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Land sale brings in millions
IT was all about getting to know the neighbours at Tootgarook last weekend, and this girl was just one of the youngsters who went along with their families to enjoy what was being offered by the Communities That Care program. Full story Page 15 Picture: Yanni
PRE-ARRANGED FUNERALS
ELVIS TRIBUTE SHOW SAT 12TH APRIL. $15 TICKETS. OPEN MENU
For bookings 5986-2377 @rosebud restaurant
889 POINT NEPEAN ROAD, ROSEBUD
PH 5986 2377
SPECIAL END OF SUMMER SALE prices start from $170
vinsbins.com
Call Now 5981 5981
Tuesday 8 April 2014
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Keeping up with neighbours
BIN & SKIP HIRE
FREE
By Mike Hast MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is selling millions of dollars worth of land to pay for Rosebud Central shopping centre, which it bought in September 2012 as a possible alternative site for the aquatic centre on Rosebud’s foreshore. The shire needs more than $8 million for the centre in Wannaeue Place as well as four shops facing Ninth Ave at the rear of the shopping centre, needed to consolidate the precinct. It has bought two of the four Ninth Ave properties although there is doubt it will buy the remaining two now that Wannaeue Place has been rejected by the council as a site for Southern Peninsula Aquatic Centre (SPA). The council agreed to buy the centre, which is occupied by lead tenant Ritchies, and the shops just before it went into caretaker mode before the October 2012 election. The purchase was designed to take the heat out of the SPA controversy and remove it as a negative issue that might have affected the votes of councillors who supported the foreshore site. The 11-member council has been bitterly divided over SPA’s foreshore location since Environment Minister Ryan Smith gave the shire consent to use the foreshore for the aquatic centre in early 2012. The shire had been trying to gain foreshore consent from DSE for more than six years but it took a change of
government for this to occur. On 10 September 2012, councillors authorised CEO Michael Kennedy to buy Rosebud Central for $5.2 million before 25 September, when the council went into caretaker mode, where councils are not permitted to make big decisions that would bind the incoming council. Money for the shopping centre purchase comes from sale of three shire properties: About $1.8 million for the former Rosebud Community Rehabilitation Centre in Eastbourne Rd, which was owned by the shire but operated by Peninsula Health and closed in 2012. The 30-bed rehabilitation centre on 1.7 hectares will be demolished and land subdivided into 24 lots. About $2.5 million for Currawong Court, Rosebud West. This is the balance of shire land used for Seawinds Community Hub next to Eastbourne Primary School. Several residents have voiced concerns and approached council about the sale. About $4 million for 91 Wilsons Rd, Mornington. This is part of the former Mornington Secondary College site, which the shire bought after the school moved in 1999. It is likely to be sold to the Department of Health, which has, through Peninsula Health, built two aged care centres at the northern end of the precinct (the second one still under construction). Continued Page 5
appraised Thinking of selling?
Caring for local families for over 35 years
Call Director Troy Daly for a free property appraisal and report on 0418 397 771.
Property to lease? 123 Jetty Rd, Rosebud Ph 5986 8491
Holiday and permanent rentals are urgently required. Call our rental managers for a free appraisal now. Dean Richards - Manager
info@rosebudfunerals.com.au
Portsea-Sorrento 109 /CEAN Beach Road, Sorrento 5984 4388 buxton.com.au buxtonportseasorrento.com.au