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…
Author: Keith Platt
A new boardwalk, ramp onto the beach and special polyester matting made it easier to get wheelchairs onto the sand at Point Leo on Saturday. It was the first surf event for 2019 held by the Disabled Surfers’ Association Mornington Peninsula branch and the upgraded beach access saw 99 surfers enjoying time in the water with the help of a record 300 volunteers. DSAMP president John Bowers described the turnout of surfers and volunteers as “fantastic”. “Everything that that happened was just so good. The boardwalk enabled regular wheelchairs to be taken onto the beach, whereas before people could only…
THE “temporary” fence designed to block access to The Pillars cliff jumping site at Mt Martha has effectively divided the community. Dubbed an eyesore and ineffective, the fence also sits on a narrow track that could be used by pedestrians along the Esplanade between Deakin Drive and Marguerita Avenue. Hot days still draw a crowd to the cliff top, with many either scrambling over the fence or forcing their way along the inside until they reach the track towards the water. The number of boats and jet skis anchored within the 200 metre no go zone declared by Mornington Peninsula…
WATER can be the key ingredient to helping wildlife survive in backyard gardens during summer. “Often people have the belief that when it comes to wildlife it’s an us or them situation but, with some small considerations, we can all happily live together,” Paula Rivera said. Ms Rivera, of Langwarrin and her friend Janet Wheeler, Frankston South, give talks and promote good relations between humans, animals and birds under the name, Living With Wildlife. “You can prevent wildlife ‘dying for a drink’ by having a water bowl and bird bath in your garden,” the pair stated in a news release…
The coming year is likely to see the state and federal governments pay more attention to the Mornington Peninsula. The Labor state government has won one of the peninsula’s “safe” Liberal seats and the shire’s new mayor, Cr David Gill, wants to make sure there is no weakening of land use regulations, especially in the green wedge zone. A federal election is due by May, and while the Liberals will want to win back support, Labor will want to build on the sentiments that saw Chris Brayne take Nepean. Ironically, Cr Gill and shire CEO John Baker were last Friday…