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Published on 06 November 2026
The Australian Government has approved Mornington Peninsula Shire’s application to redirect $5 million in grant funding towards further upgrades at Emil Madsen Recreation Reserve. In 2022, the Federal Government awarded Mornington Peninsula Shire a $15 million grant to deliver Stage 1 of the Master Plan. Thanks to careful project management, the Shire completed the works with money to spare. The remaining funding will deliver a range of additional upgrades, including improvements to netball facilities, playing surfaces, site access and parking. Mayor Stephen Batty welcomed the Australian Government’s decision. “We have delivered Stage 1 of this Master Plan on time and under budget. That's a credit to our project team and a great result for ratepayers. We are grateful that the Federal Government backs that success and lets us reinvest the savings into more upgrades for our community,” Cr Batty said. Ward Councillor Bruce Ranken said that completed works are already in use. “We are just about to hand over the brand-new Eastern Pavilion to the user groups. We’re ready to keep building,“ Cr Ranken said. The Emil Madsen Reserve supports around 5,000 active club members across its various user groups, making it one of the most heavily used sporting precincts in our municipality. Council appreciates the ongoing support and patience of the reserve user groups and the local community, as we carry out these works. The Shire will now work with our contractors to progress the additional works, with planning and delivery arrangements being finalised and scheduled for completion by end of February 2027.