Brush-ups revive tollway’s artworks
Public Art Strategy is adjacent to EastLink southbound just before the Dandenong Bypass interchange.
THREE of the most recognisable artworks along the 39 kilometres of the EastLink tollway have been renovated and restored.
The collection of public artworks includes 12 artworks along the tollway and shared use path.
EastLink says the artworks set among 480 hectares of landscaping are “arguably [form] Australia’s largest sculpture park”.
“EastLink’s much-loved art collection cost $5 million when the artworks were commissioned and acquired shortly before EastLink opened in 2008, so it’s important they are maintained properly,” The company’s corporate affairs manager Doug Spencer-Roy said.
Budget up for comment
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is inviting comments on its $252 million budget for 2021/22.
A state government-imposed rate cap of 1.5% has encouraged the shire to define a four-year rating and revenue “envelope” within which it can “deliver on the council plan, programs and services”.
The proposed budget agreed to at council’s Tuesday 30 March meeting will be open for written submissions until Tuesday 29 April.
Anyone who wants to speak in support of their submission can do so at council’s 12 May meeting.
Submissions may be published on the shire’s website before the meeting, although the shire has cautioned that “offensive, defamatory or third-party personal information will not be published”.
First ‘aerial delivery’ of bread in Australia
RESIDENTS and holiday makers at Cowes, Phillip Island, were awakened on Good Friday morning by the droning of an aeroplane, and a favored few received “hot x buns” from the clouds.
Mr H. McColl, baker, and storekeeper, of Cowes, realising his inability to supply the needs of the large parties of campers on the isle, arranged with Messrs Borer & Co, the Port Melbourne bread manufacturers, to supply him with 100 large loaves, and a bag of buns by aerial delivery.
Pilot Graham Carey, accompanied by Mr H. Stranaghan, left the Port Melbourne aerodrome on Thursday afternoon with their novel cargo, travelling by way of Westernport.
Shire closes door on family day care
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has decided to stop providing family day care on the peninsula and in the Frankston area.
The shire says “a steady decline in the service” has over the past five years coincided with the rising number of family day care providers in the market.
Families using the “home away from home” service have been given 12 weeks to find alternative care for their children.
“We are confident these [alternate] services will provide a varied choice for all educators when selecting a new provider to transfer to with little to no disruption to them or the families and the children they care for,” said an unattributed statement issued last Thursday by the shire.
Anti-gas protesters fear Western Port wipeout
WITH the state government expected to soon announce its decision on AGL’s planned gas import terminal at Crib Point, protesters have been staging a series of demonstrations against the plan. Last week rallies were held near where the gas terminal will be built if given the go ahead, below, as well as outside Parliament House, in Spring Street, Melbourne.
Pictures: Julian Meehan
DRESS codes and parliamentary protocols were wiped out last Wednesday when a wave of demonstrators took their complaints about AGL’s plan for an import gas terminal at Crib Point to Spring Street.