LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Council should concentrate real on ‘urgent’ issues I am writing about the motion at the most recent Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting regarding removal of the prayer as an urgent matter (“Urgent bid to change 150-year protocol” The News 24/11/20). As a resident of Briars Ward it was extremely concerning to see that one of the ward councillors moved this as urgent business and another voted that it was. This is not an issue for an individual councillor to push through without any community consultation. As a person who has Christian values, I quite like the prayer and am thankful it wasn’t removed without being able to have my say. I believe removing the prayer will send us down the path of banning the National Anthem and Australia Day ceremonies. This council has much more important issues to be tackling than the frivolous “urgent” business that was proposed. Perhaps the meeting procedure guidelines should be updated as to what can be considered urgent business which, in my mind, are issues such as a pandemic, bushfires and floods. I am sure there are other urgent issues - but I believe it should be clearly defined what constitutes urgent business so that valuable council time isn’t wasted. Issues that clearly require community input and consultation should not be able to be put up as urgent business. Alina Tooley, Mornington
Consider the prayer As a community representative since 1976, on committees and advisory groups appointed by previous and current Mornington Peninsula Shire Councils, working for and advocating for better deals for the community and a recipient of two council commendations as well as the prestigious Dame Phyllis Frost Award for voluntary services to the community, I watched the swearing in of councillors, mayoral handover and the recent first zoom council meeting from start to finish. The last agenda item was marked “urgent business” and Cr Anthony Marsh led the charge to remove the prayer which has always been said at the start of council meetings (“Urgent bid to change 150-year protocol” The News 24/11/20). It was perfectly obvious that at this first meeting there was also a push to remove more experienced councillors who might represent the community, which is very disrespectful and disappointing. Respect for another’s views is fundamental to our democracy. Councillors are elected to represent the community, not their personal viewpoint. Our community has many “versions” of God, whether Christian or Muslim or Hindu. Our Aboriginal family, Bunnarong and Boon Wurrung along with other Kulin Nation members certainly believe in a higher being: Bunjil. This issue needs proper community discussion, not wiped because someone feels uncomfortable. This is not how community decisions are made. It looks like a divisive situation and the community will suffer from this infighting and awful display of personal feelings. It was disappointing that the community was not welcomed to online to the live streaming meeting. Gill Gordon, Mount Martha
Major disappointment I am very disappointed with Cr Anthony Marsh proposing as his first order of business and listed as “urgent business” the removal of the prayer at the start of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meetings (“Urgent bid to change 150-year protocol” The News 24/11/20). If this was such an important issue to him maybe it was also important enough to tell us before the election, so we knew what we were voting for. As our representative he has a responsibility to act with integrity and honestly. To keep this urgent issue from us is much less than we deserve. Whether people want the prayer or not is irrelevant; the fact that he kept this “urgent business” from us is very concerning. Christopher K Coster, Mount Martha
Airfield ‘friends’ The people of Watson Ward have passed their verdict on endless complaints about operations at Tyabb airfield. The vote was conclusive. Paul Mercurio, supporting the airfield for several years, obtained 55 per cent of the primary vote. Candidates for Tyabb Ratepayers Association and airfield complainants scored just 13.99 per cent of primaries, revealing that fake results from previous push polls. Control of flying is the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government, not Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. Council has planning jurisdiction for land adjacent to the airport. There is no sense spending ratepayers’ money to overturn federal powers in the High Court (not the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal)). Complaints of night flying noise are also false. Night flying over the Mornington Peninsula is generally conducted by the police helicopter wing or search and rescue helicopters using Tyabb to refuel. Private owners rarely fly at night. Historic “warbirds” are not night rated, and thus do not fly at night. With friends of the airfield on council, now perhaps it can concentrate on core business – roads, rates and rubbish. Ben Loois, Tyabb
Airfield there first Who actually has a right to complain about Tyabb airfield and its operations? The airfield commenced operations around 1960 and it seems to me that anybody who moved to Tyabb after the opening date did so in the full knowledge that the airfield was there. Tyabb is an airfield town and is widely known for being so. It makes no sense to me why someone would move to Tyabb and then complain about the airfield. It’s almost as if they are admitting they made a mistake and now want to blame someone else. In addition, Peninsula Aero Club tell us that the level of aircraft movements today is less than what it was some years ago. Eric Collier, Somerville
Stallholder rules I am an early morning walker and on Wednesday 18 November, due to Main Street, Mornington being blocked to traffic, I watched the [market] stallholders lugging their tents, poles, tables, boxes of fruit and vegies and all other necessary items from the car park at the rear of the street to their stalls. Surely there can be some flexibility for these enterprising people who get up in the morning at some ungodly hour to be in Main Street and ready to sell their wares to the public. If something is not done quickly to make better arrangements that allow these stallholders to park temporarily near where they set up their stalls, then we may find that they will disappear from the scene and we could end up with a very substandard Wednesday market. We can’t underestimate the value of this weekly event and the ambience it brings to the area. This approach is basic business commonsense so come on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council get moving and fix this urgent issue. Ila Howard, Mornington
Parking problem I love the [Main Street, Mornington] mall. Not only does it mean everyone has more space to move around and helps out the traders being able to put out more table and chairs. As we move into a busier period it will, I’m sure, provide a lovely atmosphere to Main Street. However, given Mornington has a lot of elderly/disabled people, someone should monitor the disabled car spaces as they are often used by people not displaying a “disabled” sticker. On a recent Thursday, all three spaces at the back of the First Choice entry (near toilets) were all taken by cars without a sticker. I hardly ever park in Main Street as it is always busy and there is plenty of parking behind the street on both sides. Sue McKay, Mornington
Traffic woes On Wednesday 25 November I needed to be in Frankston before 9am so I left home at 8.20am and it took me 15 minutes to travel from Booker Avenue to Nepean Highway, Mornington, a trip which normally takes 2-3 minutes in off-peak times. I took the picture, above, on 27 November. It should be noted that Mornington Secondary Colleges does not have the year 11 and 12 students attending (apart from their exams) and many people are still working from home. While duplication of Bungower Road is the ideal solution, it is obvious that this will not be happening anytime soon, but surely competent traffic engineers could design improvements to assist in the short term, perhaps for the start of the school year in 2021? Ken McBride, Mornington
Abandon quarry I’m writing this letter from Italy, because I am alarmed at Hillview Quarries’ recent proposal to create a massive new quarry in Arthurs Seat. It will hurt the natural habitat of the Arthurs Seat escarpment. Critical bushland, home to koalas, should not be bulldozed to create a quarry the size of which the Mornington Peninsula has never seen before. The new quarry will hurt to all wildlife and the local residents for over 70 years. This property is the habitat for many of your native and iconic fauna, including koalas, wallabies, powerful owls and flora but, more importantly, the destruction of this area would create a break in the green corridor between the Arthur Seat National Park, which is vital for wildlife access. Ross Trust should preserve this beautiful environment for residents and for many species of animals and biodiversity. Australia is nothing without his beautiful environment and wildlife. The world is watching. When I come to the Mornington Peninsula, I want to see environment, nature and wildlife in the bushland, not a monstrous quarry. Paola Torti, Alessandria, Italy
Evidence withheld If Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had nothing to do with the hotel fiasco and that it was due to a recommendation of the Commonwealth government, why was this evidence was not given to the judicial inquiry (“Admitting mistakes” Letters 19/11/20)? The statement was made that Mr Andrews had accepted responsibility. Why would anyone, particularly a politician, accept responsibility for someone else’s error? Has the mass amnesia that ran rife through the ministry and the public service now gone as miraculously as it appeared? Peter Strauss, Mount. Eliza
Political bias Politically biased Alice in Wonderland elucidations, which are not based on fact or research, are embarrassing and actually turn people off voting for Labor (“Admitting mistakes” Letters 19/11/20). Claims that [Victorian Premier] Dan Andrews had nothing to do with the hiring of security guards - “they were hired by the security company recommended by the Scott Morrison-led
Cycle sign As a cyclist, I am confused as to what the purpose is the road sign shown above. There are several of these and they seem to indicate that at this point the cyclist should move out of the cycle lane and into the vehicle lane which appears most dangerous. Grant Snowden, Mount Eliza government” - is scurrilous and mischievous. The hiring had nothing to do with the prime minister. The evidence of the state government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to the Coates hotel inquiry stated that the security firms were engaged by it on the basis of positive feedback provided by its own engagement team. The department is responsible to six state government ministers coordinated by Martin Pakula. However, the Premier told the hotel inquiry that Health Minister Jenny Mikakos was “accountable for the program” and is now saying he is waiting on the findings of inquiry. If the Premier had accepted responsibility as claimed, there would be no need for the inquiry and Mr Andrews should have just resigned. David Lines, Somerville
Defence support The last thing Australian Defence Force personnel, their families and our veterans need right now is your judgement. They need our support. In the wake of the release of the InspectorGeneral of the Australian Defence Force Inquiry into Afghanistan, there has been plenty of media commentary quick to judge our servicemen and women. But we can’t allow the alleged actions of a few people stain the reputations and the service of more than two million Australians who have done their duty with distinction throughout our nation’s history. They are the first people we turn to when things get difficult or too big for state authorities such as last summer’s bushfires and the response do the COVID-19 pandemic. And they keep us safe in an ever-changing world with peacekeeping missions and involvement in conflicts such as Afghanistan. The courage, service and sacrifice of those wearing our nation’s uniform who have done the right thing must not be defined or diminished by this small minority. These are very serious allegations which require thorough investigation, but all Australians are entitled to the presumption of innocence. If you know a serving Australian Defence Force member, or a veteran, please show them your support. And if you are a Defence member, or a veteran, or one of the many families that support them, I would also ask you to please reach out if you need someone to talk to. Darren Chester, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Mornington News
1 December 2020
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