THE Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League is under fire for scheduling its women’s football finals matches on a Sunday night. Last week the MPFNL announced that the Women’s Division One qualifying and elimination finals would take place at 6pm on Sunday, 3 August. Division One Women’s games are almost always played on a Saturday, with just two Sunday games played during the home-and-away season this year. John Coburn Oval, the home of Frankston YCW, will host the women’s matches. A viral post from social media page Not All Clubs, which spotlights inequality in sports, called out the MPFNL for its…
Browsing: Mornington Peninsula
THE Blairgowrie Caravan Park is officially up for sale and is set to change hands for the first time since the 1960s. Expressions of interest are being sought for this five-acre site at 45–73 William Rd, Blairgowrie, as its owner Ross Hartnett, who has been running the park for 60 years, prepares for retirement. CRE Brokers, which specialises in selling motels, hotels, and caravan parks, is managing the sale, opening the door to a rare opportunity on the peninsula with the site’s location being near Point Nepean Rd and within a few hundred metres of the beach and shopping village.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have voted to hand residents of retirement villages across the peninsula a 20 percent rebate on their general rates for the 2025/26 financial year. The decision comes after an assessment by Valuer-General Victoria’s (VGV) contract valuers led to increased Capital Improved Values (CIV) for retirement village units across the peninsula. Further, a historical bulk discount to the CIV of these units was removed by the shire following VGV advice, leading to substantially higher rates for retirement village residents. The motion presented to councillors recommended a 10 percent rebate on general rates for retirement village units for…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will review recent changes that have seen several previously on-leash dog areas abruptly reclassified as no-dog zones without public warning. The changes, which affect various reserves and parks on the peninsula, have sparked frustration and confusion among dog owners and residents, many of whom were caught off-guard by the restrictions (“New dog ban areas spark concern”, The News, 16/07/25). Impacted areas include Balnarring Beach Creek Reserve, Fawkner Ave Bushland Reserve in Blairgowrie, Bernards Way Reserve in Cape Schanck, Craigie Rd Bushland Reserve in Mt Martha, and Serpentine Reserve in Mornington. According to a shire report, officers had…
THE Mornington Peninsula Shire is developing a new concept design for the Hastings boat ramp carpark, aiming at easing congestion and improve safety at Victoria’s second-busiest ramp.The proposed upgrade is part of the shire’s effort to support the growing boating and recreational community in Hastings and across the Western Port region. Proposals include changes to the parking layouts, while retaining vegetation, green space, and connections to the Western Port Bay Trail.Under the plans, which is now available for the community to have their say, there would be 34 more sealed car and trailer unit (CTU) parks and two more accessible…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will cut its public meetings from 13 to nine for the remainder of the year after citing an “intense schedule” including working with three different CEOs and producing its biggest budget ever.The decision was adopted unanimously by councillors at their 17 June meeting which will see their future ordinary meetings held every three weeks rather than fortnightly. However it maintained it “will continue to provide opportunities for council to meet its legislative responsibilities and maintain public transparency”. An additional meeting will be held on 16 December for councillors to address any urgent items before Christmas.Deputy mayor Cr…
Offenders armed with a machete have targeted six shops and petrol stations across southeastern suburbs in just about seven hours yesterday, including two in Somerville. Police allege five offenders entered a petrol station on Frankston-Flinders Road in Somerville about 3.50pm before staff members challenged them, leaving them to flee empty handed. However, the same crew entered another service station on Frankston-Flinders Road, believed to be a Shell, a short time later, where they allegedly stole cash and cigarettes. A police spokesperson said a dark coloured SUV was allegedly used in a petrol drive off at a service station in Wonga…
CONSTRUCTION of a new eastern pavilion at Emil Madsen Reserve in Mt Eliza will soon begin after the Mornington Peninsula Shire awarded a multi-million-dollar contract for the works. Councillors made the decision at their 17 June meeting to award the contract to its preferred tenderer.The project will be fully funded by the federal government after it provided $15m last year to initiate stage one of the Emil Madsen Reserve Master Plan. This includes the construction of a new single-storey, multi-use sports eastern pavilion to cater to soccer, junior football, cricket, and netball clubs.As part of the works, one existing netball…
By Raia Flinos AT 94 years old, Frank Brown is living proof that creativity knows no age. A beloved gem to the community of Hastings, Frank has become an unlikely celebrity at FiRST Early Learning Hastings thanks to his handcrafted dioramas.What began as a personal hobby has become a gift to local children and families. Frank creates miniature masterpieces; detailed, life-like landscapes built from dense foam, cardboard, and paint, some of which now sit proudly in the early learning centre.This latest chapter is only one part of Frank’s remarkable life. Born and raised in Northern England, Frank met his wife…
RESIDENTS are voicing concern over increasing amounts of litter washing up on Mornington beaches, believed to be drifting in from other parts of Port Phillip Bay during high tides. Much of the debris has reportedly washed up at Fishermans Beach, Mothers Beach, and Mills Beach in recent weeks, which is understood to be a reoccurring issue in winter months when there is a combination of stormwater runoff and high tides that push rubbish across the bay.Residents Chris and Lorraine, who asked not to share their surname, described the sight as “heartbreaking” after finding piles of litter at the Fishermans Beach…
A RED Hill glass studio is celebrating the launch of its book at an exhibition, showcasing the family’s rich legacy and its place in global artistry and broader art world. The book Blowing In A New Era: Three Generations, One Family by Gordon Studio Glassblowers and Gallery is on show at the McClelland Sculpture Gallery and Sculpture Park in Langwarrin, which is also exhibiting more than 130 pieces of Gordon-Donaldson glass art.The event, which runs until 27 July, celebrates intergenerational artists on the Mornington Peninsula, as well as the launch of the book. As part of the exhibition, visitors can…
AN agenda item dealing with Mornington Peninsula Shire’s flag policy, set for this week’s council meeting (Tuesday 22/7), has been pulled to allow more time to ensure the policy “matches the intent” of councillors.The flag policy review comes after a furore when it was discovered a flyer produced by the shire encouraging families to register their children in the shire’s kinder programs included the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pride flags – but not the Australian flag (Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over, The News 10/6/25).Cr Bruce Ranken raised the matter as an urgent business motion at…
Emergency services responded to a multi-vehicle head-on collision on the corner of Graydens Road and Frankston Flinders Road at around 3:20pm today (17 July). Two specialist Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter crews, six Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic crews and a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic crew attended the scene. Following emergency onsite care by Ambulance Victoria, a woman was airlifted to The Alfred and another woman was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital. Five children were transported by road ambulance to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
NEWLY installed signs that have unexpectedly restricted access to previously on-leash dog areas will be debated among Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors following community backlash. The shire has recently put in new signs banning dogs at various locations aiming to protect wildlife. Cr David Gill said the signs had caught dog owners off-guard, creating “public anxiety”.According to the shire’s website, “there are a number of areas where dogs are prohibited from entering or remaining, even on leash (…) to ensure we offer the greatest amount of protection to these species”. “Some of these species include the threatened Hooded Plover, migratory shorebirds,…
MEN’S DIV TWO Somerville picked up a vital win over Devon Meadows on Saturday afternoon. Both sides came into the match at Glover Reserve in the mix for finals spots. Somerville struck the first blow and went into the quarter-time break ahead by a goal. Devon Meadows held Somerville goalless in the second term, opening up a three-goal lead. Somerville whittled the lead back but still needed to close a 16-point gap in the last quarter. Somerville mounted an impressive comeback in the closing stages. Devon Meadows failed to kick a goal in the final term, which handed Somerville an…
By Beck Cridland*RENTERS are being hit from all directions by the housing crisis, with no relief in sight. Rents are skyrocketing during a cost-of-living crisis and the number of properties available to rent are dwindling. Real estate agents on the Mornington Peninsula advertise that median rents have increased by up to 50 per cent in some suburbs. When I last checked, there were only ten properties available for rent under $450 per week. In Dromana, where median rent prices have increased by 50% in the last 5 years, the average price of a rental is $600 per week.Approximately one third…
SECTIONS of the Frankston-Flinders Road are set to have their speed limits reduced by the end of the year to enhance safety and address community concerns.The changes include 1.9km between Tyabb and Hastings (90kph to 80 kph); 4km between Bittern and Balnarring (90kph to 80kph); and 1.8km between Balnarring and Merricks (100kph to 80kph). Other sections include 3.4km between Merricks and Shoreham (100kph to 80kph) and 4.1km between Shoreham and Flinders (100kph to 80kph).The Department of Transport and Planning announced the new measures earlier this month. “When setting speed limits, we need to carefully balance keeping everyone safe on our…
WILDLIFE advocates are raising urgent concerns about boaters disturbing large whales in Port Phillip Bay after reports surfaced that the mammals were being “chased and harassed” in the Bass Strait. There have been three sightings of humpback whales in the bay with two mature humpback whales thrilling onlookers as they swam past Seaford, Frankston, Mornington, and Mount Martha on 28 June.Scientists from the Dolphin Research Institute’s Two Bays Whale Project confirmed the sightings, noting humpback and southern right whales were present in the waters during their northern migration, and each year, some pass through Port Phillip Heads and enter the…
MORE than 300 students across the Mornington Peninsula have spent the term engaging with Aboriginal arts and culture through a creative pilot program.Last week students from Tyabb Railway Station Primary School, Crib Point Primary School, and Red Hill Consolidated School came together for The Deadly Arts Community Celebration. At the event they showed off the work they have undertaken through the “Song Room” initiative.The pilot program is led by Kulin Artist and Song Room Teaching Artist, Aunty Sammy Trist. Students have been working on three shields, using South-Eastern line art, which were unveiled last week. The artworks will be displayed…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have backed a new visitor economy partnership that will aim to drive its tourism growth and strengthen its position as a premier visitor destination. The partnership is a state government initiative, which will see regional tourism boards, councils, and industry state-wide transition into a formalised network of visitor economy partnerships (VEPs).These independent organisations, which will be made up of one independent chair, one local government board member, and up to seven industry partners and/or skills-based board members, will act as an official voice for tourism in their regions, as well as securing grants.Shire councillors voted to…
TWO striking properties on the Mornington Peninsula have been recognised at the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards. Woodleigh Regenerative Futures Studio won awards in the Sustainable Architecture and Educational Architecture categories. The building, designed by Mcildowie Partners with Joost Bakker, houses Woodleigh School’s senior campus.The Woodleigh School site is solar-powered and fitted with five flexible learning spaces, staff amenities, social spaces, and an outside Aquaponic tanks with native fish. The roof houses native plants and grasses for native butterflies, birds, and bees.Stumpy Gully House was awarded a commendation in the Residential Architecture – Houses category.Adam Markowitz Design and Stavrias Architecture teamed…
CAPEL Sound and Somerville are looking a little greener, thanks to the planting of 180 trees across the two communities. The Mornington Peninsula Shire coordinated effort is part of its Urban Forest Strategy; aimed at improving tree canopy and providing more shade, biodiversity, and neighbourhood liveability.In Somerville, about 80 trees have found a new home on Jones Rd where a passive irrigation system is being trialled using stormwater. A further 100 trees have been planted along Broadway in Capel Sound as part of the recent road and footpath upgrade project. The shire said Capel Sound and Somerville were identified as…
By Renée E. Gatt*THE Mornington Peninsula boasts a scant number of historic buildings, remnants from the early days of our towns. These structures laid the foundation for the vibrant communities we cherish today. Yet, their survival is under constant threat.Over my 25 years on the peninsula, I’ve actively championed the preservation of our architectural heritage—landmarks that not only define our local identity but also attract tourists eager to experience our unique history. Alarmingly, these irreplaceable assets are vanishing.Both residential and commercial heritage structures are succumbing to lucrative financial offers and unchecked greed. Their cultural and historical significance is often deemed…
A POPULAR walking track within Arthurs Seat State Park is undergoing major repair works, following storm damage in 2022 and ongoing wear and erosion.A 1.1km stretch of the Two Bays Walking Trail leading up to Arthurs Seat summit from Dromana will be repaired first by Parks Victoria, with the section of the track known for its rugged terrain and sharp incline. From early July, a helicopter will lift construction materials onto the trail, as well as making multiple flights shipping large amounts of rock that will be used to rebuild steps, trail surfaces and drainage. The chopper will fly in…
THE Australian Electoral Commission has acknowledged an issue at one of its polling places in Flinders during the 3 May federal election, where an AEC employee allegedly instructed voters how they should cast their vote.A letter to the AEC seen by The News detailed the issue where, at the Bayview Church polling booth at Rosebud South, voters were instructed by an AEC worker to place the number seven next to the box of Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart as “he had pulled out of the election”. It is understood the information was being conveyed to voters as they queued…
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following a fatal collision in Hastings last month. Emergency services were called to reports a pedestrian had been struck by an allegedly modified electric bike on Frankston-Flinders Road about 6.40pm on 12 May. The pedestrian, 69-year-old Hastings man William Lothian, was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died (Brother of e-bike victim tells of his loss and anger, The News 26/5/25). The bike rider, a 24-year-old Hastings man, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He was interviewed this morning and has been charged with: He will appear…
THE owners of Endota Spa Moorooduc have spoken of their heartbreak and determination after a devastating fire tore through their beloved wellness business on 17 June. Jeff and Sharnee Thompson said it was more than a business but something they poured their hearts into after building it from scratch 14 years ago.The incident occurred just before 9.15pm at the corner of Moorooduc Hwy and Eramosa Rd West where fire crews found the roof of the building well-alight. It took just under two hours to bring it under control with a fire investigation unit now determining the cause.The couple were shellshocked…
THE historic Grand Hotel in Mornington is undergoing its first turret tower restoration in 40 years, with the project expected to be completed next month. The works, which began at the start of this year, will also see upgrades to the original windows and doors on the first floor, as well as to the slate roof and the front façade by blending its historic charm and contemporary comfort for visitors.Located on Main St, the 125-year-old building is considered of historical significance by the National Trust of Australia. The original building (at the time called the Grand Coffee Palace) was only…
A UNIQUE community partnership has delivered a brand-new purpose-built studio for Radio Western Port, empowering local voices across the Mornington Peninsula through live shows and on-demand podcasts.The initiative was made possible by Mornington Peninsula Shire awarding a $34,000 grant to Western Port Secondary College, which joined forces with Atticus Health to bring the project to life. Together, they’ve created a professional broadcasting space now home to Radio Western Port — an internet-based station dedicated to sharing local stories, ideas, and perspectives.“We’re all about community, connection and giving locals a voice,” said Dr Floyd Gomes, founder of Atticus Health. “This new…
THE spirit of generosity and community was on display earlier this month at the RACV Cape Schanck Resort for a special ladies luncheon fundraiser, supporting a worthy cause. The event, attended by 263 guests, raised more than $25,000, which will help fund the Southern Peninsula Community Support’s (SPCS) “Southern Peninsula Laundry and Shower (SPLaSh) for Women”, a new program that supports vulnerable women on the southern Mornington Peninsula.Established in 2016, the current program provides essential services such as showers, laundry, food, and material aid, especially focusing on assisting rough sleepers. The SPCS’s CEO Jeremy Maxwell said homelessness was a big…