Mornington Environment Association inc.
PRESS RELEASE 12 January 2012
DISAPPOINTMENT, OUTRAGE AND INCREDIBILITY FROM MEA AT PLANNING MINISTER’S REPORT ON THE MARINA PANEL
Mornington Environment Association (MEA) is shocked to see the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, has finally released his report on the Marina proposal for Mornington harbour and has supported all the recommendations of the Labor appointed Panel, even though our local MP, David Morris, has spoken passionately against it.
Many locals told David Morris, MP that they were against the marina.
Why has the new Coalition Minister ignored all our pleas?
“What we find very strange is that the report, supplied to the Shire on 4th January, 2012, is dated June 2011”said Jan Oliver, President of MEA.
“We are so disappointed that the Minister has ignored community requests and statements to the Panel that the marina is not wanted and not needed. The Minister has stated “Further refinement of the proposal…”is required to demonstrate “public benefit ...has been appropriately maximized… a necessary precursor to securing an agreement for an injection of public funds to enable a project to proceed on coastal Crown land.” NO public benefit has yet been detailed. David Morris has strongly stated that none of his government’s money will be spent on this $19 million proposal because it is a private development of NO PUBLIC BENEFIT.
The Minister’s assessment is a flabby whitewash, as was the Panel’s Report. The Panel report acknowledges all the major concerns with the proposal and yet supports the proposal. By stating “It is my assessment that this recommendation be supported” the Minister endorses what amounts to a virtual redesign of the proposal including redesigning the wave screen to reduce reflected waves, reduce its height to minimize visual impact, redesign entrance to allow tall ships to enter harbour and then find non-available car spaces!
The Minister and his department think there will only be “relatively minor to moderate adverse environmental effects….which will be minimized through the detailed design...” (p 29). He ignored the expert witness advice that Mothers, Scout and Shire Hall Beaches will have major changes, that the waters of the harbour will lose their ability to support marine life and to cleanse the sands. He also ignored the community dislike of the loss of scenic views. It appears he has little understanding of the local Mornington scene.
As highlighted at the Panel, there is a clear distinction between building a marina and providing a safe haven in times of emergency. There is even less need for a marina now, since the installation of stronger moorings, plus better weather forecasting and more responsibility by boat users with more use of Martha Cove as a safe haven.
MEA supports an independent assessment of what should be done in the Harbour. The end of the pier is to be rebuilt at a cost of $6 million: this provides an opportunity for better design.
Now the Shire Council has to meet and decide if it will change the zoning over the harbour. Councillors will have an opportunity to support the community. Does Council wish OUR public water to be used for a large PRIVATE venture?
We are just so disappointed that this new Minister apparently cares nothing for us in Mornington.
The report is on the Shire’s Web site with the link
http://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Files/StrategicPlanning/C107Ministersassessment.pdf
Jan Oliver
President MEA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE 20 January 2011
MOTHERS BEACH COVERED IN BLACK SMELLY SPOIL
Mothers Beach, Mornington, the beach normally crowded with families and children during the summer holidays, is currently closed while a contractor dredges filthy muck from in front of the Yacht Club and dumps it on the sand. The black water then runs back into the waters of the Harbour, causing suspended material to blacken the water.
Jan Oliver, President of Mornington Environment Association, and a member of the Mornington Foreshore Advisory Committee said today.
"I am shocked that this material can be dumped on to our main swimming beach and the beach itself closed. The dump truck from the contractor is trying to spread the black smelly material across and under the beach, with little success. The smell is sulphurous which indicates the material is anaerobic - ie. decaying without oxygen.
I am appalled that the Yacht Club, The EPA and the Shire would allow this material to be dumped on our Mothers Beach. We have complained already and received a reply from Alex Atkins, Director Sustainable Infrastructure who stated that testing of the material showed that Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (associated with fuel leaks) were slightly elevated but acceptable to the Shire and EPA. But what else is in this dredged black muck? We see the pile of old chains, anchors, and blocks pulled up by the dredge. Apparently the Yacht Club wants a deeper entrance to their ramp for the boats racing in February. But what of the people trying to use the harbour? I talked to people fishing on the pier and jetty last night, and they were catching nothing.
The Club should have arranged for the dredged muck to be carted to a land disposal site. In February, the Shire starts dredging in front of the public ramp and good knows what that will bring!
It's bad enough to have half the pier closed off but this is ruining our Harbour in the middle of summer!"
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Dredging 20 January 2011 |
Jan Oliver
President MEA
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE ANTI MARINA CASE IN FEBURARY
Hundreds of objectors to the proposed marina in Mornington Harbour have rallied to support Mornington Environment Association in the campaign to prevent the third attempt by the Yacht Club to build a marina in Mornington Harbour.
Jan Oliver, President of MEA said today “We are all thrilled at the support we have received from so many donors. Just on $10 000 has been raised to pay for our expert advisers and cover presentation costs at the Panel. Thank you to everyone who has helped – both in kind with copying or with cash.
We contacted over 800 objectors to the proposal and this has been a marvelous response. The 3-man Panel hearing about the proposal and the required re-zoning of the Harbour commences on February 1st in the Shire Chambers in Mornington and the public can attend any time during February. The time table is on the Shire web page mornpen.vic.gov.au as are the statements of evidence from all the experts. The Shire has 8, the Boathaven Company (Yacht Club) 5 and MEA 4. MEA also has some lay-witnesses who represent various users of the Harbour.
It will all be an enormous effort – and expense – and we look forward to hearing the Panel report which has to be with the new Planning Minister within 6 weeks of the end of Panel hearings. Then the Shire Council has to vote, and a decision will finally be made.”
Jan Oliver
MEA president
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter to the Editor, Mornington Leader, published Sept 2010
Dear Sir
How different it is to read the interview between Phillip Coombs and your reporter Teresa Murphy (Leader 9August) compared with how he behaved at the special Council meeting on 2nd August when he so rudely and arrogantly addressed Councillors.
These Councillors were making difficult decisions – should they allow rezoning of the harbour to allow a private, and yes it is a private development company, to take over Mornington harbour to make it supposedly safe? Following the vote, and Coombs’ threats to go to the Planning Minister, we all have to go to a state appointed panel/inquiry and waste masses of time, energy and money in proving that Mornington doesn’t need a marina, a 4 metre high concrete wall in the water, nor the likely long term effects on our beaches, water and our Mornington lifestyle.
Where is the business plan? The public benefit? The parking solutions? The money? Coombs did not answer the Councillors’ questions nor provide more than a 2 page list of points as a submission on this vital issue. I ask, will he be using his own apparent wealth to fund BoatHaven in the Panel? We, the passionate community volunteers will be there. We will find the funds somehow, and we will see this issue “dead and buried” for ever.
Jan Oliver
President
Mornington Environment Association
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE 4th July 2010 (Published by the Mail July 2010)
‘No Marina’ rally a red success!
Hundreds of people and their dogs –mostly wearing red – met at the rally, organized by MEA, on Mothers Beach on Saturday 3rd July to protest against the planning changes proposed for Mornington harbour and the proposed Marina. This was the only public rally during the time of the display of the proposals.
The meeting heard key speakers – Gidga Walker, renowned local environmental scientist who explained some of the environmental effects of changing coastal systems and the lack of assessment of the Harbour’s marine habitats, and Alan Clark, master mariner who spoke about the physical characteristics of the Harbour and its sea floor which make it very difficult for any development to create a ‘Safe harbour’ . Jan Oliver, President of Mornington Environment Association, set the scene with a brief review of the proposal by Mornington Boat Haven Ltd. as the whole group faced into the harbour. Two Liberal politicians– David Morris, local MP, and Edward O’Donohue (Upper House member for E. Victoria) were constantly questioned by the crowd who wanted to know where they stood. Samantha Dunn, Greens candidate for E. Victoria spoke of the complex issues and planning decisions that have to be made and made the Greens position quite clear.
Jan Oliver, President of MEA, said today “It was clear that the people attending were against the marina proposal and constantly waved their signs “No marina”. They were disappointed that neither of their local politicians was definitely prepared to say no to the proposal. Although invited, the Shire Planner did not attend, and Councillor Bev Colomb – who has to vote on the planning changes later, arrived right at the end.
We are most grateful to the Sea Scouts of Mornington 2nd Troop who held a sausage sizzle at short notice and one of their Leaders, Kylie Tate gave an impassioned plea to all, as the Scouts will not be able to sail around the harbour if the proposal goes ahead so she feared over 80 years of Scouting will go. This was a fitting conclusion to what was a demonstration from many locals who do not want to see their Harbour and local beaches ruined.
We collected over 140 submissions to the Panel, all objecting, and the meeting passed a unanimous resolution that the council must say no to rezoning the harbour to allow the Yacht Club to take over.”
“ Now”, she concluded, “we have to wait for the Council to read the submissions, then see if a panel is appointed by the Minister Justin Madden, when the public again be able to make their views known. This is going to be a continuing fight”.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published end of May 2010
PRESS RELEASE :-Proposed marina will cause major environmental changes
It doesn’t take much to realise that if you obstruct the flushing tidal movement within the Mornington Harbour with two wave screens – one along the pier and one at the proposed Marina, jutting out parallel to Scout Beach as solid concrete walls driven down into the seabed, then add a large number of power boats, the water quality will deteriorate.
As in most other marinas, the sailing yachts will largely be outnumbered by many large motor cruisers. Fuel spills are inevitable with the proposed re-fuelling and sewage pump out facility placed on a pontoon alongside the proposed new jetty just opposite where Scandia/Wild Thing normally has berthed.
If the daily flushing of the harbour is greatly reduced by the proposed pier and Marina development in front of Scout Beach, then our water will no longer be fit for swimmers, or fish life.Look at what has happened at Sandringham Marina.
Feral Pacific starfish – those five-legged orange ones, love calm water. If the harbour becomes a Marina, there will be numerous places for these starfish to breed and collect together. They will eat the small shellfish which are normally food for the fish and squid that those patient people on the pier and Fishermans Jetty love to catch. Besides, since when do fish like dirty, oily water?
Seaweed at times builds up on beaches and can lie rotting if not flushed away and will generate nasty smells in addition to the fuel and exhaust smells of motor cruisers.
Sand build up in the harbour caused by reduced water circulation will increase. Inreased dredging will be required. We have already seen the small dredge pumping out dark sand and seaweed onto Mothers Beach last summer.The earlier attempts to dredge with a big dredge stopped when it sank on New Year’s Eve. It was placed in the Mornington Yacht Club’s yard where it leaked oil, which was washed by rain across the pedestrian walkway and into the Inner Harbour. After much leakage and many approaches to Council, the Mornington Yacht Club, and the Environment Protection Authority the dredge was eventually removed.
With the proposed 170 berth Marina, more cars will try to park –many unsuccessfully trawling the precinct for a vacant car park, further affecting the atmosphere.
How will the Mornington Yacht Club ensure that their proposed Marina will not damage our harbour environment?
Do we need a Marina and its pollution?
After all, Martha Cove Harbour is built and is two-thirds unoccupied.
If you don’t want the Marina with its potential problems, have your say.
Simple submission forms are available at Mornington Peninsula Shire offices, and from the Council’s website;- www.mornpen.vic.gov.au.
Submissions must be sent to reach Planning Panels Victoria by 5 July 2010.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent to papers on 13th of May
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Do we have to have a white elephant marina in Mornington?
Despite having failed twice before, Mornington Yacht Club, through its private company Mornington Boat Haven Ltd. is again trying to take over and privatize our public water and land in Mornington Harbour to build a private marina with very expensive berthing.
Planning Amendments are required to re-zone the waters so that a private pleasure boat facility can be built. This pleasure boat facility replaces the two so-called “ Safe Harbours” of earlier applications, both rejected by previous governments.
President of Mornington Environment Association, Jan Oliver said today
“Someone must think they will benefit from putting an additional jetty, floating pontoons for 170 private berths. 12 swing moorings, 8 fore and aft moorings as well as berths for emergency and short term boats, two huge wave-screen concrete walls, diesel and petrol storage tanks, a floating re-fuelling and sewage pump-out facility and a large travel lift into our iconic, loved harbour area.
The community and tourists, the beach goers at Mothers Beach and other neighbouring beaches will certainly not benefit.”
“Over the last two seasons, on average, only 40 swing moorings out of a total of 60 available swing moorings in Mornington Harbour have been occupied. So where are all the extra boats coming from to fill the expensive proposed marina? Will they be motor boats with more noise, more oil leaks and exhaust fumes?
It is inevitable that there will be increased pollution as water circulation will be restricted by the full depth massive concrete wave screens. Dredging of Mothers Beach and near the Yacht Club will have to be continuous, as sand eroded from Shire Hall Beach accumulates at Scout and Mothers Beaches.
We already have a huge marina at Martha Cove Harbour, with barely one third of the 352 available berths occupied, and apparently, that development is in deep financial trouble. Mornington yachts have previously used Martha Cove Harbour for safe haven in recent storms.
Do we need a huge white elephant ruining our Mornington water, views and beaches?
We urge everyone to view the displays at the Mornington Shire offices in Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud, and read on-line at www.nomarina.org.au . Submissions need to be completed by July 5th to Planning Panels Victoria – Mornington Safe Harbour Project, PGPO Box 2392 Melbourne 3001.
Inquiries Franz 0407 572089