A MULTI-agency working group has been formed to address urgent tenant welfare concerns and long-standing maintenance issues at the Main St public housing complex in Mornington.
Mornington Peninsula Shire set up the group to tackle to “significant challenges” including maintenance, systems, tenancy placement, and ongoing improvements for the area. Renovations were also undertaken after fire destroyed several units, which have been re-tenanted by locals on the Housing Register.
Several agencies have been working closely together since October last year to improve the living conditions at the complex. The working group includes representatives from the shire, Mornington Community Support Centre, Western Port Community Support, Southern Peninsula Community Support, Bolton Clarke, Peninsula Health, Mornington Victoria Police, and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).
Funding and support for the multi-agency project includes the shire for landscaping, tree and shrub planting and rubbish removal; the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (maintenance repairs); and the Community Support Centres (tenants support through emergency relief and casework). More improvements are planned for the next 12 months.
“This is a great example of a multi-agency partnership approach. Collectively we have worked through some challenging issues to deliver an outcome that supports the wellbeing of tenants,” Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said.
Mornington Community Support Centre CEO Ben Smith said residents were “often blamed for issues outside of their control, or indeed for things they didn’t do, and it’s great to see some action after all these years of advocacy”. “Our community has rallied and provided a sense of relief and support, delivering immediate positive impacts for everyone involved,” he said.
DFFH deputy secretary Kathleen Alonso said the government was committed to improving outcomes for public housing renters, and the “Main Street Working Group is a strong example of what can be achieved through community collaboration”. “Together, we’re making progress on maintenance, tenancy support, and the overall wellbeing of renters,” she said.
First published in the Mornington News – 5 August 2025
