AFTER a devastating fire destroyed its Moorooduc offices, a disability support service is breathing a sigh of relief as it prepares to move into a new purpose-built headquarters in Somerville. The move comes after the June blaze at the Coolstores facility on Moorooduc Hwy forced staff to work remotely for months, disrupting operations but not dampening the organisation’s commitment to supporting people with disabilities across the Mornington Peninsula. The new Somerville Central location is currently an empty shell but will soon be transformed into a modern, purpose-built home for the organisation, marking a fresh start after the unexpected loss of…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
A SURVEY conducted by Peninsula Community Legal Centre has found that more than one-in-three people are facing hidden legal problems, including unpaid fines and debts. The Peninsula Community Legal Centre’s mobile legal office, the Street Law Coffee Van, made 136 visits across Melbourne’s south-east between February 2024 and August 2025. It conducted 3799 “legal health checks” during that time, finding that 36 percent of clients had a legal issue that needed addressing. PCLC CEO Jackie Galloway said that a majority of the identified issues related to housing insecurity and cost of living stress. She said “this data confirms what we…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh has been cleared of any wrongdoing after an arbiter dismissed a councillor conduct complaint application over Marsh’s decision to rule three motions out of order at council meetings in June. The application was lodged by councillors David Gill, Kate Roper, Max Patton, Michael Stephens, and Patrick Binyon on 27 August. It alleged Marsh breached the Councillor Code of Conduct when he ruled Gill and Patton’s motions out of order and subsequently ruled their dissent motions out of order. The blocked motions asked the council to work on developing a new climate resilience plan,…
COUNCIL has signed off on a new Community Disaster Resilience Plan, aiming to lift preparedness and strengthen how the community responds to future emergencies. The plan, adopted alongside a Year One Action Plan at the council’s 2 December meeting, follows community consultation held in April, May and September and sets out a whole-of-community approach to building resilience. Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said the plan recognised the crucial role council played during crises. “Local government is often the first and most consistent point of contact in times of crisis. This plan reflects our commitment to working alongside our community, preparing for,…
RESIDENTS across the peninsula have been left outraged and baffled after newly proposed mandatory planning rules suddenly labelled thousands of properties as “highly susceptible” to landslides, despite many believing they face no such risk. The Mornington Peninsula Shire has mapped wide-spread landslide-risk areas across the peninsula after councillors approved on 17 November to advance an interim erosion management overlay – a planning control aimed at managing development on land most prone to landslides. The move followed an urgent directive from state Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to prepare an amendment to the Mornington Peninsula planning scheme that would form the new…
ONE of the peninsula’s favourite walking and riding trails is set for a refresh, with locals being asked to help shape the upgrades. The Red Hill to Merricks trail will soon receive new directional and interpretive signage thanks to funding from the Victorian Government’s Tiny Towns Grant. The project aims to make the trail easier to navigate while providing more information about local stories, cultural connections, and natural beauty. The council is asking for community input before beginning design work. The trail is 6.5kms and accessible from the picnic area at Red Hill Station Reserve or the Merricks Red Hill…
Mornington Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance following a ramming in Mornington last night. Police were called to reports of a suspicious loiter at a unit complex on Fleet Street about 7.40pm on Friday 12 December. Officers attended and located a stolen black Toyota Land Cruiser utility in the driveway of the property. It is understood the utility rammed the parked police vehicle multiple times before it became wedged in the property’s driveway. The unknown male driver exited the vehicle and fled north bound on Fleet Street. During the incident, the two male senior constables retreated to…
Mornington Peninsula police have arrested nine people and seized more than $170,000 worth of illicit substances in just a two-month period. Police will allege some of the drugs – including cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, GHB, methylamphetamine and cannabis – were bound for Schoolies celebrations on the Peninsula, however, were intercepted before potentially causing harm in the community. Detectives from the Mornington Peninsula Divisional Response Unit executed eight warrants in Capel Sound, Carrum Downs, Dromana, Frankston South, Mornington, Rosebud and Rye between late September to the end of November. These warrants led to the arrests of nine people, including: In total, $172,000…
YOUNG adults swimming on the Mornington Peninsula pose the highest drowning risk in Victoria, a new report has revealed. Life Saving Victoria’s 2024/2025 drowning report was released last week. It reveals that between 2015/2016 and 2024/2025, there were more drownings on the Mornington Peninsula than in any other part of the state. The 25-44 age group suffered the most number of drownings on the peninsula. Drownings most commonly occurred while swimming at beaches. LSV estimates that there is a 99 percent likelihood of a drowning in any given year on the Mornington Peninsula. Thirty-six percent of drowning victims on the…
A PETITION has called on the Mornington Peninsula Shire to extend dust-suppression on unsealed roads near St John’s Anglican Church in Flinders, citing parking and heavier traffic on church event days. The petition, signed by 12 residents, was presented at the shire’s 2 December meeting, with a request that the dust-suppression treatment be extended to cross over Stokes St to the end of Barker St. Council responded, noting that unsealed roads must meet strict criteria to be included in the shire-funded dust suppression program. This included considering “significant average traffic volumes,” “proximity or access to Mornington Peninsula Shire community facilities,”…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have backed a climate resilience framework just months after scrapping a climate emergency declaration and climate action plan. The decision was made at the council’s 2 December meeting which will see the proposed framework, subject to community input, to centre on “practical, place-based, costed and measurable outcomes” that address climate adaptation, hazard mitigation, biodiversity protection, and long-term sustainability of local infrastructure. Councillors supported the new framework for the climate resilience plan in an 8-2 vote. The plan will now replace the climate emergency declaration after deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro successfully tabled a motion at the…
BUOYED by their results in May’s federal election, Independents for Mornington Peninsula, the community group that backed Ben Smith’s federal campaign, has formally launched its search for independent candidates for the 2026 Victorian state election. Chair Phillip Riley said the group’s focus is on finding local leaders with integrity, who will fight for long-neglected services on the peninsula. “For decades, the Mornington Peninsula has been treated as an afterthought by the major parties. Being in a safe seat means we are taken for granted” said Riley. “Our roads, hospitals, community services and public transport are woefully underfunded. Residents see it…
THE Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula has announced that Phil Hayes-Brown and Ross Kilborn are the recipients of the committee’s first Annual Leadership Award. The awards were presented on 3 December at the committee’s Annual General Meeting. The head of disability support organisation Wallara, CEO Phil Hayes-Brown’s, recognition came during an important week for the disability community, coinciding with the International Day of People with Disability, which promotes awareness, understanding and acceptance. “I’m honoured by this recognition, but it belongs to the Wallara team and our partners across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula,” Hayes-Brown said. “It’s proof that inclusive…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected an officer recommendation that the shire lodge an objection to the Arthurs Seat Eagle’s planned upgrades, at their 2 December meeting. The upgrade of the Arthurs Seat Eagle was mooted last year with the expansion of both the bottom and summit stations, the addition of a pedestrian bridge over Arthurs Seat Road, the building of an observation tower, and the building of a “luge-style” ride down the escarpment. The plans were subsequently altered after community feedback, including the scrapping of the pedestrian bridge, and shortening the proposed luge track (Eagle plans scaled back but…
NEW data has confirmed the Mornington Peninsula has the highest number of people sleeping rough in Victoria. Figures from Launch Housing’s Functional Zero program confirm that as of October 2025, 128 people are sleeping rough on the peninsula, surpassing even Melbourne’s CBD. Frontline workers say the situation has escalated to an out-of-control crisis. At the centre of the emergency is Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS), based in Rosebud, where the demand for assistance has escalated to unprecedented numbers. CEO Jeremy Maxwell says pleas to state and federal governments for funding assistance have been ignored, leaving local services overwhelmed. “The Mornington…
THE Mornington Peninsula Shire’s efforts to relocate an over-abundant wallaby population at The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary are progressing slower than anticipated with early trapping having captured fewer animals. The update follows the shire’s 16 September decision to move the wallabies into a secure holding area as part of a staged Macropod Management Plan, which has seen supplementary feeding undertaken twice weekly “where necessary,” a council statement said. Overall, 120 wallabies will be relocated from the Mt Martha sanctuary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the population. Increased rainfall has stimulated high breeding rates with drier conditions this year having conversely…
A VIBRANT series of themed workshops creating gifts and Christmas decorations, has Hastings’ new Community Craft Shed doing what its founder hoped. The craft shed, next to the Hastings Primary School in Hodgins Rd, was the dream of retired Western Port Craft Expo convenor Sandra Beckett. Seeing so many Western Port crafters enjoying the expo, Beckett wanted a place where they could come during the week to sew, knit, weave, crochet, pass on their expertise, and enjoy each other’s company. The first workshop held in early November was presented by Somerville poppy maker Jenny Mann, making remembrance poppies. Sufficient red…
A number of drivers have been detected breaking the road rules on the Mornington Peninsula overnight. There has been a highly visible police presence in the area due to the number of people attending the area to celebrate the end of school. A number of incidents occurred in a short period of time which has left police flummoxed. About 9.05pm police attended a crash at a hotel on Point Nepean Road where a Volkswagen ute had hit a building. A 51-year-old woman from Rye underwent an evidentiary breath test and returned an alleged reading of 0.184. Her licence was suspended…
RISING Moon Tai Chi School celebrated its ten-year anniversary with a day that brought together friends and family to watch performances and commend the hard work put in by students. Hung Gar Yau Shu Lion Troupe performed a dance at the festival on 22 November. They showcased their strength and agility in a playful performance which is said to bring good fortune. Founder and teacher Jenny Harrison said she is proud of the efforts of all her students and the festival was a way to showcase their achievements. “It’s a sense of pride in what they’re doing and what they’ve…
MOUNT Martha Tennis Club celebrated their 50th anniversary with a day filled with community spirit and fun. On 16 November, the club hosted over 160 guests as long-term members, families and friends helped commemorate the past 50 years. The day began at midday, and included serve competitions, a barbeque, families playing together, and coaches running activities with the kids. At 2pm, the formalities began. The newly elected president Ben Wolstencroft was introduced, who welcomed members, guests and sponsors. The club then recognised Ken Davis, who led the committee for the past 11 years, and Ian Cockle, who served as vice…
A MT Martha resident has raised concerns about the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s approach to vegetation permits after two trees were removed at a property on Dominion Rd. Two large trees were taken down from the property on the 27 November, including a 14-metre Manna Gum. Sarah Morrow said she and her mother became concerned about the future of the vegetation on the property after noticing demolition works at the site on 26 November. Morrow said when she passed by the following morning, she saw one of the large trees already half removed. She contacted council soon after and was informed…
THE CFA is calling on locals to lend a hand as community “citizen scientists” to help monitor grassland dryness – a key indicator of the state’s fire risk. According to the CFA, as summer approaches, grassland curing, the natural drying of grasses, becomes a major factor in fire behaviour. Curing figures are fed directly into CFA’s fire danger rating system at this time of year, meaning reliable on-ground observations are vital. Each week, the CFA blends satellite readings with reports from volunteers to produce maps showing how dry Victoria’s grasslands are. CFA remote sensing analyst Dr Danielle Wright said more…
A MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire decision to cut all in-house youth workers from its three youth hubs has left families unsettled amid concerns over communication and major service changes. Staff are set to finish on 19 December at three youth hubs in Rosebud, Mornington and Hastings and will be replaced with external providers who will take over from term two next year. The News understands a casual workforce will operate the Tounnin Wominjeka Southern Peninsula Youth Hub in Rosebud, along with the hubs in Hastings and Mornington, across the Christmas period and term one. Councillors voted at their 2 September meeting…
THE historic Flinders Pier is set to be revitalised, with construction now under way to restore the iconic structure. Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne announced that Bridgewater Marine has been appointed as the lead contractor for the project, part of the Labor Government’s $18m investment in restoring Victoria’s heritage piers. “Once complete, access will be restored to the inner section of the pier, to preserve this piece of infrastructure that is important to Victorians in the Mornington Peninsula,” Horne said. The full 327-metre length of the historic pier remains open to the public, but the old part of the…
Ryman Healthcare has decided not to proceed with a contentious retirement development of Mt Eliza’s Moondah Estate on Kunyung Rd and is reported to have offloaded the site at a loss. A statement from Ryman, seen by The News, said “Ryman has recently been assessing its future village development sites across Australia”. “Unfortunately, we’ve decided we are no longer progressing a village at Mount Eliza and instead will pursue other locations within Victoria. As such, we will be progressing the sale of our site at 70 Kunyung Rd.” Ryman Healthcare, which owns and operates 49 retirement villages in Australia and…
WESTERN Port Respectful Relationships marched in solidarity among the beautiful backdrop of Hastings foreshore on Tuesday 25 November as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence. Joining the march was Paul Mercurio MP and local councillors Marsh, Stephens, Gill, Roper, and Williams, as well as Victoria Police, support services, and community, to build community awareness on the first day of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The group is coordinated by Wallaroo Community House Good Shepherd, and is made up of local community members, and community agencies including Family Life, Westernport Community Support, Headspace, and Mornington…
A woman has lost her licence after allegedly being caught drink driving in Rye on 1 December. Officers were patrolling Point Nepean Road when they allegedly observed a vehicle travelling 62km/h in a 40km/h zone about 11.45pm. The vehicle was intercepted and the driver underwent a preliminary breath test and returned to the station for an evidentiary test where she returned an alleged reading of 0.165. The 22-year-old woman’s licence was immediately suspended for a period of 12 months and her vehicle was impounded at a cost of $1225. She is expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences.…
A MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire proposal to install road safety barriers along a stretch of road in Main Ridge has triggered a strong resident push back, with calls for clearer data and proper consultation. The shire has identified a section of Main Creek Rd between Old Main Creek Rd and Macpherson Lane as a dangerous site for motorcyclists due to roadside hazards including unprotected curves and poor signage. It is therefore seeking funding from the state government’s Motorcycle Safety Levy Program to go ahead with the roadside barrier project, which is estimated to be between $500,000 and $600,000. However, residents are…
“Pothole of the Week” is our way of highlighting the deplorable condition of our roads—and since a state Labor MP’s office recently told us to “send photos and locations,” we’re taking them at their word. At the local level, the shire has unanimously adopted its 2025 Road Management Plan, which sets out its responsibilities for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing the roads under its control. The next step is turning that plan into real action, backed by appropriate funding, to ensure the local road network is properly maintained. And now, here are this week’s potholes – real examples of the problems…
THE state government has rejected a Mornington Peninsula Shire application to mechanically rake beaches in areas with an endangered native plant, forcing a shake-up as planned works are scrapped in favour of hand cleaning. The decision comes after councillors voted in May to reinstate mechanical raking on accessible beaches, covering about 80 percent of the beaches on Port Phillip Bay while hand-cleaning would continue at beaches unreachable by tractor. But in a letter to the shire responding to its application to remove native vegetation as part of a mechanical beach cleaning program at Ranelagh Beach in Mt Eliza, Safety Beach,…