Land subdivision falls at final hurdle Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au
Beach drama: Jackson Hillier was first into the sea to help save a teenage girl from drowning off Frankston beach. Picture: Yanni
Beach rescue sees bravery rewarded WHEN Jackson Hillier heard a young girl was in strife in the waters off Frankston beach he did not hesitate. The teenager plunged into the sea and began a rescue effort that saved a 17-year-old girl’s life. The 16-year-old Bonbeach resident was at Frankston beach with a friend on 8 February last year when it suddenly became clear a girl was in danger of drowning. His actions in mounting a rescue effort will see the teen receive an Australia Bravery Award approved by the Governor-General. Senior Constable Cameron Wallace
and another beachgoer, Aleziah Spiers from South Australia, will also receive Bravery Awards after joining the Bonbeach teenager in the water to save the young girl’s life as she struggled about 250 metres off Frankston beach. “I didn’t even think about it, I just headed straight out there,” Jackson said. He more than an hour talking to the girl to calm her before the police officer and Mr Spiers joined him to help and drag the teenage girl back to shore. Jackson said the scariest moment came when he feared for his life “when
I went under” during the tiring ordeal. During the journey back to the beach the girl lost consciousness and Constable Wallace was forced to give her “three quick breaths causing her to be ill and also breathe again” according to information released by the GovernorGeneral’s office. Jackson, Mr Spiers and Senior Constable Wallace are among 40 Australians set to receive the Bravery Medal. The Bravery Award nomination noted: “By his actions, Mr Hillier displayed considerable bravery.” Neil Walker
A BID to subdivide Green Wedge land at Kingston Rd, Heatherton for “horse agistment” has failed to get over the line after the landowner withdrew from a tribunal hearing. The Defenders of the South East Green Wedge had been set to appeal a controversial decision by a narrow majority of Kingston councillors to approve a ten lots subdivision of land at 217-227 Kingston Rd (‘‘Horsing around’ with Green Wedge’, The News 4/3/15). VCAT set aside council’s approval last Friday (21 August) after applicant Kingston Heights Pty Ltd decided to drop out of the tribunal hearing. Defenders secretary Barry Ross said the Kingston Heights planning application “principles involved were almost identical to those applying to the Leslie Rd application”. VCAT overturned a contentious planning application last month to subdivide land at 2 Leslie Rd, Clarinda to house horses (‘VCAT says neigh to horse play’, The News 29/7/15). “Our group is delighted that the fate of the subdivision applications has finally been settled as it was like a black cloud hanging over the Green Wedge,” Mr Ross said. “Hopefully, the landowners will now get down to running legitimate green wedge activities such as agri-
culture and recreation.” Kingston Heights Pty Ltd principal Paul Smith, owner of the Din San Nursery in Dingley Village, did not return calls from The News before publication deadline. A council officers’ report supplied to councillors at the March council meeting noted the Heatherton application was inconsistent with state and council planning policy. Mr Ross believed the attempted subdivision layout looked “suspiciously like a plan for a residential subdivision”. Crs Ron Brownlees, Tamsin Bearsley, John Ronke and mayor Geoff Gledhill voted to approve the Heatherton subdivision at the March council meeting. Crs David Eden, Steve Staikos and Rosemary West opposed the application. Crs Paul Peulich and Tamara Barth were absent from the meeting. Future plans for the Green Wedge have divided councillors during the current four-year council term. A push by some councillors to rezone parts of the Green Wedge for rural living fell by the wayside after a council-commissioned report by consultants Meinhardt found existing landfills and required buffer zones made residential development impossible in the short term.
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