Frankston Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man after electronic tracking devices were allegedly placed on cars in Frankston. It is alleged the devices were located on several vehicles in the Frankston area between June and September this year. As part of the investigation, police yesterday arrested a 65-year-old Frankston man. Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant at an address on Tantani Street. The Frankston man has been charged with stalking (x4), prohibited person possess firearm and prohibited person possess weapon. He will appear before the Melbourne Bail and Remand Court today. Anyone with information is urged to contact…
Browsing: frankston
A man faces serious drug trafficking charges after allegedly being found in possession of a traffickable quantity of drugs during an operation at Frankston Railway Station. The 50-year-old man from Mount Martha was one of 40 people arrested during the operation in the Frankston CBD Thursday 13 August. Police will allege he was in possession of methylamphetamine, MDMA, ecstasy, 1,4-Butanediol, cannabis, prescription medication and more than $5000 in cash. He was charged with trafficking a drug of dependence and seven counts of possess drug of dependence, as well as negligently deal with proceeds of crime, and commit indictable offence whilst…
THE Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula has led a delegation of local government leaders to Victorian Parliament to meet with Ministers and Shadow Ministers on priorities affecting the region ahead of the Victorian election this November. The delegation brought together representatives from the committee, Frankston City Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire to present a united advocacy agenda focused on fairer investment, health, planning, transport, roads, infrastructure, energy, homelessness, tourism and economic development. The Committee presented findings from its Benchmarking Frankston-Mornington Peninsula Analysis, which found the region contributes more tax but receives significantly less government investment than comparable regions such…
FRANKSTON City Council officers, in conjunction with Victoria Police and support agencies, have undertaken an operation to reclaim the lower level car park at the Frankston Arts Centre after it was occupied by a number of members of the public. During July, a number of people that have residential addresses moved into the lower level of the car park, and partook in threatening and anti-social behaviour. The News believes that some patrons were accosted by the people prompting the council to remove vehicles they had stored in the lower level and close that level of the car park off. The…
EXPANDED police patrols at Bayside Shopping Centre are set to continue into the next school holidays and into future busy periods. Victoria Police launched “Operation Pulse” last December, dedicating more police resources to shopping centres statewide. Since December more than 1600 people have been arrested as part of the operation. In a statement, Victoria Police said “plans are underway to ensure the expanded approach to all nine centres will occur during the next school holidays and high demand periods. This includes Pacific Werribee, Bayside Frankston, Highpoint, Fountain Gate, Northland, Watergardens, Southland, Eastland and key CBD retail locations in Geelong. “All…
HUNDREDS of allied health professionals – including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, radiographers, sonographers, social workers and podiatrists – walked off the job for three hours at Peninsula University Hospital on Thursday 23 July, escalating a pay dispute with the Allan Government. Members of the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) rallied on the street outside the Peninsula University Hospital from 2.15pm. VAHPA has lodged a wages claim of 36 %, well above the government’s latest offer of between 19 and 21 %. VAHPA executive officer, Andrew Hewat, said the union had to balance the need for industrial action against its members’…
Black figs carry deep meaning in Aboriginal ways of knowing. They’re associated with birthing, nourishment, and community gathering, so it seemed the right name for a café built to do exactly that. Blak Fig opened on the Nepean Highway in Frankston in January 2025, established by First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing as a social enterprise training café for First Nations people. The idea had been building for a couple of years. In 2023, the organisation commissioned a literature review looking at the connection between Aboriginal social enterprises and health outcomes. “It found a strong positive link,” said CEO Karinda Taylor.…
The Mornington Peninsula region which includes Frankston is preparing to welcome the golfing world, with Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club announced as the host venue for the 2027 Australian Open. One of Australia’s most prestigious sporting events, the Australian Open will bring the nation’s best golfers and international stars to the Mornington Peninsula, placing the region firmly in the spotlight as one of the country’s premier golf destinations. Set among the world-renowned Melbourne Sandbelt, Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club has earned a reputation as one of Australia’s finest golfing venues. In 2027, its championship fairways will provide the stage for…
EVERY second Friday night, a food trailer pulls into the Young Street car park in Frankston, and the smell of a barbecue drifts into the dark. No invitation is needed, and no one is turned away. The trailer belongs to Life-Gate Inc, a Frankston charity that many locals have never heard of, despite the hundreds of lives it touches each year. CEO Lauryn Hornby has been part of the organisation for 20 years and says the fortnightly event is central to what Life-Gate is about. “The heart and purpose of it is a community barbecue, and anyone’s welcome,” she said.…
Detectives have charged two men after a man was allegedly assaulted in Frankston earlier this week. Police were called to reports of an injured man at an address on Charon Court on Sunday, 7 June about 11pm. It is understood a physical altercation occurred between three men outside the residence. Two men then fled the scene on foot prior to police arrival. A 37-year-old Frankston man remains in hospital with critical injuries. Two women in the residence at the time were not physically injured. Today, investigators executed a search warrant at a Frankston address in relation to the incident. Detectives…
THE refurbishment of the original Frankston Hospital building is on schedule to be completed early next year. The state government’s 2026-2027 budget allocated funds to the continuing project, with $42 million set to be spent on works in the upcoming financial year. The estimated total budget for the complete redevelopment remains at $1.12 billion. The budget papers read that the new hospital tower has been operating since the start of the year. “The Frankston Hospital Redevelopment (now known as Peninsula University Hospital) opened its new tower on 20 January 2026. It is the largest ever health infrastructure investment in Melbourne’s…
FRANKSTON will shine as a hub of arts and culture when South Side Festival returns next week, bringing 10 nights of performances, installations and community experiences to the heart of the city. Running from Friday 8 May to Sunday 17 May, the festival will transform Frankston into one of Victoria’s most vibrant cultural destinations, with events spanning theatre, circus, dance, visual arts, film and immersive light installations. A major highlight is the return of Neon Fields, back by popular demand for a third year. Across three spectacular nights, Beauty Park will become a glowing playground of colour and light, featuring…
A NEW cafe at Frankston RSL is providing employment training for people living with disabilities. The Welcome Post Cafe operating at Frankston RSL is run in conjunction with support service-provider Wallara Australia. The café operates at Frankston RSL every Wednesday and Friday from 10am to serve the RSL’s veteran coffee groups. Wallara Australia’s Ben Sutherland, who has been part of the hospitality pathways program at the cafe for six months, says “it’s good practice for the job market and will help me with pathways to future employment.” “I love learning about the veterans a bit more about their lives and…
FRANKSTON Waterfront has been transformed into a magical wonderland for the 2026 Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. Open daily from 10.00am-5.00pm until Sunday, April 26, it’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, imagination, and family fun. Presented by Sandstorm Events, proudly sponsored by EastLink and supported by Frankston City Council’s Destination Event Attraction Program, this year’s championships showcase more than 400 tonnes of sand sculpted into 16 large-scale installations. From fairytale castles to majestic dragons and mythical creatures, this year’s theme, The Enchanted Realm, invites visitors to step into a world where fantasy and artistry collide. Fourteen solo sculptures have each been…
BELVOIR St Theatre, one of Australia’s most celebrated theatre companies, brings Mandela Mathia’s powerful autobiographical solo show Lose to Win to Frankston Arts Centre for one night only on Saturday 16 May, as part of the 2026 Season and the South Side Festival. Blending spoken word, song and humour, Mathia (known for The Cherry Orchard) shares his extraordinary journey from South Sudan to Egypt, and ultimately to Australia. Forced to flee his war-torn home as a child, he spent years searching for safety, identity and belonging—before discovering a passion for performance. The result is a deeply personal and uplifting work…
STREET artists transformed Frankston’s public spaces last week during the annual Frankston Street Art Festival. Spanning nine years and 100 murals, the Frankston Street Art Festival annually brings in internationally-renowned artists. Artists featured this year include Arina Apostolova, Buff Diss, Creature Creature, Father Marker, Jack Rowland, Juzpop, Kitsune Jolene, Mick Russell, Sam Absurd, and Shaun Devenney. Frankston Council public art officer Rebecca Gendron said the Frankston Street Art Festival “has completely transformed the look and feel of our CBD over the past nine years.” “100 artworks is a huge milestone and it’s a reflection of the talent we’ve attracted, the…
VICTORIA Police powers to search people for weapons without warrants within the Bayside Shopping Centre precinct have been extended for four months. At the beginning of the year, Victoria Police designated the Frankston’s Bayside Shopping Centre precinct as a “Designated Area under section 10D of the Control of Weapons Act 1990”. The declaration allows police to warrantless weapon searches, including electronic wand searches, vehicle and bag searches, and frisks (“Expanded police powers at shops” The Times, 12/1/2026). That designation was scheduled to expire on 28 February, but last week was extended until 30 June. The expanded police powers have proved…
A $30 MILLION TAFE centre focused on AI and other emerging technologies is set to be established in Frankston. The state and federal government has announced the Digital, AI and Technology Centre of Excellence, which will be situated at the Chisholm Institute’s Frankston campus. A $20.6 million “Home and Community Care Centre of Excellence” will also be established at Holmesglen Institute’s Moorabbin campus. The Frankston centre will host TAFE simulation labs with artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other emerging fields with applied research and evaluation. The Moorabbin Home and Community Care Centre of Excellence will help meet the demand for home‑based…
MAJOR developments in Frankston are being fast-tracked under a new council scheme. The “Priority Development Program” launched last week. Under the initiative, Frankston Council will fast-track eligible major developments by offering priority case management, clear upfront guidance, and a commitment to decisions within 16 weeks. The passage of the FMAC Structure Plan in 2025 paved the way for more high-rise developments in Frankston. Late last year Frankston councillors unanimously approved plans for a 10 storey building at 347-349 Nepean Highway, a 14 storey building at 431 Nepean Highway, and ticked off amended 14-storey plans for 424-426 Nepean Highway. Construction on…
Healthcare workers gathered at Peninsula University Hospital on 20 January to call for better pay. The demonstration took place on the same day that the hospital’s new 12-storey building officially opened its doors. The Health Workers Union’s negotiations with the state government for a pay rise have reached an impasse. The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association is locked in negotiations with the Health Workers Union, with assistance from the Fair Work Commission. On 12 January the HWU announced that workers would close one in every four hospital beds, cease cleaning of non-clinical areas, and suspend the training and onboarding of new…
THE redeveloped Peninsula University Hospital has officially opened its doors. The former Frankston Hospital has been undergoing $1.1 billion redevelopment works. The new 12-storey tower is now open and operational. Peninsula Health confirmed that it would be moving patients into the new tower on 20 January. In a statement it said “throughout the day, patients and consumers (except those in the Emergency Department, Intensive Care, Westernport and our PAPU unit) will be transferred from our current building into the new inpatient wards. “During the move, visits are limited to essential support people only. Once patients and consumers are settled, families…
THE Chamber Philharmonia Cologne is set to travel from Germany to Frankston for a performance next week. The concert will feature works from Antonio Vivaldi, Mozart, Handel and Boccherini. The Chamber Philharmonia Cologne (pictured left) performs 200 concerts each year, regularly touring Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, and Germany. “Classical Music Around the World is the guiding idea of the ensemble. Whether performing in a small village church, an open-air venue, a cathedral, or a large concert hall, the musicians bring the same passion and dedication to every performance—be it in their hometown of Cologne or in cities…
Two men have been arrested as police continue to investigate a series of alleged ATM ram raids across Victoria over the last two months, including incidents in Frankston and Baxter. Police have linked nine alleged burglaries and attempted burglaries which targeted a variety of businesses across the state from November to January this year. It will be alleged stolen tow trucks were used to force entry into the businesses, including those with ATMs affixed on walls outside, causing more than $1 million in combined damage. The alleged incidents across Melbourne included a restaurant on Heatherhill Road in Frankston about 3am…
A SURVEY conducted by Peninsula Community Legal Centre has found that more than one-in-three people are facing hidden legal problems, including unpaid fines and debts. The Peninsula Community Legal Centre’s mobile legal office, the Street Law Coffee Van, made 136 visits across Melbourne’s south-east between February 2024 and August 2025. It conducted 3799 “legal health checks” during that time, finding that 36 percent of clients had a legal issue that needed addressing. PCLC CEO Jackie Galloway said that a majority of the identified issues related to housing insecurity and cost of living stress. She said “this data confirms what we…
UP to $10 million in ratepayer funding is set to be put towards a project to transform Nepean Highway and surrounding pedestrian areas. Frankston Council ticked off a “Nepean Boulevard Precinct Revitalisation” masterplan in early 2025, outlining a series of projects to improve the road and its surrounds. Proposed works include intersection upgrades at Overton Road; the redevelopment of the Kananook Creek Gateway; upgrades at Davey and Fletcher Streets prioritising pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport; Ring Road safety improvements; central median greening; use of the Comfort Station; construction of shared user paths linking Olivers Hill, the Bay Trail, and Frankston…
A SWATHE of accessibility measures were installed at Frankston Beach last week. Last Friday, 5 December, 70 metres of beach matting extending to the water’s edge was put into place. Complimentary beach wheelchairs and equipment, daybeds, and cabanas were also installed. Trained staff and volunteers have also been placed onsite for the summer. The pilot program, which is set to cost around $200,000, has been supported by multiple local donors. Accessible Beaches Australia has spearheaded the project – the proposal was inspired by a similar accessible beach in Nice, France. Accessible Beaches Australia founder Shane Hryhorec said if successful, the…
THE $2.1 million redeveloped Frankston Arts Centre forecourt was officially opened last week. The forecourt now features upgraded pathways and ramps, separate areas for cars and pedestrians with marked drop-off and pick-up zones, enhanced lighting, additional seating, a new water feature, and larger street-facing signage. Alongside the new forecourt, the mezzanine gallery of the dress circle was also renamed the “Gale Dudeck Lounge” last month. Gail Dudeck was among the leading voices in the campaign to build the Frankston Arts Centre – her granddaughter Amy Dudeck said “seeing the forecourt transformed alongside the dedication of the Gail Dudeck Lounge is…
THE Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula has announced that Phil Hayes-Brown and Ross Kilborn are the recipients of the committee’s first Annual Leadership Award. The awards were presented on 3 December at the committee’s Annual General Meeting. The head of disability support organisation Wallara, CEO Phil Hayes-Brown’s, recognition came during an important week for the disability community, coinciding with the International Day of People with Disability, which promotes awareness, understanding and acceptance. “I’m honoured by this recognition, but it belongs to the Wallara team and our partners across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula,” Hayes-Brown said. “It’s proof that inclusive…
Get ready to journey down the yellow brick road! PLOS Musical Productions is thrilled to announce preparations for our January 2026 season of The Wizard of Oz! The excitement is building as we prepare to bring this iconic tale to the stage, and we can’t wait to share it with you. We’re proud to introduce an incredible cast, featuring some PLOS favourites alongside a fresh face! Returning to the stage are the talented Courtney Smyth and Elise Stevens, joined by newcomer Lana Hutchinson, who will bring Dorothy to life. Courtney will embody the wickedly delightful Wicked Witch—a role she has…
FRANKSTON Council is actively working to resolve the ongoing issue of unapproved works being undertaken on Crown foreshore land, a council statement issued last week claims. The issue of residents undertaking alleged illegal works along the foreshore has reared its head multiple times this year – a seawall has been allegedly constructed without approval near Oliver’s Hill, and last month onlookers spotted an excavator operating a short distance from the seawall. (“More unapproved beach works investigated”, The Times 27/11/2025) Last week, Frankston mayor Kris Bolam asserted that council is actively pursuing the allegations. “Frankston City Council is aware of recent…