NEWS DESK
Charges follow search for concrete dumper A TARNEIT man will appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 8 July over a series of roadside concrete dumps on the Mornington Peninsula. The EPA’s southern metro regional acting manager Megan Vallas said the waste caused “serious road safety concerns and cost the community thousands of dollars to remove” (“Concrete dumper set on avoiding tip fees” The News 21/10/19). At the time, builders and plumbers across the peninsula were asked to help track down the alleged concrete dumper after at least eight solid clues were left on peninsula roadsides. Authorities believed the concrete was most likely leftovers from a building foundation pour dumped to avoid tipping costs.
The 25-year old was charged at the Footscray police station on 16 January with dumping industrial waste under the Environment Protection Act 1970. The authorities were alerted to the concrete in September with the Environment Protection Authority, Victorian Building Authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, and Department of Transport, launching the investigation. “EPA continues to investigate the involvement of other parties in these incidents and we urge members of the public, or those in the building and disposal industries, to come forward with any information by calling 1300 372 842,” Ms Vallas said.
Two levels for pool registrations OWNERS must register their swimming pools and spas with Mornington Peninsula Shire by 1 June. This is in line with tougher standards introduced by the state government to improve pool and spa barrier safety. To ensure safe and compliant pool or spa barriers, owners must register their pool or spa; have the barrier checked by a qualified surveyor; undertake required works to make it compliant and then have their pool or spa barrier certified. A one-off registration fee set by the state government is $79 for pools and spas built before 1 December 2019, and $31.80 for those built after that date. The shire’s director planning and building David Bergin said the higher fee was for councils to
undertake research for older pools and spas. Once registered, owners will receive a letter from the shire confirming the next step: getting their pool or spa barrier checked by a qualified surveyor. The letter will also include details of when it was constructed and the due date for lodgement of the compliance certificate. Owners will then be required to engage a registered building surveyor or building inspector to certify the compliance of their safety barrier every four years. The fee to lodge the Certificate of Compliance is $20.40. Failing to register a swimming pool and/or spa with the shire is an offence under the Building Regulations 2018 and carries a penalty of $330.44. For details and to register visit: mornpen.vic.gov.au/poolregister
For the farmers: Children Rosie, Eva and Jack with Cr Bev Colomb and the mayor Cr Sam Hearn, holding Donovan, Cr Rosie Clark and Don Petty at the Australia Day hay donations at The Briars. Picture: Supplied
Shine makes hay donation MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s conservation park The Briars has donated 950 bales of hay to the Need for Feed disaster relief program. Need for Feed provides fodder to farmers affected by drought, fire and flood emergencies. In 2018, 800 bales of hay from The Briars broad-acre paddocks were donated to farmers hit
BAYSIDE COMFORT SOLUTIONS
heating and cooling specialists
by drought. Last year 950 bales were donated. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the small gesture would give some relief to bushfire affected communities and farmers. The Lions Club project the Need for Feed coordinates the pick-up and delivery of hay. See needforfeed.org.
E V A H WE ! D E V MO
we have moved to
Factory 1/3 Elite Way, Mornington 3931 Come in and see our new show room with the largest range of split systems on display on the Mornington Peninsula. Every customer that comes in for a free no obligation quote, will go in a raffle to win a portable Gas mate BBQ and will also receive a 50% discount on an additional WIFI controller for their chosen system if proceeds with quote.
Ph: 03 5976 1081 www.baysidecomfortsolutions.com.au Mornington News
18 February 2020
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