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Tuesday 5 August 2014
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Garden in sight A COMMUNITY garden for Dromana residents is closer to fruition thanks to the determination of Samantha Blair and her friend Helen Sweetnam. The pair have been liaising with Mornington Peninsula Shire for about two years to find a suitable location for the project and have settled on a block of land in Marna St, opposite the tennis courts bordered by the car park and residential housing on three sides. Council has provided a $5000 community partnerships grant for the community garden, the first to be formally assessed by the Shire as part of its recently released ‘Community Gardens policy’. Ms Blair also thanked Cr Graham Pittock for allocating discretionary ward funds towards the set-up costs of the proposed community garden. Permaculturalist and senior rangers at The Briars, Jarrod Ruch, drew up the concept design plan for the garden. “Soil testing was recently conducted,” Ms Blair said. “The results reported that the soil is free of contaminants.” Ritchie’s IGA Supermarket has agreed to add the project to their Community Benefits scheme so Dromana residents can contribute to the garden’s start-up costs. “We’re now working on a projected budget for the garden to present a clear case for council’s deliberations on our application,” Ms Blair said. The community garden will be a place for all to learn about sustainable gardening at a time that housing blocks are becoming smaller in scale. The Dromana Community Garden team meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Dromana Old Shire Offices, 359A Nepean Hwy, Dromana. All are welcome to attend. Contact Samantha Blair on 0408 345 561. Green team: Cr Graham Pittock, Samantha Blair, Helen Sweetnam and Pauline Polson at the site of the proposed Dromana Community Garden. Picture: Yanni
Time to comment, but not change, point plan Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE state government is inviting public feedback on a $100 million tourism plan at Point Nepean already endorsed by the Premier Denis Napthine. Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith announced on 31 July that the “public consultation period” for the plan was open until 28 August. Although calling for public comment, the government has not committed itself to making any changes to the proposal, which now needs planning
approval by Mornington Peninsula Shire. Mr Smith said the plan would “transform the iconic Point Nepean Quarantine Station into a world-class tourist destination and education precinct”. The successful proposal by Point Leisure Group – run by Myer family members Richard and Trine Shelmerdine – includes a hotel, thermal pools and spa, a health and wellness centre, accommodation including both luxury and camping styles, shops, cafes, restaurants and a heritage museum and jetty. An earlier version of the adopted
plan seen by The News shows triangular-shaped luxury “retreats” near Cheviot Beach and close to Point Nepean as well as a large circular bathing pool inside of the Quarantine Station precinct. The Victorian National Parks Association said questions that should be answered by the government include the length of the lease for the Quarantine Station area and how much rent Point Leisure Group will pay. “The Napthine government has changed the National Parks Act to allow for 99-year leases in national parks, which is tantamount to private
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ownership. Is this what is proposed for Point Nepean?” VNPA executive director Matt Ruchel said. “In the United States, best practice for proposed commercial uses in national parks is to require a substantial bond. We understand that this is an amount up to the value of the development – that is, if the development is valued at $100 million, the bond is also $100 million. “Many of the buildings there will have uses that are not available to the general public, but are only for people who have paid to be there. Will the public still be able to enjoy the site's
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natural and cultural heritage freely, or will they have to pay?” Nepean MP Martin Dixon said issues raised by the VNPA were “still in discussion as part of the proposal put forward by The Point Leisure Group”. “The Point Leisure Group have made an offer in their Request for Proposal which includes rent, term of lease and management responsibilities. “DEPI [Department of Environment and Primary Industries] will be discussing the full terms with PLG in the coming months to reach a final agreement. Continued Page 6
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