NEWS DESK
Interim CEO fills Cowie’s shoes MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has appointed Kelvin Spiller (right) as its interim CEO while it searches for a permanent replacement for the departed Carl Cowie. Mr Cowie left Friday 30 August after almost four years at the helm to take up the vacant CEO’s position at Nillumbik, in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne. The council voted on Monday 3 September to appoint Mr Spiller who is regarded as an experienced local government CEO with 35 years’ experience in business, local government and community sectors as chief executive and board member. He reportedly is highly regarded for his abilities in strategy, governance and operational improvement, and for his “inclusive style of leadership”. He is being paid an all-inclusive daily rate capped at $1650 until a new CEO takes up the position on 9 October. It is believed the decision to appoint an interim CEO was taken to allow internal applicants for the permanent position to be assessed with no preconceived preferences. Also, the council has a number of projects under way that would be affected by disruptions. The council believes Mr Spiller will bring the organisational stability required while overseeing the progress of these projects. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said Mr Spiller was “well recognised within and outside local government as a skilled communicator and an accomplished leader of executive teams”. “Mr Spiller’s ability to lead and focus executive teams in local gov-
ernment has been well recognised by the Victorian Government who have appointed him to manage councils, including the City of Greater Geelong who were experiencing difficulties,” he said. He started work Tuesday 4 September. McArthur Executive Recruitment has been charged with finding a new CEO. The council expects to interview suitable applicants on 26 September with the best candidate appointed as CEO at the Tuesday 9 October council meeting.
No payout for former boss
Three men charged after incident POLICE have apprehended three men after a violent incident in East Melbourne early Friday morning, 7 September, in which a Rosebud man was left with serious injuries. A 27-year-old and 24-year-old, from Fitzroy North, and a 27-year-old from East Melbourne, have been charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and other assault-related offences. They have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 December. The charges relate to the alleged assault of the Rosebud man, 61, and his friend, 45, of Mt Evelyn, on Wellington Parade after the HawthornRichmond game at the MCG. Police media officer Leonie Johnson said both of victims were taken to hospital for treatment. The Rosebud man suffered serious facial injuries while his friend received a possible broken arm.
Car into shopfront AN elderly man accidently drove his car into the front of a chemist shop at Rosebud last week. Sergeant Nicholas Simonis, of Rosebud police, said the man, 92, pressed the accelerator instead of the brake of his Ford sedan, 11.40am, Tuesday 4 September. He received minor injuries in the collision. An ambulance attended but the man did not need hospital treatment.
FORMER Mornington Peninsula CEO Carl Cowie did not receive a “golden handshake” prior to departing for Nillumbik. The mayor Cr Bryan Payne said Mr Cowie gave 12 weeks’ notice “as stipulated in his contract” and was given “only his entitlements”, such as holiday pay and long service leave in return. His contract was to have expired on 20 November. “We sat down with Mr Cowie who said he was willing to leave early to take up his new post at Nillumbik. We resolved that it was in the best interests of the organisation for him to go as this can be a very destabilizing time [when one CEO departs and another is appointed].”
Rye Community House antiques show AN antiques show will be held at Rye Community House, 27 Nelson Street, Rye, 2-5pm, Sunday 16 September. Antiques expert Robyn Allen, of Rye, will appraise up to three items for a gold coin donation each item as part of the house’s Sustainable Sunday program. The day combines the Southern Peninsula Repair Cafe, Rye Boomerang Bags and Crop Swap Rye, bringing the community together to get fixing, sewing and growing. Details: ryecommhouse@gmail.com or call 5985 4462
Minister steps in to restore beach Steve Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au THE state government has postponed building a rock wall at Portsea beach aimed at further preventing sand erosion, and will instead start repairing the existing sandbag seawall using its current design. This follows a bid by Mornington Peninsula Shire to overturn a decision by the Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning to build the rock wall which mayor Cr Bryan Payne slammed as “the final environmental nail in the coffin [which would] permanently destroy the beach”. (See “Restore our beach:
council demands” The News 4/9/18). Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio last week ordered the repair of the sandbags laid down in 2010, which, although not in itself paving the way for a return of the sandy beach, is hoped to give the shire and government departments time to develop a better long-term solution. Shire officers attended a meeting to discuss the beach’s restoration with DELWP and the Victorian Coastal Council in June. Late last month the mayor hosted Greens leader Dr Samantha Ratnam and Greens Nepean candidate Paul Saunders on a tour of the site to illustrate the need for its restoration.
The beach was regarded as one of the best in the state and was praised by Cr Payne as a “major public asset of the community”. He acknowledged its restoration had become a “difficult and expensive problem to resolve”. “It is important to recognise that coastal areas are not static environments and have to cope with variable destructive elements, such as wind, waves and a changing climate,” he said. The cost of the sandbag repair is about $950,000. Cr Payne welcomed the minister’s announcement: “The council congratulates Ms D’Ambrosio on this action which provides an opportunity to develop a
long-term strategic plan and allows time to gather and assess all known information and research,” he said. “It will require team work and planning involving DELWP, shire, community and the relevant experts sharing all available information.” Cr Payne said coastal erosion and degradation of beaches was a major issue for coastal councils. “We believe it is an issue which should receive a bipartisan policy approach, given the major environmental and economic impacts it can have on coastal communities,” he said. “Coastal erosion can close beaches, either through a loss of sand, as at Portsea, or dangerous cliffs [such
as Mt Martha north beach] which require closure for public safety. “Ultimately, these impacts can filter through to the economic activity of coastal villages through a downturn in visitors.” Cr Hugh Fraser said the Portsea Foreshore Advisory Group and Nepean Ratepayers Association had been “fighting for years” to have the state government restore the beach. “President Colin Watson has assembled formidable expert evidence which has now persuaded the minister to revisit her earlier decision to construct a rock wall and to work through with the community what is required to restore the beach.”
Thursday 8th November 11.30am to 4pm
Tickets $45pp
Join us to celebrate the Spring Racing Carnival in style at Rosebud RSL • Compimentary Glass of Sparkling • Food Platters • Sweeps & Raffles • Fashions on the Field
Tickets available from Pam on 0421 817 408 Bookings Essential
Southern Peninsula News 11 September 2018
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