Friday, September 21, 2012
A Star News Group publication
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Double trouble at rally
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Sand and deliver: Vin McKay, MP David Koch and Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Frances Northeast join Sam and Miah, both nine, to inspect Portarlington’s renourished beach. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 87465
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BY MICHELLE HERBISON ANTI-WAR activists are planning to blockade Swan Island’s military facility next week with twice as many protesters as last year, according to their spokesperson. Swan Island Peace Convergence’s Jon Osborne said at least 50 people were booked into accommodation at Queenscliff between Sunday and Friday to participate in protest action. The activists aimed to “declare awareness” and urge Federal Government to bring home Australian troops from Afghanistan, he said. “We’d really hope that Australia revokes some of its military involvement and looks towards peaceful solutions and reconciliation rather than this heavy-handed and violent approach which is costing civilian lives,” Mr Osborne said. “Our opinion is that violence is never a way to achieve anything, especially in Afghanistan.” Mr Osborne said the group considered Queenscliff as an appropriate location due to “secrecy” surrounding training of SAS troops on the island, he said. The group would stage non-violent protest action all week, including children flying kites “in solidarity” and leading a march. Reports on last year’s Swan
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Island Peace Convergence said 10 people were arrested. The Independent reported last July that Geelong’s court had “upped the ante” against the protesters, fining two $400 each following their arrests. Mr Osborne said protesters could be arrested again this year. “The emphasis of the group is always on the most peaceful means but one really interesting conversation within the group is about what does entail peaceful protest.” Bellarine Police Senior Sergeant Angelo Ferrara said extra police would patrol Queenscliff next week due to the protests. Police would uphold public order and public access to and from Swan Island, he said. “We’ll obviously try to liase as best we can with those running the demonstrations to go through the whole event in a spirit of cooperation as best we can. “What the demonstrators get up to will govern whatever police responses are put forward at the time. “The bottom line is they’ve got a right to protest, as we have a duty to maintain public order and to detect and act on offences.” Department of Defence failed to respond to calls for comment before the Independent went to press.
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BY MICHELLE HERBISON A $500,000 beach renourishment project at Portarlington is complete, State Government has announced. Member for Western Victoria Region David Koch inspected the beach this week following the successful dumping of 15,000 tonnes of sand. The Independent reported in March that the project was part of a $2.3 million commitment to “renourishing” four bay beaches this year. The $9.54 million program aims to protect “high priority” beaches around Port Phillip Bay by dumping them with sand. A Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesperson said most of the sand dumped at Portarlington was from a quarry but some was from Point Richards. “Sand built up at Point Richards was used in the Portarlington renourishment. This local sand was supplemented by sand sourced from a quarry through a DSE tendering process to ensure specified high-grade quality sand that complies with EPA standards,” the spokesperson said. Bellarine Bayside chief executive officer Vin McKay welcomed the new sand. He said it had widened the area of beach available for summer. Portarlington Community Association president John Turner thought residents were generally happy with the works. “It’s State Government-funded, not by Bellarine Bayside, so it’s not money that could’ve gone somewhere else,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for more beachfront along there in summer.” The DSE spokesperson said a similar project at Clifton Springs would begin this year. Preparation works including design and scoping of an area 800m north-east of the Dell were set to begin “before the busy summer period”. Contractors would dump sand at Clifton Springs “in early 2013”, the spokesperson said.
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