Peninsula Shire’s proposed increase to land rates unfair
The Mornington Peninsula Shire is considering removing a 20% bulk deal discount on annual rates offered to residents living in retirement villages within the shire.
The words “discount removal” is in effect a 20% increase in the resident’s land rate cost in our village it will increase the residents’ rates by around $220 pa. The Victorian government’s statute says increases for household rates should not exceed a maximum of 3% for the year 2025/2026.
Many residents living in villages on the peninsula are living on a fixed full or part income based on the government’s aged pension scheme, this may be coupled with whatever savings they may have accumulated during their working life. An additional $220 increase in their annual fixed costs means that costs savings will need to be made in their day to day living expense’s i.e. Food and Medicines, etc.
The retirement village I live in has 147 dwellings housing and approximately 220 residents. We pay a monthly fee to cover repairs and maintenance of the roads, guttering, footpaths, gardens and nature strips within the village.
Our total rate payments exceed $160,000 per year, for the council to remove our non – recyclables weekly and recyclables fortnightly or a total of 84 pick ups per year at a cost of $3000 for a one-day collection per week which requires the vehicle to travel approximately three kilometres, or if you wish $1000 per kilometre
I’m sure that figure would offer great efficiencies to any business.
Bruce White, Safety Beach
Meeting move
I have a great mistrust of the Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors when I have become aware that the August 10 council meeting is being shifted to Tyabb.
Over many years the Capel Sound community has tried to rescue the only open space in Capel Sound at 11A Allambi Avenue. Now that the meeting to decide the future of our valuable open space has suddenly been shifted far away from our nearby local Besgrove Street office, I feel I will be disadvantaged as I will not be able to attend the meeting due to my physical limitations and age.
We have waited since March 2025 for the Open Space Strategy Report to be made a public document. There has been no consultancy with the residents of the Mornington Peninsula Shire about this expensive review that has been collated behind doors away from where the ratepayers have no say on how or when we will be consulted.
Councillors, you are our servants. Unfortunately we have made mistakes in electing people who are unable to be open and truthful about caring for the residents of Mornington Peninsula Shire.
Juanita Aitken, Capel Sound
Update on David
As a follow up to the letter to the editor (Robbing Peter to pay Paul, Letters 24/6/25) those who have signed a petition and shown concern for David’s well being will be interested to learn the following information.
A letter written to Upotipotpon and Payton Foundations on David’s behalf established that the property has been leased to the Mornington Community Support Centre and the Foundations have been assured by CEO Ben Smith that he is actively involved with David, offering all assistance to help him secure appropriate alternative stable housing, which will ultimately be more affordable that the current rental. He will not move until he has a suitable home to go to. This is reassuring news and we will have to hold the centre to that commitment.
Beverley Treloar, Mt Martha
Main Street rubbish
The rubbish bins placed at frequent intervals on either side of Main Street, Mornington seem to be invisible to many pedestrians who consume takeaway food on the move, particularly on weekends.
Very early on Saturday morning I observed a woman wearing a glove, voluntarily picking up rubbish strewn along the footpath. I mentioned to this kind lady that council usually provide someone to clean up the footpaths each morning. However she had been informed that council only employ such a person during summer holiday season. Surely Mornington Peninsula Shire can provide better supervision of this problem during the full year.
Vivienne Daniels, Mornington
Shire briefings
I am not opposed to the decision on briefings not being public. The summaries will be OK.
It was a proposal I made early on.
Unfortunately they only listened to part of it, they did not publish the briefing brief agenda a week before the briefings so the elector could give their inputs on the subject to our elected representative.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Reserve danger
Hillview Reserve Dromana has become more of a death trap than it ever was, thanks to the new multi-million dollar works there. Cyclists now race hell-for-leather down the hill on the paths shared by off leash dogs and walkers of all ages and abilities.
I had thought hopefully that the new car park and paths were to separate the bike riders from the pedestrians, but it has worked the other way around. Instead those nice smooth downhill paths are too tempting for young (and often older) bikers to resist.
Did the planners of this grand mission actually consider or observe the needs of locals, who have peacefully walked their dogs here for decades? Is this again about attracting tourists, rather than catering for those who live here?
Several walkers have told me they no longer feel safe walking there and now go elsewhere. It is no longer a relaxing park. One almost had her dog run over yesterday, which might not have ended well for the cyclist either. There are not even signs to bikers at the end of the bike tracks instructing them to slow. Something needs to be done before there is a serious accident.
Paula Polson, Dromana
Dog poo fairy
Many thoughtful dog walkers carry a plastic bag. They pick up their dog poo and put it in the bin. Thank you. Others, for some dumb reason, pick up the poo then drop the bag beside the path.
What are they thinking? – if they’re thinking at all!
Warwick Spinaze, Rosebud
