NEWS DESK
Hope for wind farm blows in from China Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au YARINGA boat harbour developer Stefan Borzecki has sold his 200-hectare French Island property to a Chinese company that may be able to realise his dream of establishing a wind farm capable of powering the entire Mornington Peninsula. He says the company has built similar projects in the Philippines and China. The buyer – reportedly with links to the second largest power company in China – paid $3.5 million for the land on three titles, including a house, at the
north-western corner of the island. The sale includes a feasibility study into a wind farm as well as weather monitoring equipment. An engineer, Mr Borzecki said over the past 10 years he had tried to develop the remote property as a 12-turbine wind farm “capable of supplying green energy to the whole Mornington Peninsula”. However, he had been unable to get state government ministers to support his bid for planning permission. Backers were also shy: “While we have proven that the site has the productive capacity to produce 150 megawatts-plus no Australian developer
would take it on,” he said. “It is the only wind site near the peninsula but not on the coast, is next to the main electrical terminal station, has no neighbours and can’t be seen from any village.” Mr Borzecki, who recently entered into an arrangement to sell industrial land at Yaringa, said he had “invested around $500,000 [in the wind-farm project] and had to give it up”. “It all became too hard,” he said. “I believe [the new owners] will build the wind and solar farm,” he said. “The problem lies at the top level of state government: we, and many others, could not open the door [which]
is where the Chinese appear to have much better access and connections.” Selling agent Chris Watt, of Century 21 Home Port, said Mr Borzecki had worked hard over the past 20 years consolidating multiple titles which made the land an attractive sales proposition. He described the buyers of the land as being “head and shoulders above the rest” in terms of their ability to get the potential wind farm project up and running. The land, visible from Yaringa, is part of the old “Energy” precinct of the island. In 1893 the then-state government established seven village set-
Police patrol
tlements for 200 people. They were called Energy, Star of Hope, Callanans, Perseverance, Industrial, Kiernans, and Grant Homestead Association. Mr Borzecki offered 40 hectares of saltmarsh – habitat for the critically endangered orange bellied parrot – for a state park plus an adjoining 40ha foreshore reserve. This was to offset the loss of eight hectares at the then-new marina and its planned apartments. In launching his wind farm project years ago Mr Borzecki praised the site’s “clean and green” credentials and its potential to replace generators on French Island and power the entire peninsula.
With Stephen Taylor
Beware online scams
ONE of the latest online scams involves a fraudulent Facebook messenger account using the name of Flinders MP Greg Hunt. Online fraudsters tell the victim they are in line for a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. They say the grant is a financial aid program aiming to eradicate poverty and stabilise the economy. The grant promises them “quite sizeable” sums of money on the proviso the victim clicks a link and agrees to pay processing fees, including a fund file fee, tax and clearance fee and a delivery fee. All fees are in US dollars totalling $1305. Similar scams purporting to be from the United Nations are also doing the rounds. Older scams include an ATO impersonation scam, Help Me Catch-a-Hacker scam, and You Have a Federal Warrant scam. Police say signs of a scam include anyone asking for payment using a gift card. Other scams include being offered money for something not entered or applied for; being asked to pay first to receive something back; spelling errors or grammatical errors, such as: “We verify you information’s and it shows that you are qualify to receive the grant.” Police say: “If they tell you not to tell anyone else about your windfall, or payment is requested via Western Union, it is a scam.” Anyone unsure about the validity of something they have received should look up the phone number of the department/organisation, explain what has occurred and ask for clarification. If in doubt just hang up or do not reply to a text or email. If it seems too good to be true then it probably is, police say. Visit ACCC Scamwatch or ACORN Cybercrime Reporting online for more information.
Petrol thief POLICE want public help to identify a man, pictured, who put $60 worth of petrol into a dark coloured flat tray ute at a Safety Beach/ Dromana service station and drove off without paying, 6.50pm, Monday 8 July. The ute was displaying false number plates. Anyone recognising the man or the ute should call Constable Robinson at Rosebud police station 5986 0444 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
Rider rams patrol car
A MOTORCYCLIST rammed a police divisional van at Rosebud last week and then rode off at high speed. Police were called to reports of the road bike being driven erratically on Pt Nepean Road, Rye, 4am, Thursday 18 July. After initially losing sight of the bike they spotted it at the Rye BP service station and tried to intercept it, but the rider rammed the side of the van and rode off along Weir Street at high speed. Police have CCTV footage of the incident. The rider is described as Caucasian and in his 20s.
Arrests end crime spree DETECTIVES and uniform police in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula have in the past week arrested several offenders for vehicle related crime, (“Crime spree and car chase ends on a flat note” The News 17/7/19). “Many of the offenders have been remanded in custody and face lengthy custodial sentences,” Detective Senior Sergeant Alan Paxton, of Somerville CIU, said. “Vehicle crime represents a large proportion of all crime reported in Victoria, and therefore consumes much of our time.” Residents are asked to remove any valuables from their vehicles when parked. Also, anyone with information they wish to share regarding vehicle crime should contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or call their local police station.
Transport hubs TRANSIT police in the south east are cracking down on crime and anti-social behaviour on the public transport system and railway stations.
During recent operations at Dandenong, Southland, Chadstone and Fountain Gate they spoke to 6959 people, made 22 arrests for crime and anti-social behaviour, and issued 651 penalty notices for transport and behaviour offences. “We know that most people who use our public transport system do the right thing, however, we will not tolerate the few who choose break the law,” Acting Sergeant Burton said. “We recognise the need to focus on transport hubs and will continue to regularly focus our operations on these areas to ensure public safety and reduce crime.”
Soccer club raid OFFENDERS broke into the Rosebud Soccer Club last week but only got away with cheap electrical appliances. Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Hocking, of Somerville CIU, said they dented roller doors in a bid to gain entry then used a jemmy to remove a security grill on the
roof, overnight Sunday 14 July. Once inside they forced open cupboards and drawers and stole kitchen items, including cookware, frypan and sandwich maker, valued at $100. A battery charger was later found dumped near the gate into Besgrove Street. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said he was “saddened to hear the clubrooms had been broken into”. “On Tuesday 16 July I joined Eugene, Mel and Rob from the club, along with council officers, to inspect the damage,” he said. “The officers told the club the lighting would be upgraded to LED lights and that assistance would be provided for changing room access at the football club. “So, there have been some good outcomes after a terrible blow to a much-loved community club.” Police are appealing for witnesses. They should call 5978 1300.
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Southern Peninsula News 24 July 2019