MORNINGTON Peninsula shire officers have prepared a draft submission regarding the partial divestment of HMAS Cerberus, with councillors unanimously voting to put it out for public consultation.
In February, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced HMAS Cerberus would be “partially divested” as part of a massive sale of 35,000 hectares of defence real estate – including some of the nation’s most historic barracks – that is expected to raise almost $2b (HMAS Cerberus to be ‘partially divested’ in defence land sell-off, The News 10/2/26).
At the time it was stated that 1164 hectares of the 1500 hectares that make up HMAS Cerberus were marked for divestment.
AN estimated crowd of well over 300 people, many unable to get inside, assembled at Crib Point Primary School on Wednesday 10 June for a community consultation over the government’s plan to sell off the land (Fiery meeting over Cerberus sell-off plans, The News 16/6/26).
The assembled crowd appeared unanimous in their opposition to the proposed sale and a show of hands confirmed the lack of local support for the commercial sale, subdivision, or development of the land.
Now, the shire has prepared a draft submission that states its advocacy position for the preferred future use of the land is primarily for conservation purposes with limited recreation, tourism and aquaculture uses that protect and enhance the special ecological values of the site. Further, that at least five per cent of the divestment proceeds be used to deliver increased social housing stock on the Mornington Peninsula, within the Urban Growth Boundary.
The draft document details reasoning for the shire’s advocacy position that focuses on long term conservation, including unsuitability for agriculture, susceptibility to coastal inundation, and unsuitability of surrounding infrastructure for urban development.
At the shire’s 7 July council meeting, councillors were asked to consider a six-week period of community consultation on the draft submission commencing on 14 July 2026 and concluding on 25 August 2026.
The motion was moved by Cr Michael Stephens and seconded by Cr Kate Roper.
Roper told the meeting, “Along with councillors Stephens and Gill, I attended an information night where approximately 350 local residents voiced their concerns”.
“Their feeling to retain the land as it is, was strongly registered.
“A majority of the land posed for divestment is significant and undisturbed vegetation with populations, among other wildlife, of koalas, kangaroos, and fruit bats.
“This area is one of the last significant stands of native vegetation on the peninsula.
“I hope the community will take the opportunity to respond to council’s submission so that we can add their voice and ideas to our document, so it truly reflect the community’s wishes.”
Speaking for the motion, Cr Paul Pingiaro said “This is more than just a routine report to council. For me this goes far beyond. Coastal land adjoining deep port access in environmentally sensitive areas is extremely scarce”.
“Defence security is increasingly important. And once land of this scale and of this strategic value is sold, fragmented or committed to other uses, that decision is irreversible.
“This is outside the urban growth boundary and contains one of the largest remaining areas of native bushland on our peninsula, adjoining internationally significant RAMSAR wetlands.
“Any development potential must be weighed against the environmental damage, coastal risks, contamination, infrastructure and other obligations that may arise.”
Also speaking in favour of the motion, Cr David Gill said “Thank you for the opportunity on one of the most important matters that we will be discussing this year”.
“Any talk of us buying at the level that will be required for this land is not going to happen.
“We have about 2000 hectares of remnant vegetation and bushland. This would add another 1600 [hectares] which would stretch our budget far. Apart from buying it, but also maintaining the land so we’ll be looking at other ways of handling this.
“The recommended future uses should take into account the maintenance of the urban growth boundary, which is essential for the Mornington Peninsula.
“And of course, this is a major naval base, you can’t just do anything you like around a naval base. There were a lot of other issues here, but just drawing them to the attention of the public for feedback is very important.”
No councillor spoke against the motion, and put to a vote, councillors unanimously agreed to put the draft submission our for public consultation.
First published in the Mornington News – 14 July 2026
