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Wednesday 6 November 2024
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Emergency crews get ready for summer
Picture: Supplied
A LARGE-scale grass fire simulation was held at Crib Point on Saturday 26 October, bringing together more than 220 volunteer CFA firefighters and SES crews. The realistic exercise included a helicopter water bomber, as well as more than 25 vehicles and support from Forest Fire Management Victoria, as crews prepared for the bushfire season. Participants engaged in various scenarios including relaying water around the site, assessing fuel loadings, the topography and weather conditions, as well as providing asset protection, the CFA’s Westernport Group deputy group officer Craig Aiton said. “It’s vital for our members to be able to undertake training not only with neighbouring brigades, but also with our support agencies,” he said. Langwarrin fire brigade lieutenant Allie Guegan was among those to participate as a strike team leader. He said the realistic simulation
provided a chance to network and be better prepared for the unpredictable nature of grass fires. “These training exercises are essential and allow us to practice those skills that we need to dust off as we head into the summer season,” said Guegan. “We also have a range of other agencies and capabilities here so it’s great exposure learning about how we interact on the fireground and how I would direct them as crew leader.” The CFA’s deputy chief officer for the south east region, Trevor Owen, said while it was crucial for crews to be ready for summer, fire protection was a shared responsibility for everyone. “We know that we only need one week, or even one day, of solid hot weather in the midst of summer under really strong fire weather conditions, to cause a lot of devastation and put a lot of communities at risk and that’s why we’ve got to get prepared,” he said.
Levy takes from peninsula, to give elsewhere Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au THE Short Stay Levy Bill has been passed by parliament, and a 7.5% short-stay levy will be applied to short-term accommodation from 1 January 2025. But concern has been raised at the high contribution the peninsula will make to the levy, which will go towards funding affordable housing projects, and the small amount of funds to be spent back into the area. It is believed the Mornington Peninsula has over 4,500 homes listed on the Airbnb platform alone. It makes the peninsula the highest
short-stay accommodation rental market in the state, dwarfing the Surf Coast (2,254) and City of Greater Geelong (2,314). The Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula sought assurances from the CEO of Homes Victoria, Simon Newport, in September that a fair portion of the revenue from the proposed short-stay levy would be used to alleviate the housing and accommodation crisis on the Mornington Peninsula (Push for short-stay tax revenue to stay on peninsula, The News 1/10/24). They have now received a reply stating that only $10m of the state government’s $6.3b Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund
would be spent on the peninsula. “That’s 0.15% from a major housing initiative delivered to a local government which is currently ranked the second worst for homelessness and those sleeping rough in metropolitan Melbourne,” said Josh Sinclair, CEO Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. “It’s difficult to think of any other region in Victoria that has significant housing issues like ours but with so little support and investment from government to address them.” Mornington Peninsula Shire is ranked the second-worst metropolitan local government for homelessness and those sleeping rough – but
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is ranked in the bottom four metropolitan councils in the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build. The region also accommodates eight million visitors a year, which puts further strain on cost of living and house affordability. Comparative to the Mornington Peninsula’s $10m on affordable housing, the City of Frankston is being allocated $48 million. The City of Greater Geelong – an equivalent region in both population and economic output – has received $214.5 million from the housing programs; $204.5 million more than the shire in the same period, and $156.5 million more than Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula combined.
“Our region has more than 40% of renters living in rental stress, a severe lack of accommodation for our workforce; major shortage of social and affordable housing; and the unwanted reputation of being the fourth worst local government area for homelessness in the state,” said Sinclair. “The committee will continue to advocate with both levels of government and both sides of politics for more support and investment in housing and accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula. “We can and must do better when it comes to getting the support and critical investment we need for housing.”
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