a grilling from his mum, the indefatigable philanthropist Dame Elisabeth of Langwarrin. For a few minutes Rupert appeared genuinely chastened by the events of recent months and said it was the most humble day of his life. Soon after you could see him seething: “Who are these jumped up little men and women questioning me, the Great Murdoch, ruler of the world’s media?”
THE Emu has a mate who once worked at The Herald, Melbourne’s great afternoon daily that Rupert closed in 1990 and “amalgamated” with The Sun News Pictorial to form today’s Herald Sun. Rupert would fly in to Melbourne from the UK, or New York, or Sydney to meet and harangue his editors and business managers. The moment his limo pulled up outside the Flinders St premises, word flashed around the multi-storey building where hundreds of people were beavering away making newspapers and magazines. People everywhere straightened their ties or made some other vain attempt to improve their appearance. A frisson of fear appeared on the faces of the editors as they left their offices and scuttled up to the boardroom on Mahogany Row. Rupert would sail onto the second floor with his out-of-town executives in tow like a Middle Eastern potentate arriving at an OPEC oil price conference. Grizzled editors of 40 years’ experience would genuflect, scrape and bow. Murdoch could kill you with just one stare.
Hacked off JOURNALISTS on the peninsula are being chiaked by their mates and relatives about the phone hacking scandal. One told The Emu: “Can you imagine wading through hours of mundane, eye-glazing phone messag-
es to find a hidden gem? Purgatory.” Undeterred, The Emu didn’t want to miss out and hacked a few phones last week to find these messages: Flinders federal MP Greg Hunt: “Greg, Tony here, why didn’t you tell me the water off Mt Martha was just 12 degrees, you [deleted].” Dunkley MP Bruce Billson: “Bruce, Tony here. Did that Greenie get away safely from our meeting in Frankston the other day?” Nepean MP Martin Dixon: “Martin, it’s Ryan Smith: are you serious? Will the residents really throw you off the Rosebud pier if you don’t get coastal consent for the pool?” Shire CEO Michael Kennedy: “Michael, it’s [name deleted] of Local Government Executive Search calling; there’s a vacancy at the Shire of West Wimmera. Do you want me to send them your CV?” Shire mayor Graham Pittock: “Mr Mayor, your Pirates of the Caribbean costume has just arrived for the ball. Did you want one or two squawking parrots with that?” Parks Victoria CEO Dr Bill Jackson: “Bill, it’s Stephen Bradford, Port of Melbourne, calling again. You’ve just gotta hold your nerve and keep denying the dredging had anything to do with Portsea beach disappearing.” Have you hacked any phones and found a gem? Got any other hot news tips? Email The Emu at emutips@ yahoo.com.au