NEWS DESK
Drinkers made to toe red line IT’S not obvious to patrons, but a red line on a planning permit shows just where (and sometimes when) alcohol can be consumed at outlets throughout the Mornington Peninsula. A bid to extend the red line to include building extensions and two paths at the 19 hectare Mantons Creek Winery, Shoreham, has been knocked by the shire’s planning services committee. Despite planning services team leader Clydie Brewer’s assurances that moving the red line at the Tucks Rd property met all planning and legislative criteria, councillors agreed that it did not meet “objectives and decision guidelines” in the shire’s planning scheme. The land is within the Green Wedge zone “This is a victory for the people. I want to protect the amenity of the neighbours,” Cr David Gill told The News after the Monday 14 August decision. He said councillors had been shown photographs and wedding marques erected on the property. Cr Gill said many businesses wanted to extend their red line drinking areas. He said Mantons Creek had made additions to existing buildings and then sought to move them within the red line. In her report to the planning services committee Ms Brewer said objectors to moving the red line feared there would be an increase in noise and a precedent set by “encouraging uses in the area that are not suited to rural values”. However, Ms Brewer saw the change “to be a minor extension to the existing red line area and will be contained to the existing built form on site”. She said there would be no change to the number of patrons or operating hours. “It is considered that the extended licenced area is appropriately sited as it is situated within
an area that has been established for the sale and consumption of liquor.” Ms Brewer believed permit conditions would prevent any nuisance. Keith Platt
Alcohol ban at the Pillars ALCOHOL will be banned at The Pillars diving rocks at Mt Martha if a push by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is successful. The shire’s amended Consumption of Liquor Local Law will go on exhibition “in coming weeks” in the wake of a six-month trial ban. The council is now advertising to make the bans – which extend several blocks inland permanent, with increased powers to be given to police to seize alcohol from visitors. The Mt Martha coastal hot-spot attracts visitors due to its appealing cliff face and pristine waters, but excessive drinking, discarded rubbish and abuse of parking restrictions has made it problematic for nearby residents. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the aim of the ban would be to reduce alcohol-related incidents, improve public safety and amenity and protect the environment and overall community interest. “Unfortunately there has been some inappropriate behaviour and alcohol consumption [which has] significantly impacted on this sensitive site,” she said. “Our role as the local council is to protect the safety of people and the amenity of our local residents.” In January, the council voted to develop an implementation plan for works at the site, which included building a fence to close it to the public. Work on the fence has yet to start.
LETTERS
Growers urged to sign for good grape health MORNINGTON Peninsula grape growers are being urged to sign up to a program which would provide an early alert to threats from pests and diseases. Agriculture Victoria and the Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association (MPVA) are working to improve biosecurity management practices on the peninsula by encouraging growers to embrace the property identification codes (PIC) program. Less than 45 per cent of peninsula grape growers have registered so far. MPVA technical chairman Tyson Lewis said by registering for a PIC, Agriculture Victoria is able to quickly alert local growers about a plant pest infestation or disease outbreak that may hit hard on the hip pockets of their business. “It is a grower’s responsibility to maintain or improve biosecurity practices on their property, to ensure their business is not left exposed to the damaging effects of a plant pest or disease outbreak,” Mr Lewis said. He said by having a PIC growers “will have an effective way to respond to potential grape phylloxera or any other infestation in the region”.
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
Protests show home isn’t always where the heart is
alliance? For too long we have had people like the leader of the Greens and the mayor of Darebin telling us that these issues are too important to be left to the public to decide. It would have been interesting to find out what the public really thought. Michael Free, Mt Martha
As I shiver in my heated home I cannot begin to imagine the misery suffered by the homeless. I switch on the television and find that citizens of Brighton have been moved to brave the cold to demonstrate against a proposed nine storey building, but the underlying problem seems to be less about inappropriate development in their three storey limit area and more about the danger of drug affected persons endangering their lives and wellbeing. How dare we assume that the homeless are somehow less than the rest of us? The elderly, victims of domestic violence and young people to whom the streets are safer than home are homeless thanks to exorbitant rents and lack of public housing. And what if you are drug addicted and suffering mental health problems? Does this mean you should suffer rather than be offered a helping hand? I wish our own council would step up to the plate and build a few units and then perhaps I could sleep easier at night. Mel Farnbach, Balnarring.
Help for veterans
Ramp ‘disgraceful’ It’s hard to believe the power and absolute disregard to the ratepayers that the Mornington Peninsula Shire has. The disgraceful attitude regarding the approval of an extra boat ramp at Rye is beyond belief. It’s about time these councillors got out and realise the impact this extra ramp will have on not just the traffic congestion in Rye on the Point Nepean Rd but also the side streets which will
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Mornington News 29 August 2017
Phylloxera is a small insect that destroys vines by feeding on their roots and sometimes leaves. “Grapevine growers also need to remember that the application for a PIC is a legal obligation for your industry so I urge all vineyard owners who grow 0.5 hectares or more of grapes to register with Agriculture Victoria,” Mr Lewis said. The call for more growers to join the program follows an outbreak of phylloxera in vineyards near Maroondah. The Maroondah phylloxera infested zone (PIZ) was extended for the seventh time last week since being found in 2006. The previous extension was made in March this year. Vines hit by phylloxera have to be pulled out and replaced by vines that have been grafted onto phylloxera tolerant or resistant rootstock. Pulling out vines and replanting costs about $60,000 a hectare. “It’s time for vineyard owners to get serious about farm-gate hygiene to prevent an incursion of phylloxera,” Vinehealth Australia CEO Inca Pearce said. Keith Platt
have further car and trailer parking on both sides of their already narrow streets. What about the amenity for swimmers, families and sea life? Do they matter at all to the councillors? Why doesn’t the council get out there and have a look at the mess that some of the local roads are in, not to mention the absolute mess that has been created on the corner of Dundas St and Point Nepean Rd. How many times does it have to be fixed? Also the corner of Elizabeth Av and Point Nepean Rd. Our cars are suffering the damage caused by shoddy work on our roads and we have to foot the bill every time for repairs. The amount spent in this area must be phenomenal. It is time to get rid of councillors that have no regard for the area they supposedly represent. Gail Turner, Rye
Missed opportunity The upcoming postal vote on same-sex marriage has got me thinking that the federal government has missed a golden opportunity to put to rest some of the minor contentious issues that have been dogging this current government. For no extra cost we could have found out public opinion on whether we should still celebrate Australia Day on 26 January. Should Section 44 of the Constitution be amended to allow any citizen born in Australia to become a federal politician regardless of where their parents were born? Should full face coverings be banned in public? Should we still stay with the American
This federal government is committed to supporting current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who may have been physically or sexually abused. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has introduced measures to make it easier for those affected to access compensation and to receive the mental health support they need. The Department has broadened the acceptance of statutory declarations as part of compensation claims, making it possible for such declarations to constitute sufficient evidence to establish that abuse took place. This change will benefit those who may not have reported abuse at the time it occurred or who have never previously spoken about it. A dedicated team has also been established to manage all new claims relating to sexual and physical abuse. Treatment for all mental health conditions is now free for anyone who has served just one day in the full time ADF. The Veterans and Veterans’ Families Counselling Service also provides specialist free counselling and group programs. I encourage anyone who may have suffered abuse in the ADF to contact DVA to access the support and benefits the department provides. Further information can be found on DVA’s website or by calling 1800 555 254. Dan Tehan, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Fish have feelings The conviction of a Sydney Fish Market trader
for cruelty is being celebrated by compassionate people around the world. The trader’s subsequent appeal against the “severity” of the fine of $1500 imposed in February has been rejected by the District Court. Crustaceans were added to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in 1997 after it was medically proven that they feel pain. The incident, recorded on film, showed the trader holding a struggling lobster down on a chopping board before chopping off his tail with a butcher’s knife, which doesn’t kill the animal but causes immense pain, according to the RSPCA. The remainder of the animal was then fed into a bandsaw. While this case may cause the industry to think twice before abusing crustaceans, other sea creatures are still routinely subject to appalling suffering and agonising deaths. No Australian laws regulate the treatment of fish caught or raised for their flesh, and both commercial fishers and fish factory farms treat these animals in ways that would warrant cruelty-to-animals charges if the victims were dogs or cats. Fish that are ripped from the ocean suffer from rapid decompression, which can cause their swim bladders to rupture, their eyes to pop out of their heads, or their stomachs to be forced through their mouths. Others are still alive when they are cut open. On fish factory farms, tens or even hundreds of thousands of fish are confined to cramped, filthy enclosures, and parasitic infections, diseases and debilitating injuries are rampant. In some respects, fish’s cognitive abilities surpass those of dogs and some primates. It is time that all animals were given the basic rights to live and die without humans adding pain and terror for the sake of profit. The best way to ensure this is simply to not eat them. Desmond Bellamy, special projects coordinator PETA Australia