Mornington
Mornington
7th February
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES
2017
Unforgettable > Page 3
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Water can be saver for wildlife
WILDLIFE carer Brenda Marmion provides a cooling spray of water for a king parrot under her care. Picture: Yanni
WILDLIFE carer Brenda Marmion wants property owners to use the “three-level” system when leaving water out for wildlife, to ensure easy access for all animals. Ms Marmion, of Crystal Ocean Wildlife Shelter, Rye, has rescued, cared for, rehabilitated and released thousands of animals on the Mornington Peninsula for about 24 years, and has seen the devastating effects of extreme heat on wildlife. She said people could relieve the suffering of animals on hot days by ensuring there was accessible water in appropriate containers. “Sometimes wildlife can’t get to the water because it’s in containers they can’t access, or in worst situations they can’t get out of the container,” she said. Ms Marmion said water should be left in shallow dishes with rocks in it for lizards, in raised baths for birds, and in hanging containers for ringtail possums to protect them from predation. Ms Marmion is also urging people to stop covering plants with netting that maims or kills wildlife, such as monofilament (thin, nylon) netting. “You can buy old curtain netting from the op shops to cover your plants, and it’s cheaper, safer and effective,” she said. Wildlife organisations around Australia have been negotiating with major hardware stores to stop stocking filament-type netting and only sell white knitted netting to protect plants from birds. Liz Bell
Time out for planning change Neil Walker neil@mpnews.com.au A BID to waive the need for planning permits in certain circumstances at properties on the “inland” side of Point Nepean Rd from Mt Eliza to Portsea has been temporarily waved down by concerned councillors. A report to last week’s public council meeting by Mornington Penin-sula Shire senior planner Oscar Orellana
proposed changes to the Environmental Significance Overlay of the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme. The proposal was aimed at “streamlining planning processes” for properties that do “not directly join the Port Phillip foreshore and coastal area”. “Minor forms of development” such as the erection of a fence, outbuildings or “a single dwelling in non-sensitive areas” would no longer require a council planning permit if the amendment
to the planning scheme is approved by councillors. Several residents asked questions about the proposed planning scheme change in the public question time part of the meeting. Shire planning executive manager David Bergin gave assurances that any change would not affect any private properties from Mornington to Mt Eliza or Sorrento to Portsea on the inland side.
Cr David Gill gained unanimous support from councillors to defer consideration of the planning changes until after a planning workshop and additional council briefing for councillors. It emerged during the debate at last week’s meeting that council officers rec-ommended the planning scheme amendment be deferred but Cr Gill noted the deferment recommendation was not listed on the agenda distributed to councillors at the meeting.
Before last Monday’s meeting, the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers and Resi-dents Association was alarmed that the planning scheme amendment could be rushed through without community consultation but welcomed the deferment to consider the planning changes and easing of permit requirements. “We’re happy council officers decided councillors needed more time to consider the changes,” association secretary Doris Campbell said.
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