NEWS DESK
April deadline to ‘save the green wedges’ Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au ADVOCATES of protecting the Mornington Peninsula’s green wedgezoned areas are calling on supporters to get submissions in before 8 April to protect 10 parcels of land from inappropriate development. Conservation policies for the peninsula’s green wedge areas were first introduced by the state government more than 40 years ago, with the zones now highly regarded for giving the peninsula its special character and sense of openness. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is now seeking feedback on amendment C270morn, which intends to fix irregularities in the peninsula’s planning scheme and rezone 10 sites in Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Portsea and Shoreham. Eight of those sites are outside the urban growth boundary (“The peninsula’s biggest future issue - land use” The News 2/3/22). Supporters of one of the peninsula’s most prized green wedges, known as Reg’s Wedge, because the late airline owner Sir Reginald Ansett once owned it, say the rezoning amendment is a “last chance” opportunity to
protect the land forever. The future of the land at 60-70 Kunyung Road is under a cloud, with owners Ryman Healthcare believed to be planning to submit a new development proposal after its plans for aged care units was blocked last year at the Victorian Civil and Administrative tribunal. Both the Liberal and Labor parties have told supporters they are committed to protecting the green wedges. Campaign spokesperson Leigh Eustace, also a member of the Green Wedge Coalition, said communities around the shire could be cautiously optimistic that the state planning minister’s recent authorisation of the council’s rezoning amendment would result in ultimate protection for the sites. The exhibition process is now in place, and submissions can be made via the shire’s website or by emailing strategic.admin@mornpen.vic.gov.au with header C270morn. Emails must have name, address, contact number and reasons for supporting the amendment. Anyone can make a submission, and there is no requirement to be resident of the peninsula. Details: shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/amendment-c270morn
No-light approach to ease road danger THE new pedestrian lights on Bungower Road, Mornington, remain switched off almost one year since they were installed. The lights and associated works, paid for and managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire, are believed to have cost around $400,000 and were expected to ease the congestion issues on Bungower Road, near St. Macartan’s Primary School and Racecourse Road. Mornington resident and roads campaigner Ken McBride says the hold-up is unacceptable and blames the delay on a stalemate between the Department of Transport and the shire over who will pay to turn the lights on and synchronise them with the tourist railway crossing lights.
Last November the department’s advocacy, communications and engagement team leader Joanne Donelly said the process was taking longer than anticipated due to the impacts of COVID-19 and working with other agencies to activate the lights. But almost four months later not much has happened. Mr McBride said the Bungower Road traffic was a “grid-lock” at particular times of the day as vehicles enter and exit the nearby St. Macartan’s Primary School and Racecourse Road. The department says it has been liaising with the shire on some design details to ensure the site is safe once switched on. Spokesperson Tamara Rocco said
safety was the department’s highest priority, and “that’s why we’re taking the necessary steps to ensure Bungower Road in Mornington remains safe for all road users”. “We will continue to work with the [council] to ensure the new signals can be switched on as soon as possible.” It is believed the council is in the process of finalising a road safety audit that will lead to the department to start programming the pedestrian signals. To ensure safety at the crossing, the shire will need to install puffin (pedestrian user-friendly intelligent) detectors, lanterns at the pedestrian crossing and a static “stop here on red signal” sign. Liz Bell
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