MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has endorsed a long-term plan to increase parking capacity in Sorrento, with works at Morce Ave car park identified as the highest priority.
At the 7 July council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to move forward with a program of works that prioritises the Morce Ave Stage 1 upgrade, followed by permanent angled parking on Hotham Rd and then a second stage of works on Morce Ave.
The Stage 1 Morce Ave recommendation includes an increase of approximately 38 parking spaces to help reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety and accessibility.
Funding to deliver the projects will be considered through future council budgeting processes.
Cr Andrea Allen, who moved the motion, said additional parking in Sorrento has been under consideration for years, with council previously investigating options such as a multi-story car park.
“We’re not allocating funding, we’re just settling on the best way forward,” said Allen.
She said additional parking is justified to help support current demand and future growth, as well as helping relieve pressure on overflow parking in residential streets.
Allen said Stage 1 at Morce Ave would provide 38 additional car spaces for an estimated $450,000. She said the upgrade will also include a pedestrian crossing at the exit of the IGA and will improve traffic flow through the car park.
Allen noted one of the main concerns following community consultation was vegetation removal.
“In response to that, three significant trees will be retained at the expense of six car spaces,” said Allen.
“It is still expected that four trees will be lost in Stage 1, and a further one tree in Stage 2.”
Allen said Stage 2 of the Morce Ave upgrade will create an additional 51 car spaces for $1.6m.
“Stage 2 involves squaring off what is currently a sweeping entrance and is quite expensive because a retaining wall will be needed,” said Allen.
The Hotham Rd proposal follows a temporary angled parking trial over the 2025-26 summer period.
“The parking was well utilised, but it was a bit tight,” said Allen.
“The option we’re looking at tonight is indented angle parking and would involve removal of the cypress trees in the shared path.”
Allen said the trees are end of life and will be removed at some point regardless of the parking proposal.
Cr Patrick Binyon said he was glad to see some of the trees were able to be retained in the updated proposal following community consultation.
He also noted community consultation found around 68 per cent of respondents supported increased parking in Sorrento.
“Most also supported a mix of short and longer term parking to improve turnover,” said Binyon.
Cr Cam Williams, who seconded the motion, said Sorrento’s parking demand was no longer limited to the busy summer period.
“Sorrento has now become somewhere that’s very popular to visit throughout the whole year, not just in summertime,” said Williams.
Williams also raised concerns about emergency services being impacted.
“The lack of car parking causes a lot of traffic congestion, which can also make it challenging for emergency services to get through,” said Williams.
The endorsed plans will now help inform future budget decisions, with council to consider funding for design and construction during its annual budget process.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 29 July 2026
