THE Victorian Government’s latest public transport investment has caused frustration on the peninsula as local leaders say the region has been overlooked.
The 2026/26 Victorian Budget includes almost $100m for bus network upgrades across regional and metro Victoria and promises longer operating hours, new routes, and improved weekend services.
Josh Sinclair, CEO Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula, said the peninsula will see no benefits from the new investment.
“Despite 82% of the Mornington Peninsula Shire having no access to public transport, the Victorian government’s $100m Budget ‘bonanza’ features no new, additional, or amended routes for Mornington Peninsula residents,” Sinclair said.
His criticism reflects a broader concern that the peninsula continues to miss out on transport investments and upgrades.
Sinclair pointed out that smaller regional areas such as Drysdale, Castlemaine, Cowes, Inverloch, and Harcourt received more upgrades than the entirety of the peninsula.
“Whatever the opposite to a bonanza is, we got it,” he said.
There have been pushes for public transport upgrades on the peninsula for years, including the council demanding better from the state government after a community survey back in 2022 (Push for improved public transport, The News 26/09/22).
The lack of progress comes despite a long history of advocacy for better cross-peninsula connections. Efforts to improve transport have faced delays and false starts. There has been funding secured for a cross-peninsula bus service connecting Hastings and Mornington, however the start date for the service is unclear (The long road to establishing cross-peninsula transport, The News 17/09/25).
The new budget will see routes servicing La Trobe University in Melbourne’s north have increased frequency and extended hours, while the west will gain new routes and improved connections through Melton South and Laverton.
Eastern and south-eastern suburbs will also receive a range of upgrades, including improved links and extended hours between Dandenong, Monash University, and Chadstone.
The upgrades only go as far south as Frankston, however, with an extended route operating between Karingal and Seaford, and increased weekend frequencies for services between Carrum and Frankston.
Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said the investment would make a difference for commuters across the state.
“More buses north, south, east and west – and it’ll be half-price to ride for the rest of the year,” Williams said.
“With Donald Trump’s war driving up costs at home, more bus services help Victorians save money and time.”
Despite this statement, the budget will not be beneficial for residents of the peninsula and has reinforced long-standing frustrations regarding the lack of public transport for the region.
First published in the Mornington News – 5 May 2026
