Landslide blame game The catastrophic landslide at McCrae on 14 January has receded from the front pages and the TV news reports but that is of little comfort to the 19 owners evicted from their homes. In the meantime, South East Water has been active in examining their areas of responsibility but the shire is strangely silent.To any long time resident of the area the shire, over many years, is the body clearly at fault. It is the one responsible for drainage, issuing building permits and tree removals. The hillside at McCrae has had natural springs emerge for over 100…
Author: mpnews
Compiled by Cameron McCullough ON Sunday afternoon, Mr. Frank Duffy, assistant S.M. at Seaford, underwent the dangerous and distressing experience of being bitten by a snake.At about 2 o’clock, Mr. Duffy had occasion to visit the wood pile, and while engaged selecting suitable fuel, received a bite from a reptile which was evidently hidden in the pile.A sharp and sore pricking sensation was his first warning that something had happened. Mrs. Duffy, recognising the two punctures, realised that prompt action was necessary, and fixed a ligature, then made haste to the station, where Mr. Whyte lost no time in getting…
Our coasts are fragile The recent landslip at McCrae once again illustrates the delicate nature of many coastal areas of our Peninsula. In the past there has been numerous slips along the Esplanade between Mornington and Safety Beach. There was a large slip at Oliver’s Hill that closed part of the Nepean Highway. We also have futile attempts to rectify the Beleura Hill pathway that has slipped numerous times in the past and will inevitably slip again.Keith Humphreys, Mornington Time for a change Being of retirement age (& some!), I’ve seen my fair share of elections. I believe this time…
The 2025 Cashie Comp, hosted by Peninsula Surfriders and sponsored by YETI, St Andrews Brewery, and the Mornington Peninsula Shire, was held in large overhead surf at Gunnamatta Surf Beach on Saturday, 25 January. Top Victorian surfers competed for a total prize pool of $5,000 ($2,500 for the men’s winner and $2,500 for the women’s winner). Both representing the Torquay Boardriders Club, Xavier Huxtable won the men’s final, while Ellie Harrison (pictured) claimed victory in the women’s final. First published in the Mornington News – 28 January 2025
FIVE exceptional individuals have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to the community in the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s annual Australia Day local awards.This year’s Citizen of the Year went to Denise Palmer, who has dedicated over 20 years to serving the peninsula community, particularly through her work with the Hastings Police Senior Citizens Register, where she has been coordinator for the past 15 years. The register supports over 950 disadvantaged individuals. Despite battling cancer and severe arthritis, Denise has shown incredible resilience.Phoebe Lambden was named the Young Citizen of the Year in recognition of her significant contribution to Rosebud Sea…
WORLD renowned soprano Danielle de Niese is set to make her way to the peninsula as part of exclusive Australian concert to be held at the picturesque Pt. Leo Estate.The UK-based opera sensation will perform in a concert titled ‘One Enchanted Evening’ on 1 March from 6pm-11pm as part of the Australian Contemporary Opera Co (ACOCO) Festival of Contemporary Opera and Song. The event, which is open to just 150 guests, will also involve a black-tie gala dinner, which promises to be an unforgettable experience that will be set against the backdrop of Western Port Bay with cuisine by culinary…
THE much-loved Vinnies Kitchen has been popping up in Rosebud over summer, with pop-up lunches and sausage sizzles for people in need of a feed.Vinnies Kitchen, now in its 34th year, is a regular fixture in the Rosebud Youth and Band Hall on the Village Green in Rosebud, serving nutritious free lunches to the local community using donated fresh food from partners like OZ Harvest, and local producers. But the increase demand for fresh food and pre-cooked meals meant the Kitchen opened its doors when it would normally close through January.Vinnies Kitchen Committee President Ree Townsend says the decision to…
THE Mornington Art Show has grown to be one of the most prestigious art shows in Victoria.Run by the Rotary Club of Mornington, the show supports a diverse range of local artists as well as talent from interstate. Carefully curated, it has a reputation for quality exhibitions and is a much-anticipated community event.The show is currently on at Peninsula Community Theatre, 91 Wilsons Rd, Mornington, running until Friday 24 January. First published in the Mornington News – 21 January 2025
When will the peninsula burn like Los Angeles? MANY of the “before” photos of homes in LA looked very like those on the Mornington Peninsula around – Frankston South, Mt Eliza, Mornington, Mount Martha, Dromana, McCrae and others all the way to Portsea. What can be done to ensure that these homes never look like the “after” photos following the awful fires there last week? It couldn’t happen here! That’s what the LA residents thought.Brian Nankervis, Mornington McCrae landslip For a long time the local owners have been saying about the water flows and land moving in this McCrae area,…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughEARLY this (Wednesday) morning Wallis Wright, aged 38, of 14 Mackey Street, Essendon, was drowned while bathing at Frankston, at a point on the bay opposite Beach street.Wright only arrived in Frankston yesterday afternoon, on a visit to friends residing at “Penzance”, Frankston.This morning, at 6 o’clock, he left the house in bathing suit and boots only. He was unaccompanied, and was not seen in the water alive.About 7am, some people passing along the beach saw a body floating.They called for assistance and the body was pulled out of the water.Mr. McIntosh, dentist, came on the scene…
Rosebud police have charged a woman and a man following an alleged hit-run collision in a stolen vehicle in Dromana early last night. It is alleged that a stolen green Toyota Rav 4 was involved in a collision with a second vehicle on the Mornington Peninsula Freeway about 5.30pm. No one was injured. Investigators allege that the driver of the Toyota failed to pull over and exchange details, continuing to drive on at a fast rate of speed. It is alleged that the Toyota left the road near the intersection of Seacombe Avenue and Palm Grove, before crashing into trees…
Detectives are appealing for public assistance after a man was stabbed during New Years Eve celebrations in Sorrento. It is understood an altercation occurred between a group of males on Point Nepean Road, near Collins Parade and Calcutta Street on 1 January about 2am. The victim, an 18-year-old man from Melbourne, was stabbed five times during the altercation before he was able to escape and run to the aid of his friends. He was later taken to hospital with serious upper body injuries and required stiches for his injuries. The offenders fled the scene prior to police arriving. Detectives believe…
SOMERVILLE Highway Patrol police officers made more than a dozen arrests in the first week of the new year.Among those arrested were a 38-year-old Frankston man, who was allegedly involved in a collision. Police say he returned a blood alcohol reading of .181 and lost his licence. Police say a 29-year-old Mordialloc woman later blew .149, was drug driving, and had her unroadworthy vehicle impounded.A 32-year-old Frankston North man had his car impounded for driving with a suspended licence. A 54-year-old Carrum Downs man was allegedly found to be drug driving and was unlicensed.Other people allegedly caught drug-driving were a…
Sound financial management essential for council Good to note mayor Cr Marsh and deputy mayor Paul Pingiaro (Council Rate Cap Set, The News 7/1/25) are keen to focus on core services and to eliminate unnecessary spending. Perhaps the mayor and council can address the excessive salary paid to the previous CEO when seeking a replacement CEO. A cut of at least $100,000pa would seem in order and would both provide additional funds for community use, and I believe would still attract quality candidates.Bureaucracies at all government levels tend to grow and get bogged down with meetings, committees, reports, and assessment…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughACCORDING to the report of a number of fishermen and people fishing off the Mornington pier, a school of sharks, measuring from 6ft. to 8ft. long, and about seven in number, were seen patrolling some distance from the pier.The experience that has befallen people in the vicinity of Mentone and Aspendale has made bathers doubly careful as to the risks they take.In face of such danger, it is only they of the foolhardy and irresponsible genus who venture beyond the limits of safety. DURING the afternoon sitting of the Council on Friday last, the Civic Fathers, in…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery celebrates the first summer in the Bunurong calendar with the stunning and thought-provoking exhibition, The Ecologies Project: How Climate Changes Culture.The Ecologies Project features over 60 works covering a variety of media including photography, installation, video and sound work from artists Maree Clarke, Aunty Netty Shaw, Megan Cope, Sue Ford, Jill Orr, Rosemary Laing, Linda Tegg, Joseph Beuys, Jacobus Capone, Nicholas Mangan and more.Curated by new MPRG Director Dunja Rmandić and Acting Curator Exhibitions Leah Ferguson, the exhibition asks ‘how does a changing ecology change our culture?’. Considering the Mornington Peninsula as a starting point, many…
By Barry Irving OAMDESPITE a very warm day Rye’s premier event, the 49th running of the Rye Gift, drew a record number of entries. There were 99 juniors who contested the junior gift with competitors coming from clubs as far away as Warrnambool. A record number of 736 VAL registered athletes contested the day’s events with clubs coming from Victoria-wide and including one international competitor from Scotland.Mornington Peninsula Shire prepared an excellent surface for competition; the running track was cut and rolled a number of times as was the 400 metre surface for all the distance runners. The event is…
A CENTRAL Victorian mum whose toddler almost drowned last summer is urging parents to learn the signs of drowning and know what to do in an emergency.Chloe Freeman and her sister-in-law had taken their five children to the Mornington Peninsula for a holiday at the end of 2023. “We were setting up a sun tent (at Sorrento Beach) for the kids when I turned around to do a head count,” Freeman said. “I remember scanning the children, counting them one by one, and then I noticed a child face down in the water. “At first, I thought it was another…
The Water Police Squad is issuing a water safety warning ahead of the weekend as figures show the unit has been called to more than 100 incidents in the first week of 2025. It’s an extraordinarily busy start to the year following days of favourable weather. During the same time last year there were 17 incidents, while the year before 36 were recorded over the period. Many of this year’s callouts have related to dangerous jet ski behaviour including speeding, travelling too close to other swimmers and in some cases even collisions with other vessels. A multi-agency rescue was required…
A RATE cap of three percent has been set for Victorian councils by the state government for the next financial year. The rate cap limits the amount of revenue that councils can raise from general rates and municipal charges. It will be three percent in the 2025/2026 financial year, a small increase on the 2.75 percent rate cap in effect for the 2024/2025 financial year.Local government MP Nick Staikos said the rate cap “will mean local councils are able to raise necessary revenue for the services they provide, without adding cost of living pressure on households.” “‘Fair Go’ rates are…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh and Hastings MP Paul Mercurio have turned the first sod to celebrate construction starting on the Somerville to Baxter Trail.This much-anticipated new shared path is a vital missing link in the grand vision for the Peninsula Trails project, a 170km network of connected trails traversing the Mornington Peninsula. Once the Somerville-Baxter section is complete, walkers and cyclists will be able to travel off road from central Melbourne all the way to Balnarring.“The Somerville-Baxter Trail was council’s first priority in terms of filling in the missing links of the Peninsula Trails project, and we…
MOUNT Eliza Fire Brigade swapped sirens for sleigh bells over Christmas, teaming up with Santa to deliver the iconic Australian Open trophies to the Mt Eliza tennis club. The visit was the final stop for the “AO on the Road” tour, before the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (Men’s) and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (Women’s) make their way to Rod Laver Area for this month’s grand slam.The trophies proved a winner with kids and adults alike, with locals taking the opportunity to nab a photo with Santa and the biggest prizes in Australian tennis. Mount Eliza Fire Brigade Captain Mark…
Compiled by Cameron McCulloughWHILE business people were brightening up their shop fronts and making their show windows attractive; while the cottage garden was being trimmed up and thrifty industrious householders were cleaning up the back yard, all in readiness for Christmas and the New Year, the moribund Council slept serenely on.It did nothing to brighten up the streets or the foreshore, in preparation for the annual influx of visitors.The Council maintained a masterly inactivity, except in one direction.During the holidays and prior to New Year’s Day, hundreds of casks, said to contain material for re-coating the tarred roads, were dumped…
Big barrier bungle Brendan Rees’ article (Residents call for removal of ‘unjustified’ road barriers, The News 18/12/24) is a balanced summary of the bewildering “Full Metal Motor Racing Circuit” treatment of Red Hill’s 60kmh hub. The shire seemingly forgot the Harvard Business School’s aphorism, “Consultants like to solve problems and can create them if none exist.”Somebody will have to develop a super-creative vindication if BITRE (Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics) assesses the Arthur Seat Road Black Spot project’s presumed benefit-to-cost ratio and actual crash data.Best of luck with that.Russell Kenery, Red Hill Important issues Several readers have expressed…
Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a male in Rye this evening. Emergency services were called after a jet ski rider located an unresponsive male in waters off Butler Street just before 5.30pm. The yet to be formally identified male was brought to shore and CPR was commenced but he died at the scene. The exact circumstances are yet to be determined but the death is not being treated as suspicious. https://www.police.vic.gov.au/rye-death
Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Balnarring Beach this afternoon. It is understood the man fell out of a kayak and into the water near Mason-Smith Road about 1pm. The man was pulled from the water by bystanders. Paramedics tried to revive the man, but he died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified. https://www.police.vic.gov.au/man-drowns-balnarring-beach
Police have arrested five people after a car was stolen during an aggravated burglary in Mount Eliza this morning. It’s alleged a group of offenders entered a residence on The Ridge and stole a black Mercedes Benz about 8.30am. The vehicle was later sighted in the Carrum Downs area where it refused to stop for police. Officers were looking for the Mercedes when they were notified it had crashed into a pole on Frankston-Dandenong Road about 12.30pm. Witnesses reported seeing five people flee from the vehicle. Officers searched the area and with the assistance of information from members of the…
THE Mornington Community Support Centre is making sure everyone has a Christmas to look forward to through a range of programs to help families doing it tough, including a toy and gift program, a steam train ride, and Christmas lunch, supported through a $50k Christmas Appeal fundraising campaign.As part of the Christmas programs, the centre transformed the Mornington Pavilion into a giant toy and gift shop, where clients with children or grandchildren could choose from hundreds of gifts donated by the community. Donations came from families, businesses and organisations who collected gifts through Giving Trees in a range of community…
A MEMORY support program helping residents with dementia introduced at Calvary’s aged care homes across Mornington Peninsula and bayside areas has won an award. The program, based on the Montessori approach by providing meaningful, tailored, small-group activities and support for residents living with dementia, won the healthcare provider’s national quality and safety Star award 2024.Calvary Aged Care general manager Dana Ieraci said the memory support program tailored residents’ interests and past lives which was also improving clinical outcomes and more settled behaviours. “Dementia can impact memory, speech, cognition, personality, and mobility. Unfortunately, it can also affect behaviour,” Leraci said. “Having…
Development for development’s sake THE proposed redevelopment of ‘The Eagle’, atop Wonga, must not be given the go-ahead by Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. In 2020, the shire declared a Climate Emergency both as a responsible measure to limit climate impacts to these beautiful lands and under pressure from the community. We know that as part of actions to reduce greenhouse emissions and strains on the natural environment, we must reassess our use of material resources.This redevelopment is development for development’s sake. The current set up is fit for purpose – people experience the view, enjoy the quiet ride, and sit…