Mornington Peninsula Shire to host ALGWA National Conference MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council will host the 2023 Australian Local Government Women’s Association National Conference, just weeks after celebrating International Women’s Day. The announcement was made at the ALGWA National and Queensland state conference held in Airlie Beach from 1–3 March. The shire was already planning to host the 2023 Victorian conference and will now be welcoming women from not only Victoria but all across Australia to the peninsula. The RACV at Cape Schanck will be the venue and accommodation centre for the conference taking place between 18–20 May 2023. The conference theme will be ‘Connect, Inspire and Thrive’. Founded in the early 1950s, ALGWA was established to assist in furthering knowledge and understanding of the function of local government and encourage women to participate in and make a career in local government. Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said the shire was curating an “inspirational and thoughtprovoking” list of guest speakers. “We will also be encouraging all delegates to linger longer during their visit and experience the very best of our wonderful Mornington Peninsula,” he said. “In the meantime, I encourage all women, whether working in the sector or wanting a career in local government to start planning for the 2023 ALGWA conference on the Mornington Peninsula - We can guarantee it will be the best place to connect, inspire and thrive.”
A view to a kill: Holes have been drilled in some trees to administer poison, while other trees have been snapped off at the base, and others had limbs pulled off in what seems to be a deliberate act. Pictures: Supplied
Hunt on for ‘despicable’ tree vandals Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au A VOLUNTEER coastal environment group is calling on urgent action to track down those responsible for killing trees along the McCrae foreshore. Volunteers from the McCrae Homestead Coastal Group have been documenting the destruction of Banksia and She-oak trees along 100 metres of the foreshore. Spokesperson Jenny Wharfe said the group was devastated at the “despicable” act of vandalism, with some of the trees poisoned and others torn from the ground or limbs broken off. “We have discovered significant and widespread evidence of tree vandalism, including drilling, poisoning, and breaking of branches and felling of mature She-Oaks and banksias
adjacent to the Bay Trail in a particular section of the McCrae foreshore in which we regularly work as shire volunteers,” she said. “Many trees are well on the way to being dead, whilst semi mature She-Oaks and about 12 Banksias two to four metres high seaward of the Bay Trail have had branches torn off, broken off at ground level or been pushed over. “These particular trees are more easily seen from the beach, and when you view the damage from the beach between the Bay Trail and the beach, it seems to be done for a reason.” Ms Smales said it was heartbreaking to see, after volunteers had spent more than 20 years revegetating the area with support and financial help from the council. “We have written to the council, as it’s is theft of money that has been spent of all this vegetation, so hopefully they get on to it,” she said. “It’s such a selfish and shameless thing to do,
it benefits nobody but the person doing it.” Ms Wharfe said the group would like the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to erect signs, warning of the legal and financial ramifications of tree damage. Apart of shire fines, offences for poison and damage to vegetation (trees) can attract a maximum fine of $198,000 under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 if found guilty in the Magistrates Court. Penalties for wilful destruction or damage of public trees under the Summary Offences Act are up to $4,100 or six-months imprisonment if found guilty in the Magistrates Court. Any one with information is urged to report it to the shire and the McCrae Homestead Coastal Group on mhcg@mcccoastalgroup.org.au The shire was contacted for comment.
Rosebud Country Club 2021 & 2022 HOST VENUE
SEPTEMBER 2022 HOST VENUE
MONDAYS $5 OFF SENIOR MEALS TUESDAYS $10 OFF MAIN MEALS WEDNESDAYS PARMARAMA $20 CHICKEN PARMA WITH CHOICE OF TOPPINGS
*LIMITED MENU *VIP VOUCHER APPLIES *NOT VALID PUBLIC HOLIDAYS *CONDITIONS APPLY
www.rosebudcountryclub.com.au
207 Boneo Rd Rosebud VIC 3939 (03) 5950 0800
Southern Peninsula News
23 March 2022
PAGE 5