Seafarers ready to ‘welcome aboard’ Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au CHARITY organisation Seafarers has been inundated with support following a call for help to repair storm damage to its Hastings offices. Since reaching out to the community, Seafarers Hastings branch chairman Geoff Connelly (right) said offers of assistance have come flooding, and the repairs to the building are almost complete (“Seafarers call out for help” The News 26/1/22). “I just can’t thank the people and organisations who came to our aid enough,” he said. “It’s been a wonderful show of community generosity and has allowed us to continue our work helping ship crews, and plan for the future.” Heavy rain and storms on Friday 7 January damaged the roof of the group’s Bayview Road building, causing the water-logged ceiling to collapse. The damage rendered the building uninhabitable, and the volunteers dedicated to supporting ship crews when they come into Western Port desperately called for a helping hand. Mr Connelly said the need to be ready to support new ships arriving in port meant there was an urgency in getting the building up and running again. Now, after several generous donations in the form of money and building support from other charitable organisations such as Hastings Rotary and Australian Mariner’s Welfare Society, as well as individuals and companies BlueScope Steel and Esso, the mission is just about com-
plete, and the Seafarers are back in business. “It’s so wonderful, it’s put my faith back into community helping community,” Mr Connelly said. Mr Connelly said Seafarers provided support for all sea crew, many who were on international ships, by welcoming them into the community and providing spiritual support, assistance with transport, and essential supplies in the way of a “care package”. “The crews appreciate the contact and seeing someone with a smiling face who cares about their welfare,” he said. “We have a chaplaincy program for all faiths, but sometimes it’s just the welcome and friendly hello they need.” The Hastings centre provides a recreation room with a pool table and a comfortable space for crews to relax. “Some of these crew members have been out to sea for 12 months and appreciate somewhere to be when they get time off the ship and help to get around and get what they need,” Mr Connelly said.
Pier protection: Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh with Charles Reis near the wooden section of Flinders pier earmarked for demolition by Parks Victoria. Picture: Supplied
Mayor backs bid to ‘save’ Flinders pier MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh visited Flinders last week to show his support for the Save Flinders Pier campaign. Cr Marsh said that the pier was a valuable tourist attraction to and should be saved. The mayor’s comments are similar to those voiced last week by Flinders MP Greg Hunt (“Liberal support for ‘save pier’ campaign” The News 22/2/22). He also visited the cargo shed historic display, a small museum at the beginning of the pier run by volunteers. The mini museum, dedicated to
the history of the pier and its precinct, operates from a restored cargo shed owned by Parks Victoria and established with money from the state government. Flinders Community Association’s Charles Reis said it was hard to understand why the government would want to demolish the [wooden section] of the pier that the mini museum was established to celebrate. An application has been lodged with Heritage Victoria for protection of the historic pier and a decision is expected mid-year.
COMMENT
The peninsula’s biggest future issue - land use By David Gill* STRATEGIC planning for the use of land is the biggest issue facing Mornington Peninsula.. The peninsula is recognised in state planning policy as an area of significance and that there should be only moderate to low levels of housing growth. Our biggest protection to the character and liveability of the peninsula are the urban growth boundaries around our towns and villages which prohibit any reduction of green wedge-zoned land. The main planning issues that I see are: A general lack of understanding and
sympathy from the state government (politicians and bureaucrats) that the peninsula is different to metropolitan Melbourne. The shortage of land zoned for light industry which could be improved by using excess port related industrial land near Hastings. There is a drastic need to address social housing and particularly homelessness by reviewing the planning scheme. The state government has ignored this issue on the peninsula and has not even provided crisis housing for anyone, including the rising number of homeless older women. The recent rise in house prices has helped cause, along with COVID-19 pressures, a lack of availability of
casual employees in hospitality and other industries on the peninsula. The state government-controlled local planning scheme should address alternative housing for essential casual workers who can no longer afford to rent or buy on the Peninsula. The increasing use of state government introduced VicSmart planning regulations do not require neighbours (or councillors) being told of smaller developments and take away all community appeal rights. Agricultural land needs protecting as there is an increase of rural living on previously viable farmland. Recycled water should be used to drought proof the peninsula and to help safeguard it from the effects of
climate change. Urban growth boundaries need to be maintained and there should be no reduction of the green wedge areas. Land use compliance should not be arbitrary but enforced when regulations are ignored to the detriment of the environment or amenity. A lack of acknowledgment of the authorised local planning statement in planning decisions at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). A wildlife management plan to protect the vulnerability of the peninsula’s diminishing fauna could be a much needed first in Victoria.
The sensitive introduction of the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (C219 planning scheme amendment) to help prevent three storey developments changing the peninsula’s coastal character. No green wedge land should be used for the stabling of trains if the electrified line is extended to Hastings. Permits - and justification - should be required to remove trees from within 10 metres of houses and four metres of fences as allowed under state government bushfire prone area legislation. These rules are altering the green character of the peninsula forever. *David Gill is Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Red Hill Ward councillor.
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2 March 2022
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