The CSIRO is leading studies into the likely effects of climate change along the Port Phillip coastline. “This project is an important piece of the puzzle in understanding what climate change means for Victoria’s natural and built environments,” Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) project manager, Dr Tamara van Polanen Petel said. The project – which involves government departments and bayside municipalities – will assess the extent of three key coastal hazards: inundation, coastal erosion, and groundwater change – under several climate change scenarios. “We know that climate change is happening, and we know that it can create…
Author: Keith Platt
THREE young Mornington Peninsula surfers have signalled they are contenders for state-level recognition following the first round of the Victorian State Junior Surfing Titles at Gunnamatta. While mainly west coast surfers dominated during the two-day contest (16, 17 February), brother and sister Sara and Lucas Hickson and Sarsha Pancic showed the peninsula’s young surfers are a growing force. Sara Hickson, of Rye, won the under-14 girls division. Her brother Lucas came second in the under-14 boys; Sarsha Pancic, of Blairgowrie, was third in the under-14 girls. While surfing her way to third place Pancic scored 9.43 for a wave, giving…
It may have been the calamari for breakfast or just the chance to nab a spot in the sun near the water’s edge. Whatever the impulse to come ashore, the New Zealand fur seal lying on the beach at Dromana quickly began to draw a crowd. Some sat on the seawall to get a view of the seal, which obligingly lolled about, waving its flippers in the air. But it was the woman out for a swim that caused the most concern for volunteer seal monitor James Clemens. Not content with swimming past, the woman came ashore and tried to…
JULIA Banks finally broke cover on Thursday last week with an “announcement” that had been rumoured for weeks: she will stand as an independent candidate for Flinders at the May federal election. In doing so, Ms Banks will campaign against her former Liberal colleague, Greg Hunt, who has held the seat since 2001. Adding fuel to the Flinders electoral ire, it was leaked Friday afternoon that Labor’s candidate would be broadcaster and head of journalism at the Australian College of the Arts, Tracee Hutchison. Labor sources would not confirm her candidature, but said the party’s administrative committee would make an…
IT is the height of the summer holidays and the roar of jet skis is the background noise at many Mornington Peninsula beaches. Rye and Safety Beach are two of the main launching places for what are officially known as personal water craft (PWCs), although their use extends well beyond these two areas. On some days the water traffic from Safety Beach to The Pillars cliff jumping site at Mt Martha rivals that along the cliff top Esplanade roadway. Although it has been frequently criticised for adding an extra boat ramp at Rye to the benefit of jet skiers, Mornington…