Severe weather warning

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Severe Weather Warning and Marine Wind Warning impacting our Shire. As a result some Shire services have closed.
If you are in a life threatening situation, please call Triple Zero (000) immediately. For flood and storm emergencies call the SES on 132 500.

Bureau of Meteorology - Severe weather warning

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Advocacy

Every day Council makes decisions that affect our community and works to deliver on the things you tell us are important you. Our Council delivers more than 100 community services but when it comes to tackling bigger issues and projects, we need the support of Victorian and Commonwealth governments. We proactively work with other organisations and levels of government to seek financial support or policy change to deliver local projects.

Council's advocacy priorities include a variety of asks, which would deliver significant progress towards a better standard of living and unlocking the economic potential of the Mornington Peninsula.

Economic context

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is home to more than 171,000 people across an area of 723 sq km. Our municipality is a unique environment made up of 70 per cent Green Wedge and has 10 per cent of Victoria’s coastline (192kms). Our municipality supports over 62,000 jobs, with an annual economic output of over $23 billion. Our Gross Regional Product is close to $8.7 billion – led by construction, retail, education and training.

Located just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne, we have a state-significant tourism industry, attracting 8 million visitors a year. The region has a distinguished agricultural history with many food and wine producers recognised as industry leaders on the world stage.

The Peninsula, often perceived as a millionaire’s playground, has a higher proportion of people on low incomes than greater Melbourne. We have some of the most disadvantaged communities in Australia. Yet, there is so much opportunity for our region to thrive and become a significant contributor to the broader Victorian and national economy.

Advocacy highlights

Continuing to push our agenda

Our CEO and Mayor met with Federal and Shadow Ministers to advocate for the region, highlighting ongoing challenges and opportunities for investment locally.

Shout Out for the Peninsula

In the lead-up to the federal election, we are highlighting some of our key projects that require federal funding and support.

Advocating for housing and homelessness

In December 2024,the Shire supported the Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN) to host a meeting with Harriet Shing, Victorian Minister for Housing, to progress our advocacy for homelessness, family violence and the urgent need for crisis accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula.

Shire takes advocacy to Canberra

In mid-2024, Council on behalf of the Peninsula community attended meetings with federal decision-makers in Canberra, bringing attention to our most important advocacy priorities.

Visiting parliament house

We took some of our key projects to our state parliamentarians in 2023. We raised awareness with Victorian Ministers and their staff of the disadvantages out community faces and some of the issues we'd like addressed.

Meeting with Victorian Minister for Water

In May 2024, we held a very productive meeting at Tyabb Community Hall with Victorian Minister for Water, Harriet Shing, to progress our advocacy for recycled water infrastructure on the Peninsula.

Our advocacy focus areas 2025-2026

Port of Hastings

We need clarity on the timing of a Victorian government decision regarding the boundaries of the Port of Hastings and release of surplus land. This would enable planning for industry, housing and conservation.

Save Rosebud Hospital

We are seeking $400 million investment in Rosebud Hospital to keep it open. Frankston is too far. Our community needs to be able to access an up-to-date hospital with modern facilities.

Housing

Just 3.5 per cent of local rental properties and only 2.4 per cent of houses sold are affordable to low-income households. More than a third of private rental households are suffering housing stress. Our health, tourism and hospitality sectors are struggling to attract workers, due to a lack of affordable housing.

Homelessness

Our municipality receives little funding for homelessness services, despite having the highest number of people sleeping rough in Victoria – greater even than Melbourne City Council.

Coastal Management

The Peninsula is on the front line of climate change with a high proportion of housing, community infrastructure and public open spaces in coastal locations. As climate impacts increase so do impacts on our towns and infrastructure. Our local economy depends on our beaches and coastal amenity.

Road Maintenance

Government roads funding programs exist but have not kept pace with inflation, increasing construction costs, standards, codes and ageing infrastructure. Council is advocating for better funding and better maintenance schedule on our state roads which are in poor condition.

Public Transport

An incredible 82 percent of the Peninsula is not serviced by adequate public transport. There is strong community support for electrification of the rail line from Frankston to Stony Point. Our bus services need to be reviewed and to better connect people to activity centres.

Download: (PDF, 1MB)Community Advocacy Information Brochure(PDF, 1MB)(PDF, 1MB)
Download: (PDF, 2MB)Advocacy Strategy(PDF, 2MB)

Ongoing projects

We will pursue our priorities with Members of Parliament, Ministers, council alliances such as the South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) and other representatives of the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.

Please help our campaign by contacting your local political candidates to express your support for any or all of the projects below.