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Wednesday 25 September 2024
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Save the savers THE Sorrento Surf Life Saving Club is calling for public help to raise the funds required for a much-needed revamp of its ageing and decaying facilities. With a $2.5 million funding shortfall to deliver a clubhouse redevelopment, it is feared the substandard facilities will threaten the safety of visitors and further impact its dwindling member numbers. See ‘Lifesaving club’s plea for community help’ - Page 5. RO Moore, Max Beck, Duncan Stirling, Marc Clavin, Susan Bissinger and Lino Tarquinio. Picture: Yanni
Potter report gives ‘all clear’ to shire governance Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au THE review of governance and decision making around the “Harry Potter: Forbidden Forest Experience” held at The Briars has been approved by shire councillors after a fiery meeting on 16 September. The report, hundreds of pages in length, was sent to councillors Friday afternoon (13 September) to be discussed at the unscheduled council meeting on Monday 16 September,
mere hours before caretaker period kicked in. The report followed a council resolution on 28 May to “review the processes leading to, and the outcomes of the event being held at The Briars” requiring the report be “presented to councillors prior to the caretaker period”. The review would be required to include an “assessment and review of the processes leading up to and including the initial council decision to hold the event at the Sanctuary, and
the subsequent decision to relocate the event”. The review of the shire’s governance and decision-making processes was carried out by the shire’s acting manager – governance, Pam Vercoe, and then reviewed by the appointed independent probity advisor, business management consultants Comprara. The report found nothing to suggest the initial decision-making process was flawed but identified three areas for improvement with the following recommendations:
n revision of the Mornington Peninsula Shire events policy to provide further clarity on event classification n review of methodologies available for estimating economic impacts n development of a formal mechanism and policy position for marketled approaches to the shire. The probity advisor also noted that strict confidentiality requirements and the non-disclosure agreements required by the event organiser significantly hampered communications about the event. On the back of
the report the shire has committed to putting processes in place to deal with similar requests in the future. The event evaluation also found the experience provided a significant financial boost for the community, with up to $56 million injected into the local economy. The unscheduled council meeting to discuss the report had fiery moments, and at one stage was momentarily adjourned by the chair mayor Brooks due to disquiet in the public gallery. Continued Page 8