A CONCERNED resident has raised the alarm after five mature Australian native trees, estimated to be between 70 to 80 years old, were recently cut down in Red Hill South by a power company. Ron Slocombe was shocked to find the towering Angophora trees (also known as salmon gums) felled along a road reserve on Thomas Rd in August without community consultation. “They are hardy resilient trees not known for dropping limbs or causing hazards,” he said. “Mornington Peninsula Shire council has tagged a number of these trees as specimens of significance, in a grove that extends along the lower…
Author: Brendan Rees
CYCLISTS are throwing their support behind the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s push to upgrade two major intersections in Mornington, citing safety concerns for both riders and pedestrians. The council is currently advocating to improve the intersections of Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Racecourse Rd, and Mornington-Tyabb Rd/Nepean Hwy, which are both state-owned and managed. Graeme Rocke, leader of the U3A Leisure Riders Group, said they were particularly supportive of traffic lights to be installed at the Racecourse Rd intersection as it “is treacherous for both pedestrians and cyclists”. “One of our riders had a near incident there early this year. If we are serious about…
FRANKSTON and the Mornington Peninsula have a new top cop, and vehicle crime, theft, and road trauma are at the top of her agenda. Superintendent Anne Rudd moved into the lead role in August as the divisional superintendent for the Frankston and Mornington police service area in the southern metropolitan region. She brings 24 years of policing experience, including stints as the local area commander in Yarra, a tasking coordination inspector in the city, and, more recently, overseeing police recruit training at the Victoria Police Academy for the past five years. Superintendent Rudd plans to use that experience to ensure…
MORNINGTON Peninsula’s first tiny house on wheels for crisis accommodation is nearly complete thanks to an incredible community effort. The unique project, the first of its kind on the peninsula, is being hailed as a significant step towards providing immediate, dignified shelter for individuals or a small family in urgent need. The fully mobile home is being built by former shire mayor Simon Brooks, along with a few other tradespeople, who have volunteered hours of their time to bring the vision to life. Supported by the Dromana Association and Rotary Club of Dromana, the project has been entirely community-funded, with…
A CONTENTIOUS plan to build a 250-home housing estate near Mornington Racecourse is set to go before an independent panel to consider community concerns of traffic impacts, public space, and residential density. Mornington Peninsula Shire has received two planning applications that propose to subdivide land into 116 lots that border Racecourse Rd, Watt Rd and Carbine Way, covering 13 hectares; about six times the size of the MCG playing field. Named the “Woodbyne Estate”, the proposed precinct would apply to privately owned land at 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 Woodbyne Cres and 1, 2, 3 and 4…
THE state government is set to establish a new committee to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve amid growing unrest over the reserve’s deteriorating condition – but it appears it won’t come with any funding. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) recently called for expressions of interest for positions to establish a new committee of management (COM) to manage the Somers Foreshore Reserve, with an aim to have members appointed in the coming months. The announcement follows mounting pressure from the Somers Residents Association (SRA), which earlier this year called for the reinstatement of a community committee to…
SEVENTEEN new homes will be built in Mornington and Hastings to support women and children, as the region battles a worsening housing and homelessness crisis. The Mornington Peninsula Shire has partnered with housing agencies YWCA Australia and Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) to deliver the social housing through the provision and lease of five parcels of council own land valued at more than $3m. The housing and development will be funded by Homes Victoria under the state government’s $6.3b Big Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund.|As reported by The News earlier this month, the Mornington Peninsula now has the highest number…
PLANS for a $25m redevelopment of Arthurs Seat Eagle (ASE) has been tweaked including scrapping a pedestrian bridge from the summit, but critics say the changes don’t go far enough. A revision of the masterplan’s design follows project planners meeting community groups and local representatives to gather a range of perspectives. The plans, announced last September, include upgrading facilities, attractions and the natural green space to “diversify the types of experiences offered to tourists”. Such is its scale, the planned redevelopment has been deemed a “project of significance” under Victorian planning provisions and is currently being reviewed by the Department…
Rye teen siblings Lucas and Sara Hickson are set for a thrilling showdown as they represent Victoria to take out national glory at the Australian Shortboard Titles in NSW this week. It will be a big occasion for the pair as they seek to qualify for the World Surfing Championships and a place in the Australian National Surfing Team named The Irukandjis. The event will be held at Wollongong in NSW on the south coastline, from August 26 – 31. Lucas, 19, and Sara, 17, are feeling pumped about the week ahead. “It’s my third time doing this competition and…
A FRUSTRATED motorist is expected to face at least an $8000 damage bill after his high-end car struck a nasty pothole along an arterial road in Boneo on 18 August.Bradley Carter was shocked to discover his whole rear tyre was severely punctured and the wheel rim badly damaged on his pride-and-joy Bentley car after he hit a pothole at a bend on Boneo Rd near the Patterson Rd turnoff while travelling at the 80kph speed limit.The Aspendale resident was driving home after playing golf at Cape Schanck when he lost control and swerved to the other side of the road…
A COMMUNITY fundraiser has been launched after heartless thieves stole a disabled man’s car along with his wheelchair in Capel Sound, leaving him without vital mobility. Daniel Laing, 39, was asleep when four intruders broke into his garage before stealing his Holden Berlina station wagon about 1.15am on 12 August. The car had special hand controls installed to help him drive with a wheelchair that he uses for work sitting in the front passenger’s seat. It is a massive blow for the disability advocate who can no longer get to work or appointments. Although his car was found a few…
A LARGE parcel of open land in Capel Sound will be saved from development, following a decision by Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors to keep it as public open space. At least half the site at 11A Allambi Ave in Capel Sound had faced potential future development but will instead be preserved for community use as part of the shire’s draft open space strategy which will be exhibited for public consultation this month. Under the proposal, the site, which covers 21,893 square metres (about the size of three soccer fields), would be rezoned from residential to public park and recreation, which…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh is set to travel to Canberra this month for a joint advocacy visit to Parliament House, where he will meet with federal decision-makers to champion key priorities for the region. On 25 and 26 August Marsh will join the council’s CEO Mark Stoermer, alongside Frankston City Council mayor Kris Bolam, to meet with members of the federal government and opposition. Marsh said among the top priorities on the agenda to be discussed, which would occur during a parliamentary sitting week, was advocating for the 2025 federal election commitments to be honoured across the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has finally clarified its flag policy, declaring the Australian flag must be “the primary and most prominent” after it was controversially left off a kindergarten flyer this year. The updated policy was formally adopted at the council’s 12 August meeting which will govern how the flag is “flown or displayed at all Mornington Peninsula Shire Council buildings, sites, events, and communications where flags are used”. The move also means councillors will be handed back the ultimate authority and decision making as to how and when the Australian flag is used after rejecting it be kept as a…
A STRETCH of under-used space behind The Bays Hospital has been turned into a vibrant green space thanks to a partnership with the Rotary Club of Mornington and the Mornington Peninsula Shire.The first section of the project called the Mornington Rotary Greenway was successfully planted at the end of July, which the Rotary Club’s secretary Tanya Chambers said was a transformative project that is set to create a vibrant green corridor connecting Mornington’s foreshore to the hinterland. She also said it marked a significant milestone “in bringing more green spaces into the region’s urban areas, much like the Briars Forest…
A kangaroo joey has been saved after its mother was cruelly shot and left for dead in Moorooduc, leaving wildlife rescuers devastated and heartbroken. A resident raised the alarm after spotting the female kangaroo behaving unusually on their property in early July. A volunteer from animal welfare group Vets for Compassion was called to the property where the kangaroo was safely and compassionately sedated under veterinary supervision. “What we discovered was heartbreaking. She had been shot in the face, leaving her nose and jaw shattered. She was severely underweight, and her infected wounds had turned necrotic,” Vets for Compassion posted…
A DECK of cards, a mountain of sticky tape, and a lot of ambition. That’s what students had from across the Western Port area when they took part in creating the tallest freestanding tower at an Inter Schools Activity Challenge (ISAC) held at BlueScope Steel in Hastings on 7 August. Organised by Somerville Tyabb Rotary Club, the event brought together 20 teams of year 5/6 students from 12 schools.ISAC is designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking, as well as a fun learning experience – which are all skills at the heart of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).The…
STUDENTS from Dromana’s Peninsula Specialist College are gaining valuable real-world hospitality experience thanks to a partnership with the Rosebud RSL and disability support organisation Umbrella Support. The program enables students to participate in an inclusive and welcoming work environment while learning new skills in hospitality and customer service.Umbrella Support has been working with Rosebud RSL for the past two years, with the college partnering with the organisation to allow these opportunities. The school’s pathways and work experience coordinator Bianca Barber said they were proud to be involved in the initiative, which would allow students to gain a sense of purpose…
A NEWLY opened food pantry in Somerville is already making a meaningful difference to the lives of hundreds of residents, just one month after opening its doors. Launched on 7 July, Helping Hands Somerville was created to meet growing community needs amid rising food insecurity and cost-of-living pressures. It’s operated by a small group of volunteers including its president Anne Raukawa, retired caterer Gail, and retired teacher Deb, who met earlier this year over coffee with an idea of starting a “simple local pantry” offering rescued food and donated items to those in need. “Little did we know then how…
A MULTI-agency working group has been formed to address urgent tenant welfare concerns and long-standing maintenance issues at the Main St public housing complex in Mornington.Mornington Peninsula Shire set up the group to tackle to “significant challenges” including maintenance, systems, tenancy placement, and ongoing improvements for the area. Renovations were also undertaken after fire destroyed several units, which have been re-tenanted by locals on the Housing Register.Several agencies have been working closely together since October last year to improve the living conditions at the complex. The working group includes representatives from the shire, Mornington Community Support Centre, Western Port Community…
A GROUP of concerned animal welfare advocates have held a peaceful vigil outside RSPCA Victoria’s headquarters as it investigates reports of underweight horses at a Mt Eliza property. The vigil drew about 20 people holding placards at the Burwood East offices on 25 July with calls for “transparency and clarity around the organisation’s handling of the matter”. The RSPCA launched an investigation in June following reports about 30 horses had allegedly been neglected under a former race trainer at a Moorooduc Highway property. In a statement, the RSPCA said the owner was currently cooperating with their Inspectorate, but as it…
HEALTH authorities have launched an investigation into a potential contamination of the mains water at Mt Eliza’s Emil Madsen Reserve following reports of a gastro outbreak. The onset of the illness on the weekend of 26-27 July occurred around the same time several visitors to the reserve had noticed the tap water appearing unusually “cloudy”.Mornington Peninsula turned off the mains water and closed the reserve with affected sporting games being moved to other reserves. The shire had also issued a community warning on Facebook for people to “not drink or use the water in this area at this time”.Emil Madsen…
A PENINSULA surfer mum has made waves on the national stage after claiming top spot in the over-40s women’s division at this year’s Australian Longboard Titles final. Eglantine (Tina) Balland, 41, beamed with pride after securing the title at Cabarita Beach in NSW on 25 July. A life-long lover of the ocean and mother of one, Tina described the win as the “happiest moment of my entire sporting life” and a big comeback to the sport. “A few years ago, I nearly died from a severe pneumonia. I eventually recovered but I was left with very damaged lungs,” she said.…
AFTER a lifetime marked by devastating loss, Karen Taylor of Mt Martha is finding purpose in pain, which she hopes will also help others feel seen and supported. For more than 30 years, she has carried the weight of loss, beginning with a heartbreaking miscarriage followed 18 months later by the loss of her mother to cancer in 1996. Tragedy followed in 1997 when her sister committed suicide. Then came the sudden loss of her brother-in-law to a heart attack shortly after, before a friend and an aunt were taken by cancer. “This left me feeling as if I was…
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.…
MT Martha mum and sexuality educator Jenny Wood is being recognised at a national level for the quiet impact she’s making through her business. She has been named as a finalist in two categories of the AusMumpreneur Awards including the Children’s Wellbeing and Wellness and the Children’s Online Education awards, which celebrate and support Australian mothers in business. Wood’s nomination is for her work in running Justasec Education since 2022, which she founded after identifying a need among parents to assist them to speak more confidently with their children about sexuality and relationships. She said thousands of parents had spoken…
THE Hastings Senior Citizens Club is inviting new members to join them for a friendly cuppa and a wide range of social activities. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and packed calendar of events, the group is encouraging local retirees and senior citizens to stop by and see what’s on offer. From craft to carpet bowls, board games, jigsaw mornings, card games, chair exercises and speaking about current affairs, the club has something for everyone. “You don’t have to come with anyone or know anyone – just show up and we’ll make you feel at home,” club spokesperson Dianne Ashton said,…
JOYCE Booth, a long-time volunteer at the Rosebud Hospital, is being remembered as “someone who had a way of making everyone feel seen and valued,” after her passing at 90. She dedicated 25 years’ service to the hospital’s Pink Ladies volunteer group, and in the kiosk where she helped and brought a warm smile to doctors, specialists, patients and all staff. “You couldn’t ask for a more selfless, loving person,” her daughter Tracey Fernandez said. “She made a lasting impact on everyone she met.” Even after retiring as a volunteer, the great-great grandmother would still visit everyone at the hospital…
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…