Western Port
Features inside
Western Port
realestate 26 November
2013
WELCOME TO SOMERVILLE
PAGES 57–59 FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
The tradition continues
PAGES 60–63
> Page 3
WESTERN PORT SCOREBOARD
PAGES 66–67
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Tuesday 26 November 2013
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Support: Hastings butcher Ken Wilde signs up to the White Ribbon oath with Wilma Kneebone and Senior Constable Julie Devereaux, police family violence specialist for Hastings.
Signing for safety AUTOGRAPHS were being collected in Hastings last week from men dedicated to protecting women from violence. Men signed the White Ribbon oath – “Never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women� – as part of the nonprofit White Ribbon Australia’s male-led campaign to end men’s violence against women. Meanwhile, welfare organisation Good Shepherd is almost out of money for its Safe Families fund, which helps women and children on the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston who have been subjected to family violence. See Page 8. Pledge: Adding his name to the White Ribbon list was Peter Gamble, centre, at Hastings market day stall with Maria Chemist, Emma Robinson, Wilma Kneebone, Rhiannon Matthews and Sophie Beiers. Pictures: Yanni
Chamber pursues ‘renew’ By Mike Hast THE proposal to fill vacant Hastings shops with artists, creative projects and community initiatives was always going to struggle without the support of real estate agents. A key agent in the town, Chris Watt, told The News he represented 12 of the 20 vacant shops when the Renew Hastings project was first mooted in mid2012. “The most leasable property is clean, empty and has a big ‘for lease’ sign in the window,� he said.
“Occupied premises create uncertainty with prospective lessors.� Western Port Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mornington Peninsula Shire had high hopes for the renewal project when urban renewal guru Marcus Westbury visited the town in July last year. More than 70 people heard Mr Westbury talk about how he founded Renew Newcastle in 2008 with his own money. In six months, a shabby, vandalised and derelict mall had become a vibrant
shopping area in the industrial town. His simple idea has been taken up around Australia in other city precincts and country towns –to encourage short-term use of empty shops and offices by artists and others. But the idea has failed to gain traction in Hastings without the support of a small number of agents who do not support the concept. The chamber was forced to hand back most of a federal government grant recently after it was not spent in the 2012-13 financial year.
The $50,000 grant was received by the chamber in April from the Labor government. Only $5000 was spent, mostly on insurance for the Renew Hastings project. Chamber president Lisa Dixon said the insurance expired next June. “We’re disappointed the project did not happen this time but we’re not giving up,� she said. Ms Dixon said conditions of the project included keeping shops clean and retaining ‘for lease’ signs in the window.
“We’ve formed a sub-committee to push the project and we’ll be applying to the government for another grant.� She said two shops had displayed artwork – from Western Port Secondary College and photographs from Westpark Hastings Primary School. In other chamber news, the part-time marketing and promotions job held by Sarah McLennan since 2009 has been advertised. Lisa Dixon said the job had to be advertised as part of the start of the next special charge scheme period.
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