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provide advice and tips to people starting out. Other highlights include refreshments and free face painting for children. Details: Mornington Peninsula Avicultural Society’s bird sale and expo, incorporating the Victorian Zebra Finch Show, Sunday 29 May, 9.30am (bird sales 11am-2pm), State Dog Centre (KCC Park), 655 Western Port Hwy, Skye (Melway 128, J12). Details: 0428 518 646 or www.mpas.webs.com
By Mike Hast THE Mornington safe harbour, or marina, has been given the green light by Planning Panels Victoria. The independent panel, located in the state government’s Department of Planning and Community Development, released its report last week. Panel members Nick Wimbush and Chris Harty reported they had “a very difficult task in balancing the state and regional policy imperatives for a significant safe harbour with the obvious concern and passion of mostly local people for the harbour as it stands now”. They said they had considered issues and submissions in considerable detail, heard substantial expert evidence and concluded the environmental effects of the project “can be effectively managed or mitigated for most issues”. “In net community benefit terms, the inquiry concludes that overall there will be significant positive community benefit. “Subject to detailed recommendations in this report … the Mornington Safe Harbour proposal has strong policy support and should proceed.” It’s a big win for Mornington Yacht Club and its separate company, Mornington Boat Haven Ltd, but a blow for objectors including Mornington MP David Morris, Mornington Environment Association and hundreds of citi-
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zens who spoke at hearings held by the shire council in February. Mr Morris said he had been concerned about the safety of the harbour for more than 20 years, but “I’m not inclined to support a marina there”. “It is disappointing to note the panel recognised the importance of the harbour to our community, but was still prepared to support the project,” he said. “Little weight appears to have been given to legitimate environmental questions, and none at all to the very real concerns about traffic congestion both in the harbour precinct and throughout the town at peak periods.” He said it appeared the panel had assessed the proposal against “the obsolete policy framework of the former government, with little or no consideration of the impact the proposal will have on the Mornington community”. The yacht club wants to build a $19 million marina protected by a 210-metre wavescreen mounted on piles running east–west along a seven-metre depth contour. It would protect the harbour from northerly storms that have devastated the precinct twice – in 1984 and 2008. The marina would have 197 berths, a public jetty, refuelling and sewage pump-out area and associated infrastructure including a travel lift.
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All preened up with somewhere to go people attending last year”. “More than 100 Victorian and interstate breeders will be selling a large variety of Australian and exotic birds including parrots, finches, quails and doves as well as the ever-popular budgies and canaries,” he said. About 30 trade stands will offer a range of bird products such as seed and other foods, cage accessories, bird toys, aviaries, breeding boxes and artwork. Mr Rankine said bird experts would
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Cracker colours: Bird fancier Glenda is promoting the Mornington Peninsula Avicultural Society’s annual bird sale with a little help from her eclectus parrots Annie (red) and Daniel. Picture: Peter Rankine
BIRDS of a feather flock to the 27th annual bird sale and expo run by Mornington Peninsula Avicultural Society at the State Dog Centre in Skye. The society began on the peninsula in 1983 and meets monthly at New Peninsula Church, 370 Craigie Rd, Mt Martha. Club member Peter Rankine said the show is “Victoria’s premier bird sale and expo and one of the largest bird sales in Australia, with more than 2000
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