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…
Author: Raia Flinos
MICHAEL Harris, more fondly known as Harry Mussels, has won the From the Sea award at this year’s delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards. His Flinders grown mussels were recognised as the best sea produce in Australia by judges including seafood expert Josh Niland. The awards took place at Matt Moran’s restaurant Aria on 4 August and celebrated food producers who often go unrecognised in the food scene. Harry said he usually lets his mussels speak for themselves. “But to be nominated by these hatted chefs, that’s some form of recognition and to see it go all the way to be…
A GOVERNMENT document has revealed the Victorian government invited the Arthurs Seat Eagle to propose changes to the draft planning permit conditions for its rollercoaster-style luge before final approval was granted. The disclosure is contained in a Statement of Reasons prepared by the Planning Minister’s delegate following a request from the community group Save Our Seat and the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA). This comes after months of community backlash and opposition towards the project, which was approved in February and is set to begin construction this year (Eagle greenlit as opponents vow to fight, The News 20/02/26). The statement…
A GROUP of community advocates, residents, and politicians gathered at Flinders Pier on 14 August, calling on the state government to complete the restoration of the pier. The community action comes after the Victorian government announced it would not be rebuild the inner section of Flinders Pier due to the scope of the restoration and a lack of funding (Flinders Pier restoration abandoned, The News 29/06/26). Mornington Peninsula Shire has said it will include Flinders Pier in its “Shout Out for the Peninsula” advocacy campaign in the lead-up to the state election. Over 100 people gathered at the pier as…
A GROUP of female first responders gathered for an afternoon of networking, connection, and celebration. Hastings SES held their third annual Mornington Peninsula Female First Responders Networking Afternoon on 2 August. Silvana Hobley, Section Leader of Member Welfare, Wellbeing, and Progression at Hastings SES, organised the event and said it was a huge success. “Every year, it seems to be progressively getting better,” said Hobley. “It was a wonderful turnout, and we had lots of different organisations and new faces from last year.” Fifty-five volunteers from different organisations attended, including CFA, Marine Rescue, VF-06 coastguard, Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad, and…
A GRANT from Chobani has allowed Southern Peninsula Community Support (SPCS) to upgrade their kitchen and pantry, assisting with the distribution of up to 600 additional free meals a month. Last year, SPCS was one of the recipients of The Big Difference, Chobani’s community grants program. They received $30,000 to go towards the upgrade. SPCS helps more than 2000 people and their families each year, with demand for food relief increasing by 52 percent over the past 12 months. Karen Peters, a volunteer and Emergency Food Relief Coordinator at SPCS, said the organisation has seen a decline in the volume,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will consider asking the state government to drastically reduce the interim landslide planning controls introduced in response to a recommendation from the McCrae landslide board of inquiry. At the 11 August council meeting, councillors will decide whether to write to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny requesting amendments to the Interim Erosion Management Overlay (EMO7). If adopted, it would reduce the number of affected properties from 33,000 to around 6,000. The changes would bring the peninsula’s total land area covered by the overlay down to around 5.5 per cent, with 40 per cent being public land. The recommendation follows…
PENINSULA residents will have the opportunity to hear stories from refugees at an upcoming event in Rosebud. New Peninsula Community Caring and migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia are collaborating for their fourth Sharing Food and Stories community lunch on 12 September. The event is aimed at connecting people who don’t often get a chance to meet over a lunch prepared by local chefs. New Peninsula Community Caring General Manager Andrew Taylor said the idea stemmed from wanting to see a more multicultural peninsula. “We want to provide a welcoming place of acceptance, a place of belonging, where [refugees]…
TWO young women from the peninsula are preparing to make history as they become the first adults with disability to take part in the Variety Bash. Natalie Palancian and Amelia Nichols are both 21 and have mobility issues that stem from cerebral palsy. They met at school and have remained close friends since. The girls decided they will be partaking in the 10-day, 5,500km road trip across Australia to help raise money for Variety, a charity that supports children living with disability, disadvantage, or illness. The Bash begins on 18 August from Halls Gap, with participants going through outback tracks,…
MT Eliza residents have expressed frustration over recent changes to bus services, saying improvements in other areas of the peninsula have come at the expense of services relied on by older residents. Mt Eliza Village resident Maureen Piper relies on buses every day. She said she was disappointed to learn there was no longer a direct service from the village to the Barkly St shopping area in Mornington. “We fought long and hard for better services and these have just been taken away,” said Piper. “How can anyone call this action progress? I am sad and angry. It is unjust.”…
CONCERNED residents are calling for safety improvements at the intersection of Mornington-Tyabb Rd and Racecourse Rd. A petition has attracted hundreds of signatures from people concerned about the dangers faced by cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The petition was organised by Paddy Fricker and sponsored by Mornington MP Chris Crewther. It has attracted over 700 signatures across hard-copy and online forms. Crewther said the petition will be lodged to Parliament once it has surpassed 1000 signatures. “The intersection of Mornington-Tyabb Rd and Racecourse Rd is one of the busiest and most concerning road safety locations in our community,” said Crewther. “Every…
WEIGHTLIFTER Eileen Cikamatana, who lives and trains on the peninsula, has taken home gold at the Commonwealth Games, adding to her impressive record. Cikamatana won gold in the women’s 86kg division at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 29 July. She produced a Commonwealth Games record of 248kg, lifting 108kg in the snatch before lifting a 140kg clean and jerk. She finished nine kilos clear of England’s Madias Ngake, who took home silver with 239kg. This marks Cikamatana’s third gold Commonwealth Games medal. She won gold for Fiji in the 90kg division at the 2018 Gold Coast games before switching…
A LOCAL couple’s travelling bookstore has quickly grown into a series of literary events, bringing together the community to gather around books. Bookneck was started two months ago by Carolyn Watson and David Moore, who began their careers as writers. “If you’re a writer, then you’re a reader,” said Moore. The couple’s relationship began long-distance, fuelled by their shared love of reading and words. Eventually, Moore moved from the US to Australia, and the couple now reside in Frankston South. Watson said they had always dreamed of opening a second-hand bookstore. “Retail spaces are obviously very difficult to come by…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has endorsed a long-term plan to increase parking capacity in Sorrento, with works at Morce Ave car park identified as the highest priority. At the 7 July council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to move forward with a program of works that prioritises the Morce Ave Stage 1 upgrade, followed by permanent angled parking on Hotham Rd and then a second stage of works on Morce Ave. The Stage 1 Morce Ave recommendation includes an increase of approximately 38 parking spaces to help reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety and accessibility. Funding to deliver the projects will be…
MORNINGTON Community Support Centre (MCSC) has exceeded its Winter Appeal target, raising over $150,000. Each year, MSCS holds a Winter Appeal to raise funds to help them deliver services to those who need it most. They provide emergency relief, food, crisis accommodation, financial counselling, advocacy, and help build a sense of community. CEO Ben Smith said they are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated. “It was incredible to witness the community’s response to the call out,” said Smith. “I think it certainly humbles us to know that we’ve got a community who respond when crisis hits and to do so…
THE Victorian government have announced a $2.1m funding package dedicated towards homelessness outreach services on the peninsula. Mornington Peninsula Shire and local housing advocates have welcomed the announcement and said it is an important step towards addressing the homelessness crisis on the peninsula. Victorian Minister for Housing and Building Nick Staikos and Hastings MP Paul Mercurio announced the funding will go towards a dedicated assertive outreach team of two workers for four years. The announcement comes as homelessness continues to rise on the peninsula. At the end of May, there were around 168 people sleeping rough across the region, a…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire’s Draft Bathing Box Policy has been placed on public exhibition for a period of six weeks. The policy outlines framework for managing bathing boxes on shire managed land and is set to replace the existing policy which was adopted in 2000. At the 7 July council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to place the policy on public exhibition from 13 July to 25 August. Cr Kate Roper said the current lack of formal agreement creates a range of legal, operational and governance risks for council. “This draft bathing box policy is to replace the policy adopted in 2000,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has voted to seek approval to reallocate remaining Emil Madsen Reserve upgrade funding after the Australian government rejected a deadline extension. The decision relates to the $15m Priority Community Infrastructure program upgrade of Emil Madsen Reserve, which has already delivered upgrades including the Eastern Pavilion. In May, council submitted a request to use an estimated $5m underspend, combined with $6.6m in council contributions, to construct the Western Pavilion. The request also sought to extend the project timeframe to October 2028. The federal government has rejected the bid and said all works must be completed by 30 June…
AT 29 years old, peninsula local Kaitlyn (Kaitie) Mester is facing a future she never imagined after being diagnosed with a series of chronic illnesses. Kaitie had established a successful career in freight management and was preparing to step into a leadership role. Now, she spends much of her time confined to bed and relies on family and friends to help complete daily tasks. After nearly two decades of her health declining, Kaitie was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, POTS/autonomic dysfunction and severe gastrointestinal disease. She wants more Australians to understand the struggles of living with a chronic illness and…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire have approved a new Long-Term Capital Works Plan, marking the shire’s first comprehensive ten-year capital planning framework. The plan sets out more than $172m in infrastructure investment over the next four years and was approved at the 29 June council meeting. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty thanked officers and staff for the work that went into the plan. “This exercise, which was extremely detailed, commenced in November 2025 and included four briefing sessions, four workshops, two meetings and public exhibition,” said Batty. Batty said the plan is designed to prioritise essential infrastructure within financial constraints. “[It] reflects community…
A DEFIBRILLATOR in Mt Eliza has been used to help save a person’s life just weeks after it was installed. The automated external defibrillator (AED), located at Mt Eliza Village Green, was used by local GoodSAM responders during a recent medical emergency before the ambulance arrived. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said council is grateful the life-saving equipment was available when it was needed. “It saved someone’s life the other week, which was fantastic, and we are going to proceed with two more [AEDs],” said Batty. The AED was recently installed in Mt Eliza through a partnership with the Ranelagh Club…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has reduced its proposed kerbside waste fee after community consultation, but residents will still face a significant increase in annual expenses under the 2026/27 budget. At the 29 June council meeting, council confirmed the fee would drop from $570 to $507 per household after consultation with the community. The revised charge is still an approximate 17% increase from last year’s fee of $433. The waste charges are part of a broader rates and charges package increase totalling $249.6m across the shire. Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said the draft budget consultation found residents generally supported the proposed 2.75%…
MORNINGTON artist Perry Fletcher is holding an art auction on 11 July, with a portion of the proceeds going to Vermont Football Club. The auction will be held at Vermont Reserve Clubrooms on Terrara Rd from 12pm to 5pm, with anyone welcome to attend free of charge. Fletcher is fondly known as “Fletcher the Etcher” due to his world-class engraving skills. He has commissioned trophies for the Australian Open, Collingwood Football Club, and the Olympics. The auction is a celebration of Fletcher’s 80th birthday and his 65th year dedicated to grassroots football. “I’ve spent decades capturing the beauty of the…
MOUNT Martha resident Natasha Dreger is preparing to walk 60km in one day, from Mt Martha to St Kilda Rd, to raise funds for Deaf Children Australia. Dreger’s youngest son, Hamish, was born deaf. He is now 14 and Dreger said he is a typical outgoing, competent teenage boy who loves sports and gaming. “I think that’s because he’s had that additional support from the community and different organisations over the years,” said Dreger. In late January, Dreger began working at Deaf Children Australia, where she started as a parent mentor, talking to fellow parents of deaf children over the…
A GROUP of McCrae residents are advocating for the vacant land at 35-39 Armstrong Rd to be preserved as a public open space. Residents believe the flat, three-block piece of land can provide passive recreational opportunities for McCrae. A community gathering will be held at the site on 12 July from 3pm to show local support. Liz Marsh, who is organising the campaign, said the pace of development prompted her to take action. “This area is becoming denser with subdivisions,” said Marsh. “The developers are coming in and just razing the trees on the properties. Recently, there were two properties,…
THE Mornington Peninsula’s wine community is mourning the loss of Nat White, who alongside his wife, Rosalie, established Main Ridge Estate in 1975. Nat passed away on 20 June after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. Rosalie said Nat’s journey was a joyous one full of friends, explorations, and celebrations. “Our family is overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages of support and friendship we have already received as we come to terms with the loss of our beautiful man,” said Rosalie. She said Main Ridge Estate began as Nat’s dream of living away from traffic and chaos and among nature.…
ST MACARTAN’S Parish Primary School has won a top honour at the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. Community volunteer David Whillas was recognised for his outstanding contribution to sustainability education, winning the Volunteer of the Year category. The ceremony was held at Melbourne Cricket Ground on 11 June and recognised the achievements of Victorian schools. Whillas has become a familiar face in the school’s garden and volunteers his time each week teaching students practical gardening, composting, and sustainable growing techniques. He first became involved with the school prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and has helped transform its gardening practices by overhauling…
THE Victorian government has confirmed the inner timber section of Flinders Pier won’t be rebuilt, sparking concern from locals who say the decision contradicts earlier commitments. As part of the Victorian Budget 2022/23, $1.53m was allocated towards repairs on Flinders Pier and works began in December 2025. In a statement to The News, a Victorian government spokesperson confirmed the allocated funding has been used towards repairs where possible. In April, it was announced works on the pier would be halted due to a lack of funding (Flinders Pier works halted as funding runs dry, The News 21/04/2026). In May, Minister…
A VOLUNTEER-RUN laundry service is encouraging more Mornington Peninsula residents to make use of its free weekly support. Orange Sky was first started in October 2025 as a free resource for homeless people. For the past few months, Orange Sky has been operating from the Mornington Community Information and Support Centre on Mondays from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Volunteer Linda Perrin said the service is open to anyone who needs it. “Majority of people we see are homeless, but you know, you’ve got people from boarding houses,” said Perrin. “Some people may just not have a washing machine and dryer at…
MORNINGTON’S Jennifer Willis became the first Australian with multiple sclerosis to summit Mount Everest. Willis is a mother-of-three, coach, speaker, educator, and climber, who completed the trek to the highest summit in the world on 19 May. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018 and decided she wasn’t going to let it stop her from doing what she loved: hiking. “Everest was never a dream, but from when I was a little girl, climbing mountains was,” said Willis. “And when I was told it looked like I might have MS, which was in 2008, I made a commitment to…