Rescues, octopus dangers at beach
Two per cent cap for rates next fiscal year
CARRUM surf lifesavers are pleading with beachgoers to follow water safety advice following a busy weekend that included mass rescues, blue-ringed octopus sightings and a missing child. On Saturday (7 January) lifesavers were called into action when a blue-ringed octopus was found at Carrum beach in the afternoon. Carrum Surf Life Saving Club captain Catherine Paulsen said the sighting, the second one this summer, highlighted the need for parents to educate their children of the dangers of touching blue-ringed octopus and to know what to do if someone is bitten. On Sunday, shortly after 5pm, a person was rescued from the mouth of Patterson River, 300 metres north of the flagged swimming area at the surf lifesaving clubhouse, by a person riding a jet ski. That afternoon, another three males, aged 15, 16 and 36, and two girls, 12 and 14, had to be rescued after getting into trouble. Patrol captain Charlie Barton pleaded with swimmers to not swim near the mouth of Patterson River. “We are constantly pulling swimmers from the water at the mouth of the River and I fear it’s only a matter of time before we have a drowning here,” he said. He said the safest place to swim was in front of the surf lifesaving clubhouse, between the red and yellow flags. A child reported as missing at 6pm was found a short time later playing further up the beach.
COUNCIL rates rises will be capped at 2 per cent for the 2017/18 financial year as part of the state government’s policy to limit any rises to the rate of inflation. The Consumer Price Index was forecast to be 2 per cent by the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance. State Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins decided not to accept advice from the Essential Services Commission recommending a cap of 2.15 per cent for councils across Victoria. The Labor state government pledged to cap rates before Premier Daniel Andrews won office at the 2014 state election in a policy it dubbed “Fair Go Rates”. “In the decade before we introduced Fair Go Rates, council rates increased by an average of 6 per cent per annum. This has now stopped, making things fairer for ratepayers,” Ms Hutchins said in a statement. “Victorians have told us they want more of a say in council decisionmaking, and now is the time for councils to speak with their communities about their budgets for next year.” Councils across Victoria can apply to the Essential Services Commission for exemptions from the rate cap if it can be proven rate rises above inflation are needed for specific circumstances.
Watchmen: Carrum Surf Lifesaving Club’s Ben Rooks, left, and Daniel Male on lookout at Carrum beach. Picture: Gary Sissons
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
11 January 2017
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