A RISE in the number of flying fox deaths and injuries has prompted a plea for residents to use smaller aperture wildlife-safe netting to protect fruit trees. Flying foxes play an important ecological role by pollinating native trees. “Delayed eucalypt flowering this season may mean fruit bats and birds are more likely to seek food and nectar from fruit trees, leading them to become entrapped,” Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning manager Suriya Vij said. “Deaths and injuries caused by fruit netting can easily be prevented through the use of the right net type which has five millimetre by…
Author: Bayside News
NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation Wintringham has opened a 44-bed supported accommodation facility in Frankston to tackle elderly homelessness as part of a Frankston service partnership. The registered housing organisation, which purchased Frankston’s Angus Martin house last year, has worked with the state government and other agencies to provide the service for elderly people – a first for Frankston. Under the partnership, more than $15 million is being invested into Frankston to support socially disadvantaged residents. Wintringham partnered with the state government to renovate the kitchen to enable an outreach meal service to be provided to homeless people in Frankston. In addition, disability…
RESIDENTS and visitors to the Mornington Peninsula are being asked to help native wildlife affected by high temperatures. Prolonged heat can make animals appear lethargic, disorientated or unresponsive, so it’s important to take care when helping them. Tree-dwelling and nocturnal animals, such as possums and koalas, which are suffering from heat stress, may be seen on the ground during the day searching for water. Birds will often pant and stretch their wings to cool down. To help, place bowls of water around shady areas and spray mist into trees and shrubs from a garden hose. Place small animals which appear…
A SERIES of commercial break-ins in Braeside and Moorabbin is concerning police. Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cashman, of Kingston CIU, said the robberies occurred overnight Friday and Saturday 20 and 21 January. One was in Downard St, Braeside, where offenders forced the doors of a scrap metal business. It is not known what was stolen. Cash and power tools were stolen from an auto mechanics in Industrial Drive, Braeside. Burglars climbed through an unlocked window to enter an auto panel and repairs business in Keys Rd, Moorabbin, overnight Tuesday 24 January. After rummaging through offices looking for valuables and unsuccessfully…
A BONBEACH man waiting to be picked up by friends on Nepean Highway in the late evening, Wednesday 25 January, was assaulted by three young men thought to be escapees from the Malmsbury youth justice centre. The 45-year-old told police a brown or beige four-wheel-drive pulled up and the men got out and approached him carrying a baseball bat and a knife. He said they demanded he hand over his bag and, when he refused, struck him in the stomach with the bat. The man then handed over the bag containing his mobile phone, laptop and clothing. He was not…