Mornington Peninsula named Victoria’s Tidy Town for 2025

Published on 10 November 2025

The Mornington Peninsula community has plenty to celebrate after being named Tidy Town of Victoria 2025 at Keep Australia Beautiful VIC’s Tidy Towns and Cities Sustainability Awards.  
 
The awards recognise the passion and dedication of local people working together to make their communities stronger, more connected and more vibrant places to live. 
 
A host of local projects were celebrated, showcasing the Peninsula’s community spirit and innovation.  
 
Local ecologist, ethnobotanist and educator Gidja Walker OAM received the prestigious Dame Phyllis Frost Award for more than 30 years of inspiring work restoring local ecosystems and sharing her deep knowledge of Country with the community. 
 
Two Mornington Peninsula Shire initiatives took out top honours: 

• Coastal Process Education and Dune Erosion Mitigation – winner of the Behaviour Change Campaigns and Education category. 
• Virtual Energy Network Pilot – winner of the Energy category. 

Local community groups were also in the spotlight:

• Our Songlines – winner of the Indigenous Culture award for the annual Our Survival Day event. 
• Southern Peninsula Community Support – winner of the Social Wellbeing award for the SPLaSh – Southern Peninsula Laundry and Shower program. 
• Circular Peninsula – winner of the Litter award for the Lid Rescue Project. 

Honourable Mentions were also awarded to:

• Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Wash Against Waste Event Trailer – EPA Waste Prevention and Reduction category. 
• Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation – Environment category. 

Quotes attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh:  
 
“These achievements reflect the Peninsula’s strong sense of community pride and the shared commitment of residents, volunteers and the Shire to creating a better future together.”