AN empty community hall in Capel Sound has been gutted by fire, with police investigating the blaze as suspicious. Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the building fire that occurred about 3.30am on 28 January at Vern Wright Reserve on Eliza St. Victoria Police confirmed no one was inside the building at the time, but The News understands the building has previously been used by squatters. The hall had remained disused for more than a year with fire crews having attended previous fire incidents. “The circumstances of the fire are yet to be determined but it is believed…
Author: Brendan Rees
AN abandoned homeless camp hidden in the bushes at the Rosebud foreshore – described by locals as a “disgrace” – has now been cleaned up following months of safety concerns. The site, scattered with tents, microwaves and rubbish, is believed to have remained untouched for months despite repeated warnings to authorities. A nearby resident said the camp had been there for at least six months and abandoned about two months ago. “The park rangers have been told about it, but nothing has been done,” the resident, who wish to remain anonymous, told The News last week. “Definitely a danger to…
MORNINGTON Bowling Club has officially opened its two new synthetic greens, marking the end of a project nearly three years in the making. The opening ceremony on 21 January saw more than 80 members gather with guests including Mornington Peninsula Shire deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, major long-term sponsor O’Brien Real Estate, and Mt Martha Community Bank representatives. Current singles champions Deborah Wood and Chad Muir rolled the first bowl to inaugurate the new greens. Established in 1917, the club has been a central hub for bowlers and the local community for over a century, celebrating its 100-year anniversary in…
WATER safety authorities are reminding jet ski riders to follow speed and distance rules as enforcement patrols increase across Victorian waterways during summer. A Safe Transport Victoria spokesperson said responsible behaviour on the water was essential as beaches and waterways became busier over the holiday period. Joint compliance efforts will continue throughout summer, with Victoria Police, Safe Transport Victoria, the Victorian Fisheries Authority and Parks Victoria patrolling waterways across the state. “It is critical that operators of all vessels, including jet skis, meet their safety responsibilities and respect others on the water,” the spokesperson said. “This summer, enforcement agencies including…
Two people have been taken to hospital after a traffic collision in Mornington late this morning, which occurred while the popular street market was on. Emergency services were called to Main St just before 11.30am on 28 January, following reports a car had lost control and collided with another vehicle before mounting the footpath and striking a park bench and two pedestrians, Victoria Police said. The vehicle also struck an egg stall at the market but one witness said a tree luckily slowed the car down, limiting its impact. The driver of the car, a man in his 80s, was taken…
THE voluntary organiser of the Save Flinders Pier campaign, who rallied the support of more than 40,000 Victorians and even attracted the attention of Sir David Attenborough, has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM). Charles Reis was motivated to act when plans were announced in 2020 to demolish the historic Flinders Pier, renowned for its Weedy Sea Dragon habitat. At the time, Sir David Attenborough said he would do all he could to help support the protection of Victoria’s marine emblem. Leading a grassroots campaign, Reis built widespread community support that eventually persuaded the state government to…
MCCRAE resident Emeritus Professor Debra Griffiths has been recognised with the prestigious Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant contributions to nursing, midwifery, and medico-legal education. Her career, spanning nearly five decades, reflects a lifelong commitment to improving healthcare standards, supporting frontline staff, and advancing professional education across Australia. “I feel a bit overwhelmed and definitely honoured,” Prof. Griffiths told The News of her award. “Awards are something that you don’t really think about when you’re deep into your everyday work. It makes me stop and reflect on how worthwhile the different paths I’ve taken have really…
THE Mornington Peninsula community has come together to support fire-affected areas in Victoria, with groups, farmers, and volunteers donating hay bales to help struggling farmers. A truck collection took place on 22 January at The Briars in Mt Martha, followed by another collection in Moorooduc on 23 January. The initiative was a joint effort with the Victorian Farmers Federation Mornington Peninsula Branch (VFF), who have been coordinating donations and logistics to ensure the hay reaches the areas that need it most. Mornington Peninsula Shire contributed 380 hay bales, joining local farmers, the VFF, and Jones Engineering and Agricultural Moorooduc at…
AUNTY Helen Bnads has been named in 2026 Australia Day Honours List. Bnads is the cultural lead at Peninsula Health. She first joined the healthcare organisation in 2013, and was appointed to her current role in 2019. In addition to her work with Peninsula Health, Bnads has spent two decades as a nurse, and has also served as a Koorie Court Elder at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, and a board member at Willum Warrain Gathering Place. She also helped establish the Interfaith Centre Melbourne. Bnads was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. She said she felt “absolutely humbled” to…
MARGARET McArthur of Mt Eliza has spent more than six decades quietly shaping the Mornington Peninsula with volunteer work through schools, sports clubs, welfare organisations, and community groups. On Australia Day, her years of dedication were formally recognised when she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to the community of Mornington Peninsula.” McArthur’s journey of service began shortly after moving to Mornington in 1960. “That was supposed to be temporary, but we liked it so much we didn’t ever move,” she said. Trained as a teacher, she had to resign once she became pregnant.…
EMERGENCY crews responded to two separate incidents at popular yet hazardous cliff sites on the Mornington Peninsula over the past week. A man in his 20s was winched to safety following a cliff fall at The Pillars in Mt Martha on 18 January about 5.15pm. He was winched to safety in a cliff rescue and flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Paramedics provided advanced life support at the scene, assisted by mobile intensive care ambulance crews. In a separate incident on 20 January around 9pm at Cape Schanck, paramedics attended to a man in…
FORMER members of the 36th intake of the Balcombe Army Apprentice School (AAS) at Mt Martha – the final class to graduate in 1981 – have gathered for a long awaited reunion. About 100 former apprentices out of the roughly 300 who enlisted in that intake attended the event on 10 January. The day’s events began at Mornington before the group made their way to Mace Oval, with the group including former Regimental Sergeant Major Ray Hartigan. The celebrations continued at the Dava Hotel in Mt Martha for refreshments and socialising. Many members reflected on joining the school as young…
A PROPOSED bus stop on Prince St in Mornington will go ahead despite strong opposition from residents, with Mornington Peninsula Shire expected to fund and build a new footpath to support the change. The decision follows months of community concern from Prince St residents who argue the narrow residential road is unsuitable for buses due to safety, accessibility and amenity concerns. Their objections were first aired publicly last year, with residents describing the proposal as “a catastrophe waiting to happen” and citing a lack of consultation. Residents with mobility issues/wheelchairs are forced to use the Prince St roadway to travel…
NEW safety signs have been rolled out at some of the peninsula’s most dangerous beaches under a trial aimed at reducing drowning risks. The signage initiative, led by Life Saving Victoria (LSV), will be in place across summer at some of the state’s most dangerous beaches, including both patrolled and unpatrolled locations on the Mornington Peninsula. Through the Coastal Safety Signage Project, the “high-impact warning signs” follows research showing that certain sign designs are far more effective at communicating hazards to the public. Beaches included in the trial are those with a history of tragic incidents: Gunnamatta Beach, Rye 16th…
A NEW village of hope is set to rise in Mt Martha, transforming a historic army barracks into six purpose-built homes for families escaping family violence and homelessness. A $3m community-led housing project will take shape with charity Fusion Mornington Peninsula preparing to build The Village – a development designed to support young women and young families fleeing domestic and family violence. Construction is expected to begin early to mid this year at the former Balcombe Army Barracks site in Mt Martha where Fusion already supports young people experiencing homelessness. The project will deliver six standalone therapeutic family homes, a…
STORM-BATTERED beaches, worn-out facilities and damaged walking tracks across the Mornington Peninsula have been given a major upgrade for the busy summer season. The works, undertaken by Parks Victoria, include the Mornington Peninsula National Park, with safe access restored to Gunnamatta Beach after the October 2024 storm surge wiped out the stairs and lookout. The main access ramp beside the Gunnamatta Surf Life Saving Club has been rebuilt with an all abilities-design and a new link from the car park, improving access for all visitors. The upgrades will also support faster emergency responses by the surf lifesaving club, while helping…
NEW data suggests six Mornington electorate state schools are in below average condition, but the state government says the information is outdated and doesn’t reflect the current conditions. Following a two-year legal battle, the state Opposition secured a condition assessment score for Victorian government schools under Freedom of Information. The data revealed that Mornington Secondary College had a “poor” condition score rating of 3.13 while Mount Eliza Secondary College, Mornington Park Primary School, Benton Junior College, Kunyung Primary School and Mount Martha Primary School scored a condition below the statewide average (3.48), ranging from 3.29 (very close to poor condition)…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has adopted its procurement policy for 2025-29 to make its purchasing processes more transparent, ethical, and efficient. Under the Local Government Act, councils must review their procurement policies at least once every four years. The current policy, adopted in December 2021, has now been revised to reflect sector-wide best practice and position the council as a leader in responsible procurement, a shire report said. “The revised Mornington Peninsula Shire Council procurement policy presented for adoption, incorporates the latest 2024 Local Government Best Practice Procurement Guidelines and aligns with the Municipal Association of Victoria’s new procurement policy…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will cut the number of its public council meetings to just 11 this year, with some councillors warning the move risks reduced transparency and community scrutiny. The decision, made at the 2 December council meeting, follows a July vote last year to space meetings out from every two weeks to every three weeks. Previously, the council had held 24 public meetings per year. Under the new schedule, all evening meetings will begin at 6.30pm, with four community-focused council meetings. The new timetable introduces a four-week cycle that integrates council meeting briefings (CMBs) into existing council workshops and…
VICTORIA Police have ramped up their presence across the Mornington Peninsula this month, aiming to keep residents and visitors safe during the busy summer season. Operation Scorchio is under way, responding to the surge in population in the region over the holiday period. Officers are conducting highly visible patrols to target antisocial behaviour, public order offences, and other criminal activity. The operation is set to continue until 31 January. On the water, Operation Summersafe is focusing on jet ski safety, enforcing speed limits, ensuring riders stay clear of restricted areas, and keeping swimmers safe near the shore – which will…
COUNCIL rates will rise by no more than 2.75 per cent in the next financial year, following a decision by the state government aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures for households. The cap, announced on 23 December by Local Government Minister Nick Staikos, will be lowered from the current three per cent cap. This is based on the forecast consumer price index, which limits how much councils can increase their total revenue from general rates and municipal charges in 2026–27. The decision falls under the Fair Go Rates system, which links annual rate increases to inflation. The cap was set after…
THE state Planning Minister, Sonya Kilkenny, has approved an interim erosion management overlay (EMO)for the Mornington Peninsula that critics say is deeply flawed, potentially misclassifying tens of thousands of properties as landslide-prone despite council acknowledging errors in outdated mapping and raising concerns about “anomalies”. The approval comes after a letter from Kilkenney in October, obtained by The News, gave the shire just 14 days to commence the implementation of the EMO, or face state government intervention. Described by some as a major “overreach”, the interim erosion management overlay (EMO7) targets land assessed as highly susceptible to landslides, affecting about 33,000…
The state Planning Minister, Sonya Kilkenny, has approved an interim erosion overlay for the Mornington Peninsula that critics say is deeply flawed, potentially misclassifying tens of thousands of properties as landslide-prone despite council acknowledging errors in outdated mapping and raising concerns about “anomalies”. The approval comes after a letter from Kilkenney in October, obtained by The News, gave the shire just 14 days to implement an EMO, or face state government intervention. Described by some as a major “overreach”, the interim erosion management overlay (EMO7) targets land assessed as highly susceptible to landslides, affecting about 33,000 lots. Of these, roughly…
HASTINGS Tennis Club has secured $100,000 in state government funding to upgrade its facilities, including refurbishing its four existing courts and reinstating two courts previously lost to a council dog park. The works are expected to significantly improve playing conditions and increase capacity at the community-based club. Club president Stuart McCulloch said the funding marked a major step forward after years of advocacy to improve aging infrastructure and reclaim lost court space. He said works had begun and were expected to be completed by spring 2026. The club is currently upgrading the surface of the existing four courts including new…
CRIB Point residents are rallying to protect two mature gum trees at the entrance their housing estate, now under threat from proposed road and infrastructure upgrades. The two trees at the corner of Cooma and Disney streets face removal as part of planned roads, drainage, and other infrastructure upgrades for properties rezoned from industrial to residential in 2019. However, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors voted unanimously in support of a motion at their 16 December to explore alternative road designs to preserve the two trees, while also approving a planning scheme amendment to update the development contributions plan (DCP) for the…
A DILAPIDATED footpath that has posed a safety risk for senior pedestrians crossing a heritage railway in Mornington is set to be repaired early next year following community advocacy. Mornington Peninsula Shire has confirmed it will undertake repairs to the damaged footpath on Bungower Rd, which runs along the Mornington Tourist Railway. The footpath has caused difficulties for older residents, particularly those using walkers and mobility scooters with many unable to safely access the nearby Peninsula Homemaker Centre. The issue came to attention after Mornington MP Chris Crewther advocated on behalf of senior residents concerned about navigating the hazardous crossing.…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have rejected a proposal for a 32.5-metre telecommunications tower in Fingal, declaring it would unacceptably and adversely impact the area’s amenity. The decision was made at the council’s 16 December meeting, despite a recommendation from council officers to approve the facility at 36 Foam Rd in Fingal, close to the rear boundary of The Dunes Golf Links golf course. The application attracted 38 objections which cited concerns of visual impacts, negative health impacts, poor proposed location, lack of a need for a facility, proximity to residents and the overall height. The facility was to be co-funded…
THE final works for stage one of the Rye Township Plan have been completed, delivering a fully upgraded Rye Foreshore Park and Promenade for residents and visitors to enjoy. Construction began in May with the upgrades including a linked promenade to the northern end of Napier St, a refurbished central walkway, an upgraded western car park, and a brand-new foreshore park replacing the former eastern car park. There are also two new plaza areas at either end of the promenade, new seating and furniture, landscaping, an extension of the Pauline Powell boardwalk, and renewed grass open spaces. Stage one was…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will prepare a report exploring whether council rates and charges should be waived for 12 McCrae properties impacted by the January landslide that forced residents to evacuate their homes. The decision was made at the council’s 16 December meeting after Cr Max Patton led a motion asking that the council considered waiving the 2025–26 financial year council rates and charges for the 12 properties that were subject to emergency orders following the 14 January landslide. A report will be considered alongside council’s mid-year budget reforecast at its 17 March meeting. Emergency Orders were placed over 19 properties…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have moved to ease residents’ concerns after conceding “errors” in an interim erosion management overlay (EMO) had prompted widespread community confusion and angst. The shire has mapped wide-spread landslide-risk areas across the peninsula after councillors approved on 17 November to advance an interim erosion management overlay – a planning control aimed at managing development on land most prone to landslides despite property owners believing they face no such risk. The measure followed an urgent directive from state Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, requiring council to prepare an amendment to the Mornington Peninsula planning scheme to introduce the…