NEWS DESK
Focus on safety in lead up to Schoolies Week Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council, Red Frogs Youth Support Program and police are planning to ramp up their services during Schoolies Week, 23-30 November. This includes setting aside a section of the Rye foreshore for school leavers during the notorious party week. The aim is to give shire officers and police a greater oversight of schoolies’ activities, particularly at night. Cr David Gill said the increase in services was needed to address the influx of visitors and heightened community concerns caused by last year’s episodes of anti-social behaviour. “While the shire is not promoting the Mornington Peninsula as a Schoolies destination, we know that school leavers will visit and, therefore, we have a duty of care to those young people while they are here,” Cr Gill said. “Based on feedback from our community, this year the shire has increased our services in partnership with local police and Red Frogs to help keep everyone safe on the peninsula. “This year we’ll have additional youth services staff on the ground day and night working closely with local police and support staff from Red Frogs, DanceWize and many others. “Our main priority is safety and creating a safe environment for residents and school leavers.”
Rye foreshore playground and public toilets will be open to the public throughout this period. The shire’s Short Stay Rental Local Law is in force and holiday-home owners are advised to be aware of their responsibilities and to think about those they are renting out their homes to, Cr Gill said. Under the law, homeowners are responsible for inappropriate behaviour by their tenants and could be fined up to $2000 per offence for any breach of the Local Law or Code of Conduct. Inappropriate behaviour can be reported to the shire at any time of the day or night on 1300 850 600. However, any intervention with the occupants of short-stay rentals remains the responsibility of the homeowner or police. School leavers travelling to the Surf Coast, Bass Coast or Mornington Peninsula are encouraged to register their attendance via Good Times Great Breaks, which is supported by the state government. Register online at: goodtimesgreatbreaks.wordpress.com
March against violence WESTERNPORT Respectful Relationships Committee and Mornington Peninsula Shire are calling on members of the community to take a stand against family violence by marching down High Street, Hastings from the Alfred Street mall 11.30am, Friday 22 November.
Overturned: Water Police, Volunteer Marine Rescue and the blue and white boat that capsized off Mornington early Sunday morning. Picture: Gary Sissons
Boater found clinging to hull A MAN found clinging to the upturned hull of his boat off Mornington, Sunday 17 November, was lucky to be seen by passing boaters. It was only when Peter Dean and Noel Pixton came closer that they saw the man clinging on with one arm and holding up his car keys, phone and wallet in the other. The Rosebud man, 37, was taken to Frankston Hospital with hypothermia. The drama unfolded in moderately-rough water about 200 metres from shore when a top bung failed in the 5.5 metre aluminium plate hull boat which started taking in water coming back from Carrum. By the time the solo sailor had reached Mornington the boat had capsized throwing him into the water. Mr Dean and Mr Pixton, of Mornington, saw
the hull bobbing in the swell at 6.30am while on their way to a schnapper fishing contest. “We knew something was wrong when we saw an Esky floating away,” Mr Dean said. “Then we saw the man. He had been in the water about 30 minutes and looked pretty spent.” The pair raced him to Mornington pier where police and an ambulance were waiting. He was rushed to hospital for treatment and later released. Mornington Volunteer Marine Rescue’s Sean Whelan said he was grateful to the rescuers. “We got the call at 7.30am and were in the water in 10-15 minutes but they had him in by then. “We took a few hours to right the hull in the half-metre south-west swell and towed it back to shore.” Stephen Taylor
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Southern Peninsula News
20 November 2019
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