Mornington Peninsula Shire shifts away from community values
The recent decisions by Mornington Peninsula Shire Council signal a worrying departure from the community-focused leadership many of us have come to expect. The Council has disbanded the Citizens’ Panel — a group of 50 local residents who provided vital community input to the Council. This move shuts down an important channel for genuine public consultation at a time when transparency is crucial.
Adding to this, the new requirement for pre-registration and photo ID to attend Council meetings feels like a barrier designed to limit public participation rather than encourage it. Local democracy thrives on openness, not obstacles.
Meanwhile, funds are being shifted away from climate action, arts, and cultural support towards more tourist-focused projects and commemorative events. While celebrating Australia Day and Anzac Day is important, it should not come at the cost of cutting back on urgent climate initiatives and the vibrant arts that enrich our community. Indeed, it would be a better idea to ditch the expensive Peninsula Wide magazine which promotes the Council, and continue to fund the initiatives which have been cut. These changes raise serious questions: Is the Council truly listening to residents? Are they prioritising short-term visibility over the long-term wellbeing of the Peninsula?
The community deserves better — more consultation, more transparency, and a council that honours its commitment to protecting our environment, culture, and democratic processes.
Graeme Pitt, Rosebud
Rattle those pots
It was most surprising to read (Wastewater Talks Rejected, The News 10/6/25) that mayor Cr Anthony Marsh used his casting vote to defeat Cr David Gill’s motion with the justification that his decision was “based upon the officer’s report”.
Where was that logic when he and his cohorts consistently ignored officers’ reports to vote for the dumping of the council’s climate emergency commitment and the discontinuation of the beach cleaning program.
Let’s hope that the mayor has had an epiphany and moving forward all future decisions will be evidence based, instead of being justified on personal biases and inventions like the fictitious funding of school kitchen equipment.
It has been a difficult period observing many of the council’s recent decisions including the proposed defunding of community arts programs and the Willum Warrain community. We deserve better representation, evidence based debate, conscience voting and consideration of the investments that the community has already made on many of these issues.
It will only take one to break ranks. Come on, who is going to be? Until that time comes, the Mayor’s current voting bloc will continue to be known as the “Dishwasher six” in our household.
Renske O’Brien, Rye
Flag battles
It was wonderful to read that Cr Bruce Ranken’s motion to correct slights against the display of the Australian national flag in Mornington Peninsula Shire literature, and elsewhere. The move was prompted by the wide condemnation of a shire kindergarten enrolment form displaying the LGBTQ+ flag and two Indigenous flags but not the Australian flag.
The motion was passed almost unanimously with Cr Max Patton being the only disappointment. His reasons cited in The News (Why I voted against the flag motion, The News 10/6/25) seem weak.
This issue also prompts the question: why are ratepayers paying for six flagpoles outside each shire building (at least in Hastings) with the sixth pole flying the LGBTQ+ flag? What’s the obsession with that flag at the shire?
Our rates are going up and up, why waste our money on woke virtue signalling? Just have one flagpole with the Australian national flag that unites us all, or if there must be multiple flagpoles, keep it sane at three or four.
Paul Stuart, Hastings
Voices heard
The Mornington Peninsula Shire’s decision to abandon action on addressing climate change is disturbing (Council must reinstate climate emergency plan, Advertorial 11/6/25). The recent election has shown that the community is, in general, in agreement with the need to address climate change. The exceptions being the luddites that occupy certain sections of the opposition and the cross bench.
The Shire seems determined to position itself with the likes of Peter Dutton and Donald Trump and be on the wrong side of history.
Considering the significant coastline that forms most of the shire could be significantly impacted should the worst effects of our damage to the environment are visited upon us it is difficult to understand their reasoning behind the council’s decision.
It is not too late to admit the error and revert back to its original position.
Ross Hudson, Mt Martha
Money saver
Here is a million dollar money saver for the shire. Dump Peninsula Wide. It costs 250 grand each issue and does not even include allocated costs. And it is basically a propaganda effort which tells us nothing about what is really going on. Doesn’t pass the pub test if they’re cutting community grants and increasing rates. It’s a lot of money to spend so the councillors can blow their own trumpet. It definitely should have been on the list to cut long before some of the things that they have cut.
Some unsolicited comments I have received: SB, Waste of money I don’t know anyone who reads it usually goes straight in the bin RF, Waste of money. I rarely find anything useful there. Sometimes I get it in the mail other times I don’t. Get rid of it and use money elsewhere eg the arts, roads, the animal shelter. CH, I don’t see why the council is involved in small commercial enterprises like this. I see plenty of them being kicked and spilling out of the local post office.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Bike lane
The absence of a bike lane around Anthony’s Nose is a repeating danger for all the cyclists who use Pt Nepean Rd. I hear there’s a big plan to re-build the road to include a new footpath/bike path over the rock wall, but When? Meantime, there seems to be enough road width kerb-to-kerb. So why not paint bike lanes – even if they’re not 100% compliant? And why not trim the foliage which is an obstacle? It overhangs the cliff-side kerb by about one metre.
Warwick Spinaze, Rosebud
Money coming from… ?
The Frankston Council’s wish list of programs and infrastructure which will be the focus on the council lobbying the state and federal government too provide funding to cut the council’s loans (Projects futures under review, The News 10/6/25). With the state and federal governments out of control debt where is the state and federal government going to get the cash to pay for these projects ? The federal government at the last federal election already have committed millions in promises to the Frankston Council but will they keep those promises ?
The Victorian government may have it’s credit rating cut to just an “A” which will mean more interest payments which could lead to the Victorian government becoming bankrupt.
Reality of life is that councils must cut their expenditure to keep out of debt and keep rates low.
Victorians cannot afford high rates and taxes as they are becoming poorer.
Russell Morse, Karingal
Where are the spoons?
As a follower and fan of Stuart McCullough’s columns I found his article in the last edition well presented and fun to read (Understanding the universe – Where do spoons go?, The News 10/6/25).
After much research through the history of cutlery and crockery in numerous libraries I became frustrated by the lack of information on this subject and its disappearance.
While Stuart explains areas he researched, I think I found the answer in a book at the local kindergarten. I read that the dish had run away with the spoon. Therefore, may I suggest to Stuart he start looking at the files of crockery or visiting the crockery police to get them onto the case.
Bruce White, Safety Beach
Politics?
Kings’ birthday honours to Scott Morrison? Are they having a laugh? Now is the winter of my discontent, with zero sympathy for superannuation policy holders over the $3 million mark, including all greedy yes ponies who oppose it.
All these exercises on a wet and windy morning upsetting my peaceful cappuccino, walking, seemingly enjoying, transcendental meditation a necessity, the usual mantra – Good old Collingwood forever.
“No Stadium no team” says the AFL, supported by Fox Footy ex AFL football employees, under the guise of football experts? At a cost of what, billions, and for what, poverty? What’s wrong with the ground they already use? Why this constant need to get bigger, supposedly better?
They do this on Rye housing prices, on one hand the rich getting richer, on the other the renters, no chance (almost) of owning, moving to where?
And why take Tasmania to the cleaners, like our federal government “AUKUS” deal with the yankee doodles?
The election has thrown up some truths at last, apart from the obvious Peter Dutton result and the shifty voters in the Flinders electorate, namely Angus Taylor demoted after his “better economic managers” nonsense.
Go Pies…just saying.
Cliff Ellen, Rye
