Western Port YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES FACEBOOK:
peninsulakids.com.au mornpenkids
An independent voice for the community
INSTAGRAM:
FREE
Your weekly community newspaper covering the entire Western Port region For all advertising and editorial, call 03
Wednesday 25 November 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Ramp ready for launching Out to launch: Fishing and boating minister Melissa Horne, left front, and new Cerberus Ward councillor Lisa Dixon opened the Hastings boat ramp last week. At the opening were Simpson Constructions’ Edan Crohan, Tam Garrecht and Tom Simpson (orange safety vests) and shire staffers David Fice, Chris Lyne and Derek Rotter, Picture: Supplied
THE first stage the $1.6 million Hastings boat ramp upgrade has been completed despite teething problems which included the collapse of the watertight four-metre-high “coffer dam” in September. The steel wall, erected to create a dry area for workers building the ramp’s outer base, collapsed under the weight of higher-thanexpect tides causing delays in completing the four-lane ramp which is potentially the busiest on Western Port (“Wall collapse leaves fishers high and dry” The News 22/9/20). Construction crews then had to work overtime to get the ramp ready to open last week – midway through the snapper season. Fishing and Boating Minister Melissa Horne and new Cerberus Ward councillor Lisa Dixon opened the 40-metre-long ramp which extends further into the bay than the one it replaced. Dredging is scheduled for mid-next year as part of the ramps’ second stage. The government says its Better Boating Fund will re-spend the $31 million collected each year from marine licences and registrations on recreational boating. Boaters are invited to contribute to the Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy which will determine the areas of recreational boating to benefit. Visit: getinvolved.transport.vic.gov.au/ rec-boating-strategy Stephen Taylor
PAC leader doubts shire ‘evidence’ Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE president of Peninsula Aero Club Jack Vevers has questioned the existence of a report written following a legal investigation into the operations of Tyabb airfield. Calling it “the mythical QC report”, Mr Vevers said the report - commissioned by Mornington Peninsula Shire - did not seem to have “delivered any silver bullets” for the shire in two cases heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
He said the shire had been forced to “concede” the cases “at great expense to ratepayers”. Cases heard this year included a Sunday morning ban on aircraft using the airfield to protect parishioners at a church that no longer exists and allowing the repositioning of a shed. Mr Vevers cast doubts on the Queen’s Counsel’s report in a post made to the Mornington Peninsula News Group’s Facebook page in the wake of an article which quoted an email he sent inviting newly elected shire councillors to the airfield (“Aero club tries to short circuit VCAT” The News 16/11/20).
The shire’s planning and building director David Bergin said on Friday that legal advice had been sought in March 2019 from a QC about the key planning permits for the Tyabb Authorised Landing Ground. The advice had been received in late 2019, and councillors were briefed “to provide greater clarity about the interpretation of the conditions within the permits”. Mr Bergin said the legal advice was not made public as it was protected by “client legal privilege”. Any dispute about conditions “will be ongoing within the Tyabb commu-
COME AND SEE THE CHICKENS ROAMING FREE IN THE PADDOCK!
nity until a formal decision is provided by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal or other judicial body”. The VCAT is scheduled to begin its hearing in April. In his Facebook post Mr Vevers said no one seemed to have seen the QC’s report and “I'm not sure it even exist (sic), or it so secret no one has the security clearance to read it”. After receiving the QC’s report, the shire issued an order in June 2019 which virtually shut down the airport and its ancillary businesses. The businesses were later told they could resume work, but that “necessary” per-
mits would be required. “I say the shire's enforcement case in baseless, as all of these claims of ‘no permits’ seem to be failing as they have no evidence to support their claims,” Mr Vevers stated on Facebook. “PAC have all of our permits and [is] happy to share these at the proposed meeting with councillors [last Sunday 22 November]. Why on earth shouldn't the councillors engage when the aero club is trying to stop this waste of ratepayers money and find a way to stop this nonsense?” Continued Page 10
BARN DOOR SALES MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM - 4.30PM AND SATURDAYS 8AM - 12.30PM
Our farm is family owned and managed. We have been producing quality eggs for over 40 years, supplying the public, restaurants and other businesses on the peninsula. Eggs are collected 365 days a year so you can be assured that you are buying the freshest eggs with the best yolk and flavour. Retail and Wholesale from our barn door.
5977 5405
220 Eramosa Road West, Moorooduc. corner of Binnak Way email: admin@somervilleeggfarm.com.au