NEWS DESK
Council creates crossing project wishlist A WISHLIST for the level crossing removal works in Mordialloc and Aspendale is being drafted by Kingston Council. The state government is building rail over road to replace the level crossings at McDonald Street in Mordialloc and Station Street in Aspendale. It also plans to close the crossing at Bear Street in Mordialloc by 2026. Earlier this year, Kingston Council began community consultation to shape its advocacy for the level crossing projects. It has now drafted an “urban design framework” of ideas for the state government to consider. Council’s draft plan includes a shared user path link from Parkdale to Edithvale, public open space at Bear Street, the renewal of Pompei’s Landing, an open station layout, the consolidation of commuter car parking, amenity and access in Albert Street North, the removal and replacement of the underpass at the stabling yard, renewal of Attenborough Park, and improvements to the intersection of McDonald Street and the Nepean Highway.
Kingston mayor Hadi Saab said the initiatives would make the final project safer and more connected to the community. “We now have a very clear picture of what our community wants and along with the known non-negotiables from the LXRP around its design. This has enabled us to settle on nine key initiatives in the draft urban design framework,” he said. “We’ve achieved positive outcomes that better reflected the needs of our local communities in Cheltenham, Mentone and Chelsea and we want that for Mordialloc and Aspendale too. We are not responsible for planning this project or its delivery, however we are speaking up to make sure we get the best possible result. “The project will leave a design legacy for many generations and it is an imperative that history will judge this significant project as a positive for the iconic jewel that is Mordialloc.” Consultation on the draft urban design framework closes on 20 November. For more information or to make a submission visit yourkingstonyoursay.com.au/mordi-stage2.
MORDIALLOC level crossings are on the chopping block. Picture: Supplied
Ship in the light: Lulu Clifton-Evans in her studio. Picture: Supplied
Reflecting on nature FRANKSTON South artist Lulu Clifton-Evans, who runs Mornington Peninsula Painting and Drawing Group and often focuses on the peninsula in her work, has won first prize in the VAS Maritime Exhibition 2023 with her oil painting Reflections of Noumea. “When a ship is in port it is overwhelmingly scaled in its magnificent structure to dwarf almost everything and anything in its midst. At sea however, in the vastness of the ocean, the same ship becomes something else, almost delicate, made to appear small and yet, still beautifully significant,” art judge Andrea Fleming said.
Reflections on the power of nature are a common theme in Clifton-Evans’ work. The former journalist’s oil paintings have been described as “a meditation on the beauty of the natural world”, often featuring on the beauty of everyday life in nature and the peninsula’s surf coast. Clifton-Evans said she is looking for more people for drawing art sessions she runs at Currawong Community Hall, Mornington - 10am to midday for short poses and 1pm to 3pm for long poses. $15 for a half day and $25 for a full day. Enquires can be sent to art@bylulu.com.au
Drug deaths up on the peninsula Liz Bell liz@baysidenews.com.au A MERGER between two drug and alcohol recovery services will combat drug and alcohol overdose deaths on the Mornington Peninsula, which are climbing back towards pre-pandemic levels. Windana drug and alcohol recovery service is merging with TaskForce Community Agency, a not-for-profit with a focus on drug and alcohol misuse, youth and family services, education and employment. Data released last Thursday (9 November) by the Victorian Coroners Court shows overdose deaths in the past decade are back to alarming levels, with 21 on the peninsula in 2013 before dropping to nine in 2019 and climbing back to 15 in 2022. In contrast, in Frankston - traditionally a high drug overdose region – overdose deaths have fallen from 21 in 2019 to 16 in 2022. Across the state in 2022 there was an increase in overdose deaths — with 549 in 2022 and 500 in 2021. Last year’s figures were the highest since at least 2009, but likely the highest on record for Victoria. Chris Christoforou, CEO of drugtesting advocate the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, said he was deeply concerned about a general surge in fatal overdoses in Victoria during 2022. Christoforou said the rising number of fatal overdoses on the peninsula and many parts of Melbourne was indicative of a preventable crisis with harm reduction measures such as overdose prevention centres and drug testing urgently needed to save lives.
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WINDANA CEO Andrea McLeod, says a rise in drug and alcohol problems can be linked to the pandemic. Picture: Gary Sissons The City of Melbourne again had the highest number of heroin related fatal overdoses – 24 in 2022, almost twice that of Yarra (14). “This outcome is no less than catastrophic,” Christoforou said. The Coroners Court data also reveals that while pharmaceutical substances continue to contribute to the largest portion of fatal overdoses (just under 75 per cent), fatal overdoses
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involving alcohol and illegal drugs are the highest since at least 2009. VAADA notes that there has been an upswing in the number of fatal overdoses occurring in regional Victoria, up from 101 in 2021 to 135 in 2022, with options for treatment and support lacking in regional and rural communities. Across the state, heroin related fatal overdoses were the highest since 2000
with the drug contributing to 230 fatal overdoses – an increase of more than 33 per cent from 2021 (173 fatal overdoses). Both methamphetamine and GHB related fatal overdoses have surpassed previous records. Methamphetamine continues to contribute to significant harms and the high death rate is a reminder of the need to invest further in treatment and other support services. Alcohol related fatal overdose is also the highest since at least 2009 in Victoria, with 173 Victorians fatally overdosing with alcohol as a contributing factor. “Sadly, this is not a surprise. We know, with surging alcohol consumption during the pandemic coupled with burgeoning treatment waitlists and a laissez fair approach to liquor regulation (particularly with the availability of online deliveries) that we would see alcohol related harms increase,” Christoforou said. “This data provides yet another example of how public health reforms such as the decriminalising of public intoxication are vital to saving lives.” Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are drugs that, while mimicking traditional drugs, are often more harmful. In 2022, there were 46 fatal overdoses with NPS a contributing factor, up from two in 2018. “VAADA with 77 other organisations, has called on the Victorian government to introduce drug checking as a matter of priority to reduce these harms,” Christoforou said. International evidence indicated that up to almost 90 per cent of people discarded the substance after discovering it was hazardous from a drug checking service. VAADA is the peak body that
represents more than 80 alcohol and other drug services across Victoria. Windana CEO Andrea McLeod said alcohol abuse was a “societal” issue that was largely ignored but had increased since the pandemic. McLeod said there had been an increase in substance abuse since COVID and lockdowns, and services were seeing the results of that now. “People have been at home, not getting out, not getting the support they need and there has been a definite flow-on effect in the community,” she said. “By joining with Taskforce, we can work on this together we can provide wraparound support and compassionate care to vulnerable youth, adults and their families in this area.” In Victoria, all deaths from suspected non-natural causes, including suspected overdoses, are required to be reported to the Coroners Court. Suspected overdoses are recorded by the court in the Victorian overdose deaths register, which is the data source for this report. Victorian state coroner John Cain said overdose deaths remained a “concerning public health issue and we must continue to improve access to supports, treatment and education”. “Addressing drug-related harms requires an understanding of the complexities around access to drugs and alcohol and the drivers of use,” he said. “Through coronial data we can contribute to this understanding – providing vital insight into ongoing and emerging drug-related harms and how best to save lives.” A copy of the report can be accessed at coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/ victorian-overdose-deaths-2013-2022
