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PAGES 22–23 Wednesday 12 February 2014
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Scruffy back for good SCRUFFY the shih-tzu has been returned to his owner Leon Pompei after being allegedly dognapped late last month. The five-month-old puppy was seemingly stolen while Mr Pompei worked at a boat shed near Mordialloc Creek on Wednesday 22 January (‘Dogs gone in thefts’, The News, 29/1/14). Police raided a Chelsea Heights home and a 34-year-old woman was arrested and is expected to be charged on summons with theft. It was the second time in January that Scruffy had gone missing. Mr Pompei said CCTV footage outside his creekside business appeare to show the same woman was responsible for Scruffy’s early January disappearance. The shih-tzu was found in Seaford on that occasion. The second hunt for Scruffy attracted TV news coverage. Mr Pompei thanked all those who had contacted him from throughout Australia asking whether Scruffy had been found. “People also keep popping in to see him,” he said. “I’m just rapt to have him back.” Puppy love: Leon Pompei is glad to have Scruffy back after the dog was allegedly stolen. Picture: Gary Sissons
Land plan puzzle Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au MYSTERY surrounds a Mentone Grammar push to rezone land that could open up the school’s playing fields in Keysborough to residential development. The News understands the elite private school wrote to Kingston Council planning consultant Planisphere just before the firm finalised a green
wedge report for council’s consideration in August 2012. Mentone Grammar is understood to have asked for its Keysborough playing fields to be included in the Urban Growth Boundary, instead of staying in the green wedge, where development of any kind is extremely restricted. The school’s request was kept confidential by council, while other submissions to Planisphere were made public. However, Planisphere recommended
the Urban Growth Boundary should begin south of Mentone Grammar’s playing fields and extend to Governor Rd in its 2012 report, leaving the school’s land within the green wedge. Kingston Council and Mentone Grammar both refused to confirm the nature of the private school’s late submission when questioned by The News. Mentone Grammar principal Mal Cater said the school had correspond-
ed with council and its consultants on various matters. “My understanding is that these communications are confidential and I will not pass comment in fairness to all parties,” Mr Cater said. Kingston Council initially claimed Mentone Grammar’s submission to Planisphere was no longer confidential but then declined to immediately release the details when they were requested by The News.
Council acting CEO Paul Franklin, acting on the advice of council’s freedom of information officer, decided Mentone Grammar should be consulted over the release of its document or any discussions about the document’s content. “Council officers have not discussed Mentone Grammar’s green wedge plan submission with them,” Mr Franklin said. Continued on Page 6
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