Cruden Farm plan on the way Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au CHANGE may be coming to Cruden Farm amid signs a property developer is showing an interest in the Langwarrin homestead. The idyllic 54-hectare estate was Dame Elisabeth Murdoch’s home for eight decades before her death in 2012 at the age of 103. Dame Murdoch was the mother of News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch. The estate was transferred into the name of Cruden Custodian Limited in 2013 and its trustees include several grandchildren of Dame Murdoch but not the media mogul himself. Its gardens are sometimes open to the public and the estate hosts community and charity events at the behest of Dame Murdoch who was a renowned philanthropist. Cruden Farm director Cara Simpson confirmed “a proposal” will be submitted to Frankston Council in early April. “The intention of the proposal is to secure the long-term future of Cruden Farm so that it can be enjoyed by the people of Victoria in line with the wishes of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch,” she said in a statement. Newspaper magnate Keith Murdoch bought Cruden Farm in 1928 as a wedding present for Dame Murdoch. Brighton-based property developer Hamish Macdonald registered the business name Cruden Farm in January this year under his business name UEG Pty Ltd. Mr Macdonald is a former Geelong Grammar student and University of Melbourne graduate
according to a LinkedIn profile and previously worked in executive roles at development firms Lend Lease and Becton. He is also a non-executive director of VicUrban, a state government development agency. “From late 2008 to early 2012 Hamish had a contract based role with the Victorian Department of Human Services,” the LinkedIn profile states. “In this role, Hamish had responsibility for the creation of any new social housing in Victoria and the ongoing maintenance of the existing portfolio of 73,000 public housing dwellings.” Calls to numbers linked with UEG Pty Ltd were not returned.. Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial confirmed the future of the estate has been discussed at council. “We have met with representatives of Cruden Farm on several occasions to discuss options and opportunities that will ensure its sustainable future and availability and access for our community,” he said. “Any subdivision of Cruden Farm would require a planning scheme amendment and planning permit. Council has not received any application in relation to Cruden Farm.” Cruden Farm is zoned Rural Conservation Zone 2 with a minimum subdivision limit of eight hectares. Any subdivision less than eight hectares would have to be approved by state Labor Planning Minister Richard Wynne and ratified by both the Upper House and Lower House of Parliament in Victoria. The property is also subject to environmental significance and heritage overlays.
Driver airlifted after crash
Picture: Gary Sissons
A P-PLATE driver was flown by Air Ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital after a car crash on Mornington-Tyabb Rd, Mornington, 10.30pm, Monday 27 March. The man, 19, of Mt Eliza, was with two friends in a small sedan when it lost control and
skidded backwards into a tree near Dunns Rd. Sergeant Dennis Ramsay, of Mornington police, said the man was freed by ambulance officers and stabilised. Mornington Fire Brigade and Frankston SES crews assisted in the rescue.
Safety expo for senior drivers A FREE senior drivers’ expo will be held by Road Safe South East in Mornington on Saturday 22 April. It will be at the Mornington Men’s Shed meeting room, 2/91 Wilsons Rd, 9.45am1.30pm. The half-day information session will include representatives of Mornington Peninsula Shire, VicRoads, Victoria Police, RACV, driving instructions and trained facilitators. It will focus on road safety, driving skills, prescribed medicines and road laws. Participants will receive a free one-on-one driver assessment in their own cars as well as a
free roadworthiness assessment of their cars – all confidential. The expo will include a tyre safety seminar, road safety videos and safe drive seminar developed by Vic Roads. Participants will also receive a free up-to-date road rules book in their show bags and also have the opportunity to ask questions of highway patrol police followed by a Q&A session. A free barbecue lunch will follow. Pre-registration is essential as there are only 60 places. For details and to register call 0436 332 533, 9am-5 pm, Monday to Saturday.
Mornington News 4 April 2017
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