NEWS DESK
Rees works at Red Hill
Rock sitters: Casting their eyes over the Eastern Sister Rock Seawall and Pathway at Sorrento are Cr Hugh Fraser, Charles Cayless, Rae Riley, Cr Bryan Payne, Peter Houghton, Richard Holland and the shire’s building and open space team leader David Hampton.
Seawall, pathway share historic links THE $1.56 million Eastern Sister rock seawall and pathway project at Sorrento will connect Sullivan Bay with Camerons Bight. Almost one third of the cost – $500,000 – is being provided by the developer of a five-lot subdivision at 3080 Point Nepean Rd. The Eastern Sister Headland is at the northern end of Camerons Bight and the southern end of Sullivan Bay. At the top of the cliff is the Collins settlement historic site, which was Victoria’s first official settlement in
1803. It includes graves, asphalt pathways, monuments and lookouts. “The toe of the Eastern Sister limestone cliffs has continued to gradually erode over many decades from the forces of wave action and human disturbance,” the shire’s chief operating officer Alison Leighton said. “Some erosion mitigation works, including rock armouring, have already been built, and these measures need to be extended.” The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the
shire had 192 kilometres of coastline along Port Phillip and Western Port bays which “continues to hold a strong importance for local residents and visitors alike”. “The project will support our strategy to guide and protect our foreshore’s future management, use and development. This is a great outcome achieved through working with the community. It will be an iconic walk and experience for those visiting Sorrento.”
Cr Bryan Payne said the project would enable public pedestrian access around the historic Eastern Sister Headland and provide protection for the coast. Cr Hugh Fraser said the shire was committed to being a leader in coastal planning. “Projects such as this will contribute to our goal of caring for our foreshore and will be of benefit to our future generations.” Works are expected to be completed by the end of September.
WORKS by Australian artist the late Lloyd Rees make up the first exhibition being held at the Jon Cecil Fine Art gallery, Poffs restaurant, Red Hill. Jon Cecil Fine Art began in the 1980s as Impressions Contemporary Print Galleries in South Yarra and Sydney’s Double Bay. The Red Hill gallery is also an extension of the online art source Artnet International (www.artnet.net. au), established by Jonathan Cecil in 2011. The Art of Lloyd Rees runs until 25 June features 30 lithographs. The exhibition was opened by Professor Alexander (Sasha) Grishin, emeritus professor at the Australian National University, Canberra and honorary principal fellow Melbourne University’s arts faculty. Printer Fred Genis spoke at the opening about collaborating with Rees to produce the lothographs. Jon Cecil Fine Art, 164 Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill. Call 041 996 6333 or email joncecil@me.com
FoI bill stuns animal advocates Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A MORNINGTON-based animal advocacy group is resorting to a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for a costly freedom-of-information request. The group has been quoted $1108 for Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s FoI officer to answer six detailed questions about the community animal shelter, in Watt Rd, Mornington. The shire wants half of the cost
($554) before starting a search for the information. The shire’s FoI officer estimated it would take 40-53 hours to research answers for the group which has campaigned for greater transparency in the shire’s handling of impounded dogs and cats. NSW resident Judith Anne Carter made the FoI request for Rosy Fischer, of Mornington, who is campaigning for a no-kill policy at the animal shelter. “We have requested information re-
garding the community animal shelter at Mornington and they want to charge us over $1100 for information they say is not in the public interest,” Ms Fischer said. “I think it is an absolute disgrace that we have to do it to find out something that should be freely available to the public. “As a ratepayer, I want to know what has happened to animals at this pound and I am very dubious re the statistics. “I also tried to find out things like the budget for the pound, but it was
THE RYE HOTEL
listed with another division within the environment protection department, so therefore I couldn’t tell what the budget was for the shelter alone.” The FoI request seeks details about animals held at the shelter over the 12 months to January; vets bills for euthanising animals; where pets have been rehoused; how many cats and dogs are registered with the shire; the fate of 54 cats unaccounted for; and the shelter’s budget. The group was told by FoI officer Kate McNab in a letter that “the docu-
ments being sought are not in the public interest …” and that access charges were applicable. Also, that much of the information was “already publicly available” through community and annual reports. “Specific details of the requested documents … with respect to requesting impound numbers is not seen to be in line with general public interest as this information would be irrelevant … to the general public.”
2415 Point Nepean Road, Rye Beach www.ryehotel.com.au | 5985 2277 Southern Peninsula News 13 June 2017
PAGE 3