DRAFT plans for a $2.2m upgrade of the Mt Martha village, including improvements to Watson Rd parking and footpath renewal works have been endorsed for community feedback.
The decision was made at the council’s 17 June meeting, allowing the draft plans, which were originally proposed in 2020, to be exhibited for community consultation in July and August. Councillors unanimously supported the plans after $125,000 was allocated to draw up concept designs in the 2023/24 budget. It will see upgrades to the existing gravel carpark to a paved surface, redesign the central island on Watson Rd and enhance footpath connectivity to the foreshore and from the carpark to the commercial area. But while the proposed project would be delivered in three stages, no funding has yet been allocated to the shire’s capital works budget to get the works underway.
The stages have also been swapped with stage one (previously stage two) planned for the 2025-26 financial year to seal the existing carpark bordering Watson Rd, Mirang Ave and the Esplanade, as well as create line markings and install disabled parking bays.
Stage two (previously stage three) will see central median works on Watson Rd including the construction of 12 parking bays in the central islands, connecting footpaths, a raised zebra crossing and raised platforms, with construction expected to be carried out between 2026-27.
Stage three (previously stage one) will see a footpath built along Watson Rd for the 2027-28 financial year.
The community will be able to consider the draft plans and provide their feedback and comments before the final detailed plans are completed. The council has estimated the proposed costs to be $815,419 (stage one), $873,015 (stage two), and $588,000 (stage three).
Cr Bruce Ranken said the designs addressed both the safety and functionality needs of one of the busiest parts of the village. “This will connect the residents, the visitors and the businesses more directly in fulfilling our goal of safe and walkable streets under the pedestrian access strategy,” he said.
Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh also backed the project, but noted construction was “not funded to be built in the budget; it’s further design work to be done, and I believe there’s existing funding to finish that work, but it’ll be something that would have to be reconsidered at the mid-year budget”.
Overall, he said, “I think this would be a great project to finally get done after like five years in the works”. “Anyone that knows Watson Rd, it’s very wide, it’s reasonably slow, it’s not completely safe … it’s not the highest on the list for high priority paths, but I think the parking and pedestrian improvements, particularly where you’ve got not a blind corner, but a fairly dangerous corner turning into the village and then there’s an early learning centre with no crossing at the front.”
Cr David Gill said while he was supportive of the project, he hoped “money that’s proposed for one side of the peninsula can be applied to the other”. “I would be pleased to receive these types of works in my ward (Coolart Ward), which is 60 per cent of the shire, for some of the really urgent works that need to be done and urge councillors in future to consider a wider scope,” he said.
First published in the Mornington News – 24 June 2025
