Mornington
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Mornin gton
4 June 2013
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
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MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Challenge goes all the way to the top
Bush clearing angst By Mike Hast CLEARING of native vegetation at Mt Eliza Secondary College has triggered widespread community anger as well as investigations by the shire council and the state department responsible for the environment. Mornington Peninsula Shire is considering fining a contractor who burnt a huge pile of trees and shrubs from an area of about 0.8 hectares (two acres) cleared to make way for two junior
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soccer pitches next to Mt Eliza Way. But the shire has no legal right to fine the contractor or school over the clearing as it is state government land. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries is investigating if the clearing was illegal under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, the key legislation designed to protect threatened species, as well as other native vegetation planning controls. The bush removed by an excava-
tor fitted with a logging grapple the weekend before last was designated as grassy woodland and contained manna gums, tea tree, grasses, sedges and precious greenhood orchids. The clearing has infuriated environmentalists, some teachers at the school and the town’s peak conservation group, the Mt Eliza Association for Environmental Care (MEAFEC). The group claimed the school’s deputy principal Phil Larkins ordered
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the clearing without the school’s permission and without the knowledge of principal Angela Pollard. Attempts by The News to contact Ms Pollard before deadline were unsuccessful. MEAFEC reported to its members in a newsletter that the shire had been told about the clearing before it started but said it had no legal means to stop the work. Continued Page 8
ORGANISERS expect more than 2000 entries in this year’s 6.7-kilometre Arthurs Seat Challenge. The challenge to run or walk to the top of the Mornington Peninsula’s highest point from Rosebud pier is the main fundraiser for the Fit 2 Drive program. It teams year 11 students with trained university undergraduates in a half-day workshop to help young drivers and passengers stand up for themselves when faced with dangerous situations and to consider strategies to deal with road risk. Fit 2 Drive has spread to 180 secondary schools across the state since beginnings more than a decade ago in Frankston and on the peninsula. This year’s Sunday 10 November event was launched at Arthurs Restaurant on Wednesday. Transport Accident Commission CEO Janet Dore said thousands of peninsula students had learnt of the dangers of risk-taking behind the wheel from the program. Ms Dore said 18-25 year olds made up 26 per cent of the state’s road fatalities “despite making up about 13 per cent of Victorian licence holders�. TAC statistics for 2011 showed 381 claims for compensation were made by people injured in road accidents on the peninsula. The accidents included nine fatalities and 86 claims for hospital stays of more than a day. Register for the challenge at www. arthursseatchallenge.com.au Safety campaigners: Georgia Minoth, left, and Jordan Barnes, of Mt Eliza Secondary College, at the Arthurs Seat Challenge launch on Wednesday. Picture: Yanni
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