NEWS DESK
A swim, run and bike ride: a busy day for some
Winter is coming, new dogs rules
SPECTATORS crammed Nepean Hwy from Frankston to Mordialloc and beyond on Sunday to watch 2500 die-hard competitors compete in the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championships. The athletes began their day with a 3.8km bay swim, followed by a 180km ride along Eastlink and a 42.2km run along Nepean Hwy and Beach Rd to St Kilda. Canadian tri-athlete Jeff Symonds, 29, won the men’s title in eight hours, four minutes and 28 seconds, with Australian Melissa Hauschildt, 31, the first female home in eight hours, 52 minutes and 51 seconds. She is the first Australian woman to win the race in Melbourne. The win gives her automatic entry to the Hawaiian Ironman at Kona in October. Aussie Tim Van Berkel – in second place - was the first Australian male home in eight hours, seven minutes and 57 seconds. Cafes along the route reportedly did a brisk trade in coffee as the run-leg competitors made their way to the Catani Gardens. Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, on Monday joined the two champions, the top athletes from each age bracket and the many volunteers responsible for the event at an awards ceremony in St Kilda. It was a gruelling day for many of the competitors from 43 countries with the last competitors eventually crossing the line close to midnight. “The Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship is one of the many dates on Victoria’s Major Events calendar which makes it the best around Australia and the world,” Minister
WITH colder weather approaching, foreshore winter dog restrictions will come into force from 1 April-31 October allowing more time for dogs to be exercised on Kingston’s beaches. Owners must keep all dogs on leash until they reach the sand area and must remain in effective control of pets at all times. From April, dogs must be on leash 11am-3pm at n Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc (Plummer Rd, Mentone to Bay St, Mordialloc) n Aspendale, Edithvale, Chelsea, Bonbeach and Carrum (Mordialloc Creek to McLeod Rd, Carrum). The 24-hour dog off-leash beaches are still active at: n Mentone (northern end of beach from Charman Rd to Plummer Rd) n Carrum (southern end of beach from Old Post Office Lane to Osprey Lane). Dogs are not permitted in the ‘nodog zone’ designated between Bay St and the Mordialloc Pier. The no-dog zone includes the sand, foreshore reserve and the Peter Scullin Reserve. Dog owners must carry something (eg. a plastic or paper bag) to pick up after their pet at all times while they are out and about. People who fail to do so could face an on-the-spot penalty of $148. For information about parks and foreshore areas where dogs can be exercised, see kingston.vic.gov. au or contact Kingston Council’s customer service hotline on 1300 653 356.
for Sport, Tourism and Major Events, John Eren said. “The event has cemented itself as a regular on our city’s long list of sporting highlights. “Congratulations to the winners and the thousands of brave athletes who negotiated this gruelling course. Thank you to the hard-working volunteers who made this great event possible.”
Race day: Ironman competitors in the thick of the action. Pictures: Gary Sissons
Second chance for hub wins approval Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au COUNCILLORS have waved through a plan to build a new Mentone Activity Hub in Venice St at a cost of more than $1.51 million. The proposal was narrowly rejected at last month’s public council meeting (‘Hub on hold as building costs rise’, The News 11/3/15) amid concerns about the new building’s cost rising from about $1.38 million after the original winner of the tender bid pulled out. Cr Ron Brownlees introduced a notice of motion at Monday evening’s council meeting asking councillors to reconsider the matter.
He said the proposal to build had been put to the community “over some four to five years” amid an “open” tender process. “I’ve never seen a rejection of a proposal at such a late stage that has followed a process for two years. It has been in council’s capital works budget since 2013,” he said. It is “not unusual” for projects to escalate in costs if a tenderer pulls out, according to Cr Brownlees. Mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill used his mayoral casting vote to push through the construction of the Mentone Activity Hub this time around. Crs Tamsin Bearsley, John Ronke and Brownlees supported the move. Crs Tamara Barth, David Eden,
Steve Staikos and Rosemary West opposed the proposal. Cr Paul Peulich was absent from Monday’s meeting. Cr West had wanted council to defer any decision until the Mentone reserve master plan is completed. An investigation into using the former council offices at Brindisi St as a community hub should also have been conducted before deciding to spend about $1.5 million, Cr West said. “The project has been around for years but it has grown ‘like Topsy’”, she said. The original plan would have seen the Mentone Mordialloc Arts Group leave its dilapidated Old Granary
Lane building in Mentone to move to the Mentone Seniors Citizen building in Venice St. Cr West said a refurbishment of the senior citizens building was mooted, then an expensive demolition and rebuild was called for with the escalation in building costs the latest turn of events. “We should go back ... and look at the whole situation of the needs of the community groups in Mentone and look at what can be provided on the reserve.” Cr Staikos said the new Labor state government’s rates capping policy would likely mean council would not be able to spend money on such projects in future.
“I’m sure this is going to be a very pretty building. I’m sure it’s going to be a great building for the people who use it but ... the level of disappointment I have at the moment cannot be overstated.” Cr Staikos said the decision to build the new activity hub in Venice St flew in the face of previous council discussions about converting the Brindisi St building into a community hub. The arts group, two senior citizens groups and Probus Club will be housed at Venice St. The Mentone-Mordialloc Arts Group has offered to pay $100,000 towards the construction of the new Mentone Activity Hub.
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 25 March 2015
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