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Wednesday 12 February 2020
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Grant gives Rye chance for new lease on life THE Rye Township Plan with $3.25 million is one of three Mornington Peninsula Shire Council projects to receive a share of $4.7 million from the state government. The others are Somerville Active Recreation Hub, $742,000 and the Tyabb Kindergarten, $727,000. Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek said the grants were among 32 across the state to share $50m through the Growing Suburbs Fund in 10 rapidly growing municipalities. The Rye announcement on Wednesday 22 January under the clock tower was attended by Nepean MP Chris Brayne, the mayor Cr Sam Hearn, shire CEO John Baker, Crs Bryan Payne and Hugh Fraser, and Rye Community Group Alliance’s Mechelle Cheers. The plan aims to rejuvenate Rye’s foreshore promenade and park and the Napier Street Plaza. “The Rye Township plan will revitalise Rye as a destination town on the Mornington Peninsula – improving local amenities and creating a more diverse and open meeting space,” Mr Brayne said. “The Rye community, residents and the shire have worked hard on this township plan for years, and I am delighted the Andrews Labor government has been able to secure the funding to ensure it is realised.” Somerville Active Recreation Hub will get a new skate park, multi-use half court, parkour circuit and trampolines to replace the skate park closed following the basketball stadium fire in 2016. Tyabb Kindergarten will be upgraded and expanded to accommodate growing kindergarten numbers. The Growing Suburbs Fund commitment to the shire is $16.9 million for 17 projects over five years.
Looks like a plan: At the Rye Township Plan announcement are the mayor Cr Sam Hearn, Cr Hugh Fraser, Nepean MP Chris Brayne, Rye Community Group Alliance’s Mechelle Cheers and Cr Bryan Payne. Picture: Yanni
Conti finance ‘close’- owner Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au CONTINENTAL Hotel owner Julian Gerner maintained last week that a source of finance for the $100 million hotel redevelopment is “very close”. “It is imminent, but there are number of complexities that we are working through,” he said. “You can say that I intend to start the rebuilding in April.” Mr Gerner has had a seesaw ride since buying the 1875 hotel for about
$15 million in March 2016, gaining contentious building permits, buying strategic properties and then unsuccessfully putting the whole thing on the market in November 2017. He described the project then as “too big to handle alone”. This was followed by the signing of a joint venture with the Stellar Property Group in December 2017, and that partner’s collapse six months later and then the failure of a sale to LBA Capital in September 2019. Now, after all this, he is once again
waiting – and hoping – his grand project will get off the ground under his new ownership entity The Ocean Amphitheatre Company. Mr Gerner confirmed that Six Degrees Architects had been appointed to produce documentation with a view to tendering the project – across 0.60 hectares and seven levels. Real estate consultants Point Polaris are managing the project. Mr Gerner said Heritage Victoria and Mornington Peninsula Shire were “supportive” of his plans (“Owner’s
DIY plan for ‘Conti’ project” The News 21/10/19). “Required maintenance work is ongoing and an ‘army’ of consultants are working tirelessly, targeting a recommencement of construction post-Australia Day 2020,” Mr Gerner said at the time. He said the development now included a “world class hotel resort as well as car parking, commercial office and a staff accommodation facility at a projected cost of $100 million”. “In addition to the Continental (less
than 20 per cent of the land) we are working on [building] an award winning, sustainable, best practice and green set of buildings to create a wold class hotel. “Works will recommence on the heritage restoration as soon as a builder is appointed. The scaffold remains at significant cost to me personally on site with a view to [Heritage Victoria] works remaining a priority.” Mr Gerner denied the historic limestone building was deteriorating despite signs of cracking to the structure.
Locals caring for locals We care for loved ones in our local facility
Each fortnight Mornington Peninsula Funerals offer a local charity the opportunity to promote their organisation for others to learn about their wonderful work. Today we recognise The Salvation Army on the Mornington Peninsula with churches (Corps) at Rosebud, Mornington & Hastings where you can find spiritual and welfare support for all. Also for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness Salvos Homelessness Services are based in Frankston and Rosebud (phone 5986 0000).
Lindsay Cameron
Julie Davey
Andrew Ternes
Contact Major Lynn Jones 5986 4206, Rosebud Corps.
All the care, compassion, and professionalism of a traditional funeral service without all the expense. U3/5 Trewhitt Crt, Dromana | Phone: 5982 0086 – 24 hours | www.mpfunerals.com.au