A booming wallaby population at The Briars nature sanctuary will see Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors hold an urgent meeting about how to best manage their future. Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh called for an unscheduled online public meeting for 16 September to “urgently address animal welfare concerns at The Briars”. He said wallaby numbers had surged to around 150 despite the Mt Martha sanctuary having the capacity to sustainably hold just 30, leading to starvation and some deaths of the macropods. The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary is home to kangaroos, koalas, emus, echidnas and more. Southern brown bandicoots have also been reintroduced…
Author: Brendan Rees
A TRAIL running couple from the Mornington Peninsula are preparing to represent Australia at one of the world’s most prestigious endurance events this month in Spain. Tom Dade and his partner Miah Noble have earned their place among the world’s elite after being selected to compete in the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships from 25-28 September.The event will be held in Canfranc-Pirineos in the Spanish Pyrenees known for its stunning mountain scenery and rich history. It will bring together the top trail and mountain runners from across the globe as they take on gruelling courses featuring steep climbs…
DEVILBEND Golf Club is set to undergo a major pro-shop and clubhouse redevelopment after the Mornington Peninsula Shire backed the project by agreeing to act as a loan guarantor. The $1.1m project would see the clubhouse facilities upgraded to provide additional and upgraded services for its members. Councillors voted unanimously at their 2 September meeting for the shire to act as a loan guarantor as part of the club’s bid to secure a $450,000 loan from Bendigo Bank, which would be repaid over ten years. The club, based in Moorooduc, has received in-principle approval of the loan from the bank,…
A PLAN to merge Peninsula Health with four other health services under a new entity called Bayside Health to improve healthcare access has been green–lit by the state government. Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the approval of the voluntary merger of five health services including Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health, which will become effective from 1 January next year. The decision follows a compelling case made by the services, demonstrating how uniting under one umbrella will enhance healthcare access, bring specialist services closer to home, and lead to better…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have approved a land lease expansion of the Main Ridge CFA brigade to allow the installation of a second water tank, boosting the brigade’s emergency response capacity.The decision, made at the council’s 2 September meeting, comes in response to growing concerns over water availability for fire callouts in the region with the nearest reticulated water supply being in Browns Rd in Boneo, near Graceland Rd, some 12km away. Currently the brigade operates with one tank onsite, however the lease expansion would permit a second tank to be placed within the brigade’s grounds at Main Creek Rd…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected a motion to declare a homelessness emergency after the deputy mayor warned state and federal government inaction would pass “the burden onto the ratepayer”. The shire has had a housing crisis declaration in place since 2021 in response to the growing pressure on housing affordability and availability across the peninsula. But with the peninsula now having the highest number of people sleeping rough out of any local government area in Victoria, Cr Max Patton moved a motion at the council’s 2 September meeting calling for a homelessness emergency to formally recognise the worsening situation.…
A LAST-MINUTE move by Mornington Peninsula Shire has blocked a controversial plan that would have considered councillor interstate travel without going before public meetings. Councillors were presented a draft councillor expenses and support policy report ahead of their 2 September meeting to consider for endorsement. The report initially said that key changes proposed was to remove the need for councillors to decide in a majority vote about whether to approve interstate travel and expenses over $2000, which would have instead been up to the shire’s CEO Mark Stoermer “to improve efficiency while maintaining accountability”. But in an about-face following public…
A CONCERNED resident has raised the alarm after five mature Australian native trees, estimated to be between 70 to 80 years old, were recently cut down in Red Hill South by a power company. Ron Slocombe was shocked to find the towering Angophora trees (also known as salmon gums) felled along a road reserve on Thomas Rd in August without community consultation. “They are hardy resilient trees not known for dropping limbs or causing hazards,” he said. “Mornington Peninsula Shire council has tagged a number of these trees as specimens of significance, in a grove that extends along the lower…
CYCLISTS are throwing their support behind the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s push to upgrade two major intersections in Mornington, citing safety concerns for both riders and pedestrians. The council is currently advocating to improve the intersections of Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Racecourse Rd, and Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Nepean Hwy, which are both state-owned and managed. Graeme Rocke, leader of the U3A Leisure Riders Group, said they were particularly supportive of traffic lights to be installed at the Racecourse Rd intersection as it “is treacherous for both pedestrians and cyclists”. “One of our riders had a near incident there early this year. If we are serious about…
FRANKSTON and the Mornington Peninsula have a new top cop, and vehicle crime, theft, and road trauma are at the top of her agenda. Superintendent Anne Rudd moved into the lead role in August as the divisional superintendent for the Frankston and Mornington police service area in the southern metropolitan region. She brings 24 years of policing experience, including stints as the local area commander in Yarra, a tasking coordination inspector in the city, and, more recently, overseeing police recruit training at the Victoria Police Academy for the past five years. Superintendent Rudd plans to use that experience to ensure…
MORNINGTON Peninsula’s first tiny house on wheels for crisis accommodation is nearly complete thanks to an incredible community effort. The unique project, the first of its kind on the peninsula, is being hailed as a significant step towards providing immediate, dignified shelter for individuals or a small family in urgent need. The fully mobile home is being built by former shire mayor Simon Brooks, along with a few other tradespeople, who have volunteered hours of their time to bring the vision to life. Supported by the Dromana Association and Rotary Club of Dromana, the project has been entirely community-funded, with…
A CONTENTIOUS plan to build a 250-home housing estate near Mornington Racecourse is set to go before an independent panel to consider community concerns of traffic impacts, public space, and residential density. Mornington Peninsula Shire has received two planning applications that propose to subdivide land into 116 lots that border Racecourse Rd, Watt Rd and Carbine Way, covering 13 hectares; about six times the size of the MCG playing field. Named the “Woodbyne Estate”, the proposed precinct would apply to privately owned land at 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 Woodbyne Cres and 1, 2, 3 and 4…
THE state government is set to establish a new committee to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve amid growing unrest over the reserve’s deteriorating condition – but it appears it won’t come with any funding. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) recently called for expressions of interest for positions to establish a new committee of management (COM) to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve, with an aim to have members appointed in the coming months. The announcement follows mounting pressure from the Somers Residents Association (SRA), which earlier this year called for the reinstatement of a community committee to…
SEVENTEEN new homes will be built in Mornington and Hastings to support women and children, as the region battles a worsening housing and homelessness crisis. The Mornington Peninsula Shire has partnered with housing agencies YWCA Australia and Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) to deliver the social housing through the provision and lease of five parcels of council own land valued at more than $3m. The housing and development will be funded by Homes Victoria under the state government’s $6.3b Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund.|As reported by The News earlier this month, the Mornington Peninsula now has the highest number…
PLANS for a $25m redevelopment of Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE) has been tweaked including scrapping a pedestrian bridge from the summit, but critics say the changes don’t go far enough. A revision of the masterplan’s design follows project planners meeting community groups and local representatives to gather a range of perspectives. The plans, announced last September, include upgrading facilities, attractions and the natural green space to “diversify the types of experiences offered to tourists”. Such is its scale, the planned redevelopment has been deemed a “project of significance” under Victorian planning provisions and is currently being reviewed by the Department…
Rye teen siblings Lucas and Sara Hickson are set for a thrilling showdown as they represent Victoria to take out national glory at the Australian Shortboard Titles in NSW this week. It will be a big occasion for the pair as they seek to qualify for the World Surfing Championships and a place in the Australian National Surfing Team named The Irukandjis. The event will be held at Wollongong in NSW on the south coastline, from August 26 – 31. Lucas, 19, and Sara, 17, are feeling pumped about the week ahead. “It’s my third time doing this competition and…
A FRUSTRATED motorist is expected to face at least an $8000 damage bill after his high-end car struck a nasty pothole along an arterial road in Boneo on 18 August.Bradley Carter was shocked to discover his whole rear tyre was severely punctured and the wheel rim badly damaged on his pride-and-joy Bentley car after he hit a pothole at a bend on Boneo Rd near the Patterson Rd turnoff while travelling at the 80kph speed limit.The Aspendale resident was driving home after playing golf at Cape Schanck when he lost control and swerved to the other side of the road…
A COMMUNITY fundraiser has been launched after heartless thieves stole a disabled man’s car along with his wheelchair in Capel Sound, leaving him without vital mobility. Daniel Laing, 39, was asleep when four intruders broke into his garage before stealing his Holden Berlina station wagon about 1.15am on 12 August. The car had special hand controls installed to help him drive with a wheelchair that he uses for work sitting in the front passenger’s seat. It is a massive blow for the disability advocate who can no longer get to work or appointments. Although his car was found a few…
A LARGE parcel of open land in Capel Sound will be saved from development, following a decision by Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors to keep it as public open space. At least half the site at 11A Allambi Ave in Capel Sound had faced potential future development but will instead be preserved for community use as part of the shire’s draft open space strategy which will be exhibited for public consultation this month. Under the proposal, the site, which covers 21,893 square metres (about the size of three soccer fields), would be rezoned from residential to public park and recreation, which…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh is set to travel to Canberra this month for a joint advocacy visit to Parliament House, where he will meet with federal decision-makers to champion key priorities for the region. On 25 and 26 August Marsh will join the council’s CEO Mark Stoermer, alongside Frankston City Council mayor Kris Bolam, to meet with members of the federal government and opposition. Marsh said among the top priorities on the agenda to be discussed, which would occur during a parliamentary sitting week, was advocating for the 2025 federal election commitments to be honoured across the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has finally clarified its flag policy, declaring the Australian flag must be “the primary and most prominent” after it was controversially left off a kindergarten flyer this year. The updated policy was formally adopted at the council’s 12 August meeting which will govern how the flag is “flown or displayed at all Mornington Peninsula Shire Council buildings, sites, events, and communications where flags are used”. The move also means councillors will be handed back the ultimate authority and decision making as to how and when the Australian flag is used after rejecting it be kept as a…
A STRETCH of under-used space behind The Bays Hospital has been turned into a vibrant green space thanks to a partnership with the Rotary Club of Mornington and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.The first section of the project called the Mornington Rotary Greenway was successfully planted at the end of July, which the Rotary Club’s secretary Tanya Chambers said was a transformative project that is set to create a vibrant green corridor connecting Mornington’s foreshore to the hinterland. She also said it marked a significant milestone “in bringing more green spaces into the region’s urban areas, much like the Briars Forest…
A kangaroo joey has been saved after its mother was cruelly shot and left for dead in Moorooduc, leaving wildlife rescuers devastated and heartbroken. A resident raised the alarm after spotting the female kangaroo behaving unusually on their property in early July. A volunteer from animal welfare group Vets for Compassion was called to the property where the kangaroo was safely and compassionately sedated under veterinary supervision. “What we discovered was heartbreaking. She had been shot in the face, leaving her nose and jaw shattered. She was severely underweight, and her infected wounds had turned necrotic,” Vets for Compassion posted…
A DECK of cards, a mountain of sticky tape, and a lot of ambition. That’s what students had from across the Western Port area when they took part in creating the tallest freestanding tower at an Inter Schools Activity Challenge (ISAC) held at BlueScope Steel in Hastings on 7 August. Organised by Somerville Tyabb Rotary Club, the event brought together 20 teams of year 5/6 students from 12 schools.ISAC is designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, as well as a fun learning experience – which are all skills at the heart of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).The…
STUDENTS from Dromana’s Peninsula Specialist College are gaining valuable real-world hospitality experience thanks to a partnership with the Rosebud RSL and disability support organisation Umbrella Support. The program enables students to participate in an inclusive and welcoming work environment while learning new skills in hospitality and customer service.Umbrella Support has been working with Rosebud RSL for the past two years, with the college partnering with the organisation to allow these opportunities. The school’s pathways and work experience coordinator Bianca Barber said they were proud to be involved in the initiative, which would allow students to gain a sense of purpose…
A NEWLY opened food pantry in Somerville is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of hundreds of residents, just one month after opening its doors. Launched on 7 July, Helping Hands Somerville was created to meet growing community needs amid rising food insecurity and cost-of-living pressures. It’s operated by a small group of volunteers including its president Anne Raukawa, retired caterer Gail, and retired teacher Deb, who met earlier this year over coffee with an idea of starting a “simple local pantry” offering rescued food and donated items to those in need. “Little did we know then how…
A MULTI-agency working group has been formed to address urgent tenant welfare concerns and long-standing maintenance issues at the Main St public housing complex in Mornington.Mornington Peninsula Shire set up the group to tackle to “significant challenges” including maintenance, systems, tenancy placement, and ongoing improvements for the area. Renovations were also undertaken after fire destroyed several units, which have been re-tenanted by locals on the Housing Register.Several agencies have been working closely together since October last year to improve the living conditions at the complex. The working group includes representatives from the shire, Mornington Community Support Centre, Western Port Community…
A GROUP of concerned animal welfare advocates have held a peaceful vigil outside RSPCA Victoria’s headquarters as it investigates reports of underweight horses at a Mt Eliza property. The vigil drew about 20 people holding placards at the Burwood East offices on 25 July with calls for “transparency and clarity around the organisation’s handling of the matter”. The RSPCA launched an investigation in June following reports about 30 horses had allegedly been neglected under a former race trainer at a Moorooduc Highway property. In a statement, the RSPCA said the owner was currently cooperating with their Inspectorate, but as it…
HEALTH authorities have launched an investigation into a potential contamination of the mains water at Mt Eliza’s Emil Madsen Reserve following reports of a gastro outbreak. The onset of the illness on the weekend of 26-27 July occurred around the same time several visitors to the reserve had noticed the tap water appearing unusually “cloudy”.Mornington Peninsula turned off the mains water and closed the reserve with affected sporting games being moved to other reserves. The shire had also issued a community warning on Facebook for people to “not drink or use the water in this area at this time”.Emil Madsen…
A PENINSULA surfer mum has made waves on the national stage after claiming top spot in the over-40s women’s division at this year’s Australian Longboard Titles final. Eglantine (Tina) Balland, 41, beamed with pride after securing the title at Cabarita Beach in NSW on 25 July. A life-long lover of the ocean and mother of one, Tina described the win as the “happiest moment of my entire sporting life” and a big comeback to the sport. “A few years ago, I nearly died from a severe pneumonia. I eventually recovered but I was left with very damaged lungs,” she said.…