MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has endorsed a list of 14 road safety projects for submission to the Federal Government’s 2027/28 Black Spot Program.
The submission is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the peninsula’s road toll and improve road safety at high-risk locations. It was unanimously supported at the 9 June council meeting.
The projects were selected following community consultation undertaken between March and April 2026, which received more than 400 responses from residents.
Director of Planning and Liveability Andrew Pomeroy told councillors the program focuses on preventing serious crashes.
“The Australian Government’s Black Spot Grant Program funds safety upgrades at high risk road locations to reduce deaths and serious injuries,” said Pomeroy.
“Importantly, it does not fund maintenance of roads.”
Three projects that were originally considered for the 2027/28 funding round have already been selected through the 2026/27 program and have therefore been removed from the list. Those projects were Tanti Ave in Mornington, Dromana Pde in Safety Beach, and High St in Hastings.
Council officers recommended adding two new projects in their place: a roundabout at the intersection of Mt Arthur Rd and Third Ave in Rosebud, and a safety barrier project near the Mornington Peninsula Fwy and Frankston-Flinders Rd interchange in Baxter.
While most of the included projects are located on council roads, Pomeroy said three inclusions involve state-managed roads which were included to advocate for improvements at dangerous intersections.
These include the Arthurs Seat Rd and Mornington-Flinders Rd and the Arthurs Seat Rd and White Hill Rd intersection in Red Hill, and the Frankston-Flinders Rd and Stanleys Rd intersection in Balnarring.
“We do not believe that the state government will hand over control for us to deliver on these roads, but we saw that as a good advocacy position for council to take forward in this program,” said Pomeroy.
Cr Max Patton, who moved the motion, acknowledged the changes in the Black Spot Program’s community engagement processes.
“I’m really happy with how they’ve changed and how it’s a more robust community engagement process to reach this point,” said Patton.
“I hope that in doing the pre-work in identifying these locations and going out to community first, we’ll end up with a better result.”
Cr Cam Williams said he was glad Mt Arthur Rd and Third Ave had been added as it is a location where there has been frequent near misses. He reiterated this program is for safety upgrades to dangerous roads, not for fixing damage such as potholes.
Cr David Gill said while he supports the list and is glad they have added state-managed roads in an attempt to influence funding; there is still work to do.
“We still have too many dangerous spots on the peninsula,” said Gill.
“But I congratulate the team and the traffic team.”
The endorsed project list includes upgrades for McCrae and Somers area wide, Collingwood and Lyons St intersection in Rye, and Boundary Rd and Palmerston Ave in Dromana.
It also includes Marine Pde and Hendersons Rd in Hastings, Graydens Rd and Stumpy Gully Rd intersection in Moorooduc, and Bentons Rd and Dunns Rd and the Watt Rd and Racecourse Rd intersection in Mornington.
If successful, the projects will be funded through the Black Spot Program, which requires no direct funding contribution from the shire.
First published in the Mornington News – 16 June 2026
