STATE planning minister Richard Wynne has told state parliament that he will not be “calling in” the Ryman Healthcare application to develop a major retirement village at Mount Eliza. This clears the way for the New Zealand-based company to take its bid – for eight four-storey buildings, three three-storey buildings, 272 apartments, 362 car spaces, 115 nursing beds and a place of worship over 23,000 square metres on the site of the former Melbourne Business School – to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on 15 March. The VCAT hearing will adjudicate on Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s decision to refuse…
Author: Stephen Taylor
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is making a submission to the Melbourne Green Wedges and Agricultural Land Consultation (MGWAL) paper despite wanting the public exhibition time extended to at least the end of the month. The shire is concerned it will not have enough time to “consult with the community” over the plan which had a deadline for public comment of 5 February. It will also arrange a poll to “ask if the public agrees with the council’s response”. The state government’s Planning for Melbourne’s Green Wedges and Agricultural Land website says, “robust planning controls are needed to maintain the benefits provided…
FOLLOWING on from World Wetlands Day, RSPCA Victoria is encouraging bird lovers to visit nearby wetlands to see which breeds are living there. The aim is to promote an awareness of the wetlands as well as protect their role as vital bird breeding and feeding sites. The largest wetlands on and near the Mornington Peninsula are Warringine park at Bittern, Tootgarook wetlands (or swamp) at Capel Sound, and Edithvale wetlands at Carrum, which are home to many interesting breeds of water birds. The internationally recognised Warringine Park is listed in the 50-year-old Ramsar Convention – or treaty – which provides…
POLICE will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a scuba diver who got into trouble after exploring the wreck of the SS Alert which sank off Cape Schanck in 1893. The 55-year-old Seaford man was airlifted to The Alfred hospital on Saturday 23 January but could not be revived and died in the presence of family members last week. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Scubabo Dive shop proprietor Josh Howell, of Queenscliff, whose boat had taken the diver and others out to the wreck, was shocked by the news. “It is a tragedy,”…
URBAN planning graduate and public transport advocate Robert Whitehill (pictured) says his dream of constructing a rail line to Rosebud under the first stage of his Peninsula Rail Link project would cost $6.1 – $7.5 billion. His project, which he began in 2012 as a “potential” train line running from Frankston to Rosebud, has since evolved into planning for better rail and bus services across the peninsula – including upgrading the Stony Point line (“All aboard for $20 billion rail ride to Rosebud” The Times 11/1/21). Mr Whitehill said financial projections for stage one includes high-capacity signalling, triplication and grade…