Author: Brendan Rees

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…

A TEAM of young volunteers from a peninsula-wide organisation has been honoured at the 7News Young Achiever Awards in recognition of their outstanding commitment to supporting people experiencing homelessness. Blessings Bags Melbourne, a youth-led organisation, was awarded the Australia Foundation Connecting Communities Award during a ceremony on 9 May from a strong field of nominees.Founded in 2015, the organisation is dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness through free hygiene packs. Each pack contains essential hygiene items such as a toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, deodorant, pocket tissues, a sanitary item, a muesli bar, and a note of encouragement. With over 20,000…

SIXTEEN-year-old dancer Hailey Krongold from Safety Beach is proving that you can make a difference with a few good moves – and a big heart. Last month she organised her first dance workshop called Aspire for dancers aged over 12 at Inspirations Performing Arts Studio in Mornington.“I felt as if there are so many aspiring dancers on the peninsula who may not have access to the same teachers and mentors as those in the metro areas due to the travel distance to get to these open classes and programs,” she said. “So why not bring these incredible choreographers to the…

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…

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.…

FOUR standout projects on the Mornington Peninsula are in the running for the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards, showcasing the region’s growing influence in architectural innovation.The awards celebrate the most inspiring architecture across the state with the winners to be announced at an awards night on 27 June. The shortlisted projects in Mornington Peninsula include residences House on a Hill, Stumpy Gully House, and The Apple House, as well as Woodleigh School’s Woodleigh Regenerative Futures Studio. House on a Hill, created by Leeton Pointon Architects + Interiors, sits in a rural setting on the Mornington Peninsula, featuring second hand bricks and…

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…

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…

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…

A PASSIONATE Rye community leader who has made a significant difference to her hometown, as well as protecting its natural beauty has been awarded a national honour. Mechelle Cheers, whose initiatives continue to make Rye a better place for everyone, was named the Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero Award at the 2025 Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Town Awards during a ceremony held in Beechworth on 3 May The award recognised her outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship and community leadership to Rye. This included the award-winning Rye coastal wetland project, conserving the vulnerable Moonah Woodland, Rye – A Foreshore for All,…

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…

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…

A MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor has called out the state government for what he describes as a growing pattern of cost shifting towards council to run services like libraries and school crossings. Cr David Gill said the state was “not carrying their share of a burden” as escalating costs fell on ratepayers, which he said needed to be immediately addressed amid the council facing a likely budget deficit. Gill raised the issue at the shire’s 22 April meeting where he successfully moved a motion for all “material matters pertaining to cost shifting” be referred to the 2025-26 budget process. Cost…

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…

THE first block of public hearings to be held by the board on inquiry into the McCrae landslide will commence on Wednesday 7 May and run until Wednesday 14 May at the County Court of Victoria. The beginning of the public hearings come after a site visit to the landslide affected area on 9 April by the chair of the inquiry, Renée Enbom KC. The News spoke to Enbom about the progress so far, and what is to come. “We’ve been working very hard, sending out notices, requesting information, and reviewing that information when it arrives. Also meeting with residents…

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…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have adopted a “Community Vision”, setting a clear direction for the region’s development to 2029. The updated vision, first established in 2021, is reviewed every four years to ensure it aligns with the evolving aspirations of residents and stakeholders. The latest review used community data from 2021 including more than 3000 responses that were themed and shaped into the vision by an independent citizens’ panel. Under the Local Government Act, councils must develop or review a “Community Vision” within 12 months of a general election. The adopted vision states: “We celebrate, protect and enhance our unique…

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…

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…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have narrowly decided to ditch the shire’s climate emergency declaration after questions were raised about whether spending $11.7m was “delivering genuine value”. The decision was made at the council’s 22 April meeting, which will now see a “renewed focus on practical, community-focused climate initiatives”. This is despite the shire having unanimously adopted a climate emergency declaration in 2019, along with 30 other councils in the state. But deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, who led the motion to scrap the declaration along with its associated climate emergency plan, said it was “never been about denying or dismissing…

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…

HASTINGS traders have reached breaking point amid a wave of relentless vandalism and break-ins plaguing their businesses – and they say switched off public CCTV cameras is making it worse. The News spoke to several traders in the High St area who said crime was “getting worse,” with smash and grabs costing them thousands of dollars per week in what has become a “weekly nightmare”. “It’s continual and there’s just no deterrent,” Sally Smith, who runs Trotter Shoes, said, noting six businesses had been targeted in just one week in April despite the Hastings Police Station being located just down…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors will look to explore “alternative delivery models” for The Briars master plan to ease the financial impact on ratepayers as the project ran into a $3m loss. Development of the master plan for the 230-hectare conservation park and wildlife sanctuary in Mt Martha, which includes a heritage homestead, began in 2018 and sets out a vision for the site’s potential. Among the master plan’s successful projects has been the expansion of the existing wildlife sanctuary, which is nearly finished with 7000 plants having been donated (The Briars expansion nears completion, The News 10/04/25). The Ark Program,…

HERITAGE Victoria has granted a heritage permit for long-awaited repair works of the 1860s-built Flinders Pier but the project’s future remains uncertain amid concerns of insufficient funding. While the full 327-metre length of the historic pier remains open to the public, the old part of jetty, a 180-metre timber approach section, has been closed since April 2020 following the deterioration of piles and decking. The permit, issued on 10 April, would allow works to be undertaken but as reported by The News in March, a document released by Heritage Victoria revealed that the repairs could be hampered by a lack…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have decided to hold off progressing a proposed development plan of a multi-owned 573-hectare site within the Dromana-Arthurs Seat escarpment until thorough community consultation is undertaken. The escarpment encompasses the Arthurs Seat state park (managed by Parks Victoria), the currently degraded Hillview Quarries and inactive Pioneer Quarries (both owned by the Ross Trust), and the Hillview Community Reserve and the Parkdale Estate, both of which are owned by the state government and managed by council. The site is recognised as a key landmark on the peninsula by supporting habitat restoration, outdoor recreation, agriculture, and rock extraction,…