Police patrol
with Brodie Cowburn
Card deception investigated CARDS from a lost wallet have been used in Clarinda and Mordialloc. Police have been told that a man lost his wallet somewhere around Bourke Road in Clarinda on 19 April. Later, cards from that wallet were used by an unknown person. Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to as part of their investigation. He is described as “of caucasian appearance
with a medium to stocky build and appears to be in his mid to late 30s.” Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A MAN police wish to speak to in relation to the use of lost credit cards. Picture: Supplied
Boy arrested for robbery A 15-YEAR-old has been arrested after allegedly committing an armed robbery at a Mordialloc supermarket last week. At around 4.50pm, 1 May, an armed robbery at a Main Street shop was reported to police. At around 8pm, a boy was arrested in the vicinity of Frankston railway station. The boy was processed by the Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit, and charged with two counts of armed robbery. He was bailed to face a children’s court at a later date.
Arrest after van search A MAN has been charged with possessing a commercial quantity of drugs after his van was searched in Patterson Lakes. At around 2.15am, 27 May, Chelsea police pulled the man over on Thompsons Road. They
searched the vehicle and allegedly found “several bottles of liquid believed to be liquid drugs, and a large sum of cash.” The man was arrested and interviewed at Moorabbin Police Station before being charged.
Bike taken A BICYCLE was stolen from a Cheltenham house, 22 April. The offender arrived at the house on a bicycle and entered through the front gate. He took the bike and left, leaving behind the bike he arrived on. Police describe the offender as a cauacasian man, around 30-years-old, six feet tall, with long brown hair. An image of a man police wish to speak to has been released (below). Any information to Constable Hill at Cheltenham Police on 9583 9767 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
‘Locals only’ rule for beach boxes Keith Platt keith@baysidenews.com.au NEW regulations proposed for beach boxes will eventually see their ownership restricted to Mornington Peninsula residents or ratepayers. At present, licence renewals for 56 per cent of the 820 beach boxes managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire are sent to addresses outside of the municipality. New regulations proposed by the shire aim to bring beach box ownership back to the peninsula and also limit the number of licences to one a person. Cr David Gill said owning property on the peninsula was a requirement for beach box licences “until recent decades”, making the change “a renewal of a lapsed policy”. He said the “broadened eligibility helped put the licence sale price out of reach of many locals who may have wished to own a licence”. The proposed changes, to be phased in by 2025, also state there will be no extra land made available for beach boxes. Although seen as “an iconic part of the peninsula’s makeup”, Cr Gill said they “decrease public use of crown land, this is not state government policy. He said beach boxes was seen as an investment “which makes the rice of them even higher”. “We should not be encouraging private use of public land as an investment bought by the highest bidder,” Cr Gill said. Beach boxes on the peninsula had also been advertised as weekend rentals, “with some going for $1000 a weekend”, he said. “It seems to me that selling licences on the private market is unfair to our ratepayers unless the licence fee is also based on the market rate. “Our ratepayers contribute about $6 million a year for the upkeep of our foreshore. “I believe we should keep our existing beach boxes but, unfortunately, the attitude that has developed seems to be one of a right rather than
a privilege to have a licence. “We had the situation recently where one beach box licence was sold for $1 million, more than the total for all shire income from licence fees. “This is out of kilter with community expectations, especially when we are debating a luxury item, admittedly often well loved, but still not a necessity. “I do not believe that the sense of entitlement by some licensees Is shared by the 99 per cent of our ratepayers who not only do not own a beach box but contribute $6 million to our foreshores.” The mayor Sam Hearn said the existing Boatshed and Bathing Box Policy was adopted in November 2000, “so it’s fair to say it was due for a review and refresh”. He said the “updated draft policy aims to protect and improve coastal land for the benefit of all users, including boatshed and bathing box licensees”. Other changes proposed include: n A ban on any more beach boxes to be built and no increase in size for existing ones; n Licence holders must have public liability insurance of $20 million; n Existing water and sewerage connections must be disconnected; n Graffiti must be removed within 14 days (or earlier if offensive); n If licences are surrendered to council the bathing box will be demolished and the site opened for the public; n The shire can sell licences cancelled through non-compliance with regulations. Community consultation closes 19 June and can be made at mornpen.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay.27/4/20.
WHILE new regulations are being contemplated for beach boxes on the Mornington Peninsula, several at Mount Martha Beach North bear the marks of neglect and the weather. Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News 3 June 2020
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