NEWS DESK
Ferry terminal grant a ‘great first step’ THE state government has given $5 million towards the $22 million redevelopment of the ferry precinct at Sorrento. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said finance for the redevelopment – part of a $40 million upgrade to the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry service – includes $16 million from Searoad Ferries and $1 million from Mornington Peninsula Shire. Half of the state government’s $5 million will go to Searoad Ferries for works in and around the terminal, including improved public amenities and access for visitors, and half to the shire for pedestrian and roadworks connecting it to Point Nepean Road. Work will start early next year with the complete project, including work at the Queenscliff terminal, scheduled to be finished by 2023. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the government’s grant was a “great first step in realising the potential of this important transport and tourism link”. “We have been working closely with Searoad Ferries CEO Matt McDonald and advocating to the state government for financial support to be able to commence stage one of this initiative,” he said. “The timing … is really pleasing as it will be a major boost to our economic recovery efforts as we transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Mr McDonald said the upgrade would “benefit the Sorrento community with improved amenity … and complement the work being undertaken in Queenscliff to create a world class, iconic tourism and transport
Picture: Keith Platt precinct that connects both terminal locations to support the regional economy and local communities”. Cr Hugh Fraser said the ferry precinct was an essential entry point connecting the Mornington Peninsula to the Great Ocean Road and Geelong. “The precinct upgrade ensures
Meow to a better life ONE female cat and her offspring can produce 40,000 cats in their lifetimes. More than a quarter of a million healthy cats and dogs are put down in Australia every year because there are not enough homes for them. Not for profit organisation Meow Rescue is hoping to make a dent in those statistics. Its volunteers, most living on the Mornington Peninsula, rescue cats and kittens and are “passionate about making change in the lives of unwanted cats, kittens and our community”. “We stand for rescue, rehabilitate and rehome,” Committee member Kelly Davidson said. “All rescue cats are cared for by our team of foster carers in their own homes. “We advocate for de-sexing and promote responsible pet ownership, animal welfare and non-kill solutions.” Meow’s kittens and cats are vet checked, wormed, treated for fleas, de-sexed, microchipped and vaccinated before going on to their “puuurfect” home. Ms Davidson said a Last-Litter program for cat owners was part of an “ethical approach to reducing the numbers of unwanted cats”. “This entails the pet owner surrendering the entire litter to us and, in return, we de-sex the kittens’ mother at no cost,” she said. Cranbourne-based Meow and Friends Community Vet will hold its first assisted de-sexing day on the 6 June. For $50 a cat will be de-sexed, vaccinated and microchipped. Details: meowandfriendsvet@ gmail.com
Clarification VETS on the Mornington Peninsula are regulated as to what they can and cannot do with stray animals. The Domestic Animals Act of Victoria stipulates that cats and dogs brought to vets as strays must be handed over to the council if the vet has not signed what is called an 84Y agreement. Vets working outside the agreement can be fined if they are caught checking an animal’s microchip or contacting its owners. Those within the agreement can retain, dispose of, or return cats or dogs to their owners. The veterinary clinic referred to in the article on Neil the cat was not the Rye Vet Clinic in Point Nepean Road (“Loss of cat means loss of confidence in pound” The News 26/5/20).
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Western Port News 3 June 2020
All aboard: Marking financial commitments for the ferry terminal at Sorrento by the state government and Mornington Peninsula Shire are Searoad Ferries CEO Matt McDonald, centre, with Cr Bryan Payne, left, Cr Hugh Fraser and Nepean MP Chris Brayne. Picture: Supplied
the public amenity will provide a welcome experience for such an important piece of tourism and transport infrastructure,” he said. The car ferry is one of the busiest in Australia carrying more than 950,000 people and 26,000 vehicles a year, Cr Bryan Payne said.
“The Sorrento community, in fact the whole of the Mornington Peninsula, welcomes this project that we have been waiting for over many years. “The project will deliver a world class facility for our wonderful ferry service with accessibility for all patrons.” Stephen Taylor
Restrictions eased but caution required IT seemed as though the Mornington Peninsula became active again last Tuesday with the state government further easing COVID-19 restrictions. Playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor gym equipment and park equipment, such as furniture and barbecues, were reopened for up to 10 people, with the number expanding to 20 from 11.59pm on Sunday. Libraries, youth centres and other community facilities were given the go ahead to open with 20 people in a single area that complies with social distancing rules; men’s sheds and arts and crafts classes can resume; entertainment and cultural venues, such as galleries, museums, drive-in cinemas and historic sites can open, and swimming pools can open with up to 20 people and extra safety requirements in place.
Community sporting activities are also be permitted with up to 20 people in undivided spaces, provided the sport is outdoors, noncompetitive, non-contact, and people are able to play 1.5 metres apart. The mayor Cr Sam Hearn said the easing of restrictions was a sign of “slowly and cautiously heading in the right direction”. “If we stay the course and do the right thing, there’ll be more announcements on 22 June that will see a further easing of restrictions – something we’re all looking forward to.” The gradual easing of restrictions was encouraging for local businesses and, in particular, the tourism and hospitality sectors. “In the meantime, I remind everyone that we still need to remain vigilant and cautious and to observe the social distancing rules and practice good hygiene.”
In other signs of easing, non-food and drink market stalls can open, and overnight stays can resume at private houses and in tourist accommodation. Campgrounds and caravan parks can open but with communal facilities closed. The shire camping season is proposed to reopen in October. Up to 20 people are allowed at weddings plus the celebrant and couple; up to 50 are allowed at funerals, plus those conducting the ceremony, and up to 20 are allowed at religious ceremonies, plus those performing the service. Outdoor gatherings can have 20 people and 20 people can be inside a home which, for a family of four, means 16 visitors. Those able to work from home must keep working from home until at least the end of June. Details: mornpen.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Making the best of remote learning WESTERN Port Secondary College students embraced the brave new world of remote flexible learning during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Years 11 and 12 VCE and VCAL students, who returned to school last week, had direct instruction with subject teachers as a class to ensure a continuity of learning over the past seven weeks. “We tried to keep the structure of the timetable similar for students while working in an achievable and sustainable way during remote learning,” principal Chris Quinn said. Lessons were held on the Microsoft Teams platform with students logging in for lesson plans at 9am each day with their names ticked off on a roll before they joined in a 15 minute home group session. Live virtual classes of 30 minutes included direct instruction from the teacher followed by students putting into practice the work studied.
“Our senior students have started really well with the return to their VCE and VCAL programs,” Mr Quinn said. “It is important to recognise what our students and staff have achieved despite the disrupted start to term.” Students are scheduled to return to the school on Tuesday 9 June. Senior students were asked how they found the remote flexible learning program: Ethan Andrew: “At the start I didn’t want to do it, but as it went on, I found out it wasn’t that bad.” Harry Hansen: “It was a struggle for not only me but for my teachers and peers. However, with the dedication of teachers, students and parents, we got through it all and are now coming back to school to do great things.” Emily Smart: “RFL has been a wild ride honestly. I have my moments with different classes; some are easier than others. It was
hard to always stay motivated because I found that I had more distractions at home.” Wiki Tate: “I started RFL really well, woke up early, got work done and stuck to a routine but, over the past couple weeks, it got harder with studying for SACs as well as trying to learn new content by myself.” Liz Dowler: “The beginning was a challenge, but once I made a study planner I regained confidence in remote learning without the classroom environment.” Returning to school is another hurdle, with Mishka Lee admitting to being “a little bit nervous, because things will be quite different at first”. Harry Hainsworth sees it as enabling himto “get a lot of stress off my chest”. Cory Ponyeim said: “Honestly, I’ve never been so excited and impatient to return to school and see all my friends and do face-toface learning again.”