A STRETCH of under-used space behind The Bays Hospital has been turned into a vibrant green space thanks to a partnership with the Rotary Club of Mornington and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.
The first section of the project called the Mornington Rotary Greenway was successfully planted at the end of July, which the Rotary Club’s secretary Tanya Chambers said was a transformative project that is set to create a vibrant green corridor connecting Mornington’s foreshore to the hinterland. She also said it marked a significant milestone “in bringing more green spaces into the region’s urban areas, much like the Briars Forest created by Rotary in 1981”.
“This initial planting, located along the old Mornington railway line adjacent to The Bays Hospital, celebrates the hospital’s vital community contributions and aligns with the council’s proposed Peninsula Trail route and urban forest strategy,” she said. “The greenway will ultimately span from the Esplanade to Bungower Rd, fostering a love for nature, promoting environmental sustainability, and improving community well-being.”
Mornington Peninsula Shire deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro and the Bays Hospital CEO Jade Phelan gathered with Rotary members last month to celebrate the project’s success. Funding and support were provided by the shire through its climate action and local area community capital and infrastructure grants as well as contributions from the Rotary Club of Mornington and Rotary District 9815. The next stage of planting will take place between Barkly St and the Esplanade, taking in three small parks along the way.
Chambers said in the future, the greenway was expected to include walking and cycling paths as part of council’s Peninsula Trail, which was the “beginning of something big”. Pingiaro said the new green space would deliver enormous benefits, especially for patients at The Bays Hospital, who will now have views of greenery, passers-by, and pets, creating a more uplifting environment.
“And the fact that this path will connect to a greater walking trail makes it even more special. It’s an incredible project, and I look forward to seeing it completed – becoming a vital connection that reflects what makes the peninsula so unique: the meeting of hinterland, bush and the bay,” he said.
First published in the Mornington News – 12 August 2025
