NEWS DESK
There was no slip up - VCAT David Harrison david@mpnews.com.au THE state planning tribunal did not make an “accidental slip” in its Arthurs Seat gondola permit conditions, as claimed by the Save Our Seat protest group, and no correction will be made, the tribunal has decided. SOS queried what appeared to be a contradiction in one condition the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal placed on the contentious cable car project. In condition 39, VCAT stated an emergency plan must be approved “prior to the commencement of the use” of the ride, that is, after construction was completed. Elsewhere it stated that the plan should be approved “before the development commences as there may be matters ... that require refinements to other components of the proposal”. In its response to the SOS query, VCAT stated that it “does not consider that there has been an accidental slip in relation to its order”. “The conditions work together including condition 1(e) that requires the permit holder [Skylift] to show how compliance with DEPI conditions 40– 61 is to be achieved before plans are endorsed. Those conditions link back to Condition 39,” VCAT stated. To the law’s “reasonable man”, the VCAT letter falls short of clearing up confusion about the issue SOS had
raised. If anything, it compounds the confusion because: Condition 39 states: “Prior to the commencement of the use, an emergency management plan ... must be submitted to and approved by the Responsible Authority” (that is, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council). The VCAT letter points to its condition 1(e), which refers to requirements imposed by DEPI (now the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning). None of these conditions can be read as supporting the VCAT assertion, that they clarify when the emergency plan must be approved. Condition 41 mentions the bushfire emergency plan but only in passing. Condition 43 refers to “The requirements for an emergency management plan set out in conditions 39 and 40”. This appears to actually reinforce condition 39 – that the emergency plan is not required until the gondola is built and is about to begin operating. Condition 50 specifies that a “defendable space plan” – not a bushfire/ emergency management plan – must be approved “prior to the commencement of works”. Conditions 53 to 58 set out requirements for a vegetation management plan, which appears to have no relationship to either the bushfire or emergency management plans. None of the other three DEPI-imposed conditions on which VCAT relied refer to matters relevant to condition 39.
Register’s record
Giving advice: Western Port Lady Steelers coach Andrew Jacobson during the team’s first appearance in Division 1.
Lady Steelers keep their man THE Western Port Steelers basketball team has re-signed Division 1 women’s coach Andrew Jacobson for next year’s Big V season. Jacobson came on board before the 2015 campaign and steering the team to just missing out on finishing inside the top five. The team fell one game short of playing finals with nine wins and11 losses in its first year in Division 1. Jacobson previously coached Frankston’s SEABL teams and was head coach for 24 years of Victorian championship sides in the VJBL – from under-12s to under-20s boys and girls. “The challenge next season is to take the next step and play in the finals series after coming so close in
2015,” Jacobson said. “We have a strong core group of players from this season’s winning team already committed, along with some incredibly talented new players joining the program. “There are still key positions available in the squad for the upcoming season and we are keen to provide an opportunity to anyone who believes they have what it takes.” Western Port Basketball Association will hold an open gym session, 7pm, Thursday 10 September for its 2016 Division 1 women’s team. Western Port juniors and CBL players are specifically invited, but the session is open to all interested players. Tyler Molloy, manager basketball operations
HASTINGS police Senior Citizens Register marks its 15th year of operation this month and is also raising money for a new car. The joint Hastings police and community initiative aims to promote confident and secure living among senior citizens living from Baxter through to Shoreham. The service is free and registration is voluntary for the 953 residents on the register. Each client is provided with an ID card with their name and identity number as recorded on a secure computer at Hastings police station. This enables police and other emergency services staff to obtain the personal details of each client if needed in an emergency. “The service provides regular phone calls from volunteers checking on each client’s welfare and, if the client cannot be contacted after several attempts, we pass this on to Hastings police for further action,” fundraising coordinator Angela Muir said. “We also mail a quarterly newsletter to our clients. We organise two bus trips and two social functions each year for our clients. “As well as this we conduct regular home visits by members of our home visits team.” A new vehicle to replace the 11-year-old car is necessary as it is “becoming very expensive to maintain”. “We receive no funding from local, state or federal governments, so everything we do is funded by our activities and donations from members and local organisations,” Ms Muir said. To join the register or donate to the car project call 5979 2137.
For the Veggie Patcher
For the Wood Chopper
For the Cleaning fanatic
For the All Rounder
Quality Gardening Tools
Husqvarna S2800 Axe
From as little as $20 each
Designed for splitting larger logs $99
Husqvarna 125BVX Blower
Honda UMK425L U Brushcutter
Vacuum kit included! $289
Safety goggles and harness included! $499
BONUS HASMOW.COM.AU
OPEN 7 DAYS
Lucky Dip: When you spend $100 or more on any equipment in-store. Items valued from $10 each while stocks last. Ð 5979 1382
2013 FRANKSTON-FLINDERS ROAD, HASTINGS Western Port News 1 September 2015
PAGE 3