Browsing: Mornington Peninsula

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,…

Police have charged an 18-year-old male after a teen fell from the roof of a moving car In St Andrews Beach last night. It is alleged five 18-year-old males were inside a Holden Cruze and two 18-year-old males were on top of the vehicle. The car was allegedly travelling in a car park on Paradise Road at low speed when one of the males slid from the roof and fell onto the road. He suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital in critical condition The alleged driver, an 18-year-old Glen Waverley man, has been charged with drive in…

CRIB Point Pool is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a colourful new mural and the community is being invited to help shape it. For generations, the pool has been a hub of summer fun, swimming lessons, and cherished memories. To mark this milestone, the Mornington Peninsula Shire is giving the facility a refreshed look with vibrant artwork on the building’s front and back walls. Residents are encouraged to share what they feel best represents Crib Point. Do you want the mural to reflect the town’s history, the pool’s long-standing role in the community, the surrounding coastline and bushland, or the…

THE Rotary Club of Mt Martha is bringing back its beloved Christmas fruit cakes and puddings, just in time for the holiday season. Locals who have enjoyed these treats in previous years know just how delicious they are. This festive project is organised by Rotary Darwin South, part of District 9560 in the Northern Territory, with all profits donated to The Rotary Foundation. Rotary Mount Martha will receive a small portion from each cake sold, which will go directly into the club’s account to help fund local projects. The cakes are available in a reusable tin for $22 or in…

THE Mornington – Mt Martha Model Railway Club will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with an open day at Mt Martha House Community Centre on 30 November. The event will exhibit multiple model railway layouts from visiting clubs, as well as the club’s own, and have free admission. Club president Cameron Wilson said they want the event to be accessible to everyone, including children. Between 10am and 3pm, anyone is welcome to come and learn more about model railways and watch them operate. Wilson said fifty years is a big milestone which celebrates “the longevity of the club and the…

CRIB Point’s volunteer firefighters gathered on 15 November to celebrate a major milestone of 75 years of service to their community. The anniversary event brought together members from across the decades to share stories, reconnect, and acknowledge the brigade’s evolution. The unit traces its origins back to 1950, when locals met at the Buff’s Hall to establish a formal firefighting presence for their growing township. From that small meeting, the brigade steadily developed into an essential pillar of community safety. Captain Greg Rose, who has been with the brigade since 2018, said the celebration represented more than just a number.…

HASTINGS State Emergency Service (SES) joined the Mornington Tourist Railway on 17 November for a large-scale emergency training exercise. The drill took place on Bungower Rd and involved a simulated emergency stop with 30 volunteers acting as passengers with varied injuries. About 30 SES members from the Hastings unit attended, along with four members from Cranbourne SES who brought their mass casualty tent. Four additional SES members from the state region were also present. Hastings SES section leader Hobley Silvana said the drill simulated an abrupt train stop during a busy tourist period using the historic carriages which date back…

CAMP Manyung, a not-for-profit initiative transforming young lives, has turned 100 with campers, families and community members gathering to celebrate the milestone. The seaside camp on Sunnyside Rd, Mount Eliza, is the longest-running residential camp in the state, run by YMCA Victoria, attracting around 14,500 campers every year. Heavy rain didn’t deter guests from attending the celebration on 16 November including 95-year-old Ian Rose, who first volunteered with the YMCA in the 1940s and later brought his own family to the camp in the 1970s. He was amazed at how much the place has evolved. YMCA Victoria CEO Carolyn Morris…

ROSEBUD Hospital will soon receive a new tilt table, thanks to a generous donation from the McCrae Lions Club. Valued at over $8000, the tilt table is a specialised examination table that gradually moves patients from a horizontal to an almost standing position, safely secured with straps. The equipment is primarily used to diagnose causes of fainting or light-headedness by monitoring changes in blood pressure and heart rate as patients are raised to a standing position. Lions Club president Salvatore Giambruno said the donation reflected the club’s ongoing commitment to supporting local community health initiatives. “Rosebud Hospital is a key…

AT Village Glen Retirement Living in Capel Sound, Francis (Ray) Kenny has celebrated a milestone not many get to say they’ve reached. Ray turned 100 on 25 November and spent the day having a nice lunch out with his family. On the 23rd, friends and family gathered to celebrate his birthday in the Rainbow Room at the Village Glen. Ray was born in Warrnambool in 1925 and raised in various small towns around Victoria as his parents moved from bakery to bakery. “My mum and dad’s scheme was to buy a bakery business, and they’d work it up, and they’d…

SOMERS residents are pushing for a 30kph speed limit on the town’s unsealed roads, citing a lack of kerbs, footpaths, or road markings as a serious safety hazard for pedestrians. The Somers Residents Association (SRA) lodged a formal submission with the Mornington Peninsula Shire last month calling for the change across all 17 unsealed roads in the community including main roads like Alexandra Ave and Stanmore Ave. “Given the total absence of kerbs, footpaths, separated and protected bike lanes and road lines, the speed limit on unsealed roads in Somers should be managed to minimise the risk of fatal and…

“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…