NEWS DESK
‘Parklets’ program extended
VOLUNTEERS steer a surfer safely to shore when the Disabled Surfers Association made its debut at Clifton Beach in Tasmania. Picture: Supplied
Surf day gets go ahead THE Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula branch heads back into the water at Point Leo on Saturday. The event, which is expected to see hundreds of volunteers helping surfers enjoy their time in the waves, is the first for this year. The January event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions and Saturday’s day at the beach will include taking precautions with sanitisers available and equipment being frequently cleaned. The number of people attending the event will fall safely within state government limits and there will be restrictions on crowding around the Point Leo Lifesaving Club.
A maximum 140 surfers are expected to participate with possibly double that number of volunteers helping to run the event which starts at 10.30am. The day at Point Leo follows DSAMP members John Bowers and Bill Hallett attending an inaugural surf day for the disabled at Clifton Beach, Tasmania. Mr Bowers, a former president of the DSAMP, described the Tasmanian event as “a really good day, with 105 volunteers, 25 participants and about 20 carers”. Details for Saturday 13 March at Point Leo are on the DSAMP’s Facebook page. Keith Platt
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has extended all parklet permits until 30 April. It says the move follows consultation with traders and “positive feedback” from residents and visitors. The extended outdoor dining program allowed traders to temporarily use car parking spaces for outdoor dining in towns and shopping areas from Mount Eliza to Sorrento. The outdoor dining areas were separated from rods with fences, planter boxes and decking. The shire says most of 400 people asked in a January survey in Rosebud, Mount Eliza and Mornington gave the parklets a score of either nine or 10 (out of 10) and wanted them to be kept in place longer. It found that cafes and restaurants lost about 40 per cent of capacity due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, with the parklets able to return 90 per cent of that lost seating capacity. “Parklets have been a fantastic feature of our summer and can now be enjoyed until after Easter at no additional cost to traders,” the mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said. “While we have been fortunate to have had relatively few restrictions, there is still a need to social distance and remain COVID safe. Extending the parklets program will support our traders and allow us to continue to dine outdoors through autumn.” Traders wanting to return to normal trading conditions can pack the parklets up earlier by notifying the shire so that signs or infrastructure can be removed.
Eating habits THE Community Plate in conjunction with Peninsula Health and Monash University would like to hear from the public about their experiences of accessing and eating healthy food, including fruit and vegetables Associate Professor Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Claire Palermo said the
survey responses would help gather insights into healthy eating habits. “It will ultimately help our team to develop a promotional campaign focused on improving healthy eating outcomes in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula regions,” Ms Palermo said. The survey asks questions like: How many serves of fruit do you usually eat each day? And how often do you eat vegetables with your lunch? “We want to get an understanding about what is important to our community and what barriers may exist in regards to choosing healthy options,” Ms Palermo said. By completing the survey respondents can go into the draw to win a hamper of local products to the value of $100. “We will also be running community workshops in the near future, and we would like for people to register to attend those so they can contribute their ideas about this very topical issue.” To take part in the survey, or to register our interest in the community workshops visit: research.net/r/TheCommunityPlate2021
Basketballers ready SOUTHERN Peninsula Basketball Association’s Big V season starts at Hillview Stadium on Saturday 13 March with the state champion women versus Sunbury at 5pm. This game will be followed by the Division 1 Men versus Collingwood at 7pm. The Youth League Women will play Wallan at 12pm on Sunday 14 March followed by the Youth League Men versus Wallan at 2pm. Southern Peninsula Basketball community engagement officer Peter Caspersz said other programs “in the wings” were walking basketball, an all-abilities program, and an Indigenous program with the Big V playing an Indigenous round.
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Frankston Times
9 March 2021
PAGE 13