Aero club seeks shire backing for helipad
Boats plan floated for Devilbend PARKS Victoria is planning to allow non-powered watercraft such as kayaks and canoes to use parts of Devilbend Reservoir for recreation. Shore-based fishing is already allowed in some areas and now Parks is looking to extend the range of activities at the 1005 hectare natural features reserve at Tuerong, near Moorooduc. Community to comment is being sought on proposals to allow nonpowered watercraft on parts of the former reservoir’s 250ha of water. Devilbend is recognised internationally for its role in the conservation of bird populations, with more than 44 species resident in the reserve, including eight threatened species. Parks Victoria’s area chief ranger
Georgia Kerr said “we believe canoeing and kayaking as well as improving fishing experiences will contribute to improved physical, mental and social health in our community”. “It’s really important that we ensure the proposed recreational boating activity at Devilbend considers the needs of park visitors and the impact on birdlife in the park.” In 2015 Parks Victoria commissioned the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research to investigate the impacts of non-powered watercraft on blue-billed ducks and other waterbirds at Devilbend. “As a result of the Arthur Rylah Institute investigation, Parks Victoria is proposing a watercraft exclusion zone on the eastern side of the reservoir to
minimise any potential disturbance in the largest habitat area for water birds including blue-billed ducks,” Ms Kerr said. She said the noise and speed of powered watercraft was considered to be too much disruption for waterbirds “and as such won’t be allowed”. “The discussion paper on our website provides lots of detail for the community to consider and we would like to encourage people to get involved in the discussion so we can ensure the best outcome for the park.” The deadline for feedback on proposed boating access is open until Friday 24 March. For more information call 13 1963 or visit the Parks Victoria website: parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/ devilbend
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TYABB Aero Club wants Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to pay $100,000 for a helipad at the Stuart Rd airfield. The club will contribute $25,000 towards the project. Vice-president Jack Vevers said the planned helipad would be used by emergency services crews, such as the air ambulance, firefighting services, and police helicopters. “We are fortunate that we can provide the land and facilities for these helicopters,” he said. “It’s a good thing for the community. “Our application is still going through, but we are hopeful we will get approval soon.” The February edition of the Tyabb & District Ratepayers & Environment Group’s newsletter says the state government has already refused a similar
application for a grant now being considered by the shire. “So if the state has refused why should we, the residents, have to pay?” the group’s president Stefan Berson stated in the newsletter. Meanwhile, the aero club has denied rumours it was moving to become a Mornington Peninsula base for small jet aircraft. Mr Vevers said an application to the council to store jet fuel at the airfield may be behind the misunderstanding. He said the fuel was for refilling helicopters – not jet planes. “There is no way we could have jets here,” he said. “It would be physically impossible for jets to land or take off, and also our permit with the council does not allow it.” Stephen Taylor
The Dromana connection MORE than 6100 houses and businesses in around Domana will have access to the internet through the NBN using fibre to the node technology at the end of this month (February). And 15,700 residents in Mornington, Safety Beach and Mt Martha will be eligible to switch on by 31 March. Telstra area general manager for Eastern Victoria Loretta Willaton said the launch of the NBN around Dromana would give people the opportunity to use a variety of new and emerging
technologies made possible by “fast and reliable broadband”. She said the launch of the NBN comes as broadband use in Australia has reached unprecedented levels, increasing by 30 per cent due to the streaming video “revolution”. More than half of Telstra’s fixed broadband traffic is now video related. Ms Willaton said technicians and staff at Telstra’s Rosebud store had been trained “to help residents seamlessly transition to the NBN”.
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