Port fined over foreshore clearing Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au THE Port of Hastings Authority has been fined $20,000 at Frankston Magistrate’s Court for unauthorised vegetation removal in February 2020. The 7200 square metres of foreshore cleared was adjacent to the Crib Point jetty. The port authority was prosecuted by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council after the authority failed to gain approval for the clearing. The court was told that representatives of the Port of Hastings Authority and power company AGL - which planned to establish a now-abandoned gas import terminal at the jetty - had met with a council arborist in mid-2018 to discuss removal of some vegetation around the boundary of the property. The authority then hired a contractor to remove virtually all the vegetation from the site, leaving a few significant trees. The shire was told in late February 2020 of the clearing and subsequently inspected the site. Marita Foley SC, for the Port of Hastings Authority, pleaded guilty to a single charge and, in arguing for a reduced fine, said that the contractor had gone beyond the scope of works required, and that the clearing had been done to mitigate bushfire risk. The shire’s legal representative, Luke English, stated that “the claim … that the offence results from a lack of oversight by the contractor … is just simply wrong". “This doesn't fall on the contractor's feet. It is the lack of oversight,” Mr English said. He said a permit would have been required from the shire if the vegetation clearing had been done to mitigate the threat of bushfire. However, a permit had never been granted. The magistrate noted that the hearing saw “one instrument of government was taking action against another instrument of government in front of a third arm of government”.
GALLERY TALK Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery is gearing up to launch our Spring Festival of Drawing – featuring a series of exhibitions focussed on drawing including expansive wall drawings by eleven contemporary Australian artists and a two week school holiday program for kids and adults. For the first time at MPRG, the gallery walls will be completely transformed by artists Penny Evans, Emily Floyd, Tony Garifalakis, Julia Gorman, Yuria Okamura, Jason Phu, Kerrie Poliness, Cameron Robbins, Gemma Smith, Lisa Waup and Jahnne Pasco-White.
CLEARING at Crib Point has resulted in a $20,000 for the Port of Hastings Development Authority.
Ms Foley conceded it was a case of negligence. The authority was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $6000 to the shire in legal costs but did not record a conviction. In response to questions from The News, Port of Hastings Development Authority Malcolm Geier, provided the following response from “a spokesperson”: “We acknowledge that more should have been done to oversee the works undertaken by our contractor during bushfire mitigation works in early 2020. “A bushfire risk assessment has been undertaken, with work on a bushfire management plan underway. “We will put this plan in place before the 2021/22 bushfire season to reduce risk of bushfires and help protect the community and environment near the Port of Hastings.” The spokesperson did not say if the contractor had been paid for the clearing work near the jetty.
One of the artists, Cameron Robbins, has created a solar powered drawing instrument which draws graphite directly onto the gallery’s foyer wall. Inspired by the lunar eclipse, this wall drawing will accumulate each day, forming thousands of consecutive lines. Also, part of part of MPRG’s Spring Festival of Drawing is a new project called Collection+, that pairs newly commissioned work by leading artists represented in the MPRG Collection alongside international artists. Collection+ features new work by trailblazing artist Jess Johnson with one of the pioneers of the pop art movement Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.
Visit the MPRG website later this month or sign up to the Gallery’s e-newsletter to find out more about our Spring Festival of Drawing school holiday program. We have a range of programs for all ages, including a geometric line drawing in chalk with Kerrie Poliness and printmaking workshop with Emily Floyd and much, much, more. In September, families will be able to pick up our free ‘MY MPRG’ kids activity booklet designed by Melbourne artist, designer, and illustrator Beci Orpin. This activity book, aimed at primary school aged children will support a fun and engaging experience at the gallery. From home, you can also check out kids’ creative activities on our website, listen to a podcast with an MPRG-exhibited artist, or do a linocut workshop with renowned printmaker David Frazer. We hope to see you back in the Gallery soon. MPRG Gallery Director Danny Lacy
mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au Civic Reserve, Dunns Road, Mornington Ph 5950 1580
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18 August 2021
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