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…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
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…
NOTHING says election time as much as conflicts between the opposing teams over signage. Last federal election the issue rose to prominence with the defacing of Zoe McKenzie’s campaign signage (and vehicle) with vile, misogynistic graffiti. The vandalism garnered national coverage for its “nasty and personal” nature, and a level of confusion due to McKenzie being a relative unknown at the time. McKenzie’s only substantial work on the peninsula had been with the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, and work as a member of “Save Our Spidercrabs”, campaigning for an exclusion zone around piers to prevent fishing for spider crabs between…
NOMINATIONS have now closed for the 2025 federal election with seven candidates competing in the Flinders electorate. The nominated candidates are, in ballot order: Jason Smart (Trumpet of Patriots), Ben Smith (Independent), Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Mike Brown (One Nation), Joseph Toscano (Independent), Sarah Race (Labor) and Adam Frogley (Greens). The field of seven is substantially smaller than in 2022 when ten candidates contested the seat including two independents, and candidates from United Australia, Liberal Democrats, Animal Justice Party and Federation Party. Zoe McKenzie’s big announcement for last week was a $2m investment by an elected Dutton Liberal government to improve…
THE Mornington Peninsula will pay tribute to Australia’s military heroes this Anzac Day with several events being held throughout the municipality. From dawn services to marches and a range of commemorative events, the peninsula will honour the sacrifices made by the nation’s servicemen and women. This year marks the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 1915. Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said Friday 25 April would be a day to “come together to honour the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation”. “As a former Royal Australian Air Force officer and now mayor, it is…
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…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is inviting all community members to contribute their ideas, insights and experiences to help shape a Community Disaster Resilience Plan. This Plan will identify local strengths, needs, and priorities when it comes to preparing for emergencies and disasters on the Mornington Peninsula. The Community Disaster Resilience Plan will guide how we support the community to prepare for: The Plan will also focus on reducing disaster risk and strengthening protective factors by: Have your say at mornpen.vic.gov.au/disasterplan First published in the Mornington News – 8 April 2025
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…
LAST week marked the first full week of campaigning since the federal election was called for 3 May.Candidates wasted no time hitting the hustings with a flurry of appearances and some sizeable commitments. Nominations for candidacy in the federal election close this Thursday (10 April), so we should have a full list of candidates by next week’s edition of The News. Labor candidate Sarah Race was joined on the campaign trail by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, to announce a number of infrastructure projects a re-elected Albanese government would undertake. The promises included:…
Hastings Club collapse I came to Hastings to take over the local Barber Shop in 1966. Prior to that I had grown up in Wycheproof where community spirit and local football were of primary importance. On arriving at Hastings I was automatically drawn to the local football club. I was immediately impressed with the welcome I received and the leadership at the time of Norm Francis, Richard Everist, his father Frank and Ted Lillywhite. They had a “bold initiative” to build their own clubhouse and dressing rooms due to the newly formed Shire of Hastings which was bereft of the…
PRIVATE landowners attempting to claim public land as their own through encroachment could face increased scrutiny as a Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor calls for a crackdown on the behaviour. Cr David Gill, at the time of publishing, was to move a motion at the council’s 8 April meeting in which he would implore the shire to investigate and report on illegal land encroachments on council-owned and managed property, warning that if “it’s tolerated it just gets worse and worse”. He said the shire had informed him last year that it had identified and inspected 34 structure encroachments on council-owned property,…
Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad are this week searching an area of Cape Schanck as part of their investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Sergio Cuesta in 2023. The search, which will take place today and tomorrow, will focus on an area near the Gunnamatta Surf Club. Over the past 18 months, police have conducted a number of searches in the area in an effort to locate Sergio’s remains. Sergio was last seen on 16 September 2023 when he was dropped off by a male friend on Jabiru Drive in Chelsea Heights. A concerned female friend reported the 28-year-old…
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…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has reforecast an end of financial year surplus of $3.78m, which will be dispersed to fund the McCrae landslide emergency response, storm damage, and bolstering its emergency response reserve. Councillors have approved a “2024/2025 mid-year reforecast” which will see $2m allocated to the recovery of last August’s storm events, $1.2m towards the McCrae landslide emergency response, and $580,000 to top up the shire’s emergency response reserve. Funding spent on the McCrae landslide response included a back fill of staff, technical experts, legal costs and traffic management. According to a council report, this “will continue to be monitored…
WITH the election date set for 3 May, the “phoney war” is over, and the real battle begins. The News is currently aware of five candidates that have elected to run in Flinders in 2025: Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Sarah Race (Labor), Ben Smith (Independent), Adam Frogley (Greens) and Mike Brown (One Nation). In 2022, ten candidates contested the seat including two independents, and candidates from United Australia, Liberal Democrats, Animal Justice Party and Federation Party. Independent Ben Smith had a busy week including meeting with the CEO of Homelessness Australia, Kate Colvin, to discuss the current housing crisis and explore…
Under new laws set to be introduced on the Mornington Peninsula, swimmers will be afforded much greater protection from the dangers posed by jet skis. The new laws come after years of lobbying by various groups concerned by people and high-powered watercraft being in the same vicinity. Under the plan, swimmers will be restricted from entering the water at Mornington Peninsula beaches except for certain designated windows. Between August and April each year, swimmers will only be able to enter the water between 8am and 11am. During that window, jet skis must remain at least 200 metres offshore. “This is…
A PROJECT to expand the size of the existing wildlife sanctuary at The Briars conservation park in Mt Martha is nearing completion with volunteers working hard to plant thousands of trees. The sanctuary, managed by the Mornington Peninsula Shire, will increase from 90 hectares to about 130 hectares with the community having already planted more than 7000 indigenous plants as part of revegetation efforts. According to a shire report, fencing of the new section is almost complete. New walking trails for people of all ages and abilities, outdoor education nooks, quiet reflection nooks and educational signage including Aboriginal cultural stories…
A HEARTWARMING rescue unfolded at Martha Cove in Safety Beach on 25 March when a dog became trapped between rocks, drawing a swift response from the community. Emergency crews from State Emergency Service, Country Fire Authority, Victoria Police, and Fire Rescue Victoria worked together to free the three-year-old German Shepherd after responding to the incident just before 7pm. Roxy had been on a walk with her family when she slipped and fell at the rock wall near the Safety Beach Sailing Club. Her head was only just above water as the tide was coming in. A local fisherman had tried…
LESS than a year after forming a new entity after the collapse into liquidation of the old one, the Hastings Club has again been placed into liquidation. The collapse of the club follows its closure on 30 October last year due to a water leak under the floor; an issue that is still unresolved and has left the club unable to trade and continuing to accumulate costs. An information meeting of members was held on 11 March, outlining the difficult pathway forward for the club. And at a Special General Meeting held last Tuesday (25 March), the 64 members in…
Firefighters are currently responding to a grass fire at Forest Drive in Mt Martha. Currently, seven units are responding to the incident which is listed as “under control” (please see update below). Vic Emergency has advised that smoke may be visible in the vicinity of the fire, but that there is no immediate threat to the community and no action is required. UPDATE – Vic Emergency has put out an ember alert for properties north east of the fire. The alert is a “stay informed” and is from 4.25pm. It states that, contrary to earlier advice, the fire is not…
LANDCARE volunteers will be able to apply for project grants of up to $20,000 through Melbourne Water’s 2025 Landcare grants program. More than 500 volunteer conservation groups across the Port Phillip and Westernport region are eligible to apply for financial support. The grants, which close 16 April, can be applied to fund on-ground works, capacity-building activities, and community education about native vegetation, waterways, and wetlands. Support grants of up to $500 are also available to help with administration and running costs like taking out insurance or holding events. Last year the Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network received support from Melbourne Water…
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a collision involving a stolen car in Langwarrin last night. The allegedly stolen Nissan Pulsar collided with a second vehicle on North Road, at the intersection of McClelland Drive, about 10.15pm. The unidentified male driver of the stolen vehicle was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The female driver of the second vehicle was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The vehicle was allegedly stolen during an aggravated burglary in Cranbourne West about 12pm on 25 March. Investigators will interview the driver, who is under police guard, once he is released…
A CONTENTIOUS proposal by Mornington Peninsula Shire to charge locals for road sealing to address sedimentation runoff into the Balcombe Creek and Estuary has been dropped following overwhelming opposition. The shire had considered a 50-50 funding proposal by applying a “Mt Martha special charge scheme” to property owners near the estuary to help cover the costs of sealing dirt roads including Mark St, Gregory St and Matthew St (known as the Augusta Street group of roads) to reduce sedimentation in the Balcombe Estuary. According to a shire report, silt runoff from the unsealed roads has been “one of three leading…
HOUSING, healthcare, and the cost of living were at the forefront at a federal election forum attended by Flinders candidates last Thursday, 20 March. A large crowd watched the forum at Rosebud Country Club to hear the five nominated candidates outline their vision for the Mornington Peninsula. Taking the stage were Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie (Liberal), Adam Frogley (Greens), Ben Smith (Independent), Mike Brown (One Nation), and Sarah Race (Labor). Topics ranged from housing affordability, healthcare, and infrastructure funding to climate change, crime and the cost of living. Moderated by mayor Cr Anthony Marsh, the shire stated the aim of…
THEFT from motor vehicles, burglaries, and car theft have fuelled a soaring crime rate in the Mornington Peninsula Shire – up 28.3 per cent in 2024, according to the latest official Crime Statistics Agency data. Crime rose across most suburbs and most criminal categories including 1297 incidents of theft from motor vehicle offences (up 40 per cent) and 1330 burglary incidents (up 34 per cent), among the big movers in the year ending December last year. Also up were family violence order breaches (762 offences, up 28 per cent), assaults (13 per cent), residential non-aggravated burglaries (32 per cent), other…
THE state government have appointed Renée Enbom KC to lead the inquiry into the cause of the landslide that occurred in McCrae on 14 January. Enbom has appeared in several inquiries in Victoria over the last decade, including the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants and the Yoorrook Justice Commission, as well as several recent Commonwealth Royal Commissions. A statement from the government said the board of inquiry would be asked to “get to the bottom of what happened and to identify measures to prevent similar incidences occurring in the future”. “Once established, the inquiry will develop a…
Police are investigating the circumstances after a woman’s body was located in waters off Seaford this morning (Friday, 21 March). Emergency services were called to the vicinity of Nepean Highway about 6.55am. The woman is yet to be formally identified and it is not yet known if the death is suspicious. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death. A second crime scene is in place on Frankston beach front after a number of items were located. Police are investigating whether they are linked to the death of the woman. Anyone with information is urged to contact…
PLANS for 68 warehouses and 14 storage units have been given the green light for development in Hastings despite some fears over traffic problems and lack of parking.Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors endorsed the proposed development at 2153 Frankston-Flinders Rd in Hastings, which would see an existing caravan storage site converted into warehouses and rear storage units at the 12,810sq metre site.The warehouses, abutting Frankston-Flinders Rd, would be 7.5 metres high, while the rear section would have a mix of warehouses and three storey storage units of a maximum height of 14.15 metres, primarily abutting the Stony Point rail line. A…
Compiled by Cameron McCullough ON Sunday morning last, Mr. H. Stell, of the Peninsula Motor Garage, Bay Street, Frankston, was returning from Mornington in a Hudson Super-Six, after conveying a party to that favourite seaside resort. When approaching the bend leading to the Frankston Pier, a Ford car coming in the opposite direction, also alleged to having been taking up more than a fair share of the roadway, swung in towards the Pier House in front of the car driven by Mr. Stell, who in an endeavour to avoid a collision, negotiated his Super-Six to the right. In so doing,…