Western Port
Weste
realest ate rn Por
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25 Nov ember 2014
Queen o heart f s
Your guide to what’s on this weekend for peninsula families
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Pier first base for tourism “WHAT a catch.” That’s the word from the Western Port Tourist & Visitor Information Centre after taking up residence in new digs last week. The centre has moved from Dominion Hill Gifts in Salmon St to the old Fish Shed on the Hastings jetty. “This is the next exciting phase in the development of Western Port tourism in securing this permanent position as our home in the future,” Western Port Tourism president Del Skinner said. The privately owned tourist centre had been run as a community service by Lisa Dixon and Ken Ingersoll and supported through a “wonderful team of volunteers”. It is now being gifted to Western Port Tourism Inc. “We look forward to watching the association grow, promote and provide the ongoing service of information to visitors and tourists alike,” Mr Skinner said. “The promise by Mornington Peninsula Tourism - along with the ongoing support from the council should now see this project grow into an ongoing legacy for the community of Western Port.” Mr Skinner thanked Hastings MP Neale Burgess and Parks Victoria’s Phil Fowler for helping them “realise the dream”.
Open for business: At the opening of the new Hastings tourism centre on the pier are, from left, Pam Ford, Kris Bramston, Lisa Dixon and Del Skinner. Picture: Yanni
Boom gate still not fixed Mike Hast mike@mpnews.com.au METRO Trains has not repaired faulty boom gate triggers on the Stony Point train line almost six months after problem was first revealed. The fault emerged in early June when a single-carriage train failed to trigger boom gates although it triggered the flashing lights and bells. Drivers also reported boom gates opening while
trains were stopped at nearby stations ("Line call after gates glitch", The News, 2/9/14). The first fault was reported on 6 June and boom gates malfunctioned again on 20 June and 14 July. On 1 August, Metro ordered that no single-carriage trains run on the line until the problem had been identified and fixed but The News understands this came after drivers refused to decouple two-carriage trains at Stony Point to make single-carriage trains for off-peak
services. Buses have replaced three services each week day since the incidents. In September, Metro stated one incident occurred between Frankston and Baxter, and boom gates swung open twice at Crib Point. The Crib Point boom gate was the first to open when a train was in the vicinity and malfunctioned again on 14 July. In September, Metro spokeswoman Larisa Tait said pedestrians and road users had not been in any danger of being struck by a train when
the gates malfunctioned. "Each time, the driver immediately reported the fault to Metro train control, and the service has either been cancelled on the spot or continued with extreme caution after the boom gates came down with the service terminating at the end of the line," she said. "There have not been any instances where a train has travelled through a level crossing with the booms in the up position, and there has never been any risk of collision with cars or pe-
destrians when a train has proceeded at extreme caution." Metro issued an internal alert to train drivers to proceed with caution along the Stony Point line while the cause of the boom gates malfunction was being investigated but it is now almost six months since buses replaced three off-peak services – the 5.41am Stony Point to Frankston service, 11.04am Stony Point to Frankston and 6.35pm Frankston to Stony Point. Continued Page 6
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*CROWN CASINO – MONTHLY* Casino’s bus program with a great BUFFET lunch (all) $35. Only persons over the age of 18 permitted. LAST THURSDAY EACH MONTH
ONCE – THE MUSICAL Wed 04 Feb ’15 Adults $115 (p/s) $105
*PLEASE NOT CROWN CASINO TRIP IN DECEMBER WILL BE ON THURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER
THE LION KING Wed 11 March (matinee) (a) $120 (p/s) $110
QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET Tue 09 Dec ’14 - all $30. Shop for all the bargains we do not have down here. We even supply a couple of Eskys for some of your perishables.
DIRTY DANCING Wed 25 Mar Adults $115 (p/s) $105
STRICTLY BALLROOM Wed 25 March Adults $125 (p/s) $110
ANYTHING GOES Wed 10 Jun (a) $130 (p/s) $120
Floor Trusses, Roof Trusses, Wall Frames, Installation & Timber Framing Material Somerville office open Tuesday & Friday 9am-4pm or by appointment.
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Ph 5977 7111 0429 906 858
Phone: 5987 2011