NEWS DESK
Anger surfaces over footpath plan David Harrison david@mpnews.com.au CONCERN and annoyance are growing as details of a footpath special charge scheme in McCrae become clearer. The project is going ahead despite claims of overwhelming community opposition to it. One cause of concern and bewilderment is a discount given to some residents on the grounds that their street is used via a freeway underpass by nearby residents. That in itself is prompting questions about the rationale for the discount and why the part of the footpath cost is not being met by the residents who use the underpass route and gain a direct benefit. An amendment introducing the discount of up to about $505 on a shire charge of $2522 – a 20 per cent price
cut for some 26 property owners, less for others – was introduced without warning during discussion of the item at the 14 December council meeting. The discount required a lift to the shire’s share of the scheme, from 34 per cent to 38.49 per cent, adding nearly $18,500 to the shire share. This sum will effectively be covered by ratepayers from all wards. McCrae is in Seawinds ward, represented by councillors Antonella Celi, David Gibb and Graham Pittock. The discount proposal was raised by Cr Gibb by way of questions to shire officer Jeremy Grieve. Its adoption via an amended resolution was seconded by Cr Celi and won support from a majority of councillors. Another concern is confusion over whether the shire has double-dipped in calculating the charges. Infrastructure strategy project manager Jeremy Grieve told an objector earlier by email that the shire had tak-
en the underpass use into consideration when explaining the shire’s 34 per cent share of the project’s cost. Mr Grieve told Sandra Sweetland: “Given that [three connected roads] are local access roads and that the pedestrian link … links to a residential area without any further paths, a contribution of 34 per cent by the shire is considered appropriate." That shire share of payment has now risen by nearly five percentage points to cover the discount. Mr Grieve answered a series of detailed questions from Cr Gibb about the discount amendment. At one point governance manager Joe Spiteri asked whether the proposed amendment emanated from a staff member or a councillor. Chief operating officer Alison Leighton said the amendment was the creation of a councillor. The exchange highlighted a tricky area for councillors and staff, a subject dealt with by the Local Government
Act and in advice from local government experts, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian Local Government Association. Their Good Governance Guide advises against “any attempt … to influence the way a member of staff performs an important function, other than through formal council processes”. Mr Grieve told the 14 December meeting that a typographical error had ballooned by $56,715 the shire’s share of a Rosebud project originally costed at $135,000 (“Paving, the way for protest”, The News 22/12/16). The bill had blown out to nearly $192,000, councillors were told. The additional sum will again be picked up by the shire and covered by all ratepayers. The McCrae project covers Beverley Rd, Coburn Av and Burrell St. Ms Sweetland and other objectors contacted 133 of the streets’ 149 chargeable properties: 90 per cent of
those who were contactable opposed the footpath, they said. Mr Grieve’s report to councillors on 14 December stated that “39 submissions … were received representing the owners of 40 properties”. Three supported the project. Opponents comprised 26.8 per cent of the 149 properties, the report stated. The issues objectors raised had been assessed and, “as they do not provide any substantive matters that require the scheme to be amended or abandoned, it is recommended that council … declares the charge,” the report stated. The shire had also argued that “the paths were requested by residents in the first instance” and had a high priority in the footpath strategy. Responding to a question from the gallery at the council meeting, Ms Leighton confirmed that the shire had received only three submissions and/or letters of support for the scheme.
Focusing on life down under Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au SHEREE Marris submerges herself in her work. An outspoken advocate the Mornington Peninsula, she concentrates on its rarely seen and hidden attractions. To actually see Marris at work requires some beach accessories, but not the ones advertised in style magazines or found hanging in trendy boutiques. An aquatic scientist, Marris is more usually billed as a “marine educator” and has long promoted the attractions that live under the waters of Port Phillip. Marris has been widely published and exposed on TV and radio in her quest to highlight the unusual and unexpected life forms that dwell beneath the bay’s surface. Her latest foray into the abundant waters is the documentary, Melbourne Down Under, which “brings to life” the coffee table book of the same name she published in 2011. A trailer for the production shows glimpses of life, and death, between the surface and the seabed, including seals and birds have successfully adapted to catching their prey underwater. The film shows the beauty and majesty unwittingly presented by life forms that live solely in the watery environment, their colours, agility and
movement, especially shoals of fish. It also shows how suddenly things can change: the crab moving towards the camera with claws raised is oblivious to the danger from behind until the octopus strikes. On the other side of the ledger a moment of wonder is created when a seal comes nose to nose with a weedy sea dragon, an seahorse-related marine fish that has to be seen to be believed. The former Hastings resident and Young Australian of the Year (2002), Marris says the documentary aims “to promote the wonders of Port Phillip, encourage exploration and use it as a platform to discuss how we can look after it”. “If people don’t know what exists on our front door step we can’t expect them to care.” Most of the footage is shot in the waters around
the peninsula by Marris and a small team of cinematographers. ”We also filmed a number of world first behavioural sequences which was exciting,” Marris said. Free screenings of Melbourne Down Under are being held at the Speigel Zelt (Three Palms), 154 Ocean Beach Rd, Sorrento, 1-5pm and 2-8pm Monday 25 January. The first session includes a display of “beachcombing treasures” for children while the later session also includes the feature, Sex in the Sea.
The other world: Filmmaker, author and marine educator Sheree Marris, left, takes a dive in Port Phillip, left, home to a variety of life forms, including the southern blue devil, right. Pictures: Jarrod Boord and Sheree Marris
1099 Point Nepean Rd, Rosebud P: 5950 0300 www.rosebudhotel.com.au
Southern Peninsula News 19 January 2016
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