Southern Peninsula
Features inside FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT PAGES 25–29 CLASSIFIEDS PAGES 30–31 SOUTHERN PENINSULA SCOREBOARD PAGES 32–33
An independent voice for the community
Your weekly community newspaper covering Safety Beach to Portsea For all advertising and editorial needs, call 1300
FREE
Tuesday 18 February 2014
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Leading lights THE cream of Rosebud Secondary College’s 2014 crop is ready to lead the way, with new student leaders this week taking up their roles for the first time after being elected in a vote by teachers and peers. Grace Marks and Timothy Tilley were appointed VCE captains, and Kayla D’Angelo and Andrew Williams VCE vicecaptains, while Nick Prentzas and Amanda Thomas were appointed VCAL captains, and Sheldon Williams VCAL vice-captain. Before the vote, each of the 11 nominated students was required to outline their leadership ideas in a speech to staff and year 12 students. The college says it sets high academic standards and is the only school on the peninsula to offer the elite Select Entry Accelerated Learning program for gifted and high-potential students (see story Page 3). Pictured from left are: (back) Kayla D'Angelo and Grace Marks, (front) Andrew Williams, Tim Tilley and Nicholas Prentzs. Picture: Yanni
Chairlift plans go public By Mike Hast PLANS for the $14 million Arthurs Seat chairlift will be made public on Wednesday by Mornington Peninsula Shire. They will be on exhibition and open for public comment until 5 March although the shire will likely accept submissions until the matter goes before the council several weeks later. Arthurs Seat Skylift chief Simon
McKeon will present details of the proposal at a public meeting organised by Association for Building Community in Dromana (ABCD) on Monday night 3 March at Dromana Bay Life Saving Club. Skylift submitted its planning application to the shire on 23 November but was asked for more information. Late last year, Mr McKeon said Skylift was hoping to get planning ap-
proval by the end of the first quarter of 2014, start construction in spring this year and open the ride before the end of 2015. The ride 1000 metres up the western side of Arthurs Seat will have gondolas instead of the open chairs that carried up to 90,000 people a year between 1960 and 2006 when WorkSafe closed the chairlift after the last of three major incidents, including the January 2003
collapse of one of eight pylons that injured 12 people and stranded dozens more. Arthurs Seat Skylift was selected by the Brumby Labor government in October 2010 to build a new chairlift after the previous operator, Richard Hudson, was denied permission to operate the ride, despite spending more than $1 million rebuilding it in 2003-04, installing new, stronger pylons (built in
Marshall’s HOLIDAY RENTALS SORRENTO OFFICE
BIN & SKIP HIRE
LARGEST BIN HIRE COMPANY ON THE PENINSULA vinsbins.com
CALL NOW 5981 5981 recycling more, wasting less
WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ON PRICE OR QUALITY $FFUHGLWHG ,QVWDOOHUV (VWDEOLVKHG \HDUV
Ph: 5977 0878
1R 2EOLJDWLRQ )UHH 4XRWDWLRQV
We are the largest on the Mornington Peninsula MORNINGTON
UP TO 40% OFF
ALL BEAUTYREST/SLEEPMAKER MATTRESSES ON NOW!!
THE BIGGEST &DUV +RPHV 2IĂ€FHV
1000a Nepean Highway, Mornington
9best service 9best ROI
DISPLAY OF
MATTRESSES BEDROOM FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA BEDSHED MORNINGTON SUPERSTORE Peninsula Homemaker Centre, Cnr Nepean Hwy & Bungower Road Phone 5973 6333 • www.bedshed.com.au
9biggest team 9100% holiday focus
NT S WA
E ERUTAILITY GU P O P R OR Q
ED
ESTS
F
5984 5955 www.MyRentals.com.au 119 Ocean Beach Rd. Upstairs (cnr. Darling Rd.)
Dromana), new bolts, a new $28,000 cable, a new motor to haul the cable, upgraded controls and other improvements. Skylift was given a 50-year lease for land as well as “airspace�, which required an amendment of the National Parks Act, and permission to bring the chairlift across Arthurs Seat Rd to the very top of the mountain. Continued Page 3
appraised Thinking of selling? Call Director Troy Daly for a free property appraisal and report on 0418 397 771.
Property to lease? Holiday and permanent rentals are urgently required. Call our rental managers for a free appraisal now. Portsea-Sorrento 109 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento 5964 4386 buxton.com.au buxtonportseasorrento.com.au