Browsing: Mornington Peninsula

A BOATLOAD of shells has made a splash in Port Phillip Bay to not only clean the bay but help baby oysters and give shellfish a place to grow.Volunteers at fish habitat charity OzFish, with the Victorian Fisheries Authority, is aiming to repurpose shell that would have otherwise gone to landfill. The group has teamed up with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and with funding from Sustainability Victoria, OzFish is closing the loop on shellfish waste.Once a week, OzFishers drive around to Mornington Peninsula restaurants and seafood wholesalers, collecting discarded oyster, mussel and scallop shells. The shell is then processed and…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will spend $260,000 on the Hastings Club building so it can be repurposed into a space for community groups. The funding announcement was confirmed at the council’s 20 May meeting, and has been allocated in the shire’s 2025-26 budget capital works program. However, the funding falls well short of the $1m being initially proposed in the budget, that councillors voted in favour of at their 22 April meeting to “ensure the long-term survival” of the building.The Hastings Club, founded in 1967, was forced into liquidation in April 2024 after facing crippling debts associated with its gaming machines.…

Investigators from Casey, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation units joined forces to arrest a man allegedly involved in a string of crime across a three-week period in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs. It is alleged the man was involved in a series of offending between the 2 May and 26 May including: • An alleged attempted aggravated burglary in Frankston South on 2 May • An alleged burglary in Shoreham on 6 May • An alleged attempted aggravated burglary and theft from motor vehicle on 8 May • An alleged burglary in Mount Eliza on 8 May • An alleged attempted…

As part of Operation Trinity, police have arrested a teenage boy during an extended follow through the peninsula this morning. Officers on patrol first observed a believed-to-be stolen black Porsche wagon travelling along Quarry Road in Langwarrin about 1.30am. With the assistance of the Air Wing, units on the ground followed the vehicle to Cranbourne-Frankston Road, before continuing on towards Mornington. Stop sticks were successfully deployed on Thompsons Road in Cranbourne, before the vehicle came to a stop on Peninsula Link in Moorooduc about 4.10am. The sole occupant of the Porsche, a 13-year-old boy, was arrested at the scene. He…

LAST week started with a “heartbreaking announcement” from Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue Inc. Money had gone missing from the organisation. Police had become involved, but with 30 dogs in their care, and only $200 left in their account, they faced a difficult path forward. It was a devastating blow for the volunteer-run organisation.“It looked terrible,” said founder Erin Shaw. “But we thought the best thing to do was to be transparent. We wanted to do this for all our foster carers who put so much into caring for these dogs. They deserved to know the truth.”Mornington Peninsula Dog Rescue Inc…

Police are currently on scene at a fatal fire in Langwarrin. Emergency services were first called the blaze at a residence on Lyppards Road about 2.10am. Three occupants were able to safely evacuate the property and escaped with no injuries. A fourth yet-to-be formally identified person was located deceased inside a rear bungalow. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. An arson chemist will attend the scene later today. Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

THE celebrations have been loud at Sorrento Cricket Club after it was crowned the sporting club of the year last week at the 2024 Victorian Sport Awards. The massive win, announced at a ceremony on 14 May at the Melbourne Cricket Club, recognises not only their love for the game, but their commitment to creating a cricket club that welcomes all, and bringing the community together. The awards, which has 18 categories, celebrates the achievements of home-grown sporting heroes at both a grassroots and high-performance level. Club president Ben McDonald said the honour was a great reward for effort including…

MORE money from other levels of government is needed to improve safety on the road near the Little Grasshoppers Early Learning Centre in Moorooduc, according to the shire’s mayor. The childcare centre sits on the corner of Moorooduc Highway and Eramosa Road. Last week Mornington MP Chris Crewther called for a zebra crossing to be installed to improve safety for children crossing the road (Action needed on childcare road, The News 13/5/2025). The Department of Transport asked that questions about the road be directed to the Mornington Peninsula Shire. Last week Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said, “speed…

SOCCER JAMIE Skelly and Gus Macleod are in the news for different reasons as Langwarrin fights to avoid relegation while Chelsea strives for promotion. Skelly’s Langwarrin was convincingly beaten 5-0 away to Caroline Springs George Cross in their VPL1 clash last weekend while Macleod’s Chelsea closed to within a point of top spot in State 4 South.n Langy is in the midst of a relegation battle with three teams facing the drop at season’s end.There was no stopping George Cross striker Saif-Eddine Sakhi on Saturday and his hat-trick underpinned a commanding display by the home side with Brad Blumenthal’s 76th-minute…

VOLUNTEER firefighter Alida Goodchild has made history as the first female volunteer to be elected as a lieutenant at Tyabb fire brigade. She joined the brigade 20 years at the age of 27, with 15 years having served as an operational firefighter. Now, she has earned a leadership role – etching her name not only in the history books but also becoming a role model for other women in firefighting. Goodchild, who by day runs her own beauty salon called You Bewty, expressed immense pride in her accomplishment she never thought she’d achieve. She initially had hopes of becoming a…

A RESIDENT has expressed serious concern after discovering a pile of what he believed to be old asbestos roofing material discarded near the boardwalk at the Balcombe Creek Estuary in Mt Martha. Steve Jones reported the find to the Mornington Peninsula Shire on 8 April requesting they assess the potentially hazardous material but to his disappointment, it had only been taped off. Jones, a professional firefighter who created the Country Fire Authority’s only training program related to asbestos, believed the material was old roofing that had likely been dumped for many years. He said the material, most likely corrugated asbestos…

By Tracee Hutchison* SOME of the peninsula’s highest profile artists, actors, musicians, film-makers, writers, creative producers and festival directors have joined forces urging Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors to rethink their recent decision to slash arts and culture funding in the upcoming budget. Over a hundred local creatives gathered at the Pig & Whistle’s Shed Theatre in response to proposed cuts to the arts and culture allocation in council’s Community Investment Fund in the FY25/26 budget, including Performing Arts Development grants and Creative Fund grants, to zero. Among those calling on council to reverse the decision is peninsula-based art writer and…

Independent candidate Ben Smith has conceded in the federal seat of Flinders, leaving Liberal Zoe McKenzie the winner in the protracted count. The outcome has stretched nearly two weeks beyond election day with a “complex count scenario” triggered due to the inability to separate second and third polling Smith and Labor’s Sarah Race. The three-candidate-preferred count was only finalised on Monday, with the AEC reverting to a two-candidate-preferred count with Smith and McKenzie. With nearly all votes now counted, Smith still trailed by 5515 votes this morning making the outcome an obvious McKenzie win with the seat to be retained…

A MOUNT Martha man has been ordered to pay $6,271.67 for illegally dumping waste in Tuerong. Had he disposed of these items correctly it wouldn’t have cost him a cent. Last year, one of the shire’s litter prevention officers visited a property in Mount Martha that had a large amount of waste out the front. The officer advised the occupant to book a hard waste collection and bring the items back onto their property in the meantime. Before leaving, the officer taped the items, which included two washing machines and a tumble drier, with shire’s signature yellow and black tape.…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have given their approval for a proposal by Telstra to install an equipment shelter next to existing telecommunications infrastructure in Mt Martha, subject to community consultation. Under the proposal, the shire would lease a 30 square metre site to Telstra to install a monopole and equipment shelter at Citation Reserve on Nepean Hwy. The infrastructure would be adjacent to an existing Optus monopole, with Optus’ lease to be varied to allow for the co-location.Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the proposal at their 7 May meeting. A report will come back to council once community engagement…

URGENT action is needed on the road outside Little Grasshoppers Early Learning Centre in Moorooduc after a near miss, Mornington MP Chris Crewther says. Last year centre staff publicly called for changes to the speed limit on the road outside the childcare centre. The building sits on the corner of Eramosa Road and Moorooduc Highway – the speed limit on Eramosa Road just outside the centre’s entrance is 80kph. Last week, Mornington MP Chris Crewther wrote to the roads minister and the Mornington Peninsula Shire asking for action. He suggested a zebra crossing outside the centre could help prevent future…

THE historic Dromana Pier is set for a major rebuild this year, but community members continue to express concern that the project lacks plans for a much-needed extension into deeper water. Originally constructed in the 1860s and extended in the 1870s before being rebuilt with current infrastructure in the 1950s, the pier remains a significant feature to the community. But over the past 15 years, the 180-metre pier has progressively been under attack from rusting steel reinforcement causing the concrete to split. As it reaches the end of its lifespan, Parks Victoria will begin work on the pier by the…

THE Australian Electoral Commission has declared the results of its three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count in Flinders, with Liberal Zoe McKenzie and independent Ben Smith the final two candidates. Eliminated during the 3CP count was Labor’s Sarah Race. The AEC will now revert to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (TCP) count to determine the final winner out of McKenzie and Smith. The News understands a final result is expected by the end of the week. The most recent data on the 3CP count, published this afternoon, stated that 56 poling places and declaration vote counts had completed a 3CP count with the following results.…

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a serious collision in Hastings on Monday, 12 May which has turned fatal. Emergency services were called to reports a pedestrian had been struck by an illegally modified electric bike on Frankston-Flinders Road about 6.40pm. The pedestrian, a 69-year-old Hastings man, was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries but has died in hospital this afternoon. The bike rider, a 24-year-old Hastings man, was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is yet to be interviewed. The exact circumstances surrounding the collision are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing. Anyone who…

CONSTRUCTION is officially under way for the Rye west campgrounds, the foreshore park and promenade, marking significant progress in the revitalisation of the Rye Township Plan. The development aims to enhance the town’s public spaces, improve amenities, and bolster its status as a premier destination on the peninsula. The $3m works form the final piece in completing stage one of the township plan, which will include a carpark relocation, two plaza areas being built at either end of the foreshore promenade, as well as a network of paths, seating, barbeque facilities and landscaping. Another feature will be the extension of…

THERE were tense moments in the chamber at the Tuesday 6 May council meeting as councillors debated an amended motion on the shire’s operating expenses and community investment funding. Shire officers presented their 2025/26 draft budget proposal, but an alternative motion was put forward for debate by deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro. The new motion included cuts to wages, and a requirement to find further “service planning efficiencies”. The councillors were presented with, and voted to accept, an increased Community Investment Funding Program, but it came at a cost, with some programs cut from shire funding. Pingiaro’s motion pushed for…

SOCCER THE revolving door through which senior coaches at Frankston Pines have been passing is spinning once more. Jason Grieve is the “new” Pines senior coach, the fifth man to grab that poisoned chalice in six months. However this is Grieve’s second stint in the role taking over from Donn Delaney late last year after the latter joined the committee and most of the senior players in the largest mass exodus from a local club this century. Grieve didn’t last long though and quit in January so what prompted this change of heart? “I always kept in touch with the…

The critical three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count is over half way through, as we edge closer to determining who will represent the electorate of Flinders in the next term of government. Over 110,000 votes were counted in the electorate of Flinders first preference vote count. The Australian Electoral Commission’s traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count had to be abandoned in favour of a 3CP count due to the close proximity between Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith. While Liberal Zoe McKenzie polled the highest, essentially there wasn’t a clear second ranking candidate resulting in AEC adopting a “complex count scenario” 3CP count. As…

THE beleaguered Hastings Club which closed its doors last year could be thrown a lifeline after Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors called for “immediate steps” to reopen the community asset.The venue, founded in 1967, which was home to local sporting clubs and community groups, was placed into liquidation last April after facing crippling debts associated with its gaming machines. The club reopened again but a significant water leak ultimately forcing its closure last October. Members had tried to re-establish the club under a new entity called the Hastings Community and Sports Club Inc but it struggled to regain its footing, with…

In the latest data from the Australian Electoral Commission, Liberal Zoe McKenzie has the edge over the other two contenders, Labor’s Sarah Race and independent Ben Smith, topping 50% of the votes. The updated data comes as the AEC works through a “complex count scenario” involving a three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count as opposed to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count. Current results in the 3CP count are: Zoe McKenzie (Liberal): 17,115 votes (50.3% of 3CP) Sarah Race (Labor): 8670 (25.48% of 3CP) Ben Smith (Independent): 8244 votes (24.23% of 3CP) The latest results see Race stretch her lead over Smith to 426…

PLEASE NOTE: There is an updated version of this article with new information here: The Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed that the electorate of Flinders is being worked through as a “complex count scenario” involving a three-candidate-preferred (3CP) count as opposed to a traditional two-candidate-preferred (2CP) count. The process is slow, and it could take more than a week to determine the eventual winner in Flinders. Current results in the 3CP count are: Zoe McKenzie (Liberal): 9695 votes (47.7% of 3CP) Sarah Race (Labor): 5318 (26.16% of 3CP) Ben Smith (Independent): 5313 votes (26.14% of 3CP) These early result have…

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…

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…

GOT some unused spectacles or sunglasses tucked away in a drawer? They could be making a greater difference to someone in a third-world country. The Mornington Peninsula’s Friends of Lospalos Inc is partnering with the Lions program’s Recycle for Sight to encourage locals to donate their old glasses to help offer the gift of vision to the people in Timor-Leste. The program sees preloved spectacles and non-prescription sunglasses cleaned, graded, and refurbished before being sent to Timor-Leste, where the quality of eye care is often out of reach. “Timor-Leste is one of our closest neighbours. The Mornington Peninsula Shire and…

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…