MEMBERS of the Hastings Western Port Historical Society are celebrating the news that the Old Pioneer’s Cottage, located on the corner of Skinner and Herring Streets, will be saved following the announcement of a shire-funded restoration. There had been concerns the cottage, one of Hastings’ oldest buildings, would be lost to the elements, with the society lobbying the shire for years to save it (Fears pioneer cottage could be lost, The News 15/10/24). The cottage was originally in Victoria Street and believed to have been built by the Sposito family in the early 1900s. The building was donated to the…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
THE upgrade of Mornington’s Schnapper Point boat ramp will commence this week. Mornington Peninsula Shire has secured funding through Better Boating Victoria to renew the ageing ramp, which currently operates as a two-lane facility with finger jetties on either side. The project will focus on increasing capacity, improving safety and upgrading infrastructure that has reached the end of its operational life. The work at Schnapper Point, Mornington includes: Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said the upgrade was essential and welcomed the state government’s support. “Clearly the asset was at the end of its life. The shire, while managing the program,…
Police have charged three Mornington Peninsula residents following erratic driving and a truck fire in Melbourne’s east, an extended follow through Melbourne’s east and south-east this morning. Officers spotted an allegedly stolen truck and a blue Holden Commodore driving erratically in Heathmont just after 2am. Both vehicles are alleged to have sped off before the Air Wing located them on Eastlink near Burwood Highway in Rowville. It is alleged the truck was set on fire underneath the Wellington Road overpass, before the offenders fled in the Commodore. Police units on the ground and Air Wing overhead followed the car down…
PARKS Victoria has ordered contractors to stop work on the historic Flinders Pier restoration just four months after construction began, citing a lapse in funding. The direction issued to lead contractor Bridgewater Marine comes less than five months after Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne announced that works had commenced as part of the Allan Labor Government’s $18m investment to restore some of the state’s most historic piers. Construction had been expected to finish by mid-2026. Chair of the Save Flinders Pier campaign, Charles Reis OAM, said the decision had shocked and dismayed supporters who fought for the pier’s…
WITH less than two weeks until polling day, candidates are now in the final stretch. Early voting opens from Wednesday 22 April until Friday 1 May at Rosebud Sea Scouts Hall, Dromana Hub Shopping Centre, and Blairgowrie Community Hall. Some big names were in town over the weekend with the highly-publicised visit by One Nation’s Pauline Hanson, and both the leader and deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, Jess Wilson and David Southwick campaigning for Anthony Marsh. The Marsh campaign announced a commitment to improve roads across the Mornington Peninsula in an announcement on Sunday (19 April). Leader of…
One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson spent Friday and Saturday (17 and 18 April) campaigning with the party’s candidate for the Nepean by-election, Darren Hercus. Hanson attended a “meet and greet” function at Rosebud Football Club on Friday night before attending a barbeque at Hercus’ business in Dromana on Saturday. Afterward, Hanson held a press conference at Rosebud Hospital that started in chaotic fashion as two people in attendance interjected. As Hanson took to the microphone, a woman in the crowd yelled that the Senator was “a racist” as another attendee yelled that Hanson was planning to get rid of the…
THE heat is rising among candidates in the Nepean by-election with the Liberal Party releasing two flyers: one attacking One Nation and the other Independent for Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate Tracee Hutchison. The Hutchison flyer asks the question “Jacinta Allan’s secret Nepean candidate?”, pointing out that the independent candidate considered running for pre-selection for Labor in 2019. The flyer also contains a quote from The Age from 2007 where Hutchison said “… our flag has become a participant in something that could easily be mistaken for a white supremacist movement”, a reference to an Instagram post from 2023 where Hutchison…
THE field is set and the electoral rolls are closed as the candidates face the final stretch to the Nepean by-election polling day on 2 May. After two late entries to the field, there are eight candidates contesting the poll. They are: Peter Angelico (Libertarian), Sianan Healy (The Greens), Darren Hercus (One Nation), Tracee Hutchinson (Independents of Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate), Anthony Marsh (Liberal Party), Reade Smith (Sustainable Australia Party), Renee Thompson (Legalise Cannabis), and Milton Wilde (End Mass Immigration – Reform AU). The VEC has reported that 50,910 people are enrolled to vote at the 2 May poll; an…
MORNINGTON Peninsula residents and businesses now have a new way to recycle soft plastics, with collection bins launched at the Mornington and Rye Resource Recovery Centres as part of a trial. Delivered in partnership with Solo Resource Recovery, the new bins provide a free and practical drop-off option for soft plastics, which can’t be placed in kerbside recycling bins. From bread bags and chip packets to shopping bags, bubble wrap and frozen food bags, these everyday items can now be kept out of landfill and turned into new resources. Once collected, the plastics are processed into plastic oil, gas and…
THE Rosebud Hospital Kiosk, a cherished part of Bayside Health Peninsula and the community, is calling for volunteers to join its dedicated team. Since opening its doors, the kiosk has raised more than $500,000 to fund life saving medical equipment, a milestone made possible by the tireless efforts of its volunteers. “Most of the funds come from selling sandwiches and plenty of coffee,” kiosk president Helen Hasler said. “We also sell lots of knick-knacks like baby clothes, toys, lollies and jewellery. “Rosebud is an exceptional community hospital – I’m so proud that our kiosk has raised funds to help improve…
By Molly Broadfoot* AS homelessness hits a record-high on the Mornington Peninsula, The Block has begun filming its latest season in Mt Eliza. In an $11m deal to purchase the site, the show plans to construct five luxury houses across 1.35 hectares on Old Mornington Rd. While the show may bring excitement and publicity to the area, critics argue it highlights a broader issue: a focus on luxury property while the region’s housing crisis remains unaddressed. The Mornington Peninsula now has the highest number of rough sleepers out of any local government area in Victoria – including Melbourne City. Despite…
OCEAN activist Josie Jones believes ratepayers and the community are being shortchanged by a new hand-cleaning model that fails to clean the entire beach. Jones has spoken to shire-contracted beach cleaners and questioned them about their cleaning from the low water line to the high tide mark, and failure to clean the rest of the beach. Jones was told the water line is all they were contracted to clean. Jones’ concern is that the contracts for the hand cleaning falls short of what is required to keep those beaches clean, providing poor value for ratepayers and increasing the workload for…
MORNINGTON Peninsula streets are shining a little brighter, with 3,648 outdated streetlights now replaced with modern LED technology across the Peninsula. Acting mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro said “the new lights are more energy efficient and require less maintenance, which means significant savings over time that can be reinvested into services and infrastructure for our community.” The project will receive approximately $630,000 from State Government through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. The upgrade is expected to save the shire around $526,000 every single year. Over 20 years, that adds up to $8.3m back into community funds after project costs. Pingiaro said…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have endorsed a developer stormwater fund as a permanent initiative, aiming to improve stormwater management and fund Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) projects across the region. The decision, made at the council’s 17 March meeting, also saw councillors support a $60,000 grant application to the state government’s Integrated Water Management Grant program for 2025–2028. If successful, the grant would fund detailed design work for priority WSUD projects at Olympic Park Recreation Reserve and Murrowong Reserve in Rosebud, and Dromana Parade Reserve in Safety Beach. According to a council report, urban development increases impervious surfaces, which generate…
Mornington Peninsula drivers are set to face road restriction to lower traffic on roads and reduce the number of potholes. In a first anywhere in Australia, the state government has introduced restrictions limiting peninsula drivers to only driving every second day with an “odds and evens” number plate schedule. Vehicles with number plates ending with an odd number can drive Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and those ending with an even number can drive Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. “Look, the roads are getting worse by the day,” said Cliff Snufkin, a spokesperson from the Department of Transport and Planning. “We…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have backed a push to strengthen enforcement of jet ski regulations, voting to submit a motion to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting in May. The motion calls on the state government to increase enforcement of personal watercraft rules, particularly around speed limits and safe distances from swimmers. Council officers said submitting a shire-led motion would elevate the issue at a state level and highlight safety concerns shared by coastal communities. The MAV has confirmed the issue is strategically relevant, noting its impact on community safety and amenity across Victoria’s coastline. The Association…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire representatives have met with department officials at Southern Peninsula Community Support to address homelessness and broader community crisis issues on the peninsula. According to a council report, the meeting provided a valuable opportunity for advocacy, with councillors meeting with Housing and Building Minister Harriet Shing, as well as Homelessness Victoria at Rosebud on 16 March, before a public homelessness forum that evening. “These discussions were constructive and are considered a positive step toward addressing homelessness and broader community crisis issues, which consistently remain among the top priorities for our community,” the report stated. It also noted that…
THE Greens have launched their Nepean by-election campaign, with more than 60 supporters gathering in Blairgowrie on Sunday (29 March). Mornington Peninsula mum Sianan Healy is the Greens candidate, vowing to be a true community representative in Parliament if elected, stating that “Nepean shouldn’t risk Liberals and One Nation who will work for their corporate donors, not their community.” Healy works for a non-profit in women’s health and has a background in research and education in the university sector. “Together we can build a better and brighter future – one in which we have a say in decisions that affect…
THE Ranch Motel in Mornington, that has been operating as crisis accommodation, will close for redevelopment on 17 April. A joint venture between Mornington Community Support Centre (MCSC) and Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS), the crisis accommodation was only made possible due to the developer allowing it to be used while finalising plans for redevelopment of the site. “For the past five years Mornington Community Support Centre (MCSC) has operated The Ranch, a 12-room former motel generously provided by a local developer, to support people experiencing homelessness with crisis accommodation. It has done so without any government funding,” said MCSC…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have approved changes to its rates system including a discounted rate for retirement villages and a revised two-tier waste service charge. From the 2026–2027 financial year, retirement villages will be charged at 80 per cent of the general rate, providing an average reduction of about $181 per year for 2514 properties. The council said the differential rate recognised that retirement village residents contributed to village-provided infrastructure and services, generating comparatively lower demand on council facilities, and ensured a fairer allocation of rates across property types. Councillors supported the proposal in a 6-4 vote at their 17…
MORNINGTON Special Development School has been upgraded with new classrooms. The $8m state government project includes new art and food technology areas, a multi-purpose space, and four special needs learning areas, each sharing amenities, kitchen, storage, breakout zones and withdrawal spaces. Designed by Katz Architecture, it also features wide pathways, accessible bathrooms ramps and indoor-outdoor connections to “promote student independence and safe movements throughout the school”. The redevelopment also includes a library and community hub with landscaped areas including meeting rocks and a serpentine trail, each of which realises connections with country. “Connection with landscape is key, and all spaces…
A PUBLIC reserve strip in Mornington is set to be sold and rezoned for new homes, with a developer expected to create a replacement park. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors approved the move at their 17 March meeting, despite resident opposition to the proposal. The land at 93 Watt Rd, described as “part of Reserve No 1 on Plan of Subdivision 346179,” sits between 8 and 10 Woodbyne Crescent. The long, narrow strip stretches about 163 metres and 10 metres wide, providing open space and a pedestrian link between Woodbyne Crs and Racecourse Rd. Council documents show the site was flagged…
WITH less than six weeks until the Nepean by-election, electoral rolls are now closed and candidates are able to officially nominate for the race. A new name has entered the contest with Milton Wilde nominating for “End Mass Immigration – Reform AU”. Wilde joins the Liberal Party (Anthony Marsh), Victorian Greens (Sianan Healy), One Nation (Darren Hercus), Libertarians (Peter Angelico), and Indepdendents for Mornington Peninsula endorsed candidate (Tracee Hutchison) to make up the six contesting Nepean so far. Pundits from the major parties would have looked to South Australia over the weekend, and pondered how the results there will offer…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire and South East Water (SEW) have issued a joint statement that agreement has been reached with some affected residents, facilitating critical works to be undertaken, and providing a pathway for residents to return to their homes. The board of inquiry’s report into the McCrae landslide of 14 January 2025 found the landslide, which destroyed a house and injured a council worker, was due to a burst water main owned by South East Water (SEW). Inquiry chair Renée Enbom KC found the burst water main was located 450m south of the destroyed property, near the corner of Bayview…
CRIME across the Mornington Peninsula has begun to ease for the first time in five years, according to newly released figures from the Crime Statistics Agency. There were 12,194 criminal offences recorded in the Mornington Peninsula LGA in the year ending December 2025, down from 12,726 offences in the previous year, a drop of 4.2 per cent. Mornington was the peninsula suburb most affected by crime, followed closely by Rosebud and Hastings. The data shows crime dropped across some of the highest recorded offences including breach family violence order, steal from motor vehicle, criminal damage and other theft. However, steal…
THERE were plenty of reasons to celebrate at Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place in Hastings on Saturday 21 March. Willum Warrain is celebrating 12 years of caring for its community members and for the site that it has woven into a beautiful place of reconciliation. Willum Warrain CEO, Uncle Peter Aldenhoven said, “we thank all our mob and allies for helping us celebrate our birthday and for sharing our excitement and hopes for Treaty”. Jules Pittle from Mornington Peninsula Human Rights Group added, “Willum Warrain Aboriginal Gathering Place is a living example of self-determination – Aboriginal people running things their…
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate missing Safety Beach man George. The 75-year-old was last seen on Seaview Avenue about 8am on 22 March. There are concerns for George’s welfare as he lives with dementia and may be disoriented. George is Caucasian, about 167cm tall, with a slim build and short dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing beige pants, white runners and a brown shirt with checks. Anyone who sees George or with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Rosebud Police Station on (03) 5986 0444.
BALNARRING will be buzzing with live music, community activities, and talent when Peninsula LIVE: Pretty Snazz in the Nazz takes over the town on Saturday 21 March. Organised by the Mornington Peninsula Shire in partnership with the Live Music Office, the one-day free micro-festival will run from 10am to 11pm, offering performances across multiple venues and outdoor spaces. More than 30 local bands and performers are set to entertain audiences of all ages, highlighting the region’s vibrant music scene while connecting musicians, audiences, and local businesses. Performances will take place at venues including The Social Club Balnarring, Balnarring Bowling Club,…
A MAN has been charged with family violence offences for a range of alleged offending spanning from 2019 to 2026. Somerville Family Violence Investigation Unit detectives have been investigating the 42-year-old-man. A Victoria Police spokesperson said he allegedly committed “serious family violence offending against five female victims from 2019 to this year – including stalking, sexual assault, physical assault and making threats to kill.” “The alleged offending against one of the victims includes strangling and kicking her. He’s also accused of breaking one of the other victim’s noses after punching her in the face and also hitting another victim in…
INTERNAL communications at Mornington Peninsula Shire have indicated the rollout of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across remoter areas of the peninsula may be driven by lack of effective ambulance coverage; a claim disputed by Ambulance Victoria. Ambulance Victoria is believed to fall well short of its KPI target of “less than 15 minutes response times for 90% of incidents” for some remoter parts of the peninsula. Recent data across the entire peninsula shows that 60.1% of responses are achieved in less than 15 minutes, with the average response time 16 minutes and 11 seconds. Ambulance branches are located in Sorrento,…