Footpath scheme cracks up Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s footpath construction scheme is in disarray, with 13 projects being deferred and two others awaiting appeals. An emphatic rejection of the shire’s footpath construction plans by ratepayers has led to money being reallocated to fix footpaths at Hastings, Somerville and Bittern. The highest support recorded in a survey of property owners due to be billed for part of nine footpath schemes was just 28 per cent. In one case, the shire’s plan to build a footpath was rejected by 100 per cent
of property owners. The rejection of the nine schemes has seen the team behind the shire’s footpath construction scheme recommend that $404,000 from the budget be used to fix footpaths rather than go towards the shared payment schemes. Schemes at Somers and Sorrento already adopted by council are being held up by property owners who have lodged objections with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). The footpaths that will benefit from the unexpected $404,000 “surplus” are at Babington Park, Hastings ($100,000); Stony Point Rd, Bittern ($110,000); and Frankston-Flinders Rd, Somerville ($194,000).
The footpath team, in a report to council’s 14 June meeting, said the survey to gauge support for new paths was part of the shire’s “commitment to improve the consultation with property owners”. The footpath schemes rejected by property owners in the survey are for Booran Pde, Tootgarook (85.7% against); Braidwood Av/Brendle St, Rosebud West (89.6% against); Eliza Drive, Mt Eliza (87.1% against); Harrap Rd, Mt Martha (72% against); Hove Rd, Rosebud (88.9% against); Leon Av, Rosebud (97% against); Orana Drive/Kinross St, Mt Martha (100 against); Sudholz St, Bittern (94% against); and Wimbledon Av/Wimborne Av, Mt Eiza (87.8% against).
Property owners objecting to the Somers footpath scheme claim to not have been properly surveyed about their views by the shire. The rejection of footpath schemes has led to the shire taking another look at the shared payment scheme it adopted in 2011. “Based on results of the survey, it is proposed that the instigation phase footpath special charge schemes projects in their current form, be deferred and reassessed for consideration following a review of the shire’s Footpath Construction Strategy and Contribution Schemes Policy,” the report to council from infrastructure planning team leader Chris Munro and infrastructure strategy manager Davey
Smith stated. “As part of the shire’s commitment to improve the consultation with property owners, officers recently undertook a survey of each scheme currently at the instigation phase. The survey aimed to gauge property owners’ support for a proposed scheme, prior to council considering the progression to the intention to declare phase. “The survey was simplistic in nature, requesting property owners’ views on a proposed shared cost footpath scheme to be constructed in their street.” The survey showed that a majority of property owners rejected the shared footpath schemes in all of the nine proposed projects.
No school nudes in sight on website Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au THERE were no photos of girls attending Frankston area schools on a website targeting Australian schoolgirls as part of a vile trade of nude snaps of women without their knowledge. The overseas-hosted site where people publicly swapped images of nude women was reportedly set up in December and taken offline Friday (19 August) amid fears underage girls’ private photos sent to friends or boyfriends were subsequently exposed to the online world. While a person posting on the site last
week specifically sought nude photos of students from two Frankston area schools The News understands none were ever uploaded to the site. Another person asked for any nude pictures of students from a third Frankston area school, but again there was no response to the request on the comments thread online. The site, which The News has chosen not to name, was reported to Victorian and interstate authorities by women disgusted that private photos were published without their consent. Male visitors to the site hunted for nude photos by naming women and in
some cases listing their home suburb on the website in an attempt to solicit pictures. Queensland Police confirmed on Wednesday (17 August) they had investigated the site. “While we have not received any formal complaints, we are working with our interstate colleagues, the Australian Federal Police and the eSafety Commissioner and have conducted an initial investigation into the origin of the site,” Detective Superintendent Cheryl Scanlon, of the Child Safety and Sexual Crimes Group, said in a statement. “We believe the site is hosted over-
seas and does not appear to contain any child exploitation material.” Victoria Police said it will not comment on specific cases but did confirm a Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team is investigating. The Victorian Department of Education is helping police with enquiries. “It is disgraceful to see Victorian students being targeted by this highly inappropriate website,” spokesman Alex Munro said. “The online exploitation of young people is a very serious issue that can have serious ramifications for those involved.” Mr Munro said support would be
available for any students at schools named on the site if needed and people should report inappropriate photos published online to police. Some photos were deleted from the site by users after its existence was reported elsewhere but there is no evidence at this stage that any of those images featured students attending Frankston area schools. Call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 with any information about the site. Anyone suffering sexual assault or exploitation can call 1800 RESPECT and Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 for support.
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