MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has voted to place a proposal for four additional conservation covenants on public exhibition for a period of six weeks.
There are currently four conservation covenants on shire-owned bushland reserves, and with this proposal set to covenant a further four, the total land protected will increase to around 300 hectares.
A conservation covenant is a legal agreement between a landholder and Trust for Nature. It permanently protects and conserves land, prohibiting any activities that could damage native habitat.
At the 11 August council meeting, councillors voted unanimously in favour of progressing the proposal to the next stage and seeking community feedback.
Cr David Gill, who moved the motion, said it is a great opportunity to support the environment and the green wedge.
“On the peninsula, we have about 260 bushland reserves, and this will see eight of those fully protected for the future,” said Gill.
The four reserves selected are Betty Clift Conservation Reserve in Rosebud, Lorna’s Triangle Bushland Reserve in Bittern, Peninsula Sands Bushland Reserve in Rosebud, and Woods Bushland Reserve in Tuerong.
“Our policy is to look at these reserves and see whether covenants are deserved, and it is difficult to get one of these covenants, you have to go through a lot of effort to prove how you can look after it and you’ve got to have the highest environmental value,” said Gill.
“So, we’re lucky, we’re proud, and hopefully our community will be so happy, so pleased, and they will give us more that we can assess.”
Trust for Nature’s fee for establishing a covenant is $25,000. One covenant has been funded by a state government grant, while the remaining three are being funded by existing budgets.
“I think it’s money well spent,” said Gill.
Cr Max Patton, who seconded the motion, said councillors need to be thinking in generational time scales, not just the immediate future.
“I just think we’re exceptionally lucky as a council to have this opportunity and the community,” said Patton.
He said visiting Peninsula Sands and Betty Clift reserves helped give the report context with how incredible they are.
“I’ve only had the chance to visit Lorna’s Triangle once, but I think if you haven’t been there as a community member or councillor it’s one of the most remarkable pieces of bush left on the peninsula, with almost zero incursion of invasive species and that’s something that’s extraordinarily rare,” said Patton.
“It’s not through chance that happens, it’s through decades of work by our officers and by volunteers.”
Patton said he is looking forward to receiving community feedback and encourages anyone who visits the reserves, particularly volunteers, to have their say.
Cr Paul Pingiaro said community consultation provides an opportunity for people to tell council what they want.
“This protects our bushland and biodiversity, habitat, carbon storage, and landscape values all for community benefit all here on the peninsula,” said Pingiaro.
“I want to hear through this consultation not just if we should be retaining it, but if we should be reporting retaining it.”
Cr Michael Stephens said local government boundaries, priorities, frameworks, and infrastructure demands are subject to shifting political ties.
“The council reserve classification is helpful today, but is not a guarantee for tomorrow,” said Stephens.
“We need a mechanism that outlasts our current political cycles. The most effective path forward is to place Lorna’s Triangle and the other three reserves under a Trust for Nature conservation covenant.”
He said by legally binding the title to a covenant, they ban native vegetation removal, subdivisions, and environmental segregation.
“It aligns perfectly with the shire’s broader strategic biodiversity goals, while taking a long term legal burden off future council resources,” said Stephens.
The proposal will be placed on public exhibition for a period of six weeks prior to 31 October and will be available on the shire’s website.
First published in the Mornington News – 18 August 2026
