NEWS DESK
Time to clean up the trash
Patience needed: Expert sand sculptors build elaborate displays for the Sand Sculptures exhibition at Frankston’s waterfront each year.
Sand sculptures exhibition cash boost THE sand sculpture exhibition at Frankston’s waterfront could become an all-year round display thanks to a $750,000 federal government grant to build a weatherproof shell to house the sand sculptures. The grant, part of a federal nationwide $3.6 million Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program, will see exhibition owners Sandstorm Events build a ‘clear span structure’ at the sand sculpture exhibition’s Nepean Hwy home. “I am beyond excited that Sand Sculpting Australia has been a successful recipient of the latest TDDI grant - and am both proud and thrilled with the belief in sand sculpture as a national tourism product for Victoria,” Sandstorm Events managing director Sharon Redmond said. The company says the sand sculpting
exhibition, lured from Rye by Frankston Council in 2007, has injected an estimated $100 million into Frankston’s economy since its debut on the waterfront. Federal Dunkley Liberal MP Bruce Billson said the investment in a sheltered venue for the sand sculptures exhibition would help attract more visitors to Frankston all year round. The clear span structure will be weatherproofed and include lighting displays for sand structures. The exhibition, with a different theme each year, usually runs over the summer months. “This is all part of our plan to create more jobs and economic opportunity in our region and builds on the Turnbull Coalition government’s investment in the redevelopment of the Frankston Yacht Club foreshore precinct as a real
magnet for our city by the bay,” Mr Billson said. Frankston Council welcomed the $750,000 investment but said the yearround exhibition will still have to be approved by council. “This $750,000 grant is a huge vote of confidence in the significance of the Frankston Sand Sculpting Australia exhibition and the Frankston Waterfront as a tourist destination,” Mayor Cr James Dooley said. “Since it first began in December 2007, the annual exhibition has become a hallmark event that sees tourists return to the Frankston Waterfront every year to view their latest exhibition. So much so that the Sand Sculpting Australia exhibition will receive its one millionth visitor within the next two weeks.”
THE 3199 Frankston Beach Patrol is embarking on a “same but different” challenge on Clean Up Australia Day – Sunday 6 March. The group’s manager, John Billing, said members would clean up around the base of Oliver’s Hill with a focus on the rocks that collect and hold litter washed down drains. The litter makes its way into the bay via the storm water drains and the currents and waves do the rest, bringing it on to beaches. “We are looking for people to register and join us,” Mr Billing said. “As well as the rocks, we will also clean up the car park and beach towards the pier if we can get enough people. Both areas are covered as part of our regular beach clean ups. “We’re also hoping the attention that Clean Up Australia Day brings will help to raise greater awareness among local residents and make them more litter conscious.” Last year the group removed 35kg of litter as well as almost 2000 cigarette butts from the area – something Mr Billing said “is simply unacceptable”. “More than eight million tonnes of plastic are being dumped in the world’s oceans every year,” he said. “We may have the most popular beach in the state as well as the title of Australia’s Sustainable City of the Year in 2015, but we shouldn’t become complacent. “Litter is not just unsightly; we’ve all seen the images of how litter impacts on marine wildlife, such as single use plastic bags and fishing line. There’s just no reasonable explanation for littering to still be happening in this day and age.
Join the team: The Frankston Beach Patrol cleans up litter.
“Banding together to support such events as Clean Up Australia Day is just one way we can engage to make a positive change that benefits everyone: residents and visitors.” Register at cleanupaustraliaday. org.au and search for “Olivers Hill Rocks” or visit 3199 Frankston Beach Patrol on Facebook or Twitter.
Golf day to fight disease A CHARITY golf day at Centenary Park next week will raise money to fight Crohn’s disease which affects up to 75,000 Australians. Club professionals Warren and Steve Montgomerie will host the Friday 26 February event which will include 18 holes of golf, barbecue lunch, sportsman’s night hosted by Kevin Bartlett and Danny Frawley and special guests, 5.30-7.30pm, as well as prizes and auctions. The cost is $85 per person. The fundraiser came about through the work of Suzanne Young, whose daughter, Carly, suffers from Crohn’s disease. It is characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and can also affect the eyes, skin, joints, liver, kidneys, and blood vessels. Call 9789 1480 to book a place.
No rates cap exemption this year Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au FRANKSTON Council has warned rates capping will cause a $28 million budget black hole in its budget within four years. Mayor Cr James Dooley says council had not joined 21 other Victorian councils in asking for an exemption from the 2.5 per cent rise limit, linked to the annual inflation rate, for 2016-17 but says Frankston residents will be asked in future about their willingness “to give up high quality services and infrastructure maintenance or back us up in advocating for an exemption through the Essential Services Commission”. “Prior to last year’s announcement
of a 2.5 per cent cap, Frankston City Council had already undergone a major restructure to reduce costs and reworked its long term financial plan,” Cr Dooley said. “This has already seen council forced to make some tough decisions to weather the storm, such as ceasing our financial commitment to providing after-hours school care and reducing the discounted venue hire options we provide to schools and community groups. “The numbers say it all – even more will have to give if this cap continues into the next few years, as our costs increase at a greater rate than the CPI.” Council number crunchers estimate the Labor state government’s ‘Fair Go Rates Cap’ policy will create a $28 mil-
lion budget shortfall by the year 2020. Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins has made it clear any rates increase above the rate of inflation must be justified. “We want to see councils more accountable, more transparent and more responsible with how they spend ratepayer funds,” Ms Hutchins said last year shortly after Labor won government (‘Councils rates warning’, The Times 19/1/15). Cr Dooley says the state government must increase its share of funding local services if the rate capping policy is not to lead to severe service cuts. “Substantial cost shifting has taken place under successive state governments in areas like maternal and child
health, libraries and school crossings, which have been covered by ratepayers,” he said. “Victorian government funding originally covered an equitable share of the total cost in each of these areas, but has dropped their contribution to 34 per cent for maternal and child health, 21 per cent for school crossings and just 16 per cent for library operating costs.” “Other areas that have been impacted by cost-shifting include kindergartens, animal management, beach cleaning, foreshore management, dredging, fire hydrants, statutory planning fees and the maintenance of roads managed by VicRoads. “We look forward to the State Government restoring a more equal level
of funding for these important areas for our community.” n The 21 councils who have asked the ESC for an exemption to the rates cap for the next financial year are: Bass Coast Shire Council, Buloke Shire Council, City of Ballarat, City of Casey, City of Darebin, City of Greater Geelong, City of Melbourne, Glen Eira City Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Hindmarsh Shire Council, Horsham Rural City Council, Latrobe City Council, Maribyrnong City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Murrindindi Shire Council, Pyrenees Shire Council, Towong Shire Council, Yarra City Council, Yarriambiack Shire Council and Wyndham City Council.
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BLAIRGOWRIE • DROMANA • MORNINGTON • ROSEBUD • SEAFORD • TOORAK Frankston Times 22 February 2016
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