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Tuesday 1 December 2015
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Teachers on trek with a purpose THREE teachers from Rosebud Secondary College are about to set off on a 24-hour Wellness Walk around the southern Mornington Peninsula. The aim of the walk is to raise money and awareness for the Wellness Pavilion to be built next year in the grounds of Rosebud Secondary College. The Wellness Pavilion will offer meditation sessions, counselling support and innovative programs for college students, young people and families in the wider community. The three teachers - Rhys Edmund, Jason Albress, and Brent Morrison – aim to complete their walk without any sleep. “This will be very, very gruelling both physically and mentally,� Edmund said. “The three of us are very passionate about this project. Our hope is that the local community will jump behind us and really support the Wellness Walk.� Rosebud Secondary College assistant principal Geoff Seletto says the walk is a “huge undertaking�. To support the walkers go to www. gofundme.com/wellnesswalk or www.facebook.com/wellnesswalkRSC Picture: Yanni
Power line fire fears Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au LINEMEN are scrambling to replace up to 30 kilometres of faulty power lines on the Mornington Peninsula amid fears they could cause bushfires. This follows claims that sparks from faulty lines have this year caused three or four fires in Main Ridge and Red Hill. Nepean MP Martin Dixon fears the power lines will not be replaced before
they cause more fires. “Stringing it out is not good enough,� he said. “Under the current plan they will not be replaced for years.� The official fire ban season started yesterday, Monday, and it is understood United Energy’s power line replacement plan will not be completed until 2020. Concerns focus on the failure of “wrapped� or “twisted� power lines, also known as ABC power lines (aerial bundled cable).
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Red Hill residents have also called on United Energy to “immediately� remove faulty or fire-prone power lines along Main Creek Rd. In a letter to the power company John Saunders and Peter Hercules said there was “evidence that the ABC power lines are faulty and explode periodically causing fires�. They said there was a bushfire on the afternoon of 9 November “as a consequence of a failure of your power lines in Main Creek Rd�.
It is believed fires have been caused by lines short-circuiting, with residents reporting loud explosions before fires started beneath them power lines. “Fortunately, the CFA was able to put the fire out, and no serious damage occurred,� their letter stated. “We are concerned that the continued use of these types of power lines, or your company’s failure to maintain existing power lines, exposes the residents of nearby areas to an unreasonable, and now, foreseeable risk of bushfire.�
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United Energy did not respond to queries from The News by deadline. The residents say they will hold the company responsible for fire damage and have asked United Energy to “maintain and preserve all records in relation to the acquisition and purchase of such power lines, and in respect of any fires that might occur as a result of the failure of such power lines�. Their concerns are compounded by the time being taken to replace old power cables. Continued Page 6
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