Western Port
GET YOUR
FREE TV GUIDE
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES
INSIDE!
FACEBOOK: peninsulakids.com.au
An independent voice for the community
Your weekly community newspaper covering the entire Western Port region
FREE9
INSTAGRAM: mornpenkids
Wednesday 5 July 2023
For all advertising and editorial, call 03 5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Post budget briefing over lunch
Money talk: Committee for Mornington Peninsula CEO Josh Sinclair with the Treasurer Tim Pallas and Hastings MP Paul Mercurio. Picture: Supplied
SPARE seats were in short supply for lunch on Thursday 29 June in Somerville as the Committee for Mornington Peninsula hosted a Victorian budget briefing with Treasurer Tim Pallas. Committee CEO Josh Sinclair said he and Pallas had discussed the need to keep funding allocated for infrastructure projects within the peninsula region. “We also talked about how we can better advocate within a metropolitan Melbourne designation and the importance of government investing in road, public transport and infrastructure upgrades particularly on the Western Port side of the peninsula,” Sinclair said. Committee members asked Pallas about payroll tax concessions and comparisons to other areas of Victoria; “inclusive” workforces; business taxes; finance for infrastructure projects on the peninsula; and higher education training opportunities for young workers. Committee members at the lunch with Pallas included Peninsula Hot Springs, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors, BlueScope Western Port, Hart Marine, Gazzola Farms and Macpherson Kelley. Sinclair said the committee would like to make the post-budget briefing an annual event with the treasurer. Keith Platt
Shire hires ‘satisfaction’ survey team Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has hired a Melbourne based social research company to conduct a “satisfaction survey” of residents. The shire says 400 interviews will be conducted with a “representative sample of residents”. The survey has been designed to assess the shire’s performance and identify services that need improving. The shire’s decision to commission the survey follows two consecutive years of poor results from community satisfaction surveys of municipalities
made on behalf of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (“Shire again misses survey satisfaction” The News 21/6/23). Results from the 2022 survey saw the shire rated at an “all-time low” followed this year as registering an overall performance score of 50, three less than in the previous survey. In announcing the shire’s own survey to be conducted from 8 to 31 July, the mayor Cr Steve Holland said the shire was “always looking for ways to improve our services, and your feedback gives us valuable information about what matters to our residents”. The shire says the phone and door-
to-door survey will take about 15 minutes and be undertaken by representatives of Metropolis Research wearing uniforms and carrying identity cards. They will not ask to enter homes or want personal details — name, ABN or tax details, home address, phone number, email address, credit card or Eftpos card number or banking details — of residents agreeing to answer the survey’s questions. The shire has not released details of the cost of the survey, questions that will be asked or how the “representative sample of residents” will be chosen. It says, “only the overall survey
COME AND SEE THE CHICKENS ROAMING FREE IN THE PADDOCK!
results are shared with the shire”. The announcement of the survey was made during a week where the shire was being criticised through various social media outlets on several subjects, including clearing fruit trees growing outside a Mount Eliza cafe; a large overhead neon sign at the intersection of Nepean Highway and Main Street, Mornington; the revamping and reduction in parking spaces at several foreshore car parks; and the trial of paid parking at Schnapper Point, Mornington, Sunnyside Beach, Mount Eliza and near Flinders pier. Metropolis Research, the firm hired by council to conduct its survey, says
it has “extensive experience helping government and public sector organisations to understand their communities and helping them to improve client satisfaction with the services they provide”. “We have an outstanding record of designing and managing public sector research projects as well as assisting organisations to use the results of research to improve performance and satisfaction. “Our projects range from small issue-specific initiatives through to larger regional and Melbourne-wide initiatives.” For inquiries about the survey call the shire on 1300 850 600.
BARN DOOR SALES MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM - 4.30PM AND SATURDAYS 8AM - 12.30PM
Our farm is family owned and managed. We have been producing quality eggs for over 40 years, supplying the public, restaurants and other businesses on the peninsula. Eggs are collected 365 days a year so you can be assured that you are buying the freshest eggs with the best yolk and flavour. Retail and Wholesale from our barn door.
Eramosa Road West, Moorooduc. corner of Binnak Way 5977 5405 220 email: admin@somervilleeggfarm.com.au