MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire have accepted appointment as Committee of Management for 25 hectares of bushland in Hastings.
At the 29 September council meeting, councillors voted unanimously in favour of the Minister for Planning’s request for the shire to manage the land.
The state government proposed to reserve the land at 197A Henderson Rd, Hastings as a bushland reserve, allowing the shire to protect and manage the significant natural area.
Cr Michael Stephens, who moved the motion, said he believes this is a positive outcome for Hastings and the wider peninsula.
“This is an opportunity to secure long-term protection of approximately 25 hectares of environmentally significant bushland,” said Stephens.
Council officers identified the land as among the top ten most significant natural sites within the shire.
Councillors also voted in approval of requesting the Department of Planning consider incorporating an adjoining piece of land on the southwest side into the bushland reserve.
Stephens said the southwest site contains significant vegetation, and it makes sense to consider incorporating the land into the bushland reserve.
“At the very least, council should have a formal role in any future master plan and environmental assessment of that land,” said Stephens.
There is also a northeast site which the shire will ask the Department of Planning to investigate the suitability of for social housing.
“I support investigating whether approximately three hectares there could potentially contribute to affordable social housing in Hastings but importantly only after an appropriate flora and fauna assessment has established whether the land is suitable,” said Stephens.
“If it isn’t suitable for housing, then the recommendation is clear: it should also be incorporated into the bushland reserve.”
Stephens said this is not simply about taking responsibility for another parcel of land.
“It is about protecting a significant environmental asset while carefully considering whether another part of the site can help address an important community need,” said Stephens.
“We now have the opportunity to give a substantial part of it long-term protection, and I think future generations will thank us for taking that step.”
Cr Kate Roper said it is important to protect and maintain the piece of land.
“It’s home to a great deal of wildlife, including the powerful owl, and this land is valuable remnant vegetation that’s also essential to retain and protect,” said Roper.
“It has been subjected to rubbish dumping and some vandalism, and this agreement includes that the state clean up rubbish and repair fences before council takeover management.”
Roper said with the vegetation loss happening each year, this is a great result as the land will be protected for the future.
Cr Max Patton noted the shire is currently moving to covenant four of its bushland reserves.
“I think that is recognition enough of how well our natural systems team is doing at managing land across the peninsula, and maybe one day we might see this Hendersons Rd bushland reserve move into a covenant situation,” said Patton.
The shire will now begin management of the land, which will assist with conserving remnant vegetation, protecting habitats, and strengthening biodiversity and landscape resilience.
There are no direct budget implications as the shire is not required to purchase the land.
Ongoing maintenance costs have been estimated at $60,000 per year, which can be accommodated within existing budgets.
First published in the Mornington News – 13 October 2026
