Esso update
By David McCord, Long Island Point Plant Manager. Over the past few months, Esso’s Long Island Point Plant team has been gearing up to meet peak energy demand this winter. Each day we receive, process, store and deliver thousands and thousands of barrels of petroleum products, including crude oil for the refining industry, ethane for the chemicals industry and LPG for both chemical production and the transport industry. We have been doing this around the clock, day-in, day-out for half a century. But it’s not as simple as turning the tap on and off. Our maintainers and operators have been working hard to prepare the plant and upgrade equipment to keep the facility running like clockwork during our busiest season. These activities are also part of Esso’s longer term commitment to maintain its assets for continued gas supply for years to come. At Esso, we are keen to support programs that encourage young people to reach their full potential and pursue a career in the oil and gas industry. In May, our safety and environmental team visited Tyabb Railway Primary School while Long Island Point received a visit from Westernport Secondary College students, who saw first-hand the diverse range of career options in the industry locally. The students were taken on a tour of our laboratory, which is key to maintaining our product quality while a walkthrough of the control room gave students a glimpse of a modern operations environment. If you would like to find out more about our Long Island Point operations, I can be reached at communityANZ@exxonmobil.com. I encourage you to check out our website, www.exxonmobil.com.au, or follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @exxonmobil_aus.
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Western Port News
19 June 2019
LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Jobs in jeopardy if airfield businesses are closed As one of the original members of the Peninsula Aero Club dating back to its foundation in 1964, I have several points to make about the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s heavy handed attempt to close down all operations at the airfield due to the actions of certain objectors to the airfield. 1 If the objectors don’t like it they can always move somewhere else. After all, the airfield has been in place for more than 55 years. How many of them can say they have been there that long? 2 The various businesses at the airfield, including at least four aircraft maintenance facilities, the aero club’s flying school, aircraft sales and other enterprises, which altogether employ many people, whose jobs would be put in jeopardy if this ill-advised move goes ahead. 3 Revenue raised at the Tyabb Airshow, held every two years, is donated to local charities and volunteer organisations, such as the Tyabb CFA, which benefit greatly from this help and would as a result also disappear if the council has its way. 4 Finally, the aero club has trained many professional pilots in its 55 years of existence, many of whom have progressed into the airlines, a fact that any of those against this airfield would do well to remember, particularly the next time they go on an overseas flight with an Australian airline, because the pilot and any of the crew members up front could very likely have done at least some of their training or earlier flying at Tyabb. Cam Care, Mornington
Community asset I must correct the impression given by Michael Free that the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’ Association does not represent a strong community view (“For the record” Letters 11/6/19). Over my 12-year involvement with the association we have had up to 2000 supporters on varying peninsula issues. Many in the community contact us when they become frustrated with the lack of support from government and semi-government organisations. Our committee has a wide cross-section of political views but, like me, we work with all sides of politics to help maintain the peninsula lifestyle we. This does not stop our members and committee voicing their personal views, but these must not include the name of the association. Our achievements include: Supporting capping council rates, resulting in rate increases being only a third of what they
once were. Based on my extensive experience with PPP projects we put forward the proposal that Peninsula Link not be tolled but be financed by a form of “shadow tolling”. The Peninsula Link Authority, the government and RACV supported our proposal and as a result residents are not being hit by tolls. We are not opposed to development, but on many occasions we have influenced council to oppose inappropriate development and have been involved in successes in eight out of nine times at VCAT. It is not unusual to be requested by local politicians, councillors or council executive to provide support on various issues. All of this involves considerable voluntary time, not uncommonly requiring 50-60 hours a week, for the good of the community with little or no thanks. We are preparing a detailed submission on the shire’s Neighbourhood Character Study and we hope that Michael Free will make a submission which, unlike his letters, will make a positive contribution to improved residential development on the peninsula. Alan Nelsen, secretary, Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association
Community helper I notice Michael G Free has taken my advice and formed his “going off half cocked” association. (“For the record” Letters 11/6/19) He claims that “fact checking is not a strong suit of the left”, obviously the same comment can be directed to him. Fact, I am not, repeat not, nor have I ever been a member of GetUp and I left the Labor Party years ago. Perhaps there is another Michael G Free who drops in the occasional correspondence on climate change. Obviously Mr Free disregarded the information that was imparted to him on the 1997 birth of the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association. Election forms are sent to all members of the MPRRA before our AGM, not just to the members who attend our meetings. As for being a community activist, apart from being the democratically elected president of MPRRA, I am part of a conservation group hell bent on protecting the Rosebud foreshore; I am involved in a wellness singing group at one of the community centres in Rosebud that enables people with disabilities to sing. I am
also involved with two other singing groups one of which goes to nursing homes to sing to the patients. I wonder what Michael G Free does for his community? John Cain, McCrae
Next in line The bigger picture? Independent MP Andrew Wilkie, a former whistleblower, urged the federal Coalition to “back off” and let the press do its job, calling for a full investigation into the police raids on the ABC and News Corp Australia journalist Annika Smethurst as well as a warning to 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, also criticising Labor for agreeing to laws that silence the media. [NOTE: Martin Niemoller’s observation about trying to live in 1930s Germany: ‘‘First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”] Cliff Ellen, Rye
Hidden meaning Today’s mail included a pamphlet from the Mornington Peninsula Shire inviting me to have my say on a “Draft neighbourhood character study, containing a set of precinct-based preferred character statements and accompanying design guidelines ...”. Eh? I read the thing three times and still don’t know what they’re talking about, or why. I know I’m getting old, but senile too? Either I’m mad or some council staff are stark, raving. Does the council have too much money and a need to expand the fiefdom? Perhaps they suffer from relevance deprivation? I’ve noticed they shut down an airport over a lost 1972 permit. Perhaps my resident president representative for all things council, John Cain, can get his band of 25 to look into this? And that? Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Short changed Construction is underway of the Coppin Road, Sorrento footpath. The footpath has been subject to almost four years of protests from property owners who do not want it. Mornington Peninsula Shire planners have designed the footpath to finish 18 metres short of Point Nepean Road, forcing pedestrians with strollers and the elderly on mobility scooters onto Coppin Road to cross to the beach. Will the council accept responsibility for what is potentially a dead end? Bill Holmes, Sorrento
Birthday noted at musical Mornington Pictures by Yanni
MORNINGTON became the music capital of Melbourne over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The Mornington Winter Music Festival started on the Friday night (7 June) with musicians playing at nine venues, starting at 10am in the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery. When the “Dissonant Rhythms” of Ross Manning ended at 5pm, the show moved on to wine bars, pubs and restaurants. The gallery again started the show on Saturday, which had a much bigger line up musicians playing to audiences in a longer list of venues (as well as on Main Street). this time including wineries and the Mornington Yacht Club (jazz with Kissing Harriet). Sunday saw music back on the street and at 19 venues, including Mornington railway, Old Post Office Museum and Mornington Anglican Church. The crowds roamed from venue to venue, seeking out their favourite sounds for the third day running. The Monday 10 June Queen’s Birthday public holiday presented a time to wind down, with Ross Manning’s sounds continuing at the gallery, Brazilian jazz with Nota Bene Duo at The Counting House and the chance to look at telecommunications artifacts at the Old Post Office Museum.