NEWS DESK
Aged care land plan divides council Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au COUNCILLORS are divided over plans to build an aged care home in Collins St, Mentone, with some backing a community push to use the land as public open space. Council has begun an expressionsof-interest process to find an aged care provider to buy the site but some councillors would like it to also look at a second option: building a 70-bed facility at the Mordialloc Community Nursing Home’s Remo St site in Mentone instead (‘Aged care home an open space invader’, The News 29/10/14). The councillors argue the Collins St
land should be used for parkland. Kingston Council is exiting the aged care sector and will divest itself of management responsibilities for Mordialloc’s Nixon House, Edithvale’s Northcliffe Lodge and Mentone’s Corben House once a larger aged care home is built in Mentone. Council expects to hand over management of the homes in mid-2015 and it is expected to take two to three years to build an expanded aged care home in Mentone. Crs Rosemary West, Tamara Barth, David Eden, Paul Peulich and Steve Staikos are pushing for council to also ask aged care providers to submit business cases to run a care home at Remo St, rather than just put the Col-
lins St proposal out to market. Council has received confidential legal advice on running a dual request for proposal process. Councillors were due to discuss the matter behind closed doors on Monday evening but voted to defer the matter until December’s council meeting to receive further briefings from council officers. The soil at the 101-103 Collins St site, a former council depot housing chemicals, is currently being decontaminated by specialists Ausdecom at a cost of $1.1 million. This decontamination work is expected to be completed in about a month’s time. Existing aged care homes will continue to operate while a centre is built.
Shifting soil: Decontamination works are underway at the Collins St former depot site with an aged care home earmarked for the land. Picture: Gary Sissons
A Will and a way for forward looking seniors
Girls steered by call of the siren IT seems girls just wanna play football, according to the Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League. Such is the demand that the league is planning to introduce two all-girl football competitions next season to run alongside the junior boys. There will be divisions for 9- 12 year olds and 13-18. MPJFL girls’ football coordinator Jenny Walker said junior football clubs considering fielding girls teams include
Balnarring, Pearcedale/Baxter, Somerville, Moorooduc, South Mornington, Beleura, Rye, Rosebud and Mt Martha. “Whether they do, of course, depends on the number of girls interested in playing,� she said. “The games will be just as tough and rugged as the boys – and that’s the way the girls want it.� Ms Walker – a member of the Rye Junior Football Club - said girls’ football was one of the fastest growing
sports in the country: “As a league, we are looking forward to bringing it to all the girls who are interested.� To promote the new competition, the league is hosting a girls’ football skills day 5.30-6.30pm Friday at South Mornington Junior Football Club, Helena St, Mt Martha. “The girls should just wear runners not footy boots,� Ms Walker said. To find out more email the MPJFL at admin@mpjfl.com.au
Peninsula Fireplace
THE importance of correct planning was the key message at a Wills and Powers of Attorney forum held for seniors in Frankston and surrounding areas. The forum, held by Peninsula Community Legal Centre, Frankston Council and Seniors Rights Victoria, aimed to give seniors the knowledge needed to protect themselves and their assets. When opening the forum Cr Rebekah Spelman stressed the important contribution made by seniors to the life of a community. Gary Ferguson, of Seniors Rights Victoria, lead the 71 participants through the different Powers of Attorney that can be used to ensure that the right people make the right decisions for them in the future, if needed. The seminar, presented by Saskia Rijfkogel from the Peninsula Community Legal Centre, provided up to date information about wills, including tips and traps to ensure will-makers’ wishes are effective. All participants were given a copy of the ‘Take Control’ booklet produced by Victoria Legal Aid and the Office of Public Advocate. “This forum addressed two of the most important issues people are faced with during their lifetime - planning for the unexpected and the inevitable,� the legal centre’s manager Andrea Staunton said. “We were pleased to see that sur-
vey responses indicated that seniors understood the benefits of having an up to date will and how best to ensure their needs are properly looked after in the event of incapacity. A common theme was a desire to ease the burden on their families.� Ms Staunton said the survey results also indicated that 96 per cent of participants now knew where to go for help. Peninsula Community Legal Centre is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free advice on most legal issues, with ongoing assistance available for clients experiencing disadvantage. The centre’s head office is in Frankston, with branches in Bentleigh, Cranbourne, Frankston North and Rosebud, as well as visiting services in Chelsea and Hastings. For more information about free legal services, call 9783 3600 or visit www.pclc.org.au. Seniors Rights Victoria assists people to prevent and respond to elder abuse, call 1300 368 821 or www. seniorsrights.org.au
Hand made A MARKET selling hand made goods will be held 10am-2pm this weekend at St Paul’s Anglican Church, corner Bay and High streets, Frankston. This is the second visit to Frankston by Nanna Cool Markets and features products made by more than 30 artisans.
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Independent living for over 55s
U6/42 HARTNETT DRIVE SEAFORD PH: 9770 4011 W: www.peninsulafireplace.com.au E: info@peninsulafireplace.com.au PAGE 12
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LAST FEW UNITS SELLING NOW