Police patrol
With Stephen Taylor
Arrest over sexual assault A MAN has been arrested following an alleged sexual assault in Mornington on 14 September. It is alleged a man sexually assaulted a 36-year-old woman pushing a pram along the Esplanade, near Strachans Road, about 1.30pm. The 29-year-old Pakenham man self-presented to police, Friday 1 October, and is assisting them with their inquiries.
Day of thought
WEDNESDAY 29 September was Police Remembrance Day – a day when police ask that everyone take a moment to think about the 170 Victoria Police officers who swore an oath to protect the community and gave their lives to see that oath fulfilled. Police also ask that we keep in our thoughts those most profoundly affected by this greatest of sacrifices – those left behind. To everyone who is a mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, work colleague or mate has made that ultimate sacrifice – we were all with you on the day.
Ring a bell? A GOLD ring was found at Hastings last week and handed into the police. The owner is asked to call the station in High Street 5970 7800 or call in from 7am3pm Monday to Friday.
Charges after raid MORNINGTON police seized imitation firearms, drugs and cash from a Dromana house last week. They allegedly found $20,000 in cash, two gel blasters, .22 calibre ammunition, and drugs believed to include cannabis, magic mushrooms, LSD, MDMA and others, at the Coleus Street property, 9.05am, Friday 1 October. A 30-year-old man arrested at the scene was charged with 22 offences, including trafficking drugs of dependence, being a prohibited person possessing an imitation firearm, possessing cartridge ammunition, bail offences and negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime. He was remanded to appear at Frankston Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday 4 October). Police said gel blasters, classified as imitation firearms, were banned. Penalties for possessing, using or carrying an imitation firearm include up to two years’ jail for a non-prohibited person and up to 10 years’ jail for a prohibited person.
Wanted man A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of Jake McAuliffe in relation to criminal damage. The 29-year-old, pictured below is known to frequent the Mornington and Frankston areas. He is 180cm tall with a solid build and short, dark hair. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Lock up valuables
THE lighthouse at MCrae was appropriately lit to commemorate Police Remembrance Day on 29 September.
POLICE responding to residential burglaries and vehicle-related crime across the Mornington Peninsula often find that owners have left their cars and houses unlocked. They say everyone has a role to play when it comes to making homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods safer, and making burglaries and thefts harder for crooks. Visit https://bddy.me/3zUEqlF to learn how to secure your home and property to ensure your valuables are safe.
Attention Schools, sporting clubs & community groups
Free advertising listings Each month the Mornington News will run a Community Events page, where your school or organisation can promote upcoming events, fund raisers, social events, etc. at no charge. This page is sponsored by the Mornington Village Shopping Centre and listings are completely free. Listings should be about 40 words and include event name, date, time & address.
Send your listing to:
Community Events
PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or email communityevents@mpnews.com.au PAGE 10
Mornington News
5 October 2021
Safety ‘top priority’ for power back-up system Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE company awaiting the go ahead to build a battery storage system at Tyabb says advanced safety precautions have been included in its design. Risks have been reduced by using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and having 24/7 fire detection and suppression systems. Maoneng co-founder and CEO Morris Zhou said that safety was the company’s “top priority”, and it was important for people to understand how battery technology varied and risks were mitigated. “Batteries will play an increasingly important and necessary role as Australia transitions from traditional energy sources to renewable energy,” he said. “LFP technology has a very good safety record, which is why we have chosen it for the Mornington BESS [battery energy storage system]. The batteries will be supported by other systems to enable a high level of confidence in our approach to safety.” Maoneng says LFP batteries have a “relatively much higher thermal stability and less dense chemical composition than other varieties prominent in utility scale batteries, such as NMC technology, therefore significantly reducing risks”. The site chosen for the battery is next to the Tyabb sub-station in Thornells Road, Tyabb. Maoneng’s renewables development director Allison Hawke told The News it had “entered
into a land access agreement to purchase the lot” from its private owner. Ms Hawke said talks were being held with possible investors for the Tyabb project “predominantly from the Australian and European markets”. Finance arrangements are “commercial in confidence for now” but more details would be released “in due course”. Australian company Maoneng has already partnered with utilities and organisations to own and operate the Sunraysia Solar Farm in NSW, the Mugga Lane Solar Park in the ACT and other battery storage projects. The Tyabb project will make money by drawing energy from the grid during off-peak periods when it is cheaper and storing it in batteries, and then dispatching it back to the grid during peak periods when it can charge a premium (“Battery plan to ‘stabilise’ power supply” The News 28/7/21). “Like diesel generators [used each summer to improve supply on the peninsula], batteries provide demand response to help manage excess power demand and excess generation,” Ms Hawke said. “Batteries charge when there is an oversupply of generation and a very low power price and discharge in times of high demand. “As the fuel source is very low compared to diesel, battery generation can bid into the power market at a lower price. Batteries therefore help to reduce the cost of running the network and maintaining power supply.”