Boatsheds and bathing boxes

BoatshedSafetyBeach.jpg

Boatsheds and bathing boxes are an iconic feature of the Mornington Peninsula foreshore, valued for both their historical and cultural significance. The Shire currently manages 819 of the 1,300 structures as Committee of Management under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, with the remainder managed by several Committees of Management.

The Shire oversees licensing, transfers, and maintenance of boatsheds and bathing boxes in accordance with DEECA and conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with the Marine and Coastal Act 2018 and the Building Act 1993.

Boatsheds and bathing boxes are primarily used for storing beach equipment and boats, as change facilities, and for shade and shelter. 

Boatsheds and bathing boxes must be constructed in accordance with DEECA Construction Guidelines 2015 and managed in accordance with DEECA Guidelines for the Management of Existing Bathing Boxes and Boatsheds on Marine and Coastal Crown Land March 2022. 

Boatsheds and bathing boxes must not be used as overnight accommodation and must not have any connections to water or power (either mains, battery or solar).

Which foreshores do the Shire manage?

The Shire manages boatsheds and bathing boxes on the following foreshores:

  • McCrae
  • Mornington - Fisherman's, Mills, Scout Hall and Shire Hall beaches
  • Mt Eliza - Canadian Bay, Daveys Bay, Earimil North, Earimil South, Moondah, Ranelagh and Sunnyside beaches
  • Mt Martha - Craigie, Hawker, North and South beaches
  • Portsea - Fisherman's and Shelley beaches
  • Rosebud
  • Rye
  • Safety Beach
  • Sorrento

If you are unsure on which beach your boatshed or bathing box is located, please use our interactive map. By clicking on your boatshed or bathing box on the map, the address panel will show your foreshore address, eg 43 Capel Sound Foreshore, Off Point Nepean Road.

For boatsheds and bathing boxes on the following foreshores, please contact the respective Committee of Management:

Annual licence fees

The annual boatshed and bathing box licence fee is calculated according to the size of the area the structure and decking occupy. The annual fee is included in the Schedule of Fees and Charges adopted by Council each year as part of the annual budget process.

 For 2025-2026, the licence fees are as follows:

  • Site area less than 5m2 – $898
  • Site area 5m2 and over 0150 $1,155

Licence renewal (rates) notices are sent out yearly in late August. For more information on how to pay your rates, see: Rates & Valuations

Licence transfers for sales

After the sale of a boatshed or bathing box, the licence must be formally transferred to the new owner.

The transfer fee is not included in the sale price, and the fee must be paid directly to Council in full before the licence will be transferred. The transfer fee is set by Council each year as part of the budget process. For 2025-26, the transfer fee is $4,022 or 6.5% of the Capital Improved Value (CIV) as stated on the rates notice, whichever is the greater amount.

To transfer a boatshed or bathing box licence:

Download: Boatshed Bathing Box Transfer of Licence Form 2025-2026(PDF, 142KB)

Licence transfers for deceased estates

If you require a boatshed or bathing box licence to be transferred as part of a deceased estate, contact the Property Team.

Phone: 1300 850 600
Email: property@mornpen.vic.gov.au

Document library

 

Please note that the above documents refer to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), and the Department of Water, Environment, Land, and Planning (DWELP). These departments are now known as the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

 

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