MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has made an ambitious bid to secure more than $5.6 million in funding to fix dangerous and high-risk roads under the federal government’s Black Spot program. The council has put forward a total of 12 projects across the peninsula that either have a history of serious crashes or are at risk of accidents occurring including $1.22 million for the Capel Sound area and almost $1 million for the Mornington area. A formal submission has been made by the shire under the 2025/26 Black Spot program, with a response from the federal government expected in June, but there’s no guarantee that every project put forward will be successful in receiving funding.
Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said the peninsula had “unacceptably high levels” of road trauma, noting in the past 15 years, 105 people had been killed with more than 2300 seriously injured. “Among Victoria’s 79 municipalities, we’re one of the worst in terms of the number of road deaths during this period,” he said. “Council is committed to reducing the road safety risk across our network. Despite the number of road deaths increasing Victoria-wide in recent years, deaths and serious injuries on roads within the Mornington Peninsula have trended downwards.”
The shire’s wish-list projects include $929,000 to install road safety platforms at high-risk locations to reduce speed in the Mornington area, as well as introducing a speed limit reduction to 40kmh, and pavement markings indicating 40kmh. It also hopes to lock in $427,000 for Wilsons Rd from Barkly St to Nepean Hwy in Mornington to install splitter islands at Hampden St, York St, Adelaide St, Downward St, Moona Ave, Orchid St, and Pitt St.
Another is Orchid Ave in Mornington that would see raised pedestrian crossings installed as well as kerb outstands and lighting. The speed limit would also be reduced between Nepean Hwy to Barkly St from 60kmh to 50kmh.
In Mt Martha, the shire has asked for $360,000 to improve Bentons Rd between Dunns Rd and Racecourse Rd by installing a road safety platform at the Marriott Dr/Moorhead Ave/Bentons Rd roundabout, and at the Marriott Dr side road with Bentons Rd intersection.
Improving Craigie Road between Dunns Rd and Racecourse Rd, also in Mt Martha, would involve installing a pedestrian refuge island, lighting, and a dragon teeth line on the approach to the roundabout ($120,000).
In another win for Mt Martha if funding is granted, Forest Dr between Bradford Rd and Nepean Hwy would have steel guardrails installed as well as an audio-tactile centre line marking (a raised, black, ribbed line in the middle of a road) warning motorists of the T-intersection and reducing the speed limit to 70kmh through $264,000 in funding.
Local traffic at Capel Sound could also be hugely improved under a $1.22 million plan to install road safety platforms at high-risk locations to reduce the operational speed, reducing speed limits area wide to 40kmh, and adding pavement markings of 40kmh.
The shire has also asked for $210,000 to fix Colchester Rd in Capel Sound that would see a raised intersection installed at Colchester Rd and Newington Ave, as well as a skid resistance overlay at the bend.
Another project included $195,000 to improve Baldrys Rd in Main Ridge between Browns Rd and Mornington Flinders Rd with driveway sealing, guardrail and terminal replacement north on Kolonga fire access track (east side of Baldrys Rd) and south of Main Creek to current standard, as well as installing warning and advisory signs.
Also in Main Ridge, the council hopes to secure $785,000 to install a raised intersection in conjunction with road safety platforms on approach to the intersection of Tucks Rd and Shands Rd. It would see raised LED reflective pavement markers installed to improve safety at night, while also relocating a speed sign and sealing 50 metres of Tucks Rd to the south.
In Rosebud, the shire has requested $117,000 to improve the Browns Rd and Jetty Rd intersection by installing a splitter island and a mountable concrete apron on Browns Rd, as well as more signage.
Somers is also listed in the shire’s wish list ($555,000) with hopes of creating shoulder sealing, installing guardrails, and replacing chevron signs to current standard at Sandy Point Rd between Alexandra Ave and Lord Somers Rd.
And in Rye, a $494,000 project has been proposed to fund road safety platforms at side streets off Dundas St between Browns Rd and Melbourne Rd.
First published in the Mornington News – 18 February 2025
