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24 July – 6 August 2012
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Variety is the spice of life MORNINGTON restaurateur John Crossin of Harba Restaurant, John “Bubba� Mackie of Mornington Car and Tyre Services and a “Mystery Navigator� who’s a sailor extraordinaire are getting ready for their annual holidays – doing the Variety Club Bash, this year from Shepparton to Hamilton Island. The blokes have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the children’s charity over more than a decade. This year they already have close to $30,000 in the kitty courtesy of several events including a hot rod night at Dromana Drive-In as well as support from Let’s Go Cruisin’, Mornington Garden Supplies, Conley Luff Real Estate, European Auto Refinishers, and Toyworld. They’re masters at extracting coin from supporters and mates. Bubba has their 1979 Ford LTD looking and running beautifully this year. John Crossin says it’s former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s ex-staff car (“We found a pair of trousers in the boot when we bought it,� he said). “We have a fabulous amount of fun each year, but it’s all about the kids,� he said. “If you have a bucket list, put the Bash near the top and leave a legacy for the future.� The team leaves Shepparton on 23 August along with about 100 other teams so there’s time to support the boys. Call John Crossin at work on 5975 1183. Cruisin’ for a brusin’: John Crossin, left and John Mackie at Mornington harbour last Wednesday. Picture: Yanni
Green wedges threatened By David Harrison THE peninsula’s extensive green wedge zone could face intensive development under far-reaching proposals released last week by Planning Minister Matthew Guy. Mr Guy claimed his “sweeping reforms� of rural zones, which include green wedges, would promote agriculture by removing “the onerous re-
quirements for a planning permit�. Seventy per cent of the peninsula is green wedge land, much of it productive farmland currently protected from development. Mr Guy’s plans strip away this protection. With Mornington Peninsula Shire and many of the region’s conservation groups fighting to preserve green wedge land, two of Mr Guy’s changes
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in particular could deal a catastrophic blow to their efforts. They are: ď Ž An end to the requirement that tourist and other businesses must be built on more than 40-hectare blocks. ď Ž An end to the requirement that many such businesses must have an essential link to agriculture. New businesses including restau-
rants, convention centres and residential hotels have been stymied by the need to meet the land size and agricultural link requirements. With those restrictions swept away and many new non-agricultural uses of green wedge land introduced by Mr Guy’s plans, the battle to preserve the green wedge could become near-impossible. Proposed new uses include primary
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and secondary schools, medical centres, “residential buildings�, research centres and rural stores. It is unclear if service stations and display homes would also be permitted. Abattoirs, rural industry and the sale of primary produce will also be allowed. Of these, only abattoirs will need to seek a permit.
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