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Wednesday 9 February 2022
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Keeping tabs on drinks CELLAR doors are all about selling and drinking wine, but a campaign launched on the Mornington Peninsula last week aims to help drinkers keep track of their alcohol consumption. “Scratchies” and other resources are being handed out at cellar doors and festivals will show how many tastings add up to a standard drink. “With wineries typically located a long drive away from cities, it’s imperative that wine tasters know how much they’re consuming in order to make responsible choices,” Health and Aged Care Minister, Flinders MP Greg Hunt said, when launching the national campaign at Crittenden Estate, Dromana. The Stay tasteful while tasting campaign by DrinkWise and Australian Grape and Wine coincides with peninsula wineries looking forward to the return of visitors. “It’s been a difficult period for our cellar doors, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back,” Mornington Peninsula Wine CEO, Olivia Barrie said. “These resources [to track alcohol consumption] assist our local wineries to educate our visitors and help them to make responsible choices.” Surveys and anecdotal evidence have shown there has been an increase in the use of alcohol and subsequent rises in alcohol-related deaths and illnesses as side effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Keith Platt Scratch record: At the launch of a campaign to help drinkers know their limit, are winemaker Rollo Crittenden, National Wine Foundation chair Helen Strachan, Flinders MP Greg Hunt, Drinkwise CEO Simon Strahan and Morninton Peninsula Wines CEO Olivia Barrie. Picture: Yanni
Warning about dogs on beaches Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au EVERYONE loves to be at the beach in summer, but the four-legged friends of some beachgoers are giving authorities and other users a headache. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is reminding dog owners who come to enjoy the peninsula’s beaches that they must follow the rules surrounding dogs or face being fined. The issues are leading to unrest in some coastal communities, with some
dog owners ignoring or misunderstanding the regulations. Sarah Nelson, of Dromana, said she avoided going to her beach at busy times because of the many dogs running around off leash and their owners not picking up dog poo. “I like dogs, but at the beach they run around and get excited, go to toilet on the sand and charge at people. It can be intimidating,” she said. “Not only that, I have seen dogs get aggressive toward other dogs and I think it’s only a matter of time before
a dog attacks a person. The council’s community safety and compliance manager, Shannon Maynard, said most dog owners were responsible and did the right thing. “But unfortunately, some owners disregard the rules and let their dogs off leash in an on-leash area or allow them into a prohibited area,” she said. All dogs in a public place or reserve on the peninsula must be kept under effective control at all times with a leash held by the owner and attached to the dog.
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The only exception is where the council has declared a reserve or public place a designated leash free area or an area prohibited to dogs. Ms Maynard said dogs can only be at beaches before 9am and after 7pm during daylight savings hours, but always on leash. Ms Maynard said even when a dog is in a designated leash free area, the owner must carry a leash and remain in voice or hand control and within sight of the dog at all times. “Our community safety officers
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patrol all shire-managed beaches and most beaches managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s committees of management,” she said. There are several council-managed, leash-free beaches on the peninsula, however none of the state-government managed beaches are leash-free. All dog owners must pick up after their dogs, even on dog beaches, as required by law. Information on leash free areas, including beaches, can be found on the shire’s website.