NEWS DESK
Name change awaits Registrar’s OK ROSEBUD West residents opposed to changing the suburb’s name to Capel Sound have a month to lodge objections with the Registrar of Geographic Place Names. They can object either by saying the naming authority did not consider the objections during its deliberations, or the proposal does not reasonably conform to the Registrar’s guidelines. Of the 5600 letters sent out, 1065 were returned supporting the name change and 837 were against – a majority of 228. About two-thirds of the letters were not returned. Councillors voted 7:4 to accept the result of the poll at the Monday 11 April meeting. The shire will now send letters to residents and ratepayers advising that it supports the name change, before advising the Registrar of Geographic
Place Names of its support for the name change and sending in supporting documents. A final decision will be made within 30 days. A relieved Capel Sound name change campaigner Terry Wright said: “That’s it” after the successful conclusion to an 18-month campaign. “We had the vote and we are grateful to the big numbers of people who supported it,” he said. He admitted to “getting a few pats on the back” but wouldn’t be drawn on the bona fides of negative comments on social media. “That stuff on Facebook is unaccountable and we don’t see the point in going there because it muddies the water. “We are following up on the people who said [the name change] was not a good decision; it’s hard to understand. “It’s a good name and many people
were already using it; it’s the only name of a town with a reference to a feature of the bay: sound. What we did was all above board and now it’s just a matter of taking it to finalisation.” In a controversial move, council officers sought permission from the Office of Geographic Names to analyse the survey results based on ‘YES’, ‘NO’ and ‘No response received’ when deciding a majority. This did not include the conventional tacit approval for non-returned forms, which shire officers said would ensure an “equitable approach” to determining a majority vote. Officers said in a report to council that the Registrar of Geographic Place Names had agreed that tacit approval in the poll – where a non-returned form signifies a No vote – would “not be appropriate to include given the potential
impact on survey results and provided an exemption for council to exclude it”. This information was included in the report to council on 23 November. The mayor Cr Graham Pittock, whose Seawinds ward covers Rosebud West, said the Office of Geographic Places Names would look at supporting evidence before making its final decision. “The council followed due process [in the poll] and the will of the residents and the matter was democratically decided,” he said. Referring to the absence of tacit approval Cr Pittock said: “It was quite clear that if people didn’t vote their views would not be recorded, whether they approved the name change or not.” “To councillors like me who were on the sidelines it was a clear indication
that the majority were in favour of the change.” Seawinds ward’s Cr Antonella Celi, while agreeing that the shire’s handling of the poll was “straight down the line”, said she was “not convinced the majority of residents wanted the name change”. An “in congruency in the voting process caused people to be confused” – both those voting for and against. “That’s why people are sceptical now. They feel they missed their opportunity to have their say,” she said. “Many thought the pro-name change campaign was authorised by the council but it wasn’t and they feel mislead. “The appeals process is quite specific and we do have a vigilant community who will now be taking their grievance to the Registrar and Minister (Richard) Wynne.” Stephen Taylor
Group aims to soften effect of The Pillars Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au FED up with having cars parked across their driveways, rubbish strewn in streets and on lawns, and 20-somethings wandering the streets urinating behind bushes, “concerned residents” in Mt Martha have formed The Pillars Residents Action Group. Theirs is a campaign from the heart, and they are determined to protect their little piece of paradise from what’s become a marauding herd of young people invading the oncepristine shoreline – in ever-growing numbers. As part of their campaign, the group successfully requested young people’s tourism website AWOL – which had listed “Jumping off The Pillars” as one of the ‘Top 20 things to do’ on the Mornington Peninsula – to remove reference to the site from their web page. The site had claimed to reach “over two million young and engaged Australians every month”. Another possible catalyst to their campaign was the ripping out of six no-parking signs by disgruntled young motorists looking for easy places to park. Up to 800 young people visited The Pillars one day last summer for some ‘cool’ fun in the sun, swimming in the clear waters and jumping off the rock formations. It’s a pattern repeated every warm day and most weekends over summer, and spurred on by favourable comments on social media. “Our group formed in response to the current situation where high
Concept plan: An artist’s view of The Pillars showing a 25-space car park, walking paths, look out and access points.
numbers of non-local young people are coming to the area to jump off the rocky cliffs,” group member Sue Davey said. “They are parking illegally, leaving rubbish everywhere – including in Lily Gully reserve at the bottom of Deakin Drive – and generally causing havoc in streets nearby.” The residents’ group is not satisfied
with Mornington Peninsular Shire’s proposal to lift the current 'no parking' restrictions in many local streets. “For residents in these streets, this is unacceptable,” Ms Davey said. “There are no formal pathways or crossings to get to The Pillars, no bins, many roads are narrow and unsealed and there are no toilets or facilities.” A shire traffic and transport team
plan to “holistically address parking concerns” near The Pillars aims to ensure minimum road widths are maintained through parking restrictions. Traffic and road safety officer Digby Smith told the group by email that “most community concerns highlighted that road access (particularly in the case of an emergency) was being impeded by parked vehicles on both sides of local roads near The Pillars”. He said there were inconsistencies in current parking restrictions, particularly on Deakin Drive. “As a result, it is proposed that parking only be restricted on one side of Deakin Drive.” “At this stage the traffic and transport team is compiling feedback like yours about the parking plan for Briars Ward councillors … and to be able to update the community with a finalised parking plan.” The shire is liaising with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and VicRoads over long-term plans for the popular site. Mr Smith said: “Initial feedback from DELWP is that closing The Pillars is not an option given their experiences in other locations. “We have raised concerns related to the ongoing erosion, safety of pedestrians using the cliffs and crossing The Esplanade, rubbish issues as well as poor behaviour being exhibited on a regular basis. “It is intended that a long-term direction be determined by the land manager responsible for The Pillars so that we can then implement infrastructure, enforcement and education to support
this direction.” Mr Smith said a group request for a path between Mt Martha shops and The Pillars had “been recorded into our footpath construction database for future consideration”. The shire said constructing a footpath along The Esplanade was “a very difficult project given the terrain, culturally sensitive sites in the area, significant native vegetation and minimal space within the road reserve”. “Given the footpath would be on crown land managed by DELWP, their consent would also be required. We receive a large number of requests for paths on the peninsula and a path between Mt Martha shops and The Pillars is not currently a high priority,” Mr Smith said. Ms Davey, of Lempriere Av, said the group had “no intention of closing The Pillars”. “We just want to get rid of the rubbish, parking problems, have safe walking paths from the South Beach carpark, and parking bays in Marguerita Av and Deakin Drive.” Another idea is to build a lookout overseeing The Pillars to take away what’s attracting young people in the first place. “About 99 per cent of the visitors are P-platers and we think they love the fact that it’s hidden away,” Ms Davey said. “Having families able to access a lookout and watching them would take away its allure.” The group has created a Facebook page where interested parties can comment, with entries to be forward to the council before the end of April.
WHAT’S ON AT THE ROSEBUD RSL
ENTERTAINMENT AY TEDDY BEAR DINNER FREE FR’sID & 70’s Family Night at Rosebud RSL on Saturday 21st May in Poppies Bistro. Bring your favorite Teddy Bear along for dinner. There will be prizes given away throughout the night.
50’s, 60 abilly oll’ Rock Rock’n’R es m and Blu & Rythy
The Mushroom Family Show
Rock Band
will be there with singing, dancing, balloon animals, & much more!
Be sure to book, as these nights are very popular! To Book, call 5986 1066
Mojo Oil
MONDAY ONLY
LUNCH & DINNER ONLY $18
SEAFOOD SENSATION
29th April COURTESY BUS
from 7pm - late
CHOICE OF Grilled or Fried Cape Whiting Crumbed Calamari Thai Curry Prawns Galic Shrimp Risotto Battered Prawns Salt & Pepper Squid Garlic Cream Prawns Crumbed Prawn Cutlets Tempura Battered Salt Water Barramundi Battered Flathead Fillets Add Soup or Dessert for an extra $2.50
WEDNESDAY TO SATURDAY 4PM - 11PM
PH: 0409 193 285 CONDITIONS APPLY
117 EASTBOURNE ROAD, ROSEBUD PHONE: 5986 1066 Southern Peninsula News 26 April 2016
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