A MAN allegedly used a Frankston payphone to call in a hoax bomb threat to a train station on 31 October. Police say the man used a phone on Ashleigh Avenue to call Southern Cross Railway Station – he left a message saying that bombs were at the station and on trains heading towards Ballarat and Mildura. The call was allegedly made at 5.45am. In a statement, Victoria Police said they “quickly identified the call was a hoax.” “Trains were checked as a precaution and there was no disruption to services,” Victoria Police said. The man has not yet been…
Author: mpnews
MAJOR developments in Frankston will be “fast-tracked” within 16 weeks under a new council plan. From 31 January next year, Frankston Council is expected to implement guaranteed 16-week planning assessments for qualifying major developments. In a statement council says it will offer developers “enhanced pre-application guidance” and “dedicated post-permit concierge support” to expedite the approval process. Frankston mayor Kris Bolam said that the new planning initiative would encourage developers to build housing in Frankston. “The Priority Fasttrack Program sends a clear message: Frankston City is open for business. We’re giving investors confidence and bringing new development to market faster —…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Tourism is celebrating a remarkable night of recognition at the Victorian Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Tourism Awards, with local operators honoured for excellence, innovation, sustainability, accessibility and leadership across the visitor economy. Leading this year’s wins is Wild Adventures Melbourne, founded by micro-business owner Nic Cooper. Demonstrating how small operators can create global-standard experiences while protecting the environment, the business took out Gold in the Lord Mayor’s Award, surpassing major Victorian tourism icons such as Melbourne Zoo and Sofitel Melbourne. Mr Cooper also secured Gold in Ecotourism, further confirming his place as a leader in responsible, nature-based…
WORKS on the Frankston railway line are progressing, with the beams for the new rail bridges in Mordialloc and Aspendale now being lifted into place and a date set for the reconnection of the line to the City Loop The state government is currently building rail bridges to replace the level crossings at McDonald Street in Mordialloc and Station Street in Aspendale as part of its bid to make the Frankston line level-crossing-free by 2029. L-shaped beams up to 31 metres long are now being positioned into place. The Mordialloc and Apsendale level crossings are set to be removed and…
THE CFA is calling on locals to lend a hand as community “citizen scientists” to help monitor grassland dryness – a key indicator of the state’s fire risk. According to the CFA, as summer approaches, grassland curing, the natural drying of grasses, becomes a major factor in fire behaviour. Curing figures are fed directly into CFA’s fire danger rating system at this time of year, meaning reliable on-ground observations are vital. Each week, the CFA blends satellite readings with reports from volunteers to produce maps showing how dry Victoria’s grasslands are. CFA remote sensing analyst Dr Danielle Wright said more…
WESTERN Port Respectful Relationships marched in solidarity among the beautiful backdrop of Hastings foreshore on Tuesday 25 November as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence. Joining the march was Paul Mercurio MP and local councillors Marsh, Stephens, Gill, Roper, and Williams, as well as Victoria Police, support services, and community, to build community awareness on the first day of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The group is coordinated by Wallaroo Community House Good Shepherd, and is made up of local community members, and community agencies including Family Life, Westernport Community Support, Headspace, and Mornington…
A woman has lost her licence after allegedly being caught drink driving in Rye on 1 December. Officers were patrolling Point Nepean Road when they allegedly observed a vehicle travelling 62km/h in a 40km/h zone about 11.45pm. The vehicle was intercepted and the driver underwent a preliminary breath test and returned to the station for an evidentiary test where she returned an alleged reading of 0.165. The 22-year-old woman’s licence was immediately suspended for a period of 12 months and her vehicle was impounded at a cost of $1225. She is expected to be charged on summons with traffic offences.…
Junior school mayhem not acceptable As a Gen Xer, I am disgusted by the reoccurring stories about a particular junior primary school where the senior leaders, and particularly the principal, continue to show little regard for other students, teachers and teacher’s aides. Compassion and understanding seems only to be reserved for students that lash out, ruin and disrupt whole classrooms, damage thousands of dollars’ worth of resources, or bash other students or teachers. What is going on in schools when this type of behaviour is allowed? Which genius said it was okay, that no-one could intervene? The disgusting and anti-sociable…
“Pothole of the Week” is our way of highlighting the deplorable condition of our roads—and since a state Labor MP’s office recently told us to “send photos and locations,” we’re taking them at their word. At the local level, the shire has unanimously adopted its 2025 Road Management Plan, which sets out its responsibilities for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing the roads under its control. The next step is turning that plan into real action, backed by appropriate funding, to ensure the local road network is properly maintained. And now, here are this week’s potholes – real examples of the problems…
CRIB Point Pool is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a colourful new mural and the community is being invited to help shape it. For generations, the pool has been a hub of summer fun, swimming lessons, and cherished memories. To mark this milestone, the Mornington Peninsula Shire is giving the facility a refreshed look with vibrant artwork on the building’s front and back walls. Residents are encouraged to share what they feel best represents Crib Point. Do you want the mural to reflect the town’s history, the pool’s long-standing role in the community, the surrounding coastline and bushland, or the…
CRIB Point’s volunteer firefighters gathered on 15 November to celebrate a major milestone of 75 years of service to their community. The anniversary event brought together members from across the decades to share stories, reconnect, and acknowledge the brigade’s evolution. The unit traces its origins back to 1950, when locals met at the Buff’s Hall to establish a formal firefighting presence for their growing township. From that small meeting, the brigade steadily developed into an essential pillar of community safety. Captain Greg Rose, who has been with the brigade since 2018, said the celebration represented more than just a number.…
THE annual Frankston Christmas Festival is set to take place this weekend. The event on 29 November will feature music, food, and entertainment across Frankston’s CBD. The Little Beauty Christmas Twilight Market will take place at Beauty Park, the Smurfs Winter Wonderland Live Show will take the stage at the Art Centre, and a Christmas Parade will run through Davey Street. The day will be concluded by the Norfolk Pine tree lighting ceremony, and finally a fireworks display at 9.15pm. Frankston deputy mayor Steffie Conroy said “for my two children, nothing says ‘Christmas is coming’ quite like the Frankston Christmas…
HUNDREDS of HMAS Cerberus personnel came together last month to raise funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). Petty Officer Belinda Rendell was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in April 2024 and has since become a fierce advocate for breast cancer awareness. She organised the event, which took place at The Navy’s Anchorage Millies café. More than $2000 was raised for the NBCF and attendees were provided with information on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Rendell gave a moving speech to guests and spoke about her story and experience fighting against breast cancer. “The event was amazing,…
CAMP Manyung, a not-for-profit initiative transforming young lives, has turned 100 with campers, families and community members gathering to celebrate the milestone. The seaside camp on Sunnyside Rd, Mount Eliza, is the longest-running residential camp in the state, run by YMCA Victoria, attracting around 14,500 campers every year. Heavy rain didn’t deter guests from attending the celebration on 16 November including 95-year-old Ian Rose, who first volunteered with the YMCA in the 1940s and later brought his own family to the camp in the 1970s. He was amazed at how much the place has evolved. YMCA Victoria CEO Carolyn Morris…
CONSTRUCTION work has officially begun at Dallas Brooks Reserve, with upgrades to the sports fields and carpark now under way. The project, which started in late October, aims to address concerns raised by sporting clubs and community organisations. Planned improvements include a rebuild of four full-size soccer pitches, one to National Premier League standard and three to domestic standard. There will also be enhanced access pathways, an expanded car park, new lighting, upgraded drainage, and fence replacement. Dallas Brooks Reserve is a key sporting hub for Mornington. Once complete in March 2027, the upgrades will provide the Mornington Soccer Club…
Special envoy hears community call for urgent action By Southern Women’s Action NetworkThe federal government Special Envoy for Housing and Homelessness, Josh Burns MP, attended Roundtable 2 hosted by the Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) in Mornington last Thursday. In a packed room filled with over 40 local leaders and decision-makers, including community service providers, housing groups, local and state government departments, philanthropy and service clubs, the Special Envoy was told the alarming facts about the housing crisis and homelessness problem on the Mornington Peninsula.Presentations from Mornington Peninsula Shire, community support centres and the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula…
Our Lady of Fatima students, along with other local schools, have been busy making scarecrows from recycled materials. They were displayed at the Rosebud Community Garden open day on 23 November. Ruby and Jac helped to create Fatima’s entry of a blue Banded Bee. Armed with a giant flame throwing stinger it will certainly scare away any crows. First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 26 November 2025
“Pothole of the Week” is our way of highlighting the deplorable condition of our roads—and since a state Labor MP’s office recently told us to “send photos and locations,” we’re taking them at their word. At the local level, the shire has unanimously adopted its 2025 Road Management Plan, which sets out its responsibilities for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing the roads under its control. The next step is turning that plan into real action, backed by appropriate funding, to ensure the local road network is properly maintained. And now, here are this week’s potholes – real examples of the problems…
On Saturday, 7 March 2026, the Mornington Peninsula will welcome a bold new cultural experience: Sculpted Sounds, an outdoor music festival set against the breathtaking backdrop of McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery in Langwarrin. This one-day event promises more than just music; it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and connection. Festival goers will enjoy performances by some of Australia’s most acclaimed artists while immersed in native bushland and surrounded by world-class sculpture. With ticket proceeds supporting McClelland’s exhibitions, education programs, and cultural preservation, Sculpted Sounds is as much about giving back as it is about entertainment. It’s a festival where…
A FIRE festival will come to Frankston in mid-2026 to light up the waterfront. The Frankston Winter Fire Festival is set to take place on 13 June, 2026. Frankston Council has awarded the event organisers $100,000 through its Destination Event Attraction Program to stage the festival. The event is scheduled to feature a bonfire lighting ceremony, fire pits, performers, live music, and food and drink offerings. Frankston deputy mayor Steffie Conroy said the Frankston Winter Fire Festival “will bring warmth, light and energy to our city at a time when things traditionally begin to quieten down.” “This new festival will…
THE Mornington Peninsula community is celebrating after being named Victoria’s Tidy Town for 2025 at the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Awards. “These achievements reflect the peninsula’s strong sense of community pride and the shared commitment of residents, volunteers and the Shire to creating a better future together,” mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said. Local projects showcased the peninsula’s community spirit and innovation. The awards recognised the dedication of local people who come together to make the community stronger and more connected. Local ecologist, ethnobotanist, and educator Gidja Walker OAM took home the prestigious Dame Phyllis Frost…
MT Martha Uniting Church is holding its third annual White Ribbon Day of Action on Saturday 29 November 2025. The day is intended to shine a light on the urgent call to end violence against women and children as part of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign. This year’s event supports Moonah House — the first community-led crisis accommodation for women and children on the Mornington Peninsula, opening in 2026. Mt Martha Uniting Church invites people to attend at 109 Bay Road Mt Martha. Register at: mtmarthaunitingevents.org.au First published in the Mornington News – 18 November 2025
CAPEL Sounds Educational Child Care Centre and Kindergarten has added a vibrant new mural to its service, celebrating the local Bunurong culture. The collaborative artwork, created with the guidance of local Indigenous educator Kristy Maher, tells the story of the children’s relationship with the land. It features the Bunurong “meeting place” symbol, representing the children coming together, alongside journey symbols depicting paths to local destinations, watched over by Bunjil and Waa above. The mural, officially unveiled on 10 November, was brought to life by local artist Aaron Hingston, who worked closely with the children, families, and kindergarten staff to translate…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough Voting was heavy all day at the Frankston polling booth, where the Deputy Returning Officer, Mr. S. Sherlock, J.P., and his efficient staff carried out their duties in a highly satisfactory manner. Mrs. Bruce cast her vote at Frankston, and at about 10am the Prime Minister and Mrs. Bruce set out to visit other polling centres. The Prime Minister has spent many hours each day, recently, controlling and guiding important matters within the Commonwealth since the campaign opened, but on this particular tour it was noticed that Mrs. Bruce controlled the situation, inasmuch as she was…
A MULTI-million-dollar development opened at Sages Cottage Farm last week – creating jobs and changing the lives of many Melbournians living with disabilities. Sage’s Cottage, owned by Wallara Australia, opened their new Hub@Sages building, flower farm and sensory garden on 12 November. The project has been jointly funded by Wallara Australia and both local and international donors. Wallara supported employee Phuong, who lives with a disability, is already seeing the profound benefits of the state-of-the-art sensory garden on site. Phuong works two days a week at Sages Cafe and says being able to step away to walk around the lake, see the flowers and hear the…
The silent scourge By Maureen Donelly* I DIDN’T believe it. When Kim* told me her partner had long put her down, always criticised her – often trying to draw their children into it, had controlled their social life and their finances and constantly spied on her through her phone and emails, I was stunned. On the face of it, they were an ordinary couple, though in hindsight I had noticed Kim quite often made excuses not to join get togethers, and I remember some rather cringe-worthy public displays of affection by her partner. Perhaps I should have recognised these signs of…
Have you ever wondered what happens to your drink cans, bottles and cartons after you return them for a 10-cent refund through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic)? With this week being National Recycling Week (10–16 November), CDS Vic shares what happens next, and how every returned container helps power Victoria’s circular economy. This year’s theme, Join the Cycle, perfectly aligns with the mission of CDS Vic: keeping eligible drink containers in the recycling loop so they can be remade into new products again and again. “National Recycling Week is a timely reminder of our shared commitment to a more…
FROM barefoot to all-abilities bowls, players of all ages can now enjoy a more comfortable roll at the Somerville Bowling Club thanks to shelter upgrades at their facility, backed by the state government. Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence and Member for Hastings Paul Mercurio opened the club’s upgraded facilities last Thursday (6 November); made possible by a $80,000 grant from the Community Sport and Recreation Projects Initiative. The shelter upgrades cover the walkway between the club’s two competition greens and provides protection from the elements, giving bowlers a place to escape the sun’s rays or rain in between ends…
MORNINGTON golfers are swinging into action this month to raise vital funds for seriously ill children as part of X-Golf’s nationwide Starlight Swing campaign. As of this week, X-Golf Mornington has already helped raise more than $2000 towards the initiative, which runs throughout the month of November in support of the Starlight Children’s Foundation. For the first time, X-Golf has launched a specially designed Starlight Swing golf course to celebrate the campaign – a reimagined version of the beloved Pirates Island Golf Course, complete with vibrant Starlight-themed visuals. The nine-hole course, created by Korean manufacturers in partnership with the X-Golf…
WITH the new federal subsidy on home batteries, state rebates on solar panels and the ever-increasing costs of electricity bills, many people are concerned about when is the right time for them to invest in home renewable energy and storage. Following their popular event in Mornington last month, Repower Mornington Peninsula is hosting a repeat performance of “Solar And Batteries – Is Now The Time?” at the Rye Civic Hall on Saturday 15 November at 3pm. The event features a Solar and Batteries presentation by an independent expert from the Yarra Energy Foundation and a demonstration of the ‘Repower and…