MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council have determined which position they will take into a hearing with VCAT, which will decide whether the proposed plans for redevelopment of 1158 Nepean Highway, Mornington are appropriate.
All but one of the shire’s councillors have voted to have the Bata site redeveloped into a restricted retail premise.
Due to no decision on the matter being made in due time, the issue will now go before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The planned proposal is for the use and redevelopment of 11 restricted retail premises, including the development of signage, reduction in the number of car parking spaces, removal of vegetation, and the creation of an easement or restriction.
Cr Pingiaro acknowledges that there are some legitimate issues with traffic and pedestrian safety but believes the site is appropriate for the plans being put forward.
“This kind of development is already established within the Mornington parkland industrial area,” said Pingiaro.
“This isn’t a proposal seeking to introduce an entirely different land use into the precinct.”
Pingiaro said the redevelopment plan does consider road, commercial vehicle and pedestrian safety and that he raised those issues in the planning stage.
“The report directly considers student movements between Nepean Highway, bus stops, Padua College, Mornington Secondary College and Oakbank Road.”
“I am satisfied that the officer recommendations to council are a well-supported position to take into the existing VCAT proceeding.”
Cr David Gill of Coolart Ward was the only councillor not to take the same position as the rest of the councillors, citing a range of reasons including safety.
“The proposal does not satisfactorily demonstrate it will meet the purpose of the industrial three zone, and the retail zone is not in an appropriate location out of centre,” said Gill.
“The proposal will affect the amenities of the adjacent and more sensitive land uses, and the proposal is contrary to the streetscape character of the area.”
“The local schools have been affected for a very long time with built up traffic generated around their street.”
The plans for development of the area come after Bata Shoes relocated away from the site in April of this year.
Redevelopment of the site for commercial use is already underway on the south section ‘Lot A, section 1’.
This is not the first time in 2026 development in the area has caused discussion.
The southbound left lane in front of the Bata site closed for several months while the neighbouring factory development built a slip lane.
The closure caused daily traffic chaos, and complaints from the community (“Developer apologises as Mornington traffic woes escalate”, The News, 12/5/26).
First published in the Mornington News – 13 October 2026
