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 6 September 2023
For all advertising and editorial, call 03 5974 9000 or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Icebergers take a plunge by the pier
Picture: Gary Sissons
PETER Dawson readily admits to joking when he says members of the Flinders Icebergers are “the real icebergers, because we swim in the ocean”. He’s admiring and complimentary of everyone who swims all year. A year-round swimmer, or iceberger, for 30 years, Dawson started at Mentone and says the Flinders group grew as people sought companionship during the COVID pandemic. There are now 65 members of the “unofficial” Flinders group, with as many of them as possible taking the plunge at 7.30am daily near the pier. Individual swim distances vary from 600 metres to two kilometres and the only major rule is “no splashing”. “Everyone looks out for each other, and we sing happy birthday and give t-shirts,” Dawson said. “Everyone is welcome and we’re a very eclectic group.” Dawson said water temperatures varied from a low of 10 degrees in winter - although it had only dropped to 12 this “warm” year - to 21 degrees in summer. Storms in 2021 saw the icebergs retrieve more than 1000 squid jigs tangled in seaweed washed onto the beach. The fishers’ losses have been used to make a sign over the shed provided to the icebergers by Mornington Peninsula Shire as well as keyrings which were sold to raise money for the Save Flinders Pier campaign. Dawson said anyone was invited to take the plunge “at the pier at 7.30am sharp”. Keith Platt
‘Transparency’ urged for council Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors are being urged to improve “transparency” in the wake of the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation into allegations of corruption at the City of Casey. IBAC’s Operation Sandon report tabled in state parliament on 27 July this year “found clear evidence of two [Casey] councillors accepting personal
benefits from making or influencing council decisions related to planning or land use” IBAC’s launch of Operation Sandon saw Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors order a review of development planning decisions made by the shire over the past two decades. The move directed that the review give “particular emphasis” to the Martha Cove housing and marina development at Safety Beach. Results of the review ordered at a public council meeting in January 2020 and presented by CEO John
Baker to a private councillor briefing on 31 August 2022, “did not identify any activity, patterns of decision making or other actions that would suggest corruption”. The review was seen as necessary as the IBAC investigation involved three companies that also had dealings with the shire. The three companies were Watsons Pty Ltd, Wolfdene Built Pty Ltd and Schutz Consulting Pty Ltd and the shire’s review was made “to determine if there was any reasonable suspicion of corrupt conduct that would require
a referral to the IBAC”. The council’s decision to conduct the review also included a directive that it receives “timely notification of any Woodman or related company application or secondary consent or review of permit and on large projects”. “I would prefer briefings to be broadcast to ensure accountabilit and transparency on public matters allowed and lawful under the Local Government Act,” Cr David Gill said last week. In an email to his colleagues headed Council Transparency Following
IBAC Report (Operation Sandon), Gill said councillors could “improve transparency and the ability for councillors to represent our community”. “One issue concerns asking questions of officers in public, which is under threat at our council meetings without a decision by council being made. “I believe there has been a gradual encroachment to the rights of councillors in this term due to changes in governance rules and decisions by chairs.” Continued Page 8