NEWS DESK
Beach box owners face tougher rules Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE beach at Mount Martha north is quiet, even though there is no shortage of sand. Beach box owners and other users of the leashfree area would normally be rejoicing, but the beach - shown as Hawker Beach on Marine Safety Victoria charts - remains partially closed. The loss of sand of sand at the beach has long been a sore point of contention between beach users, Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Department of Land, Water and Planning. With the shire and the government agreeing to only barricade the base of the cliff to lessen the chance of a major landslip affecting the Esplanade, Flinders MP Greg Hunt stepped in last year with a $1.5 million pre-May election offer to bring sand to the eroded beach from Mount Martha south (“Lifeline for Mt Martha North beach” The News 11/11/19). The money does not seem to be required at the moment, but the beach was one of those closed by the shire in a bid to minimise the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19 (“Shire closes bay beaches indefinitely” The News 31/3/20). The beaches have now been partially reopened, but for exercise only; groups of people remain banned and social distancing rules apply. While the sand issue may have taken care of itself, hundreds of beach box owners are facing tougher rules from the shire. Proposed changes to the shire’s 20-year-old Boatshed and Bathing Box Policy include: l A ban on any more beach boxes to be built and no increase in size for existing structures; l Licence holders must have public liability insurance of $20 million; l Licencees limited to having one beach box; l Existing water and sewerage connections must be disconnected; l Graffiti must be removed within 14 days (or
earlier if offensive); l If licences are surrendered to council the bathing box will be demolished and the site opened for the public; l The shire can sell licences cancelled through non-compliance with regulations. The shire manages and leases out the sites of about 820 beach boxes along the Port Phillip coastline, 700 on Crown land and the rest on land owned by council, road reserves or abutting foreshore areas managed by council.
The remaining beach boxes are at Dromana, Capel Sound and Whitecliffs-Camerons Bight, where shire regulations do not apply, are managed by foreshore management committees. The shire managed beach boxes are at Mornington (Fishermans, Mills, Scout, and Shire Hall beaches; Mt Eliza (Canadian Bay, Daveys Bay, Earimil North, Earimil South, Moondah, Ranelagh and Sunnyside); Mount Martha (Mount Martha North and South, Craigie, Hawker Fishermans and Shelley beaches); Portsea, Capel
Sound, McCrae, Rosebud, Rye and Safety Beach. A draft of the proposed bathing box policy was deferred (along with several other items including continued leasing of a “satellite” Melbourne office) when the shire cancelled its Tuesday 24 March meeting because of safety concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19. However, if eventually approved by councillors, the draft bathing box policy will be exhibited for public comment for six weeks.
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Southern Peninsula News 8 April 2020
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery is currently closed to the public until further notice in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Even though the gallery doors are temporarily closed, we are continuing to share our collection, exhibitions, stories and children’s activities online. We know this is a tough time for all of our creative communities across Australia. Yet, art has the ability to give us hope and to offer respite during this challenging moment in time. We hope that many people at home are finding more time for creative pursuits and connecting with their loved ones.
Patrick Pound
methodology and how the collection became the medium. If you’re looking for ideas on how to keep the kids entertained, MPRG’s artisteducator Jill Anderson has created some creative tutorials using basic materials you should have at home. We also have a tutorial on how to do observational collage with artist, musician and animator Jerome Rush. Visit the ‘Creative Activities’ section of our website.
Our 2020 National Works on Paper (NWOP) deadline has been extended until 19 July. $50,000 acquisitions and awards are up for grabs. With a long and rich history, NWOP attracts leading artists from across Australia working in the fields of drawing, printmaking, digital prints and paper sculpture. Find out Also check out our website for the more about submitting a work in the 2020 latest news on our 50 year anniversary NWOP on our website. celebrations, exhibition catalogues, Visit the MPRG website and see a virtual artist podcasts and videos, children and tour of Patrick Pound’s A Collection of adult online creative Stranger Things. Patrick is well known workshops and more. for his collections-based artworks. You can also listen to a podcast with Patrick and discover more about his collection
Danny Lacy Senior Curator
24 july – 27 september 2015
www.mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au
STORM IN A TEACUP Exhibition entry adults $4, concession $2, children under 5 free A Mornington Peninsula Regional Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington, Ph 5950 1580Gallery exhibition Special events include: AFTER NOON Sunday 26 July, 2pm–5pm, $4 adults, $2 concession Discover how artists have explored afternoon tea.