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 28 October 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Power goes under to cut fire risk
UNITED Energy has been working under and above ground to reduce the risk of power lines causing bushfires. Nearly 600 metres of power lines have been put underground along Valley Views Lane, Main Ridge where a pine tree fell onto the cables earlier this year leaving customers without power for 12 hours. It has also installed aerial bundled cable in high risk bushfire areas The company says 55 large pine trees in the lane are leaning towards the power lines, “posing a risk of starting a fire or causing a power outage”. “This line is located on the north west face of the slope, meaning any potential fire start would move quickly given the hot summer winds which normally come in from that direction,” project manager Rob Doyle said. “The peninsula is a high-risk area for fires and throughout the year we have continued conducting critical maintenance and major projects to ensure the network is ready for summer,” he said. He said United Energy had installed rapid earth fault current limiter bushfire safety devices in Frankston, Mornington and Dromana. The devices would protect more than 67,000 customer and 982 kilometres of high voltage power lines across the peninsula. Keith Platt
State money a missing link for projects MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has officially welcomed federal government promises to increase infrastructure spending despite having no guarantee that any projects planned for the peninsula will get off the ground. Although the shire has $320 million worth of “shovel ready projects” and the federal government has offered $80m towards three of nine on the list, they all depend on the state government providing more money. None of the major projects are likely to be started unless co-funding arrangements are agreed by the state and
federal governments. Shire CEO John Baker said adding $1 billion to the $500 million local roads and community infrastructure program in the federal budget had “the potential to make a real difference to the peninsula community”. “The shire has a $320 million package of shovel ready projects ready to go,” Mr Baker said. “These projects respond to genuine needs within our community and will help soften the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are keen to work with the fed-
eral member for Flinders, Greg Hunt, as well as the state government, on furthering as many of these projects as possible.” Mr Baker said the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 were forecast to be greater for the peninsula than for Australia overall, with a predicted 21 per cent fall in gross regional product – much worse than the 6.9 per cent drop forecast for Australia as a whole, he said. An estimated 5900 jobs are also forecast to be lost due to the pandemic, with a reduction in employment oppor-
COME AND SEE THE CHICKENS ROAMING FREE IN THE PADDOCK!
tunities of 11 per cent. The shire’s package of shovel ready projects includes: Peninsula Bay Trail: $15 million, which includes the Mornington to Moorooduc trail ($6.5m), Somerville to Baxter trail ($4m), and Southern Peninsula Bay Trail ($4.5m). Community facilities: $17.825m. The Briars: $10.6 m. Pavilions: $18.5m. Road safety: $130 m. Stage 1 to start 2020/21. The total of $40 million includes roundabouts ($15m), Rye Township Plan – Point Nepean Road
($15m), Forest and Uralla Drive intersections ($10m); Mornington Peninsula Freeway/Jetty Road Overpass ($65m) and sound barriers ($25m). Recycled water: $27.3 million – for Homelessness: $2.5m for design and construction of two social housing developments in Mornington; a group home for adults with intellectual disability in Balnarring; Housing Access Point service in Hastings; Salvation Army intensive case management.. Better buses: $10 million. Technology park on a site identified by the shire at Hastings.
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