Ambulance Victoria has expressed serious concern after two female paramedics were allegedly set upon in a violent assault on Main Street, Mornington earlier today (13/9). The paramedics were walking the street at approximately 11:30am when they were allegedly attacked. They were not treating a patient or attending a case at the time. One of the paramedics sustained injuries after allegedly being kicked by the alleged offender and is currently being assessed in hospital. The matter is now in the hands of Victoria Police, who are investigating. Members of the public who witnessed the alleged assault came to the paramedics’ aid.…
Browsing: Mornington
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…
Major job cuts have been announced at Mornington Peninsula Shire as the new CEO, Mark Stoermer, enacted a plan to change the operational structure of the organisation. Shire mayor Cr Anthony Marsh has also called out reports that he is responsible for the job losses as an “absurd misrepresentation”, saying “The council sets the budget, and it is the CEO’s responsibility to implement that decision through operational changes, including any staffing matters”. A statement issued by the shire on Thursday (21/8) stated “The restructure will result in up to 48 redundancies with redeployment opportunities identified for many of these staff…
WOMEN’S DIV ONEMORNINGTON are the MPFNL Women’s Division One premiers. Mornington played Warragul Industrials in the Grand Final at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The two sides have been evenly matched all season – in the first final Mornington narrowly beat Warragul by five points. It was a different story on Saturday, as Mornington was in control for most of the day. After a goalless opening term, the Bulldogs took the game by the scruff of the neck. Warragul had a tough day at the office, failing to score a goal. Mornington claimed the win 5.4 (34) to 0.5 (5).…
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 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…
By Renée E. Gatt*THE Mornington Peninsula boasts a scant number of historic buildings, remnants from the early days of our towns. These structures laid the foundation for the vibrant communities we cherish today. Yet, their survival is under constant threat.Over my 25 years on the peninsula, I’ve actively championed the preservation of our architectural heritage—landmarks that not only define our local identity but also attract tourists eager to experience our unique history. Alarmingly, these irreplaceable assets are vanishing.Both residential and commercial heritage structures are succumbing to lucrative financial offers and unchecked greed. Their cultural and historical significance is often deemed…
THE historic Grand Hotel in Mornington is undergoing its first turret tower restoration in 40 years, with the project expected to be completed next month. The works, which began at the start of this year, will also see upgrades to the original windows and doors on the first floor, as well as to the slate roof and the front façade by blending its historic charm and contemporary comfort for visitors.Located on Main St, the 125-year-old building is considered of historical significance by the National Trust of Australia. The original building (at the time called the Grand Coffee Palace) was only…
MEET dolphin #89, a resident of Port Phillip Bay’s unique community of common dolphins. Photographed recently by Ella Hutchinson, the Williamson Research Fellow with the Dolphin Research Institute, #89 was first identified in 2022, and is a playful individual that has been sighted regularly every year since.Earlier this year, #89 was even seen “babysitting” another dolphin’s young calf. Now the institute is calling on the community to help give this curious dolphin a proper name. “With 166 individuals in our catalogue, we only name a special few,” Hutchinson said. “We thought with such a great display with the Mornington Yacht…
MORNINGTON Fisheries office will remain open after a strong community backlash and concerns from Mornington Peninsula Shire over proposed changes that would have led to its closure.The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) confirmed on 21 May that four Fisheries officers will continue to be based in Mornington. All four current officers will be required to reapply for their jobs through an expression of interest process.A VFA spokesperson said in addition to Mornington, the Cowes and Queenscliff stations would also remain open, and four Fisheries officers will work from each of these locations. Staffing arrangements will be finalised in coming weeks, the…
LAST Thursday (29 May) the Mornington Junior Football Club U14 blue & U16 blue girls teams welcomed AFLW players from Melbourne Football Club for a special training session at their home ground at Narambi Reserve. The players engaged in a mix of skill development, agility and game-play drills. The training is part of a MJFC initiative in 2025 to develop players and coaches as part of a program organised by Brad Sykes Sports. Pictured are (back row)AFLW player Alyssia Pisano, U16 vice captains Izzy Hayter and Chloe Shaw, AFLW player Georgia Campbell, U16 captain Willow Reints, U16 vice captain Lily…
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…
A woman missed out on her fast-food order in Mornington overnight after being caught allegedly three times over the alcohol limit. Police responded to reports of a woman driving erratically at a drive-thru on Nepean Highway about 11.45pm on 26 April. Officers approached the vehicle and gave the 56-year-old driver a preliminary breath test which returned a positive result. She was conveyed to a police station for an evidentiary breath test, where she allegedly returned a reading of .149. The Somerville woman did not get what she ordered. Her car was impounded and she will be charged on summons with…
LARGER-than-life hot-air balloon sculptures – the giant Skywhale and Skywhalepapa – will grace the skies over Mornington in what promises to be a sunrise spectacle. Created by leading Australia artist Patricia Piccinini, the hot-air balloons will take flight at Dallas Brooks Park as the first light of day breaks over Mornington on 26 April from 5.30am to 7.30am. Measuring 34 meters long and 23 meters high, the Skywhales are twice the size of a standard hot-air balloon. The free community event is being hosted by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery and presented by the National Gallery of Australia and supported by…
WORK will soon begin on rebuilding the Mornington Fishermans Jetty, restoring not only access for berthing but also injecting new life into the harbour. The much-anticipated announcement was made last week by the state government with construction preparations set to start in April. The jetty was closed to pedestrians in November 2020 due to advanced structural deterioration with berthing access ceasing in 2022 following inspections by maritime engineers. The existing nearby Mornington Pier has been providing short term berthing for vessels. Once complete the new jetty will reinstate access for berthing, improve access, and provide an “attractive visual feature” for…
Under new laws set to be introduced on the Mornington Peninsula, swimmers will be afforded much greater protection from the dangers posed by jet skis. The new laws come after years of lobbying by various groups concerned by people and high-powered watercraft being in the same vicinity. Under the plan, swimmers will be restricted from entering the water at Mornington Peninsula beaches except for certain designated windows. Between August and April each year, swimmers will only be able to enter the water between 8am and 11am. During that window, jet skis must remain at least 200 metres offshore. “This is…
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,…
THE only accommodation currently available for the homeless on the Mornington Peninsula, The Ranch Motel in Mornington, is set to close with no plans for its replacement.A joint venture between Mornington Community Support Centre and Southern Peninsula Community Support, the accommodation was only made possible as the developer had allowed it to be used as crisis accommodation while he finalised plans for redevelopment of the site. The News understands he has given notice that development will take place in the next six to 12 months.“Our understanding is that when the developer is ready to start work on the site, they’ll…
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has announced it has appointed Mark Stoermer as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following a Special Council Meeting today (4 March 2025) Mark brings extensive leadership experience in local government, corporate services, and financial management. He is currently the Director of Corporate Services at Brimbank City Council and previously held the same role at Wyndham City Council. He has also served as CEO of Douglas Shire and Nillumbik Shire Councils. As Director of Corporate Business at the City of Melbourne, he led major financial and governance reforms, delivering sustainable budgets and operational efficiencies for…
Mornington Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man and a woman following an alleged kidnapping in Mornington. Investigators have been told a ride-share driver was stopped on Mornington-Tyabb Road about 8.30pm on 20 February by a potential fare. A man and a woman got into the car and it is alleged the driver was threatened with a knife and told to drive to an address in Joffre Street, Noble Park where the pair got out of the car. The driver, a 26-year-old man, was not injured during the incident. Detectives have made a number of enquires and on Tuesday…
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…
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…
THE Bays’ new Cancer Care Centre in Mornington officially opened its doors last week with a grand ceremony, marking a milestone in the community.The centre will be the first of its kind to have a radiation oncology service on the Mornington Peninsula, providing the latest radiation therapy technology and techniques for all cancer types. Other services include diagnostic, treatment, and support, with an integrated approach focused on personalised care for patients and their families. The $15 million project was completed late last year after construction began in April 2023. “Today marks the culmination of years of planning and dedication to…
A GROUP of reckless pranksters have faced a fierce backlash from residents and beach users after performing a dangerous stunt involving glass at Mothers Beach in Mornington.The males involved, believed to be youths and YouTube attention-seekers, reportedly placed several glass picture frames beneath the surface of the sand about 2pm on 21 January while the beach was packed on a hot day. The News understands about five of the picture frames, which bizarrely depicted American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, were buried at various spots along the beach near Schnapper Point with water bottles placed on top of each one in…
PLANS for a new housing estate near Mornington racecourse that would see 250 homes built has gravely concerned residents who say it would impact their amenity and cause traffic issues.Mornington Peninsula Shire has received two planning applications that propose to subdivide land into 57 lots and 59 lots that border Racecourse Rd, Watt Rd and Carbine Way. Named the “Woodbyne Estate”, the proposed precinct would cover 13 hectares, with the permits including the proposed removal of the council-owned Watt Rd plantation reserve, creation of reserves for new public open spaces and removal of vegetation.The combined permits apply to privately owned…
THE Mornington Art Show has grown to be one of the most prestigious art shows in Victoria.Run by the Rotary Club of Mornington, the show supports a diverse range of local artists as well as talent from interstate. Carefully curated, it has a reputation for quality exhibitions and is a much-anticipated community event.The show is currently on at Peninsula Community Theatre, 91 Wilsons Rd, Mornington, running until Friday 24 January. First published in the Mornington News – 21 January 2025
Emergency services are on the scene of a landslip that has caused the collapse of a house at Penny Lane in McCrae. The emergency alert, issued at 8.49am, stated that a house had “rolled down the hill”, and was responded to by the CFA, police and ambulance services. Paramedics are treating at least one injury on site. It is believed emergency services are inspecting the site to determine if any other structures are at risk due to the landslip. Point Nepean Road has been closed in McCrae, near Penny Lane, in both directions with police advising motorists to avoid the…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Regional Gallery celebrates the first summer in the Bunurong calendar with the stunning and thought-provoking exhibition, The Ecologies Project: How Climate Changes Culture.The Ecologies Project features over 60 works covering a variety of media including photography, installation, video and sound work from artists Maree Clarke, Aunty Netty Shaw, Megan Cope, Sue Ford, Jill Orr, Rosemary Laing, Linda Tegg, Joseph Beuys, Jacobus Capone, Nicholas Mangan and more.Curated by new MPRG Director Dunja Rmandić and Acting Curator Exhibitions Leah Ferguson, the exhibition asks ‘how does a changing ecology change our culture?’. Considering the Mornington Peninsula as a starting point, many…
A SECTION of the historic Beleura Cliff Path in Mornington will finally reopen to the public in early December for the first time in two years after landslips created a safety risk to walkers.Mornington Peninsula Shire announced it would reopen the top section of the 102-year-old walking route, which hugs the cliffs between Mills Beach and Caraar Creek Lane overlooking Port Phillip Bay. Its reopening marks the return of a beloved attraction, much to the relief of residents who have campaigned tirelessly to save the path since its closure, with many having expressed frustrations that the delay was unnecessarily long.“In…
DOCTOR Geoff Wicks had 100 reasons to celebrate last week when he notched up his century. Born on 11 November 1924, Wicks has lived in Mornington for over 63 years. Wicks, who served in the Air Force in World War Two, first arrived as a locum GP to work at the Mornington Main Street Clinic in 1954, before heading to England to further his studies. He returned to work as the first obstetrician and gynaecologist on the Mornington Peninsula, based in Mornington, from 1959. Many of his patients were cared for at The Bays (previously known as Mornington Bush Nursing…