MAYOR Cr Anthony Marsh has fully supported community calls to undertake a “like-for-like” rebuild of a popular Mt Martha boardwalk two years after a section was closed following damaging storms.The 3.5km Balcombe Creek Estuary boardwalk was inundated by floods in November 2022 during heavy rainfall causing significant damage to one section which had been unrepaired and fenced off near Nepean Hwy and Uralla Rd in Mt Martha.Delays to fixing the boardwalk have left the community disappointed and frustrated including the Rotary Club of Mount Martha whose members originally built the boardwalk in the 1990s before it was handed over to…
Author: Brendan Rees
THE CFA is warning the community that the fire season still remains active after a burn pile reignited two months after last being lit, causing a fire requiring a water bomber to be called in.Fire crews were called to the incident on a Coolart Rd property just after 3pm on 10 March where they found a “column of smoke” and a fast-spreading fire. Crews brought the fire under control within 30 minutes and were on scene for over three hours. Units from Somerville, Moorooduc, Tyabb, Baxter and Mt Eliza attended.Somerville Fire Brigade captain Joshua Caron said with conditions still dry…
A huge high-tech industry and business park proposed for Somerville which has raised concerns of traffic impacts and being inappropriate for the area is set to go before an independent panel.The proposed development at 79 and 83 Bungower Rd in Somerville is predicted to provide up to 1100 jobs with the aim of addressing a “critical shortage” industry land on the peninsula. It would also act as a community hub with cafes, sports facilities, retail tenant spaces, and potential for a micro-brewery, while bringing the Brunnings homestead heritage site into an open space area to ensure its protection including any…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire has been accused of a “reckless disregard” for community fire safety as several concerns, including its handling of high fuel loads, continued to pose a significant danger.Sam Norris, a concerned local resident and Red Hill CFA brigade captain, has written to the shire calling for immediate action after highlighting a myriad of “systemic failures” that they believed had created “undue risks to public safety”.His concerns were raised in a letter last month to the shire’s former acting chief executive officer Bulent Oz, which Norris said was a shared concern among CFA brigades across the peninsula.It included an…
WORK has begun on a new “tropical paradise” industrial business park in Mornington, which will provide a mix of warehouses, retail, and studio spaces.Located near the racecourse at 41 Watt Rd, Mornington, the new $5 million business precinct called “Free Form” officially broke ground last week, creating a new opportunity for those who “want modern workplaces with a Mornington address”. Once complete it will feature 32 warehouses, nine offices, a café, five storage units, car parking, and one caretaker’s residence across the half a hectare site.A sod-turning ceremony on 5 March was celebrated by dignitaries including Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie,…
PLANS for a new 250-home residential estate in Dromana could be reconsidered under federal environment laws as the Mornington Peninsula Shire pushes to protect a threatened lizard species within the site. The shire will formally make a submission to federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek requesting that the proposed development of land at 62 Collins Rd and 170 Boundary Rd in Dromana be deemed a “controlled action” to protect the swamp skink, a nationally endangered species of lizard. The proposal includes 250 residential lots, a new 6.99-hectare conservation reserve that would protect existing “high-value” native vegetation, additional public open space areas…
MOTORISTS are being urged to take care on roads across the peninsula after a mother kangaroo, her at-foot joey and pouch joey were all tragically killed in the one incident in Merricks North last week. The incident occurred along Balnarring Rd near the Jackalope Hotel, early on the morning of 26 February when the kangaroos were struck by a passing vehicle on the 80kph stretch of road and left for dead.Belinda Eden, vice-president of the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation, raced to the scene after being alerted by a distressed local about 7am where she initially found an eastern grey kangaroo…
MORNINGTON Peninsula author and Rosebud-based chiropractor Adam Mackey has been awarded a prestigious honour for his new book in recognition of its powerful impact on readers.Mackey, also known as Angel A, was bestowed the Difference Maker award from Australian company, Store With A Heart, which recognises books that “exhibit the courage, foresight, and initiative to bring about significant change—whether on a worldwide or local level”. It also celebrates authors who use their words to “tackle important issues, challenge perspectives, and light the way to a better future”.Mackey said his book and first novel titled Holy Parrot, published in December 2022,…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have taken aim at their role as “revenue collectors” for the state government’s emergency services fund levy, which is expected to rake in $51.1 million from ratepayers next financial year.Councillors will call for a full review including on the financial impact of the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), which begins in July, replacing the current Fire Services Property Levy.All revenue raised from the fund, which is collected through councils across Victoria via rates notices, will go towards 87.5 per cent of Fire Rescue Victoria and 77.5 per cent of Country Fire Authority’s annual budget.But…
SORRENTO Lifesaving Club has official won approval to rebuild its ageing clubhouse. Under the proposal, the existing building would be demolished to make way for a new clubhouse with new amenities including on-site accommodation, as well as a new beach access ramp.Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors voted unanimously in favour of granting a planning permit at their 25 February meeting. As it stands, the club’s 23-year-old building is no longer fit as a training facility or to have lifeguards or equipment onsite.The state government, which owns the land at Ocean Beach Rd, has provided $3.5 million towards the club’s redevelopment while…
LONG-awaited repairs to the historic Flinders Pier could be set back or sections of timber piles left to deteriorate because of a lack of funding, Parks Victoria has signalled.While the full 327-metre length of the pier remained open to the public, the old part of jetty, a 180-metre timber approach section, has remained closed since April 2020 “until a course of action has been determined” following the deterioration of piles and decking.Planning for safety repairs having been under way since late 2022 with Parks Victoria applying to Heritage Victoria in January seeking a permit to deliver repairs to the 1860s-built…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has thrown its support behind the revised target of 24,000 new homes on the peninsula by 2051 despite it being a reduction of 7000 homes to the number set in last year’s draft target.Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny announced the final council housing capacity targets on 24 February, saying the government had met with every Victorian council to understand their “plans and the barriers they face in unlocking the capacity”. The new target for the Mornington Peninsula was down from the original 31,000 marking a 22.6 per cent decrease. But mayor Cr…
OPPONENTS of a luge-style development proposed for Arthurs Seat are ramping up their campaign, holding a public information session to help the community understand its “serious impacts”.The $25 million plan proposes to expand the popular tourist attraction including adding a new observation tower, a pedestrian bridge over Arthurs Seat Rd, a function centre, a luge ride attraction and an “experiential interpretive centre”. But community group Save Our Seat are objecting to the controversial plans by developers Arthurs Seat Eagle in what they have labelled as a “roller-coaster-style luge” for a massive tourism redevelopment.Save Our Seat spokesperson Kylie Greer said community…
A MORNINGTON Peninsula kangaroo welfare group is sounding the alarm after a recent bushfire came dangerously close to hundreds of kangaroos trapped on a private property in Cape Schanck.According to Save the Kangaroos on Mornington Peninsula Inc. (SKOMP), more than 600 kangaroos have been trapped on the Rogers Rd property since September 2021 after the land manager erected gates and closed off all exits.SKOMP’s spokesperson Jo Hansen said they had unsuccessfully appealed to authorities including the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) to secure the release of the kangaroos, noting of particular concern was a bushfire came dangerously…
A MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire plan to install roadside barriers along a scenic route in Red Hill has sparked concern from residents who argued it overlooked “far greater” road safety issues.The shire has locked in state government funding to develop concept plans to improve motorcycle safety on Arthurs Seat Rd near Mechanics Rd, with a proposal to install a 30-metre barrier with under-rails on the eastern embankment that sits within the hinterland region. Funding for the plans has been provided under the government’s Motorcycle Safety Levy program as the council investigated “possible solutions to reduce risk” at this site. However, the…
VICTORIA’S fisheries department is proposing to close its Mornington station and replace it with a “community office” in Carrum under a new model stakeholder groups fear would lead to weaker compliance and increased illegal fishing. The community hub would be “education only”, according to the Community and Public Sector Union (CSPU), with nine engagement officers to serve the whole Port Phillip and Western Port Bay areas, resulting in a 66 per cent staff reduction.Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) has not made a formal announcement on the changes. Instead, a spokesperson said in a statement its future was “focused on education and…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will take a closer look at how ratepayer money is spent in its fight against climate change after some councillors claimed “wasteful projects” were not delivering community results.Councillors voted in favour of a motion at their 28 January meeting for shire officers to prepare a report to help councillors make informed “strategic and budgetary decisions” regarding its climate emergency declaration.Deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiaro, who introduced the amended motion, said it was about “critically evaluating whether we as a council are delivering real, measurable outcomes for the people of the Mornington Peninsula”. “Ratepayers deserve to see how…
THE Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad has responded to more than 30 rescue calls this summer, prompting a concerning rise in the number of incidents across the region. It has been one of the busiest seasons for the search and rescue service despite safety campaigns from Safe Transport Victoria urging boaters and jet skiers to be prepared before heading out.The Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad is a not-for-profit volunteer marine search and rescue service, which has been based at the Blairgowrie marina for 58 years. It operates 24-7 with 31 local volunteers responding to all calls in southern Port Phillip Bay and…
GUNNAMATTA Surf Life Saving Club’s Jill Douglas has been awarded a Life Saving Victoria national medal recognising her 15 years of dedicated service.The award, which is part of Australia’s national honours system, acknowledges those who “risk their lives to protect or assist the community in enforcement of law or in times of emergency or natural disaster”. Recipients must have served a minimum of 30 patrol hours per year over 15 years to be eligible for the medal.Douglas, who is one of the club trainers and assessors and the junior bronze lifesaver camp coordinator, expressed her commitment to volunteering was not…
A RECENT spate of youth crime across the peninsula has pushed fed up residents to the brink, with a protest held outside the Somerville office of Hastings MP Paul Mercurio on Friday afternoon, 21 February.The small group of demonstrators were calling for immediate action to address the rising concerns surrounding youth crime in the community. Holding placards emblazoned with messages like “End violence”, “Enough is enough”, and “Tough laws, safer streets”, the protestors, a mix of concerned residents, stood united in their demand for changes aimed at curbing the surge in criminal activity in the area. The peaceful protest saw…
A recent spate of youth crime across Hastings has pushed fed up residents to the brink, with a planned protest expected to occur outside the Somerville office of Member for Hastings Paul Mercurio on Friday afternoon, 21 February. They are calling for action as local campaigners spread the word on social media that youth crime was “out of control” and encouraged residents to “make a stand” at the peaceful demonstration that organisers said would run between 4pm to 7pm. “Improvements in youth crime, unsatisfactory sentencing laws, improvements in policing and other local issues,” one post read. Over the past few…
A MT ELIZA teenager who gave up his time during year 12 to create positive outcomes in the Mornington community has been nominated for a young achiever award. Finn Mackay, 18, volunteered at Mornington MP Chris Crewther’s office last year, helping with administrative tasks and various community projects including beach hand cleaning. For his efforts, he’s now in the running for the 2024 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards under the community award category for Victoria. The awards aim to recognise leadership, dedication and pursuit of excellence among young people up to 29 years of age.Mackay, who was 17 at the time…
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…
SOMERVILLE Recreation Reserve would be upgraded under a $5m plan if Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie is re-elected and the Liberal Party takes office at the federal election. The proposed revamp would benefit the football, netball and cricket clubs, as well as the Somerville Scout Group, whose hall is in desperate need of repair.Currently, 49 sporting teams call the reserve home, which has cricket nets, six tennis courts, two netball courts, three pavilions, two playgrounds, an oval, a scout hall, public toilets and a bowls club.But McKenzie said many of these clubs were relying on facilities “that belong in the last…
AMBULANCE response times on the Mornington Peninsula have climbed by an average of almost a minute and a half over the last quarter, new figures show, as demand remained “steadily high”. Frankston and Kingston local government areas also recorded slightly slower response times after new data was released by Ambulance Victoria last week for the October to December quarter.Code one “lights and sirens” emergencies are measured from the time of a triple-0 call being answered to the first ambulance arriving at the incident scene – with a statewide response time target being 15 minutes. On the Mornington Peninsula, 60.1 per…
SILVERS Circus’s decades-long presence in Mornington is facing an uncertain future as its current home at the Bata shoe factory site prepares for development.The site at the corner of Nepean Hwy and Oakbank Rd, known as the gateway to Mornington, has hosted the circus for the past 30 years, but this summer will officially be its last as it begins a desperate search for a new home, which the circus hoped would remain in Mornington.“Unfortunately, that site is now being developed so we need another home for us,” Simon Tait, representing Silvers Circus, told The News. “We’ve become almost like…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors will push for a compulsory lobbying policy to be created at local government level to improve transparency and best practice standards. Councillors voted unanimously at their 28 January meeting to call on the state government to introduce mandatory regulations for council officers and councillors state-wide as part of a lobbying policy to “help ensure transparency and accountability in decision making”.Currently Victoria does not have any lobbying regulations at local government level, meaning influences could operate unchecked and potentially undermine public trust, particularly when councils consider multi-million-dollar development proposals.Cr David Gill led the charge in proposing the…
The owners of two fast-food franchise stores including one at Rosebud Plaza could be hit with almost $250,000 in fines for allegedly breaching child employment laws. The Donut King operator will face 70 criminal charges this month after the state’s child employment watchdog Wage Inspectorate Victoria found it had breached the Child Employment Act between 1 January and 6 July last year. It has been alleged the stores, including Donut King in Berwick, which trade under Minto Nominees Pty Ltd, had employed three children under the age of 15 without a licence on 30 occasions and failed to ensure children…
FLINDERS MP Zoe McKenzie has pledged $500,000 in funding to help boost jobs and opportunities for adults with different abilities at Sages Cottage in Baxter, if re-elected. The heritage-listed cottage sits within a 38-acre farm and café run by people with a disability. It is operated by not-for-profit disability support group Wallara Australia, which welcomes more than 50,000 visitors each year.McKenzie last week announced a promise to fund an inclusive jobs hub initiative at Sages Cottage allowing it to expand its workforce and increase visitors, if re-elected at the federal election this year. Currently 80 special needs young adults operate…
ARMY veteran David Locke knows all too well the inner battles that can follow after leaving the service.For years the 37-year-old Rye resident, who was deployed to Afghanistan, grappled with the weight of post-traumatic stress and a sense of isolation. “I was pretty cooked … I worked for a few years (after leaving the army in 2012) but mentally couldn’t handle it,” he said, which included a time of self-medicating with alcohol and drugs to cope.But it was his love of fishing that ultimately helped him reclaim his life, and more recently, the discovery of Veterans for Fishing (VFF), that’s…