Author: Keith Platt

A WARNING has been issued that plans to create liquid hydrogen from brown coal in the Latrobe Valley could ultimately lead to a polluting industry being established in Western Port. Hastings MP Neale Burgess says Kawasaki Heavy Industries has signed a “secret deal” with the state government that could lead to “long coal trains or a coal slurry pipe bringing huge amounts of coal to Hastings, building of a huge coal gasification plant at Hastings and the produced hydrogen being shipped through Western Port”. Mr Burgess’s opposition to the plant being located at Hastings or anywhere in Western Port contrasts…

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ANGLERS after game fish in and around Port Phillip are helping research and contributing to fish numbers with a catch and release policy. Fisheries Victoria’s acting executive director Dallas D’Silva said the population of yellowtail kingfish had “rebounded strongly” since 2010 and some were being electronically tagged as part of a two-year study. “The research aims to determine whether kingfish caught in Victorian waters are from one stock or several, and to better define population characteristics like age, growth and spawning habits,” Mr D’Silva said. “Yellowtail kingfish populations have rebounded strongly since 2010 and they are now regularly caught at…

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NEW lines, new rules, wooden bollards and flashing signs are all part of a comprehensive safety plan on two of the Mornington Peninsula’s busiest roads. The traffic management changes have been made along the Esplanade between Mt Martha and Safety Beach and Marine Drive to Dromana. The main attraction for many visitors to Mt Martha is the Pillars, a swimming and jumping spot on the steep cliffs off the Esplanade between Deakin Drive and Marguerita Av. But along with its popularity – increased by its many mentions on social media – the Pillars has created traffic safety issues, including parking…

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REGULATIONS designed to keep boats and jet skis away from seals, whales and dolphins have been extended to include one of the latest gadgets to take off – drones. While jet skis must not be closer than 300 metres from whales and dolphins and boats 100 metres away from dolphins and 200 metres from whales drones are prohibited from flying directly over, approaching head on or landing on the water near marine wildlife. Land and sea patrols the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) are on the lookout for breaches of the regulations which can attract $233 on…

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PULLING up at a foreshore car park and walking across the beach to the water’s edge is as natural as putting up a beach umbrella and spreading out a towel. But try enjoying those simple pleasures if you are in a wheelchair. Suddenly the beach becomes and obstacle rather than a pleasure. Saturday 12 November is likely to become known among wheelchair-bound residents on the Mornington Peninsula as the day they were first able to cross Mt Martha beach. They were able to confidently make their way to the water on plastic matting provided by Mornington Peninsula Shire in conjunction…

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