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Wednesday 25 September 2024
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Shoreham reflects on 75 years as a brigade SHOREHAM Fire Brigade have gathered for a momentous awards dinner to reflect on their 75 years of service and acknowledge the efforts their members have contributed to the community. CFA Board Member Peter Shaw joined the celebrations on Thursday, 12 September, presenting CFA Service Medals up to 40 years, while Deputy Chief Officer Trevor Owen had the honour of awarding the National Medals and Clasps to a deserving cohort. Tony Wain, a Shoreham Fire Brigade member of 22 years and Captain of seven, said it was a special event that signified where the close-knit brigade have come from, where they are now and where they want to go. “It’s important to maintain a brigade that’s going to be viable into the future and we’re in a fortunate position at the moment where we’ve recently put through around 11 recruits over the last few years, and they’re the cornerstone of that,” Tony said. CFA Board Member Peter Shaw presenting a 75th certificate to Sue Wilding. Picture: Supplied
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:
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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 4
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