NEWS DESK
Homeless camping trial under review Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au A REVIEW is being held into the trial of allowing homeless people to stay longterm at Mornington Peninsula foreshore reserves. The shire’s community partnerships manager Chris Munro said soaring rents and property values had led to an increase in the number of peninsula residents at serious risk of becoming homeless. “This includes many elderly residents, as well as women and children fleeing family violence. Most will end up couch surfing or sleeping in their car, but there are some who run out of options and may end up rough sleeping,” he said. “For the past year we have been working with local homeless services to make 12 foreshore camping sites available for temporary crisis accommodation during camping season. ”We are currently reviewing this after 12 months of operation,” Mr Munro said the foreshore camping ground was a “last resort” option for a small number of people. “At the end of camping season there is always the challenge of supporting people to transition to other accommodation options and our staff work closely with outreach workers in support of this,” he said. “There is no plan to have people who are homeless permanently accommodated on the foreshore.” Council was lobbying state and federal governments to pay for social and afford-
Experts fancy strait flight for parrots
able housing on the peninsula, as well as crisis accommodation. “We are also advocating for measures to balance the number of short-term rentals and long-term rentals, and for funding for outreach workers to engage directly with residents at risk of becoming homeless,” Munro said. “While the primary responsibility for the provision of social and affordable housing lies with the state government, council is looking at the potential to use shire-owned land for housing. “We have identified sites in Hastings, Mornington, Rosebud and Capel Sound and have asked our community for their thoughts, as well as inviting housing providers to submit expressions of interest in potentially working with us. “We are in the early consultation stage and no council decision has been made yet”. Rumours that the shire is considering allowing homeless people ongoing access to the Rosebud and Capel Sound foreshore camping areas and toilets has outraged some residents. David Peel told the News he would “stand on the steps” of the civic centre to strongly oppose the move, due to the “attitude and the mess” of people sleeping illegally on the foreshore. “They should be moved on, as I cannot imagine this happening at Mount Eliza, McCrae, Sorrento or Portsea,” he said. “I need an urgent answer as I will be doing a door knock in the area to obtain signatures to oppose this sneaky proposal by the shire.”
Help shape our draft Public Transparency Policy You’re invited to provide your thoughts on Mornington Peninsula Shire’s draft Public Transparency Policy 2022.
THE first of 36 orange-bellied parrots bred in captivity have been released into the wild at Western Port and Lake Connewarre on the Bellarine Peninsula. The endangered birds are expected to join a 100-strong flock of previously released parrots. Experts predict this autumn will see a flock of about 140 orange-bellied parrots migrate to Victoria from Tasmania, the largest number in 15 years. The parrots are reported to have had a successful breeding season in the wild and other captive-bred birds were released in spring and late summer. The species has gone from being at imminent risk of extinction, with only 50 birds left in the wild in 2017, to a 15-year high following a state government-supported trial involving Zoos Victoria, the federal government's National Landcare Program and Moonlit Sanctuary, Pearcedale. Picture: Gary Sissons
Join us this National Reconciliation Week Each year, National Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May – 3 June. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia
Hard copy forms are also available on request at our Customer Service Centres. PAGE 12
Southern Peninsula News
18 May 2022
Tuesday 31 May, 5.40pm Rosebud Shire Offices (90 Besgrove Street) National Reconciliation Week will be opened with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country.
Arts exhibition From 27 May to 10 July, a mini exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery’s Collection and the Shire’s Civic Collection will be shown at the Rosebud Council Chambers (90 Besgrove Street).
This draft Policy sets out Council’s commitment to openness and transparency in decision-making processes and describes how information will be made available to the public.
How to have your say mornpen.vic.gov.au/publictransparencypolicy
Opening of National Reconciliation Week
Libraries When visiting our Libraries you will be able to see indigenous themed displays and recommended reading lists.
To learn more about National Reconciliation Week head to: nrw.reconciliation.org.au