THE RSPCA is investigating reports of dangerously underweight horses at a Mt Eliza property. Protesters have gathered regularly at the Moorooduc Highway property to draw attention towards the condition of the horses. The RSPCA has now confirmed it is looking into the situation. “RSPCA Victoria is actively investigating a case of seven underweight horses and working with the owner to improve their health. We appreciate the community’s concern and can confirm we have an active investigation regarding this matter,” the RSPCA statement read. “Our inspectors will continue to attend and investigate this matter to ensure any welfare concerns are rectified…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
PLANS for a 35-metre telecommunications tower in Merricks North will go ahead, replacing an existing nearby Telstra tower. The new tower proposed by Amplitel Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Telstra Group, will be installed at 304 Myers Rd, at the intersection of Tubbarubba Rd in Merricks North. Once built, the tower, which will be as tall as a 12-storey building, will continue 4G services and the provision of future 5G access. Councillors ticked off the planning permit application for the tower at their 8 April meeting. Telstra is set to decommission and remove an existing 35-metre mobile phone and…
THE Somers Residents Association (SRA) is calling for the reinstatement of a community committee to oversee the Somers Foreshore Reserve amid growing concerns of the reserve’s deteriorating condition. Residents say the coastal asset, which currently sits on Crown Land, had been left in a state of neglect with overgrown vegetation and poor maintenance of public facilities having prompted increased frustration. The reserve is currently managed by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) but the SRA said the site had been in poor condition for a long period of time “including extensive weed growth, cessation of revegetation works, and…
MORE than 100 residents fighting a high-tech industry and business park proposed for Somerville have signed a petition saying it would destroy the area’s “natural beauty” among other concerns. The proposed development at 79 and 83 Bungower Rd in Somerville by Procter Investments Pty would see a community hub created with cafes, sports facilities, retail tenant spaces, and possibly a micro-brewery. If approved, it is expected to provide up to 1100 jobs with the aim of addressing a “critical shortage” of industry land on the peninsula. The site comprises two property titles totalling nearly 37 hectares, which are zoned as…
A CONTENTIOUS trial involving council customer service hubs being installed across the Mornington Peninsula Shire will continue despite costing ratepayers about $389 per customer visit. The hubs, also called “Your Local Connection Points”, are part of a 12-month pilot involving the shire’s “Tier 3 Facilities” with the aim of enhancing accessibility to in-person council services in smaller townships across the region. Councillors narrowly approved a motion at their 22 April meeting to keep the hubs operating at Mornington, Hastings, Rosebud, Dromana, and Somerville, while exploring a more affordable option at Red Hill. This will occur at least until the end…
Flinders candidates have their say before voters head to the polls this Saturday. Candidates are listed in ballot paper order. Jason SmartTrumpet of Patriots My message for the voters of Flinders is simple. Don’t vote for me.I ask that you vote for Mike Brown, One Nation.I originally agreed to run for Trumpet of Patriots but have stepped away because of the ToP’s original preference of Teal candidate Ben Smith, Labor and Greens in this election – against what Palmer led me to believe. I had amassed support from constituents based on Ben Smith, Labor and the Greens being put last…
The strength of our vote As the federal election draws closer, all eyes turn to Canberra – but here in Flinders, the decision is ours. Our voices will shape the next chapter for our towns and coastlines, and the nation itself.This campaign has been lively, passionate, and – at times – sharp around the edges. That’s to be expected when the stakes feel high. People care. They’re paying attention, asking questions, and getting involved. And that’s something to celebrate, not shy away from. Flinders is no stranger to strong opinions and spirited debate. We’re a region of thinkers, doers, and…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will re-engage with tennis and bowls club officials over outstanding concerns regarding its new leases in what one councillor said was “dragging on for way too long”. The new lease agreements, introduced last July under the previous council, affect several community tennis and bowls clubs operating on council owned or managed land. But despite sustained lobbying efforts from club representatives regarding their concerns, support from Tennis Australia, and interventions from two state local MPs, the shire had stood by the new lease terms. The decision by council to push ahead was made even though “there was an…
OCCAM’S razor is a philosophical principal that suggests that the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is usually the most likely one. In the case of the decision of right-wing Trumpet of Patriots to place Climate 200-backed candidates second on a number of their how-to-vote cards, including for Flinders Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart, the most likely explanations would be that it was a strategic move (at best) or an error in judgment (at worst). But Clive Palmer had another explanation, quite at odds with the principle of occam’s razor. Instead, Trumpet of Patriots headquarters had somehow been “hacked” and…
LABOR’S Sarah Race has entered the last week of the election campaign focussing on health. The healthcare and social assistance sector is the biggest employer on the peninsula with almost 10,000 workers; over 15% of the local workforce. The sector is worth almost $1b to the local economy and supports tens of thousands of people who need medical care, aged care, mental health care, or NDIS support. “Health, aged care and disability support touch every family on the peninsula. Labor backs our 10,000 health workers and the local families that rely on their support.” Race said.Race told The News that…
THE Liberals have reaffirmed their commitment to spend $900m on the extension of the Frankston railway line. The electrification and duplication of the Frankston line towards Baxter has been plagued by false starts in the past. In 2023, the federal government axed a budgeted $225m set aside for the project by the Coalition government in 2018. A review into ongoing infrastructure projects commissioned by the federal government shortly after its election recommended scrapping the project. Liberal candidate for Dunkley Nathan Conroy announced the $900m promise prior to the March 2024 by-election. Last week he reaffirmed that promise ahead of the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is set to convene a meeting with all surf lifesaving clubs on the peninsula to discuss “urgent and priority needs” to tackle a rising concern of drowning incidents. According to the shire, the Mornington Peninsula has either the highest drowning toll or close to the highest toll historically of any municipality in Victoria. Over the past year, eight people have died at Mornington Peninsula beaches and waterways. In acknowledging the alarming rate, Cr David Gill led a motion at the council’s 22 April meeting calling for council to meet with surf lifesaving clubs “because they are the…
A woman missed out on her fast-food order in Mornington overnight after being caught allegedly three times over the alcohol limit. Police responded to reports of a woman driving erratically at a drive-thru on Nepean Highway about 11.45pm on 26 April. Officers approached the vehicle and gave the 56-year-old driver a preliminary breath test which returned a positive result. She was conveyed to a police station for an evidentiary breath test, where she allegedly returned a reading of .149. The Somerville woman did not get what she ordered. Her car was impounded and she will be charged on summons with…
The Mornington Peninsula’s tourism sector is set to benefit from new investment, following the announcement of successful projects under the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund. The fund supports regional projects designed to enhance visitor experiences, attract new audiences, and strengthen Victoria’s position as a world-class destination. Two local projects among the recipients are:Panorama Garden Estate Tours Pty Ltd — Development of a wellness ‘Nature Pod’ at Panorama Garden Estate. This unique project will offer visitors an immersive nature-based wellness experience set within one of the Peninsula’s most beautiful private gardens. Leeno Pty Ltd — Quealy Winemakers — Redesign and…
THE board of inquiry into the McCrae landslide began its local consultations and made its first site visit on 9 April, with the chair of the inquiry, Renée Enbom KC, visiting the landslide site to understand first-hand the impacts of the event. The inquiry team also met with affected McCrae residents in attendance to hear their stories, gather relevant knowledge, and provide them with information about how to contribute to the inquiry. “Many residents affected have suffered significant impacts from the landslide, I want to acknowledge how challenging this has been on the McCrae community, and particularly those residents who…
Teenage twin brothers Henri and Miles Levenspiel of Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club are making some serious headway in the youth sailing scene. The 15-year-olds recently won the Victorian Youth Championship in April and have now been named finalists as the Young Team of the Year in the Victorian Sports Awards. “We both were honestly pretty surprised – it’s not something we expected,” they said of the finalist nomination. “Just being nominated was already a huge honour, so to find out we were finalists was something special. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved this year in sailing, and to have…
A PENINSULA indoor soccer team is celebrating after booting their way to a jaw-dropping victory in a Go Soccer Mums tournament grand final on 12 April. The tournament is part of a program backed by Football Victoria that encourages people of all ages, fitness levels, and abilities to get involved in soccer. There’s no pressure – just the goal of getting active together and having fun along the way. The ladies from the Peninsula Futsal team not only won all games in their pool but also triumphed 14-0 in the final against Mt Martha. Sunny Shaw, who led the team…
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a burglary in Mount Martha on 10 April. It is believed an unknown offender has attended the Bradford Drive residence around 9:30am and gained entry to the house. A short time later the offender was confronted by the resident, where the offender has pulled out a weapon before fleeing the scene. Police have released images of a male they believe can assist with their enquiries. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
VICTORIA Police said five teenagers and a woman had been charged following a spate of alleged burglaries and other incidents in and around High St over the past two months. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with 20 offences over several alleged incidents, including armed robbery, car theft, theft from cars, burglaries and an attempted carjacking, as well as alcohol and cigarette thefts. A 16-year-old boy was charged following an alleged burglary and theft at a tobacco store on High Street, Hastings, on 19 February. The youths have been bailed to appear in a children’s court. A 35-year-old woman from…
INDEPENDENT candidate for Flinders, Ben Smith, has put small business front and centre in the election campaign, launching his policy platform over the weekend as a new poll shows the seat is now on a knife-edge. Speaking while visiting several local businesses and markets across the peninsula, Smith said it’s time to stop treating the region like an inner-city suburb and start supporting the local employers who actually drive our economy. “As a small business owner in Flinders for over a decade, I understand the unique challenges peninsula businesses face,” Smith said. “My wife and I started our retail store…
THE Trumpet of Patriots candidate for the electorate of Flinders, Jason Smart, has announced he is “withdrawing his candidacy” for the upcoming federal election after being “blind sided by Clive Palmer’s decision” to preference Climate 200 backed candidate Ben Smith. The announcement came on Monday (21 April) after he was unable to resolve the preferencing issue with Trumpet of Patriots head office. The preferences “crisis” came after One Nation’s Mike Brown and Smart had originally announced on 16 April they would stand as a “unified alliance”. Accordingly, Smart stated his intention to place Brown second on the Trumpet of Patriots…
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…
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…