TWO Year 9 Woodleigh students are holding a photo exhibition to raise awareness about beach pollution and what the community can do to help. Xavier Goldfinch and Oscar McKeown have spent months taking photos for ‘Washed Up’, which will be exhibited at The Nook in Mornington on 21 September. The exhibition was part of their Middle Years Program community project, which requires students to identify an issue, investigate it, and take meaningful action. “So, we decided to focus our project on beach cleaning, and just like all the rubbish that appears on our beaches,” said Goldfinch. “We both live on…
Author: Raia Flinos
A FLINDERS couple have raised concerns over the alleged removal of native vegetation near and on their coastal property, prompting an investigation by Mornington Peninsula Shire. Tania de Jong and Peter Hunt contacted The News after alleging a significant amount of vegetation was cut down in the area surrounding their Flinders property on 5 June. The couple said the vegetation was removed from an area adjoining a neighbouring property where a new build has been under construction for 18 months. “On 5 June, we were alerted to the fact that a whole lot of trees and shrubs had been destroyed…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire have voted in support of a three-year service agreement with St Andrews Beach Recreation Club, which will provide a pathway towards club-led management. At the 1 September council meeting, councillors unanimously supported the recommendation to enter into the three-year agreement. The shire currently maintains the hall and open space at an annual cost of approximately $51,000 and has spent around $121,000 in improvements over the last five years. The club advised the shire it doesn’t have the capacity to independently manage the facilities as usage and hall hire remain low. The service agreement will provide short-term support…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have voted to condense the current five coastal advisory groups (CAGs) into one committee that will help provide advice on the development of the shire’s Coastal Strategy. At the 1 September council meeting, councillors endorsed the council officers’ recommendation to consolidate the CAGs into a single committee following a recent review. The review found the current model has seen declining participation, quorum difficulties, and varying effectiveness across the five groups. All existing group members will be invited to participate in the Coastal Strategy Advisory Committee, which will provide community advice and local knowledge to help develop…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor David Gill has warned the proposed sale of land at HMAS Cerberus could threaten one of the peninsula’s rarest bird species. The powerful owl, which is listed as vulnerable in Victoria, can be found in open forests and woodlands and requires old-growth trees for nesting. Gill said the navy base land contains some of the peninsula’s last remaining untouched bushland and provides important habitat for the species. “Powerful owls are dependent on hollows in old trees for nesting and raising their young,” said Gill. “The Cerberus base has the necessary old indigenous trees that hollow out,…
AN elderly Safety Beach resident says he and his wife have been repeatedly harassed outside their home by a group of teenagers riding e-scooters and e-bikes. Keith Horobin, who lives at Martha’s Cove with his wife, Catherine, said a group of teenagers had allegedly been banging on the couple’s windows and garage door and verbally abusing them. On 6 September, Horobin was sitting in his living room watching television when he heard banging on the window. “I thought, what the hell is that?” said Horobin. He said there were six teenage boys outside his window, whom he estimated to be…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire CEO has released a statement regarding the influx of parking fines following outrage from the community. The statement comes following community concerns after residents began receiving multiple infringements for parking on nature strips in narrow streets (“Tyabb residents raise concerns over fines”, The News, 27/08/26). In the statement, shire CEO Mark Stoermer said the shire acknowledges the public’s concerns regarding parking fines. “While safety needs to remain our priority – some residents who have been affected are rightly fed up,” said Stoermer. “We do have a problem that I’m committed to fixing.” He said the shire’s contractors…
OCEAN Mind, a therapeutic surfing charity that aims to improve young people’s mental health and relationships through surfing, is heading into its third season on the peninsula. Ocean Mind offers free six-week programs for young people experiencing mental health challenges, which run from September to May/June. Participants are paired with a volunteer mentor who teaches them to surf while also providing support and a listening ear. After completing the program, participants are offered a spot in a surf club, helping provide ongoing support and community connection. Rachael Parker founded Ocean Mind on the Surf Coast ten years ago before expanding…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has adopted a master plan for Somerville Recreation Reserve following community consultation at the end of 2025. At the 1 September council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to adopt the plan, which provides a long-term strategy to improve the reserve. Cr Kate Roper, who moved the motion, said community consultation was well received and helped shape the finalised version. “I’m very pleased to finally see the finalised master plan at council for adoption,” said Roper. “They have a large percentage of young people playing at the ground, and the current facility is not fit for purpose, so I…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire have endorsed a preferred route for the proposed shared user path in Dromana following community consultation. The path will provide an active transport connection between Dromana, Safety Beach, and the education precinct on White Hill Rd. Two paths were originally proposed, but after community consultation and investigation, council officers recommended a third alignment along Collins Rd. At the 1 September council meeting, councillors unanimously endorsed the proposal for the 2B option, which offers long-term strategic connectivity. Cr Patrick Binyon, who moved the motion, noted any further planning or construction is subject to funding through the Capital Works…
A CONTRACTOR employed by Mornington Peninsula Shire applied the wrong treatment to four ovals in February, killing the turf, with user clubs still dealing with the aftermath and the shire facing extensive repair costs. The wrong treatment was applied to RJ Rowley Reserve in Rye, Olympic Park Reserve in Rosebud, David MacFarlane Reserve in Sorrento, and Emil Madsen Reserve Oval 2 in Mt Eliza. Anthony Ring, president of Sorrento Sharks Football and Netball Club, said he noticed the field deteriorating around four to six weeks after treatment was applied. Ring said the poison applied is used to kill ryegrass on…
A LOCAL resident has raised concerns over the handling of privacy and safety concerns at Yawa Aquatic Centre after photographs were taken of her without consent. On 22 August, Cynthia Morris was using the gym facilities at Yawa Aquatic Centre in Rosebud when she noticed a male member taking photos of her. She said he then turned and was taking photos of other female members at the gym. “I felt really uncomfortable,” said Morris. Morris said she immediately reported the incident to staff at the centre. “When I told [the staff member], she informed me that they already had another…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is seeking community feedback on its updated Community-led Projects Policy. At the 1 September council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to place the draft policy on public exhibition from 2 September to 30 September. The policy has been revised to simplify processes, provide clearer guidance, and create a more flexible and transparent approach to delivering community-led infrastructure projects. It will allow for a broader range of programs to be included and includes an improved application process. Mayor Stephen Barry said partnering with clubs and groups to deliver projects that benefit the community is a top priority for the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor Cam Williams has been found to have engaged in misconduct following a series of comments about fellow councillors. On 24 August, arbiter Noel Harvey OAM determined Williams had breached three clauses of the Model Councillor Code of Conduct in relation to two incidents in December 2025. The arbitration application was made by Cr David Gill and Cr Kate Roper in March 2026. The first allegation concerned an interview Williams gave to the Somerville Times on 13 December 2025, in which he made a number of comments about fellow councillors and council matters. According to the report,…
FOR the past 36 years, Linda and Tony Perrin have opened their home to children who need a safe place to stay. The Safety Beach residents began their fostering journey when they were first married and didn’t think they would have children of their own. They began fostering before having three children through IVF. They took a break while their children were young but returned to fostering when their youngest children were six and eight. “I love it, and there’s such a need for it; there’s just not enough carers,” said Linda. Now, decades later, the couple are still fostering.…
CONTAMINATION in peninsula households’ recycling bins has fallen by 1.5 per cent in the last year according to the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s latest bin audit. The recycling contamination rate peaked at 17.8 per cent last year, adding about $1m to the cost of processing household recycling. The reduction follows the shire’s ‘Bin it right, future’s bright!’ education campaign, which helps teach residents how to sort their waste correctly. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said the reduction was encouraging, but residents still have a role to play in bringing contamination below the shire’s target of 15 per cent. “We are closer than…
MORNINGTON Secondary College held its Year 12 VCE Vocational Major Market Day on 27 August to raise money for Speak & Share. The market is one of the major assessment tasks for the Year 12 VM students, who spend months planning and operating their own stalls. Students and staff from the school came together to buy items from the stalls and participate in a raffle, with all proceeds going towards Speak & Share. Students Ivie Green and Ruby Capes said they decided to participate in the VM program to allow them to gain practical work experience for the industries they…
A COMMUNITY event will bring people together to discuss housing insecurity and homelessness across the peninsula while supporting Western Port Community Support. The event is being organised by community group WeShare and will be held on 13 September at Balnarring Community Hall. The aim is to spark conversations about the realities of homelessness and explore what the community can do to help address the housing crisis. WeShare member Carolyn Tate said the group was formed about a year ago by community members who were interested in food security, sharing resources, and helping address local issues. “We’re just a bunch of…
A NEWLY kitted-out workshop trailer from Rosebud Men’s Shed is set to join BlazeAid’s fleet, helping the volunteer organisation rebuild fences and restore farms after natural disasters. The trailer was officially handed over to BlazeAid’s CEO, Melissa Jones, at the Rosebud Men’s Shed on 28 August. It is one of three trailers donated by Bosch and has been fitted out by members of Rosebud Men’s Shed to provide a portable workshop for BlazeAid volunteers. The trailer will allow volunteers to sharpen tools and undertake repairs and other workshop jobs while deployed at BlazeAid camps around Australia. BlazeAid began after the…
TWO candidates have nominated for the Briars Ward postal by-election following Anthony Marsh’s resignation after he was elected as Member for Nepean. Mt Martha-based Christine Leahy and Sue Ellison-Whyte will both be running as independent candidates. Leahy is currently an executive director who has leadership experience across family businesses, charities, and health services. She has lived in Mt Martha for nearly ten years alongside her husband and their two daughters. Leahy said she is incredibly grateful to be raising her family on the peninsula. “I decided to run for council as I love our community and I want to ensure…
THE Murrowong Ave Dog Park community is mourning the loss of two of their much-loved regulars, Richard Allen and his Maltese-Pomeranian cross, Teddy. Richard passed away on 10 August, less than two weeks after the death of his best friend, Teddy. For the past 15 years, Richard and Teddy could regularly be found at the Murrowong Ave Dog Park, often twice a day. On Friday 21 August, Richard’s funeral was held at All Saints Anglican Church in Rosebud, but with a rather unique twist. Everyone was invited to bring along their dogs to sit in the pews and help celebrate…
TYABB residents have raised concerns regarding fines being issued for cars parked on nature strips. Residents in the area say the fines began in early July, with some households receiving multiple infringements within days. Jordyn White, who has been advocating for affected residents, said she had personally received two fines in three days. “We’ve heard about six fines for some houses now, three days apart,” said White. Residents say the problem is particularly dire on narrow roads where parked vehicles on the road can restrict access for other cars and potentially emergency services. “The fines have forced people on our…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has unanimously voted to set parking infringement penalties at 0.5 penalty units following an administrative error in this year’s budget process. The resolution relates to 11 parking offences, including overstaying a parking limit, failure to pay for parking, and parking outside marked bays. The Road Safety Act 1986 states the default penalty for offences is 0.2 penalty units; however, council can resolve to increase to a maximum of 0.5 penalty units per offence. At the 18 August council meeting, councillors endorsed increasing the penalty to 0.5 penalty units, meaning the affected offences will result in a $105…
A FUNDRAISER to raise awareness about vulva health and vulvar cancer will take place at Main Ridge Community Hall on 12 September. The event is being organised by Vulva Sisters Australia and will be a celebration of women’s health, with all ticket sale profits donated to Rare Cancers Australia. Vulva Sisters Australia is a not-for-profit organisation co-founded by Jane Hancox and Marlo Woods, who met cold-water swimming in the bay during COVID. Hancox was diagnosed with vulvar cancer around three years ago. Due to misdiagnosis, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and required her to undergo multiple surgeries,…
A FUNDRAISER to raise awareness and funds for Huntington’s disease will be held at Donato Cafe in Mt Martha on 26 August. The event is being organised by Silvana Contu, Business Development Manager at ART in Caring, and any funds raised will go towards Huntington’s Victoria. Huntington’s Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation providing support, education, and advocacy for individuals living with the disease, and their families. Contu said the idea for the fundraiser came from ART in Caring’s work supporting clients living with Huntington’s and seeing first-hand the impact the disease can have on individuals, carers, and loved ones. “It’s…
MORNINGTON resident and founder of Catch Me Marketing Co. Trish McLachlan is a finalist in three categories at the 2026 Global Search Awards. The Global Search Awards recognise the creativity and innovation of marketing professionals around the world. McLachlan is a finalist in Best Use of Search, Best Integrated Campaign, and Most Innovative Campaign, and is one of only a handful of Australian businesses nominated. The nominations recognise the strategy McLachlan built for an emerging e-commerce business, taking it from having no digital marketing presence to generating over $300,000 in sales in under 30 days. “The work that I did…
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…
SEVERAL Mornington Peninsula real estate agents are warning colleagues and property owners about a prospective buyer they allege has repeatedly entered into property contracts before failing to provide the required deposit. Several real estate agents told The News they had similar encounters with the same individual regarding several properties up for sale across June and July. Ash Marton, the principal and director at Ash Marton Realty, said his concerns began after an offer was made on a property he was representing in Mt Eliza. “This person presented themselves quite professionally and diligently at an open for inspection in Mt Eliza,”…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has approved expenditure of up to $32.75m, including GST, to manage the peninsula’s residual waste after the Rye Landfill reaches capacity later this year. At the 11 August council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to endorse the total forecast expenditure under the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) landfill contract. The shire opted into the contract in October 2025, and it is set to expire on 31 March 2027. A further two-year extension is available, with the decision to execute the extension now delegated to the Chief Executive Officer. Under the arrangement, residual waste will be…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have voted unanimously in favour of requesting the state government’s approval of reduced interim landslide planning controls, bringing the total number of affected properties down from 33,000 to 6,000. At the 11 August council meeting, councillors confirmed they will write to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny and request fast-tracked approval of the proposed amendments to the Interim Erosion Management Overlay (EMO7). This comes after months of community concern following the introduction of the interim overlay in January (Minister approves interim landslide overlay despite errors, The News 13/01/26). Cr Max Patton, who moved the motion, said this update…