NEWS DESK
Third bowls green in play for public Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au MORE open space could be made available to Mentone residents as part of a proposal by the Mentone Bowling Club to lease part of its land to Kingston Council. Bowling club chair Addy Wetzler confirmed the club has approached council to talk about making unused land on the corner of “It’s a third small green that we haven’t used for the best part of ten years,” he said. “It’s about making better use of some of the land we’re not using at the moment. “We have a strategic plan as a club to work with council and the community to make sure we are seen as being a
community club and asset for the local community.” Mr Wetzler said discussions were at an early stage and the land is a “pocket” measuring about 738 square metres on the corner of Balcombe and Swanston streets. The chair said social bowls will still be played at the club on two other lawn bowls greens at the Mentone Bowling Club. Club members would have to agree to lease the land to council for public use and a park with benches or a children’s playground could be options. Mr Wetzler hoped the plan may draw more members to the club. A lack of public open space in Mentone was flagged by objectors to the selloff of a former council depot in Collins St to an aged care provider last year. Council ultimately decided to sell the
Collins St land to not-for-profit Southern Cross Care (Victoria) to build an aged care home at the site. Councillors were divided over the sale and several backed a community push to use the land as public open space instead. Council city assets and environment general manager Daniel Freer confirmed the bowls club had spoken to him about potentially leasing part of its land. “The Mentone Bowls Club has approached Council to discuss potential uses for a section of the club’s site which is currently unused,” he said. “At this time discussions are at a very early stage.” Mr Wetzler said it would be business as usual at the club and it would be guided by community feedback and council advice.
Land lease: Mentone Bowling Club has approached council to discuss possible uses for unused land. Picture: Gary Sissons
Safety first for ripping swim fun A SENSE of bravado, over-confidence, alcohol, showing off to friends – there are lots of reasons why teenagers and young men fall prey to the dangers of rips at beaches. Those aged 15-39 years are statistically the most likely to get caught and die in rips, and two-out-of-three people who think they can identify rips are wrong. Surf Life Saving Australia points out that more people drown in rips each year than deaths from shark attacks, floods and cyclones combined. And it’s not only tourists who get caught in rips and drown with only 15 per cent of those dying being international visitors. Carrum Surf Life Saving Club secretary Ben Rooks urged people to know how to spot the signs of rips on the eve of the summer swimming season, which kicks off around the bay at noon on Saturday (12 November). “You can be very confident in the water and still get into trouble in rips,” he said. “And that’s especially so in the festive season when high spirits and alcohol play a part and especially young people have an ‘It can’t happen to me’ attitude.” He urges beachgoers to “watch out for the signs” of a rip, such as calmer waters in between rough, white water sections, or river mouths, such as the Patterson River at Carrum. “People often start swimming next to the river but then find themselves in the channel in deeper water. “Patterson Lakes is a complex system with a great volume of water and, even on days of little wind, there are strong currents and drop-offs where swimmers can’t suddenly find themselves over their heads. “They panic and then their mates try to help and, pretty soon, a whole group is in trouble.” The river mouth is a known trouble spot. Last
Who is that masked man?
Thumbs up: Carrum Surf Life Saving Club’s Catherine Paulson, left on boat, and Ben Rooks talk to swimmers near the mouth of Patterson River last summer. Picture: Gary Sissons
year six swimmers were saved in the one mass rescue and, the year before, soon after lifesavers had called it a day, another group was rescued by fishermen who heard their cries for help. Beachgoers are urged to swim between the flags, or in front of the clubhouse if lifesavers are not on duty. It is safer between the noboating signs. “No one has ever drowned while swimming between the red and yellow flags in Victoria,” Mr Rooks said. He reminded swimmers caught in rips to raise an arm and call out for help or float with the current which may put them on a shallow sand-
bank, or swim parallel to the beach or towards the breaking waves, which may return them to shore. Carrum Life Savings Club will hold its opening for the swimming season on Saturday, noon-5.30pm. The young Nippers group also starts on Saturday. New members aged 13-60 are welcome at the club for a range of duties and activities. “We are 100 per cent volunteer and anyone who would like to join is welcome.” Call 9776 0504 or see carrumslsc.com for deta ils. Stephen Taylor
POLICE have released CCTV and images following an armed robbery in Patterson Lakes, Thursday 3 November. Investigators have been told a man wearing a skeleton mask and armed with a scalpel-like knife entered the Thompson Rd service station, near McLeod Rd, about 5.20am, Thursday 3 November. Inside, the man demanded cash and cigarettes which he placed in a shopping bag before running west on Thompsons Rd. Media officer Senior Constable Alistair Parsons said no one was physically injured during the incident. Kingston Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the robbery and have released images, above, and CCTV of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to crimestoppersvic. com.au
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
9 November 2016
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