Your local and independent news from the Prom Coast and South Gippsland.
Making news this fortnight: the offshore wind debate has taken a turn, Yinnar have handed Foster their first defeat of the season, and there is a lot happening in halls and on hillsides between now and the end of August. Read on for all the stories, or grab this week's full digital edition here.
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Quote of the fortnight
"You can hear the squeals of joy in three-part harmony as they escape from the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights and lacklustre plastic chairs..." - Rebecca Bone, on her merry band of Bonney Boners' escape from the rehearsal rooms for their upcoming show at Foster War Memorial Hall on 1 August.
NEWS
South Gippsland's offshore wind opportunity: what role for local ports? After Councillor Kennedy's push to have Port Anthony designated as the primary offshore wind construction base made the front page of the Sentinel-Times, Mayor Hersey has clarified the Shire's position: acknowledging Hastings as the state government's preferred construction location and noting that council does not approve or facilitate energy projects within our region. Offshore wind proponent Southerly Ten has confirmed that major construction requires 12 metres of water depth while Corner Inlet sits at around six, and that "No dredging of channels is proposed." Read the full story →
Mobile roaming could transform Prom Coast communications. When Telstra went out a few weeks ago, the Prom Coast effectively lost all mobile service. A local telecommunications expert put it plainly: "The problem wasn't with the infrastructure, it was with Telstra. You could use that same infrastructure and be on Optus or Vodafone, which would have kept working." A new push for domestic mobile roaming, which is standard practice in Canada and most of the developed world, could change that. And a new ACCAN report finds 73 per cent of Australians support the change. Read more →
Councillor Gilligan co-chairs national coastal roundtable. Councillor Sarah Gilligan has returned from Canberra with an urgent message: local councils are on the front line of climate change and governments are moving too slowly. Individual adaptation projects can cost more than $100 million. Gilligan and the South Gippsland Shire Council are part of a coalition of local councils pushing for $5-10 billion in federal-state cofunding over five years. Read more →
Bird flu: DEECA deploys helicopters along Gippsland coast. Helicopter-mounted thermal and high-resolution cameras are now scanning the Gippsland coast for H5 bird flu cases. Community reporting remains the most critical early warning tool. If you see a sick or dead bird or marine mammal, do not touch it — call 1800 675 888. Read more →
COMMUNITY
Who cares for the Prom Coast’s significant trees? That’s the question Kaye Rodden is asking this week. In other local news, Tooradeli is back, with Wonyip's Trevor French and partner Caroline taking over the beloved Toora café, planning to reopen 12 August. The Corner Inlet Men's Shed has delivered a wardrobe dropped off years ago, restored into a functioning cabinet, in the finest men's shed tradition. And Wonyip Hall is seeking a revival with monthly social afternoons starting 1 August at 1pm. Full community section →
LIFESTYLE
Shake off the winter blues with these fab local shows and events! Bec's Bonney Boners take to the Foster War Memorial Hall on Saturday 1 August at 7pm: BYO drinks and nibbles, tickets $15 at the door. No Lights No Lycra continues every Tuesday at 6pm at the same venue. Young Prom Coast performers present White Mouse Youth Dance Project at the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre on Friday 28 August at 6.30pm, and Prom Recitals brings internationally acclaimed viola da gamba duo Liam Byrne and Laura Vaughan to Fish Creek Memorial Hall on Sunday 30 August at 2.30pm. Full lifestyle section →
SPORT
The big story of the round: Yinnar handed Foster their first defeat of the season in difficult conditions, 7.4 (46) to 3.9 (27). Fish Creek survived a scare to account for Tarwin, Hill End beat Stony Creek, and Morwell East (in what will be one of their final matches in the MGFNL, after their recently announced move to the North Gippsland League) produced a remarkable last-quarter burst to overrun Toora. In netball, Foster remains unbeaten heading into finals after a 58-40 win over Yinnar. Full sport section →
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