MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has confirmed it has so far set aside $2.8m in this year’s budget to address the aftermath of the McCrae landslide. The figure was revealed at the council’s 22 April meeting after a McCrae resident asked a question requesting the council itemise all costs involved including engineering, legal, reclamation, insurances, security, and prevention. In response, the council said it had allocated $1.8m through the mid-year review and a further $1m was set aside in reserve for the McCrae landslide response, totalling $2.8m for this year’s budget. To date, council has spent about $1m on geotechnical and legal…
Author: Brendan Rees
A MCCRAE couple has emerged victorious in a legal dispute with the Mornington Peninsula Shire after building notices were served on them mandating clean-up works following a landslip in 2022. The council had directed the couple, Gerard and Bronwyn Borghesi, to undertake stabilisation works to the area affected by the landslip including removing all debris from Penny Lane, which they appealed.The Building Appeals Board (BAB) on 30 April ruled that the shire had no power to make its orders under s106 of the Building Act because the Borghesis were not proposing nor carrying out building work relating to their property…
THE first block of public hearings to be held by the board on inquiry into the McCrae landslide will commence on Wednesday 7 May and run until Wednesday 14 May at the County Court of Victoria. The beginning of the public hearings come after a site visit to the landslide affected area on 9 April by the chair of the inquiry, Renée Enbom KC. The News spoke to Enbom about the progress so far, and what is to come. “We’ve been working very hard, sending out notices, requesting information, and reviewing that information when it arrives. Also meeting with residents…
RESIDENTS have raised concerns over congestion and safety issues at the Arthurs Seat Eagle over the Easter long weekend, reigniting debate over a proposed tourism expansion at the summit. The scenic lookout saw high visitation numbers on 19 April with parking infrastructure “completely failing,” according to Save Our Seat community group spokesperson Kylie Greer. She said by 1pm, the car park at the bottom station was full, with more than 100 people queuing for the gondola. “The summit lookout was also at capacity, with cars idling and waiting for parking spots, leading to gridlock on Arthurs Seat Rd at the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have adopted a “Community Vision”, setting a clear direction for the region’s development to 2029. The updated vision, first established in 2021, is reviewed every four years to ensure it aligns with the evolving aspirations of residents and stakeholders. The latest review used community data from 2021 including more than 3000 responses that were themed and shaped into the vision by an independent citizens’ panel. Under the Local Government Act, councils must develop or review a “Community Vision” within 12 months of a general election. The adopted vision states: “We celebrate, protect and enhance our unique…
PLANS for a 35-metre telecommunications tower in Merricks North will go ahead, replacing an existing nearby Telstra tower. The new tower proposed by Amplitel Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Telstra Group, will be installed at 304 Myers Rd, at the intersection of Tubbarubba Rd in Merricks North. Once built, the tower, which will be as tall as a 12-storey building, will continue 4G services and the provision of future 5G access. Councillors ticked off the planning permit application for the tower at their 8 April meeting. Telstra is set to decommission and remove an existing 35-metre mobile phone and…
THE Somers Residents Association (SRA) is calling for the reinstatement of a community committee to oversee the Somers Foreshore Reserve amid growing concerns of the reserve’s deteriorating condition. Residents say the coastal asset, which currently sits on Crown Land, had been left in a state of neglect with overgrown vegetation and poor maintenance of public facilities having prompted increased frustration. The reserve is currently managed by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) but the SRA said the site had been in poor condition for a long period of time “including extensive weed growth, cessation of revegetation works, and…
MORE than 100 residents fighting a high-tech industry and business park proposed for Somerville have signed a petition saying it would destroy the area’s “natural beauty” among other concerns. The proposed development at 79 and 83 Bungower Rd in Somerville by Procter Investments Pty would see a community hub created with cafes, sports facilities, retail tenant spaces, and possibly a micro-brewery. If approved, it is expected to provide up to 1100 jobs with the aim of addressing a “critical shortage” of industry land on the peninsula. The site comprises two property titles totalling nearly 37 hectares, which are zoned as…
A CONTENTIOUS trial involving council customer service hubs being installed across the Mornington Peninsula Shire will continue despite costing ratepayers about $389 per customer visit. The hubs, also called “Your Local Connection Points”, are part of a 12-month pilot involving the shire’s “Tier 3 Facilities” with the aim of enhancing accessibility to in-person council services in smaller townships across the region. Councillors narrowly approved a motion at their 22 April meeting to keep the hubs operating at Mornington, Hastings, Rosebud, Dromana, and Somerville, while exploring a more affordable option at Red Hill. This will occur at least until the end…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will re-engage with tennis and bowls club officials over outstanding concerns regarding its new leases in what one councillor said was “dragging on for way too long”. The new lease agreements, introduced last July under the previous council, affect several community tennis and bowls clubs operating on council owned or managed land. But despite sustained lobbying efforts from club representatives regarding their concerns, support from Tennis Australia, and interventions from two state local MPs, the shire had stood by the new lease terms. The decision by council to push ahead was made even though “there was an…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have narrowly decided to ditch the shire’s climate emergency declaration after questions were raised about whether spending $11.7m was “delivering genuine value”. The decision was made at the council’s 22 April meeting, which will now see a “renewed focus on practical, community-focused climate initiatives”. This is despite the shire having unanimously adopted a climate emergency declaration in 2019, along with 30 other councils in the state. But deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, who led the motion to scrap the declaration along with its associated climate emergency plan, said it was “never been about denying or dismissing…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is set to convene a meeting with all surf lifesaving clubs on the peninsula to discuss “urgent and priority needs” to tackle a rising concern of drowning incidents. According to the shire, the Mornington Peninsula has either the highest drowning toll or close to the highest toll historically of any municipality in Victoria. Over the past year, eight people have died at Mornington Peninsula beaches and waterways. In acknowledging the alarming rate, Cr David Gill led a motion at the council’s 22 April meeting calling for council to meet with surf lifesaving clubs “because they are the…
HASTINGS traders have reached breaking point amid a wave of relentless vandalism and break-ins plaguing their businesses – and they say switched off public CCTV cameras is making it worse. The News spoke to several traders in the High St area who said crime was “getting worse,” with smash and grabs costing them thousands of dollars per week in what has become a “weekly nightmare”. “It’s continual and there’s just no deterrent,” Sally Smith, who runs Trotter Shoes, said, noting six businesses had been targeted in just one week in April despite the Hastings Police Station being located just down…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors will look to explore “alternative delivery models” for The Briars master plan to ease the financial impact on ratepayers as the project ran into a $3m loss. Development of the master plan for the 230-hectare conservation park and wildlife sanctuary in Mt Martha, which includes a heritage homestead, began in 2018 and sets out a vision for the site’s potential. Among the master plan’s successful projects has been the expansion of the existing wildlife sanctuary, which is nearly finished with 7000 plants having been donated (The Briars expansion nears completion, The News 10/04/25). The Ark Program,…
HERITAGE Victoria has granted a heritage permit for long-awaited repair works of the 1860s-built Flinders Pier but the project’s future remains uncertain amid concerns of insufficient funding. While the full 327-metre length of the historic pier remains open to the public, the old part of jetty, a 180-metre timber approach section, has been closed since April 2020 following the deterioration of piles and decking. The permit, issued on 10 April, would allow works to be undertaken but as reported by The News in March, a document released by Heritage Victoria revealed that the repairs could be hampered by a lack…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have decided to hold off progressing a proposed development plan of a multi-owned 573-hectare site within the Dromana-Arthurs Seat escarpment until thorough community consultation is undertaken. The escarpment encompasses the Arthurs Seat state park (managed by Parks Victoria), the currently degraded Hillview Quarries and inactive Pioneer Quarries (both owned by the Ross Trust), and the Hillview Community Reserve and the Parkdale Estate, both of which are owned by the state government and managed by council. The site is recognised as a key landmark on the peninsula by supporting habitat restoration, outdoor recreation, agriculture, and rock extraction,…
Teenage twin brothers Henri and Miles Levenspiel of Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club are making some serious headway in the youth sailing scene. The 15-year-olds recently won the Victorian Youth Championship in April and have now been named finalists as the Young Team of the Year in the Victorian Sports Awards. “We both were honestly pretty surprised – it’s not something we expected,” they said of the finalist nomination. “Just being nominated was already a huge honour, so to find out we were finalists was something special. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved this year in sailing, and to have…
A PENINSULA indoor soccer team is celebrating after booting their way to a jaw-dropping victory in a Go Soccer Mums tournament grand final on 12 April. The tournament is part of a program backed by Football Victoria that encourages people of all ages, fitness levels, and abilities to get involved in soccer. There’s no pressure – just the goal of getting active together and having fun along the way. The ladies from the Peninsula Futsal team not only won all games in their pool but also triumphed 14-0 in the final against Mt Martha. Sunny Shaw, who led the team…
BLAIRGOWRIE Yacht Squadron’s Samantha Batty is riding a wave of pride after being named a finalist in the Community Coach of the Year category in the Victorian Sports Awards. The 21-year-old has been a part of the squadron since she was aged seven, and a fully-fledged instructor since 2022. “It’s great to be part of the sailing community not only as a coach but also a competitor, and it’s fantastic to see the sport get some recognition,” said Batty. The Vic Sports Awards, which has 18 categories, celebrates the achievements of home-grown sporting heroes at both a grassroots and high-performance…
GET ready for some giggles and a whole lot of fun. Mt Eliza-based illustrator Karen Erasmus has launched her latest children’s picture book, Wombat Poos Are Square, which cheekily explores “another side” to Australian animals. Blending humour and education, the book provides some intriguing facts about animal poo and its role in the environment including from the sparkly poops of echidnas, to the vital role of whale poo in supplying Earth’s oxygen. While a wombat character is the main feature of the book, there are also nocturnal animals, reptiles, sea creatures and mischievous koalas to be discovered along the way.…
A DECISION on the future of beach cleaning has been deferred once again as Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors remain split over whether to use a mechanical rake or hand-cleaning. It marks the fourth time since December last year that councillors and shire officers have pushed back a decision, citing the need for more consideration. Since 1 July last year, a 12-month trial has seen all Port Phillip beaches across the peninsula cleaned solely by hand on a fortnightly basis instead of a mechanical rake which had reportedly removed about 40 per cent of litter with plastic items being broken down…
LONG-awaited plans to replace a damaged section of the Balcombe Creek Estuary Boardwalk will be considered for funding in the upcoming budget after Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors expressed mixed views about repair works. The iconic 3.5km boardwalk in Mt Martha has been partly closed for more than two years after being significantly damaged in floods in November 2022, leaving one section unrepaired and fenced off near Nepean Hwy and Uralla Rd in Mt Martha. As reported by The News, locals have voiced their frustration about the repair delays including the Rotary Club of Mount Martha whose members originally built the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have approved a three per cent rate increase amid “unprecedented pressures” including a newly estimated $8m to deal with the McCrae landslide recovery. Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said at least $75 from every household would be needed to help pay for the 14 January landslide event. Councillors unanimously approved the rate increase at their 8 April meeting, which would generate an extra $50 per household in revenue on average. But Marsh said this was just two thirds of the cost of addressing the landslide recovery which did not consider inflation or cost increases. The shire has…
A FORMER Mornington VCE student has earned a prestigious honour with her impressively crafted recipe book project being selected for exhibition at the Melbourne Museum’s Top Designs showcase.Caitlin Bouwmeester, who graduated from Padua College last year, created the piece as part of her year 12 visual communication design studies, which features vibrant digital illustrations, clear typography, and nutritional information. The exhibition, which runs from 29 March to 20 July, celebrates Victoria’s next generation of designers, featuring 77 student works that re-imagine innovative, renewable and inclusive futures.Caitlin said she was “super excited” to discover that her book titled The Fresh Produce…
VICTORIA Police across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula are targeting tech savvy criminals that are using reprogramming devices to steal popular cars with push-start systems. Police said their intelligence suggested that certain makes and models with electronic push start technology were increasingly being targeted, as no ignition key was required. “Once inside a vehicle, this device can be plugged into the cars on board diagnostic port to override the security system and start the engine,” Victoria Police said. Police believe this methodology is well known among criminal circles and being used extensively. Various models of Holdens, Toyotas, and Subaru cars…
AFTER a two-year hiatus, the Southern Peninsula Swans Reclink football team are officially back this season. The Reclink Footy League is key program of Reclink Australia, which has been running for more than 30 years. Currently, the league has 14 teams across Victoria and is open to all genders and abilities, emphasising participation over competition. The Swans’ return marks the culmination of months of hard work and a group of “spirited community members” coming together to make this season possible. “COVID-19 created difficulties in maintaining the team and unfortunately the Swans were forced into temporary liquidation as associated supports fell…
A VINTAGE aircraft from Tyabb has taken to the skies at the Avalon International Airshow, with a young Mornington Peninsula-based pilot showcasing its timeless beauty. The De Havilland Tiger Moth bi-plane, which is part of Judy Pay’s collection of old warbirds at the Old Aeroplane Company in Tyabb, flew as part of the “Frozen Five” Tiger Moth formation team in front of thousands of aviation enthusiasts on 28 March. Originally designed in the 1930s, Pay’s Tiger Moth was built in 1941 for England’s Royal Air Force, before later being used for “barnstorming” to entertain crowds at airshows and joy flights.…
HOLD onto your pint glasses, beer lovers – Jetty Road Brewing is about to rock your taste buds in the most unexpected way. The Dromana-based brewery has whipped up a bold concoction so unique, it might just be the sweetest idea to hit the craft beer scene: a Neapolitan Ice Cream Ale. The new brew, which features the triple threat of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavours, will be making its grand debut at this year’s Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular (GABS) festival at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, where attendees are bracing themselves for a taste experience like no other.…
WORK will soon begin on rebuilding the Mornington Fishermans Jetty, restoring not only access for berthing but also injecting new life into the harbour. The much-anticipated announcement was made last week by the state government with construction preparations set to start in April. The jetty was closed to pedestrians in November 2020 due to advanced structural deterioration with berthing access ceasing in 2022 following inspections by maritime engineers. The existing nearby Mornington Pier has been providing short term berthing for vessels. Once complete the new jetty will reinstate access for berthing, improve access, and provide an “attractive visual feature” for…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has put forward five options for cleaning the region’s iconic beaches following a divisive hand beach cleaning trail that has sparked heated debate in the community. The 12-month trial, which began last July, involves cleaning all Port Phillip beaches solely by hand on a fortnightly basis instead of a mechanical rake which had reportedly removed about 40 per cent of litter with plastic items being broken down into smaller pieces and buried in the sand (Tide turns for beach cleaning, The News 14/01/25). Together with volunteers, the shire’s contractor Citywide has employed four beach hand cleaners plus…