THE $2.2m Mount Martha Village parking and footpath project has been revised following extensive community consultation, with updated plans now awaiting council endorsement.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire project, funded in the 2023–2024 financial year with $125,000 allocated for design, aims to upgrade the existing gravel carpark to a paved surface, redesign the Watson Rd central island, and improve footpath connections from the residential area to the foreshore and from the carpark to the village’s commercial area.
Community consultation ran from 29 August to 3 October last year, receiving 488 survey responses and five emails. Just over half of respondents supported the carpark upgrade, while 58 per cent opposed changes to the central island, mainly due to concerns over the removal of mature trees. Opinions on the proposed footpath were almost evenly split, with 46 per cent in favour, 46 per cent against, and seven per cent selecting “other”.
Key themes from the feedback included preserving trees and the natural environment, conditional support for the carpark (people supported the upgrade if it remained simple, natural, and safe), and opposition to centre island parking with safety concerns, congestion, and loss of trees frequently mentioned.
There were mixed views on the footpath. Some felt it was unnecessary, given the road’s width, while others suggested shorter or alternate routes.
Maintaining village character was another theme with a strong desire to avoid a “concrete jungle” feel.
Council officers have revised the plans to address these concerns.
The plan will be considered by councillors at their 17 February meeting, with council officers recommending that the council endorses the updated plans.
According to a shire report, the updated design keeps much of the existing vegetation and removes half of the proposed centre island parking.
The carpark upgrade will provide 52 new spaces, including two accessible spots. Changes to the Watson Rd centre island results in no net loss of on-street parking, with six spaces removed but six new spaces added within the centre median.
Work on a Cultural Heritage Management Plan complex assessment for the carpark is ongoing.
Council officers have submitted a budget bid for the carpark’s construction in the 2026/2027 budget, while funding for the centre island and pedestrian works will be considered in the following financial year.
The footpath proposal is planned for future budgets in line with the shire’s priority matrix.
First published in the Mornington News – 17 February 2026