Cost savings justify our city office - officers Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au
Page turner: “Librarian” Ian Higgins and his street library. Picture: Supplied
The street library is open IAN Higgins has borrowed an idea in an effort to liven up social isolation. He’s built a small street library outside his house in Mornington from which neighbours can borrow a book and either read and return it or, perhaps, swap it for a book of their own for others to read. Street libraries or small book exchanges are not new, but they make sense right now as public libraries are closed and residents stay close to home. “I saw something written about
them and thought, ‘that sounds like a good idea’,” Mr Higgins said from his house in Strachans Road. “I got out and started putting it together with a glass front and timber sides and painted it pillar box red. It holds 20 to 30 books.” An inscription on the front says: “Street library: Books to share, take and give”. Mr Higgins said he thought about establishing the book exchange in November and found his neighbours supportive. “They all said they would
put some books in,” he said. “Farrell’s bookshop [in Main Street] has contributed and I’ve put a few books in, including some Dr Zeus. “I put one book out the other night and it was gone by morning.” The former Uniting Church minister, now in his 80s, says age is no barrier to creative ideas. “You don’t have to feel excluded whatever age you are,” he said. “I’ve written a book and I enjoy cooking and gardening.” Stephen Taylor
FINANCIAL savings on lost productivity for travel times alone justify the retention of the shire’s $80,000-a-year central Melbourne office, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council was told last week. Business support team leader Sally Milne, in a report to council’s 21 April meeting, said the office would “continue to benefit our ratepayers with improved customer service”. “It has already provided council with a significant competitive edge in attracting and retaining high quality staff that find it easier and more accessible to work out of a CBD office for part of the week,” Ms Milne said. Her report, authorised by planning and building director David Bergin, said other benefits of the CBD office included easy access for the shire’s senior leadership team and executive group as well as its proximity to VCAT. “This aligns with a council decision in March 2018: ‘That such an office be no further than a 10 minute walk from Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’,” Ms Milne said.
The annual $80,000 cost of the CBD office includes a leasing fee of $64,055, as well as additional costs, including the kitchen, IT, and transport to and from. While acknowledging a “negative perception by some ratepayers that the cost of leasing a CBD office should not take precedence over other initiatives”, Ms Milne said: “As a result of the office, we have retained six staff members this year at a saving of $60,000-$90,000 in recruitment costs. “In addition … estimated savings in travel and lost productivity time … is $25,380 and [is] conservatively a total savings of $37,800 by the end of June 2020.” Most shire planning staff reportedly work out of the Mornington office five days a week. Staff working out of the city office can receive and make calls via the MiTel phone system, which can be accessed through all staff laptops. The council voted to receive and noted the report, which included endorsements by staff: Melbourne Central Business District Satellite Office – Update.
RESPIRATORY CLINIC FOR TESTING OF COVID-19
OPEN IN ROSEBUD
This is an Australian Government initiative to help deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, This is a free service to all Australians that meet the eligibility criteria.
To make an appointment register on HotDoc.com or phone
0436 003 507 Patients MUST stay in the car and call clinic on arrival. The aim of this clinic is to assess and test people with mild to moderate symptoms of a respiratory illness: • Cough • Fever • Runny or Stuffy nose • Sore throat This clinic aims to divert people away from hospitals and other GP. Clinics to enable them to attend to other medical issues.
1079 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud Mornington News
28 April 2020
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