Sports centres ‘talks are not negotiations’ Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au QUESTIONS remain over negotiations between Mornington Peninsula Shire and a Frankston Council-established company to possibly outsource the management of peninsula sports centres remain unanswered, despite the shire pouring cold water on any such plans. The shire posted a statement on its Facebook page last week but did not answer several questions for the second week in succession about talks with Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd to manage Pelican Park Recreation Centre in Hastings, the Crib Point Pool, Civic Reserve Recreation Centre in Mornington and the Somerville Recreation and Community Centre (“City’s company bids to be ‘in the swim’”, The News 17/5/17). Peninsula Leisure, the company owned by Frankston Council which operates the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) in Frankston and the Pines Forest Aquatic Centre in Frankston North, expressed an interest in running sports and recreation centres on the peninsula as part of “a request for proposal process” by the shire late last year. “A front page story in today’s Mornington Peninsula News stated that ‘a
company set up by Frankston Council to manage swim centres has been negotiating with Mornington Peninsula Shire council to take over management of peninsula sports centres’,” a shire statement on Facebook said. “Our CEO Carl Cowie has confirmed that there is no truth to this story. The shire has not nor is it now negotiating with Peninsula Leisure Pty Ltd to assume management of peninsula recreation centres. “The shire did undertake a request for proposal process last year with several sports centre management groups submitting responses, but no decisions were made to proceed.” Shire communications manager Mark Kestigian contacted The News to demand a retraction and insist talks are not negotiations. He said he could not answer questions about the request for proposal process “for commercial-inconfidence reasons”. “We did let people in to come and kick the tyres,” Mr Kestigian said. It is understood that Belgravia Leisure also notified the shire of its interest in managing shire sports centres. Belgravia Leisure manages about “100 aquatic, sport, health and wellness facilities across Australia and New Zealand” according to its website, “partnering with over 40 local government and state government authorities”. Belgravia Leisure did not respond to
questions about any interest in operating shire sports centres before publication deadline. Frankston Council CEO Dennis Hovenden and PARC CEO Tim Gledhill have also not answered questions about Peninsula Leisure’s finances and any remuneration paid to Peninsula Leisure’s board of directors. Frankston Council’s 2016-17 annual budget shows directors fees (PARC) were budgeted at $352,000 over 12 months. The directors of Peninsula Leisure are – chair Roseanne Healy, also a director on several South Australia boards; remuneration and reward committee chair Barbara Crook; strategy and marketing committee chair David Shilbury; audit and risk committee chair Simon Allatson and Phillip Johnson, chief financial officer of South East Water. Questions about full financial accounts for Peninsula Leisure have not been answered, but consolidated figures within Frankston Council’s annual accounts show Frankston aquatic centres made a $462,000 “loss” in 2016-17 and are expected to make a $136,000 “profit” in 2017-18. Frankston councillors will discuss a confidential agenda item called “Peninsula Leisure Core Obligations” on Monday evening (22 May) after May’s public council meeting.
Paling into significance: David, left, and Andrew Ong with award-winning beers at the 2 Brothers Brewery. Picture: Gary Sissons
Beers top for duo’s brewery A MOORABBIN brewery has been served a double at major beers awards this month. The 2 Brothers Brewery won two major Australian International Beer Awards taking out the gong for Best Australian Style Pale Ale for its Pay Day ale and Best Reduced or low alcohol beer for draught beer Happiness. The brewery was founded in 2007 by brothers Andrew and David Ong. “The AIBA awards are one of the toughest competitions in the country, so to receive such esteemed recognition from our peers is truly humbling,” Andrew One said. The co-owner said the awards were reward for the hard work by the brewing team at Moorabbin. More than 1800 beers were judged
at the AIBA awards and 2 Brothers Brewery also lapped up a swag of gold, silver and bronze awards for its beverages in addition to the two top honours. The brothers started the brewery after salvaging tanks from New York’s Times Square Brewery and shipping them to Melbourne. The brewery is celebrating its tenth anniversary of making high quality, natural craft beer this year. The 2 Brothers Brewery produces about 2000 litres of beer each week, sold on tap at Melbourne bars and pubs. The brewery’s beerhall at 4 Joyner St in Moorabbin can be visited on Thursdays 4-11pm, Fridays middaymidnight, Saturdays 12-5pm.
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Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 24 May 2017
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