Western Port
Features inside:
Western Port’s
AUTUMN HOME & GARDEN
PAGES 32 - 33
#1
SPORT
PAGES 37 - 38
Newspaper
AUTUMN MOTORING
PAGES 39 - 43
Local news for local people
FREE
Your fortnightly community newspaper covering the entire Western Port region For all your advertising and editorial needs, call us on 1300
1 March – 14 March 2011
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Bottler of a win for rafters WESTERN Port Festival’s annual raft race off Hastings Yacht Club didn’t attract as many spectators as the motorboat races further up in Hastings Bight, but was definitely more entertaining. There were only four crews, but what the race lacked in numbers was made up in shenanigans. The SES crew with their sleek Styrofoam raft had won many races in the past and were leading on the now-modified raft that included a sophisticated rudder mechanism. They were seen moving the course marker to enable them to get around it and a protest was later lodged by the yacht club’s raft crew. TS Tingira, the Navy raft crew, didn’t have as much luck this year as last, being slow to keep up with SES and HYC’s almost all-girl crew. Halfway around, they began sinking, while the fourth raft, manned by a church group, The Real Life, got stuck between the two arms of the jetty. With The Real Life immobile and the Navy sinking, the race was now between the SES crew – said to be throwing solid flour bombs at their competitors – and the HYC crew, who were handicapped by an uneven number of rowers, which made it difficult to paddle in a straight line. On account of their misdeeds, SES conceded first place to the HYC crew and extended their oars into the water to the Navy crew who by now were swimming towards the finishing line at the pontoon. The Real Life was towed in by the rescue boat. The HYC team with its raft of recycled bottles proudly rowed away with this year’s trophy.
A raft of energy: The Real Life crew work hard to get up a “head of steam” during the raft race at Western Port Festival. Photo: Snez Plunkett.
Snez Plunkett
New moves for car ferry By Mike Hast GOVERNMENT authorities continue to plan for the proposed Western Port car ferry despite Bass Coast Shire and a majority of Phillip Island residents rejecting terminal plans for the island’s “capital” of Cowes last July. The so-called “missing link” ferry was revived by the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry in November 2007 at a meeting of business and political leaders at Parliament House. VECCI wants a “Great Southern
Coastal Road” that would create a unique touring route along Victoria’s spectacular coastline from Portland to Gippsland. Travelling east, the route would follow the Princes Hwy, then the Great Ocean Road to Queenscliff, use the existing car ferry to Sorrento, across the peninsula to Stony Point near Hastings and on to the new car ferry to Cowes, though Phillip Island, across the bridge to San Remo and along the South Gippsland coast near Wilsons Promontory and beyond.
PENINSULA STEEL & BOLTS Steel & Bolt Sales
*HQHUDO (QJLQHHULQJ 6KHHW 0HWDO :RUN /LQWHOV *DO 7 %DUV 0HVK 7HN 6FUHZV &RDFK 6FUHZV 7UDLOHU 3DUWV :HOGLQJ *HDU $FFHVVRULHV &UDQH 7UXFN +LUH
l Dve
Rd
Industria
Gra
nt Rd ders
n Flin
www.topez.com.au
7 Industrial Drive, Somerville
Speedwell St
ksto
16 Mornington – Tyabb Rd Tyabb Phone 03 9397 6644 Open Thurs – Sun 9.30am - 4.00pm
5977 8999
Fran
HAND CRAFTED POTS, WATER FEATURES, FURNITURE, STATUES, ART GALLERY ELITE HOME & GARDEN DÉCOR
Simcock St Guelph St
WE ARE HERE
The proposed 150-metre long jetty for the ferry terminal at Cowes, with its covered walkway for pedestrians and car queuing lanes in The Esplanade and Bass Ave, was met by furious opposition from residents last Easter at a rally attended by more than 350 people. Bass Coast councillors rejected the plans that would have transformed the Cowes foreshore in July. The News understands Bass Coast officers recently held discussions with Parks Victoria and Tourism Victoria to
Hastings Newsagency HUGE SALE
Thousands of kids books from just $2
Eramosa Rd
HOTEL
Somerville
56 High Street
seek an alternative to a terminal beside the existing Cowes pier, where the pedestrian ferry from Stony Point docks. Supporters of the long-desired car ferry also include Department of Transport and Regional Development Victoria. A feasibility study costing $700,000 was paid for by Mornington Peninsula and Bass Coast shires, which each contributed $250,000, with state government agencies paying $200,000. Bass Coast has been asked to consider other places for the terminal,
with the most likely place being west of Cowes pier near where Cowes Yacht Club is located. The car ferry terminal needs to be close to town to be financial viable, a source told The News. On the peninsula side, plans are progressing for the transformation of Stony Point. Draft plans seen by The News show the ferry access road, parking area and ticket office would take one-third of the land leased by Patrick Ports. Continued Page 10
PRESENT THIS VOUCHER
$5
MAIN MEAL
SELLING, BUYING, RENTING? TALK TO US 5979 4412
Buy one main meal and receive a second meal for $5* From the selected menu (Valid Mon to Fri)
WESTERNPORT HOTEL 16 High Street, HASTINGS Phone 5979 1201 for bookings Not valid public holidays. *Conditions apply. Valid until 14th March 2011.
CNR HIGH & SALMON STREET, HASTINGS. PHONE 5979 1201
87 High St, Hastings
5979 4412
www.baywestrealestate.com.au