New wave baffles calm creek flow Stephen Taylor steve@baysidenews.com.au RECREATIONAL boaters and anglers will benefit from new wave baffles at the mouth of Mordialloc Creek. Mordialloc Labor MP Tim Richardson and Ports Minister Luke Donnellan visited the creek this week to announce state government funding of $1 million for a project to improve the “wave climate” in the creek. Wave baffles are timber structures on both sides of the mouth of Mordialloc Creek which reduce wave energy flowing upstream and improve mooring conditions for vessels. Existing wave baffles have become ineffective over the past couple of years and, as a result, some moored boats have been damaged by wave surges. A 75-year-old couta boat sank in March after waves entering the creek knocked it against a log while it was tied to its mooring. The incident highlighted the ineffectiveness of the old, rotted baffles. Mordialloc Motor Yacht Club Commodore Des Fullarton said the wave baffles were long overdue. “We’ve been campaigning for them for a long time now and credit goes to the state government for getting things moving,” he said. “We get a lot of damage to boats from waves bumping them and pulling at the mooring lines. The baffles are a good thing. They slow the waves and prevent damage to the boats. “The last lot were put in 20 years ago and have rotted away with wood worm.
Police patrol
Big effort fails AN offender went to great lengths to burgle a house in Woodbine Gr, Chelsea, which is empty after being sold and with the new owners yet to move in. He removed flywire screens from three windows, and forced a window leading to the kitchen, knocking various items around but not stealing anything. He broke a doorknob trying to enter the main part of the house, then tried to enter a laundry without success, and pushed open a louvre window to a billiard room. Inside the main house, the offender rummaged through empty cupboards in bedrooms, but failed to force open a locked internal door to the rear shed extension. He also tried, and failed, to remove a louvre window and even tried breaking through the back wall of the makeshift shed extension. Nothing was stolen from the house. Anyone with information should call Chelsea police on 9583 9767.
Clumsy thief
Fixers: Parks Victoria regional services general manager Chris Rose, left, Labor MP for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus, Ports Minister Luke Donnellan and Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson standing above the old worn wave baffles at Mordialloc creek. Picture: Gary Sissons
“The new lot will be timber but with a plastic coating which will make them last longer.” Parks Victoria will manage the wave baffle project. It will work with boaters, anglers, Kingston Council and Melbourne Water to finalise designs before calling for tenders to install the baffles.
“Installing new wave baffles will reduce the risk of damage to boats and yachts moored in the creek and create a better wave climate for everyone to enjoy,” Mr Richardson said. “Parks Victoria should be congratulated for their careful design and investigation work which is set to make a real difference for Mordial-
loc boaters.” Mr Donnellan said the government had listened to the concerns of recreational boaters and anglers who use the creek. “Our $1.15 million investment in new wave baffles will make the creek safer and help attract more users to enjoy recreational fishing and boating in Port Phillip.”
New jetty to be ship shape Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au A NEW year may bring a new public jetty to Patterson Lakes after Kingston councillors voted to back a plan to build a floating jetty at the Patterson Lakes Harbour Plaza. The state government offered $120,000 in funding to construct the jetty and council has agreed to manage the facility at a cost of about $10,000 each year. At this month’s public council meeting Cr David Eden thanked Patterson Lakes residents and businesses for their help in putting together a proposal and application for the grant from the state government.
“I think it’s worth acknowledging the contribution that the local shops would be making by actually handing over some of the moorings or rights to the moorings to facilitate this project,” Cr Eden said. He noted the existing area where boats can berth, on land owned by Melbourne Water, is run down and potentially dangerous. The water authority says it does not provide facilities for recreational boating. Both the Water Police and Coast Guard say they would also welcome a new jetty at the shopping centre to enable them to patrol the area during peak summer periods. Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny said a new public jetty “will deliver positive social, community and economic
outcomes for the local community, including local residents, shop owners, local businesses and restaurants”. “A new public jetty will enhance the area as a destination of choice for recreational boat users and members of the public. This is not a new project. Residents and traders have been seeking a new public jetty for years,” Ms Kilkenny said in Parliament this month. Cr Ron Brownlees was a dissenting voice against the jetty proposal, calling it “outrageous” since it will be on private land and will service private boat owners and a commercial shopping centre. “We know that Parks Victoria have already said we don’t want a bar of it,” he said. “If we commit to something that is not
ours I think we’re opening a Pandora’s box.” He said the state government should fully fund the jetty and its ongoing maintenance and the Water Police and Coast Guard should lobby the government for funding rather than rely on a contribution from council. Crs Eden, Geoff Gledhill, John Ronke, Steve Staikos, Rosemary West and mayor Cr Tamsin Bearsley voted to back the new jetty. Cr Brownlees voted against the plan and Cr Paul Peulich abstained. Cr Tamara Barth was absent. An independent committee of management, including residents and boat owners, will be established to determine the best way to maintain the new jetty after it is built.
AT another burglary in Woodbine Gr, Chelsea, a man awoke after hearing noises in his lounge room and went to investigate, 1am, Thursday. He watched as a man in the doorway ran through the lounge room, into the kitchen and out the back door, pushing his way through a flyscreen. The offender jumped the back fence and damaged bushes and a garden area and knocked over chairs when he landed on the other side. He left behind a shoe and a baseball cap, which police kept as evidence. The 56-year-old victim told police his car and house keys had been stolen. Anyone with information should call Chelsea police on 9583 9767.
Daylight robbery A MAN sleeping before nightshift had his bag stolen from off the kitchen bench, Monday afternoon. The victim, 64, was at the front of the Tatyoon Cl, Aspendale Gardens, house and the kitchen is at the rear. Police believe the offender entered through the kitchen door which was left unlocked so the man’s two dogs could wander in and out. He may have left through the fence gate leading to Wells Rd. Anyone with information should call Mordialloc police on 9588 2988.
Correction
LAST week’s ‘It’s history, but Madison a modern link’ article (The News 16/12/15) stated Mark Dreyfus is the federal Liberal MP for Isaacs. Mr Dreyfus is the Labor member for Isaacs. The News regrets the error.
Inga Peulich MLC
State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government
Wishing you and your family Greetings of the Season and a safe and prosperous 2016 376 Nepean Hwy, Chelsea 3196 Tel: 9772 1366 Fax: 9772 4648 Email: inga.peulich@parliament.vic.gov.au Internet: www.ingapeulich.org Authorised by Inga Peulich MLC, 736 Nepean Hwy Chelsea 3196, funded from Parliament’s Electorate Office and Communications Budget Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 23 December 2015
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