Drivers brave a fine to take a dip Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au A VOLUNTEER environmental group concerned about illegal parking at Mornington’s beach car parks is lobbying Mornington Peninsula Shire Council for more patrols and better enforcement. Mornington Environment Association has asked councillors for “immediate action” to counter environmental and safety issues around the demand for beachside car parking around the shire over summer. The shire has hired extra staff to enforce parking controls across the peninsula, with daily patrols of up to six officers during busy periods, hot days and weekends. Between 1 January and 28 February more than 5000 parking infringements were issued, with most vehicles being booked near beaches. MEA spokesperson and president Margaret Howden said its members believed the demand for parking spaces close to the beach exceeded supply and residents were faced with the issue of “a growing number of selfish and self-entitled drivers who will park wherever they like once the legal parking spots have been taken”. Ms Howden said Mills Beach was particularly congested over summer, with the ramps becoming “an accident waiting to happen” and drivers park-
ing “unchallenged” in disabled spots and driving over grassed areas. “Apart from destroying important native vegetation, some of it planted by MEA volunteer groups, this is a totally unacceptable fire risk and must be addressed urgently,” she said. In many spots along the Esplanade the MEA says day visitors ignore no standing signs and residents are inconvenienced by “thoughtless” people parking across driveways. The group is calling for more parking officers to patrol to check parking “hot spots” during the late afternoon on hot weekdays and throughout summer as well as “longer-term solutions” such as barriers to protect native vegetation, and 10-minute drop-off and pick-up parking spots adjacent to the Mills Beach ramp. Community safety and compliance manager Shannon Maynard said the shire was working on strategies to reduce illegal parking over summer. “We are currently trialling new smart parking technology in the form of parking sensors, vehicle-mounted cameras and fixed cameras to help monitor illegal parking,” Ms Maynard said. “This technology will also help us better understand parking trends throughout the shire. “Any future changes or increases in patrol frequency will be determined based on the information we receive from the smart parking trial”.
Picture: Max Hem
Musicians back before the public MEMBERS of the Peninsula Chamber Musicians are tuning up for this weekend’s return to playing music to public audiences. Their 2022 orchestral and chamber ensemble series will be launched on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March.
The first concert will be at All Saints Church, Rosebud on 12 March followed by one at Mount Eliza Community Centre on 13 March at 2pm. The musicians will perform Haydn Symphony No 100 and Mozart’s Symphony No 40 along with contempo-
Police patrol
rary Australian composer Elana KatsChernin’s Moon Feather Magic. Performances are also planned at Flinders, Mornington and the Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal. Booking and details: peninsulachambermusicians.com.au
With Liz Bell
Murder charge
Fiery crash
HOMICIDE Squad detectives have charged a 49-year-old Baxter man over a fatal shooting in Baxter in 2017. The man was arrested on Friday 4 March and has since been charged with one count of murder. The charges follow an incident on 16 September 2017, when a 64-yearold Baxter man was fatally shot at his Station Crescent home. The parties involved were known to each other.
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol officers are calling for public assistance after a car crashed and burst into flames on Peninsula Link in Moorooduc on Monday 28 February. Police said a black Ford Falcon sedan was travelling southbound on Peninsula Link near the Moorooduc Highway just before 9pm, when the driver lost control and crashed into a safety barrier and concrete bollard, and the car caught fire. Police said witnesses stopped at the scene and pulled the male driver from
the vehicle before the flames took hold. A 27-year-old Dromana man was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators have asked for witnesses or anyone who saw the vehicle before the crash or who has dashcam footage to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com
Fire destroys house A HOUSE in Kent Street, Dromana, was destroyed by fire on Monday 28 February, but no one was injured.
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Mornington News
8 March 2022
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