THE Mornington Peninsula Shire has approved a new long-term lease for the Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society (MPAS).
At the council meeting on 5 November, councillors voted unanimously for the new lease, after the previous lease expired in 2014.
Under the new agreement, MPAS will continue to operate out of The Briars in Mount Martha. The lease provides an initial five-year term, with two further five-year renewal options at a community rental price of $520 per year.
The leased area will also expand from 2,600 square metres to 3,600 square metres, allowing space for the society to install new observation domes and a viewing deck.
Vice President Chris Kostokanellis said they are excited to have some stability and longevity and be able to make long-term plans and developments.
For the past 11 years, the lease has been operating on a year-to-year basis. The society reached out to the council last year to request an extended lease and have been working together to finalise the agreement.
“The people that we’ve been dealing with there have been really helpful and really encouraging to try and help us to do this and to get this,” Kostokanellis said.
The MPAS currently has over 400 members and are constantly adding new members. A yearly membership costs $50 and includes access to member nights at the society, monthly meetings and workshops, use of telescopes and equipment, free entry to public talks, and access to the extensive astronomy library.
The society is hopeful the new space will provide more opportunities to grow and expand.
“We’ve got a fair bit of excess equipment in the observatory that we want to house permanently and also look at getting some new equipment for different things,” Kostokanellis said.
The society hosts a stargazing night on the first Friday of each month, which sees members of the public, as well as society members, gather for informational talks and a chance to view planets and stars through the telescopes.
“I think those nights are not so much about what I get to see, it’s more about seeing the reaction from people when they look through the scope,” Kostokanellis said.
“They’re looking at something they’ve never seen before, and it’s like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s incredible’. They don’t expect to see the sort of things that they see through the telescope.”
Councillor Paul Pingiaro, who moved the motion, said the lease has been a long-time coming for the society, which sees over 3000 visitors a year come through.
“The Astronomical Society has inspired generations to look up and this keeps the stars within reach for our community,” Pingiaro said.
“You sort of have to understand that the reason that we exist is because everything out there is the way it is,” Kostokanellis said.
“So, rather than feeling disconnected to it, you can look at the stars and feel connected to it all.”
You can find more information about the society and any upcoming events on their website: mpas.asn.au
First published in the Mornington News – 18 November 2025
