Mornington
Morni ngton
30 June 2015
High society
Your guide to what’s on this weekend for peninsula families
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Bouquet delight THE peninsula branch of the National Trust celebrated its 30th birthday last week at historic Beleura House in Mornington. Professor Simon Molesworth, who was with the Victorian branch in various top roles between 1980 and 2005, told The News the branch was founded when Point Nepean and Greens Bush were under threat from development, and historic properties such as Blairgowrie House, McCrae Homestead, Mulberry Hill, and The Briars Park needed support. Joining branch members to mark the occasion was the CEO of National Trust Victoria Martin Purslow, shire mayor Cr Bev Colomb, and Linda Morris representing Mornington MP David Morris. See story Page 10. Happy birthday: Gillian Tolley, who drove the conservation of the National Trust’s Endeavour Fern Gully in Red Hill, shows her delight with receiving a bouquet. With her are, from left, branch president Judy Walsh, former president Peter Holloway, mayor Cr Bev Colomb (partly hidden) and branch members Peter Greer (partly hidden), Adrienne Herring, Vivienne Smith and Elizabeth Saunders. Picture: Murray Adams
New projects from budget savings Mike Hast mike@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has saved almost $700,000 by putting its insurance out to tender rather than staying with MAV Insurance, a company associated with the Municipal Association of Victoria, the peak body of local government. The windfall was revealed last Wednesday when councillors approved the
budget for 2014-15 with its expected rate increase of 5.9 per cent and no change to the municipal charge of $180, which ratepayer groups claim is a regressive fee as all ratepayers have to pay it whether they own property in Portsea and Flinders or Rosebud and Hastings. The shire had allocated almost $1.5 million for insurance in its draft budget but will now pay $767,000, a saving of $690,230. The insurance change was driven by new CEO Carl Cowie and
enabled the council to add 10 items to its budget totalling $600,000 that came as a direct result of lobbying by residents and groups during the budget draft period since late April. One addition bound to generate controversy is $50,000 to Peninsula Aero Club for construction of an access road from Stuart Rd, Tyabb, “to improve the capacity of the airport to manage and support emergencies more efficiently and safely, subject to permits
if required”. The club’s Tyabb airfield has been under pressure from some ratepayers for many years due to safety and operational concerns. Other items added to the budget last week are $350,000 for construction of the unmade car park at Currawong Community Centre in Mornington, $15,000 for a music bursary program, $32,500 for the shire’s Arts and Culture Strategy, $15,500 toward an “all abilities” boardwalk at Point Leo
Beach, $20,000 for continued sponsorship of Mornington Peninsula Tennis International tournament, $24,000 for CCTV cameras in Rye business precinct, $30,000 for Annie Sage precinct in Somerville, $50,000 to investigate cliff erosion stability measures at Tassells Beach, Safety Beach, and $15,000 toward a “fruitgrowing machinery display shed” at Fruitgrowers Reserve, Somerville. Continued Page 7
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