Bus improvements should not leave others worse off
Maureen Piper raises a legitimate concern about the loss of a direct bus from Mount Eliza Village to Barkly Street, Mornington (Changes to bus service do not service all, Letters 28/7/26).
My advocacy to the state government was for new services to around 2,000 residents previously without any bus service, including for Peninsula Grange, Beleura Village, Racecourse Grange, Mornington Gardens Holiday Village and St Macartan’s Parish Primary School, as well as for the Mornington-Hastings 886 service.
After years of advocacy with (and from) so many residents, both have now been delivered.
I did not seek cuts or detrimental changes to existing services, including with respect to putting buses along Prince St (which I had joined residents in opposing), or lessening services at Mount Eliza Village.
Those decisions were made by the state Labor government’s Department of Transport and Planning, led by the new Deputy Premier, without consulting me and, clearly, without adequately consulting affected passengers.
Improving services for one community should not mean leaving another worse off, particularly older residents who rely on buses for their independence. This is especially the case when such changes were not needed to deliver the aforementioned bus services.
I will raise Maureen’s concerns with the Deputy Premier and Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams and seek a review of the Mount Eliza Village connection to Barkly Street.
Chris Crewther, MP for Mornington
Rates cap threat
It’s very bad news that the municipal rates increase cap could be removed by the Victorian Labor party (State government considering rate cap ‘restructure’, The News 28/7/26).
Apparently, since it wasn’t mentioned, there will be no limit, or cancellation, applied to the present additional levy, currently known as the waste services charge.
I can easily foresee the levy rising to $1000 on top of rates and rates increasing by 19% per year.
This will need to be offset by more unnecessary staff being employed, another department or two, and higher executive salaries in order to soak up this money. Empire building.
Former shire councillor and mayor, Anthony Marsh, now Liberal party member for Nepean ward, says charging ratepayers more isn’t the answer. The answer is better financial discipline.
Removing the incentive for councils to improve efficiency sends exactly the wrong message. And so say all of us.
If the Liberals, and Marsh, should win the forthcoming election, I hope he remembers his words when in government.
Brian A. Mitchelson, Mornington
Keep rates cap
Victoria’s council rate capping framework, which limits annual rate increases, may soon be amended (State government considering rate cap ‘restructure’, The News 28/7/26).
Councils argue the cap no longer reflects the rising cost of delivering services and have called for changes.
Under the current framework, the annual rate cap is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Any change to this index will affect households and increase rates.
The case for any amendments is weak. Households are already facing rising living costs and rate cap changes should not be considered until councils demonstrate they are using ratepayer funds efficiently and focusing on core statutory responsibilities. Many councils also provide services that are the responsibility of other governments or agencies without adequate funding from them.
Any revised cost index should reflect the efficient delivery of councils’ core responsibilities, supported by sound governance, transparent decision-making, scrutiny of major expenditure and clear accountability for public funds, rather than simply indexing existing costs.
Publicly reported council cost overruns, including increases in technology and infrastructure projects, highlight why careful planning, effective delivery and risk management are essential when managing public funds.
Where councils provide discretionary services that are the responsibility of another level of government or agency, those services should either be funded by the responsible body or reviewed to determine whether councils should continue providing them and how they should be funded without placing the burden on ratepayers.
Before asking households to pay more, councils should demonstrate they are making the best use of existing funds, focusing on their responsibilities and being transparent about major spending decisions.
Any non-core services councils choose to continue providing should be funded by the appropriate government body or responsible agency. This would give ratepayers confidence their money is used responsibly. There is no need to weaken or remove the rate cap.
Anja Ottensmeyer, Mt Martha
Shire reform
Plaudits to Anthony Marsh for his comment last week that the shire should improve efficiency rather than raise rates (State government considering rate cap ‘restructure’ The News 28/7/26).
Notwithstanding a cynic (not I, obviously) might wonder why Mr Marsh did not adopt this stance during the many years he was a member of the council / mayor, and address these inefficiencies from within.
The bigger question now might be, how do you get a non-commercial, complacent, poorly-led, unaccountable bureaucracy to change its spots?
A start would be to ensure that the rates cap remains a cap, not to be circumvented by accounting chicanery (eg waste charges) and promote substance over form, rather the other way around.
Possibly a bridge too far for the current shire?
Jonathan Atherton, Tyabb
Users pays
So Mornington Peninsula Shire now charges ratepayers $507pa to empty our rubbish bins once a week but empties beachside rubbish bins many times a week.
Between the end of Easter and November there is hardly any usage of beachside bins and ratepayers are paying for that so why has council contracted for multiple collections per week of beachside rubbish bins during that period when ratepayers get a once a week service?
All bayside councils from Melbourne to Frankston charge for non-resident parking at beaches but our shire doesn’t yet it is the visitors to the peninsula who create most of the beachside rubbish during the tourist season.
Tourists also leave broken gazebos, chairs and umbrellas to be cleared away and ratepayers foot the bill. That’s not fair.
The shire needs to rethink this and give ratepayers some cost of living relief by charging visiting tourists for parking at the foreshore areas and provide ratepayers with a beach pass like the more responsible councils close to Melbourne.
Lee Chapman, Safety Beach
Flinders Pier attention
Congratulations Ben on securing the top job!
Do you have an interest in piers, sociology of people and their wellbeing, fish and fishing, or whether there is a pier near you? Been up one lately for a breath of sea air?
Someone before you funded our pier to get it restored, but the whole thing fell into disarray!
I’m not sure why all that happened. Funding for Parks Victoria had something to do with it!
We have been hoping that down here in the little sleepy town of Flinders, a “new broom” might sweep clean, or maybe “dredge a bit” to find a few dollars before an election, to show that Flinders gets its pier back as our petition asked.
We are on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula (Ben its the other side, very few tourists stay here).
Come down to see us; we don’t bite. Our pier is an important venue for snorkellers, fishing people from as far away as Yarraville and Western Victoria, SCUBA learners and local icebergers. 10,000+ petitioners that signed can’t be wrong. Its a good pier, but needs to be finished.
Dr. Neil Hallam, Flinders
Green wedge protection
How impressive that Mornington Peninsula Produce’s green wedge supports an agricultural industry worth $1.3b (Agritech founders visit peninsula farmgates, The News 28/7/26).
Such outcomes are obvious reasons to protect Melbourne’s twelve green wedges from development. Add environmental conservation and open recreational space, and their value becomes undeniable.
Yet green wedges remain under constant threat and the Green Wedges Coalition works tirelessly to defend them. In 2025, for example, the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge Protection Group supported Mornington Peninsula Shire Council in VCAT to successfully oppose an inappropriate development on 10 acres of environmentally significant Green Wedge land in Pearcedale.
Mornington Peninsula Produce’s clever interactive map (mpp.mornpen.vic.gov.au/map/) showcases ten farm gate outlets, three farm-to-plate experiences, three farm experiences, and eight stockists.
It is a timely reminder that green wedges are valuable assets – not vacant land awaiting development.
Christine Cook, Essendon
Shire priorities
As we navigate through life, now and again we encounter statements from elected people that just leave you shaking your head.
I well remember Tasmanian senator Nick McKim, who, growing increasingly frustrated in a parliamentary committee hearing, with a senior treasury figure, quoting departmental figures in answer to his questions, he blurted out “ just because something is a fact doesn’t mean it’s right and proper to say so.”
In other words, bugger the truth. Just answer in the way I want.
And now? Having not long ago stopped to help an elderly woman, who, with no mobile phone, had become lost down our end of Racecourse Road, tried to do a u-turn and wrecked a tyre in a large pothole, and my wife having hells own trouble getting the council to attend a blocked drain under the driveway caused by the shire’s grader, I came across a gem (Council seeks community feedback on arts, culture and events plan, The News 21/07/26) by councillor Stephens.
I quote, “ Stephens said councils most important role should be empowering the arts and culture sector.”
Good news I suppose for the brick hall at Moorooduc but not so good news for ratepayers who would actually like some value for their rate money.
M. G. Free, Mt Martha
Funding ‘outreach’?
I read the story on homelessness funding several times looking for solutions (Homelessness funding announcement for outreach services, The News 28/7/26).
The $2m “package” apparently funds wages for a “dedicated assertive outreach team of two”. Interesting wording. Assertive? Are they going to order rough sleepers and their dogs back to broken homes?
How about a survey of empty Housing Commission properties where tenants have coupled leaving one empty? Encourage people with big homes to take in boarders as they used to? I was fortunate to board in several homes as a young journalist unable to afford a flat.
The peninsula is now riddled with houses being rented for short stays at weekends for huge amounts, empty during the week, often trashed. Perhaps homeless people could caretake them, avoiding damage.
This winter has been tough enough in a comfy home, I dread to think how awful it is in a tent, car or sleeping bag at the beach. Please can we do more than “outreach” with $2m.
Fran Henke, Hastings
An educational oasis
In the Mornington Park estate there is a small educational gem.
As a U3A Mornington intergenerational activity, for the past four years I have been in the reading program sharing time with Grade5/6 students. It’s the highlight of my week. All are competent readers happy to share as well as to talk about their sporting and community activities, family holidays, the opportunities and responsibilities that their particular families give them.
They are confident kids comfortable in themselves, already young adults. Both home and school seem to work well at Mornington Park.
The campus itself is an oasis. Stepping into reception the welcome is obvious. The corridors are silent, the classes are places of quiet energy and mutual pleasure; students together, students with teachers. We get what we give. The Mornington Park environment that the teachers and students create is their pleasure to be there. Learning is seamless.
Why at Mornington Park?
* A healthy respect for the abilities of staff by administration has to be a key, with teachers who see serving their students and the local community as a privilege. Who wouldn’t want to work here?
* It is a small school where every student is known and appreciated as an individual by the principal as well as by their teachers.
* With, for example, the personal reading choices to suit each child, sometimes quite advanced, educationally the evidence is first rate.
* Activities often are determined by what the students are doing. If some are reading the same book there will be a book club. Personal interests are recognized.
I was a teacher in secondary with particular interest in student wellbeing. We hear so much about difficult kids with concern for how they will manage the transition to adulthood. Schools like Mornington Park Primary clearly build for lasting confidence and character.
Max Garrard, Mornington
Local letters
Thank you Tina Bennett for your ongoing replies to my letter of two weeks ago (Letter writers, Letters 29/7/26).
You are the only letter writer who gets what my letter was about.
Do people actually understand what they are reading? The other replies had absolutely nothing to do with everyday life here on the Peninsula.
Kerry Taylor, Bittern
BarleyCharlie@90
Wet July. Origin Energy data breach, 900,000 customers. A worry, thankfully not I.
So to the (famous?) 2pm 27/7 National Alert. Why the dramatic lead in, for a short ‘pea whistle’ sound?
Benjamin Franklin – “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” One assumes therefore, likewise, the many thousands here among us working their butts off.
I did a survey of my friends, albeit most of them departed; ALL agreed – “Bounce” on Foxtel, the worst show on television, pipping the Channel 10 5pm News by a nostril, no offence intended to the participants.
The Labor conference was all gravy train, grouse, conveniently ignoring the shadow (First Nations) on the wall.
On politics, the world; Ukrainians’ former entertainer Zelenskyy, lots of good publicity. Why?
Like Trump, Putin, Netanyahu; all for self aggrandisement, power, ALL to the backline?
Lastly, a Dry July? Try Dry October, IF Collingwood succumbs?
Second lastly misogyny, alive and well in our Victorian parliament. Norm Gallagher’s mob have been there since Eve’s mate Adam, the percentages among them (the CFMEU AND Big Business) remaining steadfast, the crooked element, no matter any election result.
Sadly we say farewell to our courageous charming departed Bendigo Premier, well done darling, seriously.
Finally, lately, the odd letter or two complaining of letter writers from outside our community; nonsense, or rose fertilizer?
Should I ask/need directions, from a stranger, in the main street, his/her home address? Togetherness! Lets break out the booze and have a ball, silly sausages! Be safe…
Cliff Ellen, Rye
