People – Strategic Direction 2

A safe, accessible, inclusive and engaged community that fosters our diverse culture, supporting health and wellbeing and a connected and compassionate society for all.

Community Focus

A vibrant future for public art on the Mornington Peninsula

Last year, after extensive community and stakeholder consultation, Council adopted the Public Art Policy. The Policy has introduced a clear and transparent framework for commissioning public art.

This Policy is all about creating opportunities for artists and enhancing our shared spaces.

web_traffic A vibrant future for public art on the Mornington Peninsula

Delivering housing for women and children on the Peninsula

Mornington Peninsula Shire has partnered with housing agencies YWCA Australia and Women’s Property Initiatives (WPI) to deliver 17 dwellings in Mornington and Hastings for essential social housing for women and children.

web_traffic Delivering housing for women and children on the Peninsula

Strategic Objective Updates

Strategic Objective 2.1 – A safe, accessible, inclusive and healthy community

Performance Measures

check_circle 24 preventative health and wellbeing initiatives delivered

cancel 1 impact assessment undertaken (Quarterly target – 4)

check_circle 2,668 youth participated in Shire provided programs

do_not_disturb_on 3,851 new compliance investigations received
3,500 compliance investigations closed

Annual Actions

2.1.1.1 Deliver the Public Health and Wellbeing Plan

  On Track

The Public Health and Wellbeing Plan was adopted by Council. The Public Health and Wellbeing Plan was submitted to the Department of Health to meet the Shire's legislative requirements under Section 26(6) of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.

The Public Health and Wellbeing Plan and Data Profile have been uploaded to the Council's website for the public to view. Currently, the Public Health and Wellbeing Plan is being adapted into Easy English and Screen Reader versions to ensure the community can broadly access the Plan.

The highlights for this quarter include the delivery of the successful Suicide Prevention Walk, which brought together more than 10 community and business partners. Council Youth Services and Community Partnerships teams. Five hundred community members attended the event, which included a memorial roll call to honour loved ones lost to suicide and provide the community with an opportunity for collective remembrance and healing. The event aims to shift the narrative around suicide, from silence and stigma to openness, empathy and community resilience.

Other activities include:

  • Nine My Smart Garden events. These were attended by 172 people, supporting residents' skill and confidence in home habitat and produce gardening
  • Delivering bike education and training accreditation in partnership with State's Department of Traffic and Planning. Fourteen teachers participated, enabling schools to teach curriculum aligned bike skills education, encouraging young people to ride their bikes safely and for physical activity
  • Installing pad and tampon vending machines across three locations, through the State's Free Pads and Tampons program

2.1.2.1 Deliver the We All Belong Strategy

  On Track

We started development on Ageism and Elder Abuse Awareness training to support Positive Ageing programs. Key events delivered from the Positive Ageing programs include the successful Dying to Know Day with 120 attendees and the Youth Week “Create IT” art competition and workshops, which engaged over 85 young artists.

Additional activities delivered that align with the We All Belong Strategy include:

  • Introducing a beach matting trial at Mount Martha Lifesaving Club to enable year-round water access for cold water swimmers of all abilities
  • Resumption of the All Abilities Golf program, which recorded strong participation
  • Introducing communication lanyards featuring universal symbols to support people with communication differences at community events
  • Strengthening staff capacity through the rollout of a Universal Design training module

2.1.2.2 Deliver the Gender quality Strategy

  On Track

A mid-term review of the Gender Equality Strategy has been completed and the Strategy updated to reflect accurate family violence/gender equality statistics, policies and key achievements. The Health and Wellbeing Committee endorsed the updated Strategy and Year 6 Gender Equality Action Plan on 25 August 2025.

Implementation of the Year 6 Action Plan has begun, with the organisation of community events for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. We also began preparing our Gender Equality Workforce Audit for submission on 1 December 2025 and completed an Equity Impact Assessment for the Dromana Shared Path Project.

2.1.3.1 Implement the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

  On Track

Highlights delivered in support of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan include:

  • Celebrating public art, cultural workshops, film screenings and storytelling sessions as part of NAIDOC Week
  • Delivering a collaborative public artwork by First Nations students and artist Sammy Trist, which was installed on the external wall of the Rosebud Tounnin Wominjeka Youth Hub
  • Collaborating with Willum Warrain to deliver a morning of storytelling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day at Hastings Library and an Elders Story Time with Aunty Fay Muir for Indigenous Literacy Day at Mornington Library
  • Delivering the Junior Ranger program in collaboration with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, with over 90 First Nations primary and secondary students engaging in the program

2.1.4.1 Develop the Local Water Safety Plan

  On Track

The development of the Local Water Safety Plan is nearing completion. Remaining tasks include installing water safety signage on Peninsula Link and securing the adoption of the Water Safety Plan by the Mornington Peninsula Water Safety Alliance.

2.1.5.1 Implement the Triple A Housing Plan

  On Track

The Mornington Peninsula has the highest proportion of people experiencing sleeping rough under the Functional Zero program, including those in Melbourne's CBD. We remain committed to advocating for and providing homelessness services in the Shire.

Currently, we are partnering with WPI and YWCA to develop women’s housing on four parcels of land in Hastings and Mornington. We are pleased to announce that we have received funding from the State Government and construction on this project is set to begin in the coming weeks.

Based on community feedback indicating 84% support for the development of social housing in Rosebud, we are actively seeking funding from government programs and private investors to advance this project.

2.1.6.1 Develop the Community Disaster Resilience Plan

  On Track

The draft Community Disaster Resilience Plan was publicly exhibited from 3 to 30 September 2025. Feedback is being collated and analysed. The final draft plan will be taken to a briefing of the Executive and then Council, before going back to Council for adoption by December 2025.

2.1.6.2 Emergency Relief Hub Energy Resilience Upgrade

  Off Track

The project to upgrade the Emergency Relief Energy Hub has officially started, beginning with a research phase aimed at clearly defining the project's scope. The findings from this initial phase will lay the groundwork for subsequent planning and implementation stages, with a working group to be established in the next quarter.

Work on the project was delayed due to the Organisational restructure and will recommence in October.

Strategic Objective 2.2 – An engaged and connected community

Performance Measures

check_circle 69 programs delivered via Community Houses (Target – increase)

check_circle 75 community-led events and projects, supported by Council, that promote social connection (Target – increase)

check_circle 8,364 community members participated in Library programs (Target – increase)

counter_6 6 new engagement projects

arrow_circle_up 62,506 followers and subscribers across communication mediums (3.3% increase)

Annual Actions

2.2.2.1 Develop the Sports Capacity Plan V2 and 3

  On Track

The draft Plans have been publicly exhibited with community feedback informing the final Plans. The Plans are scheduled to go before Council for adoption on 5 November 2025.

2.2.2.2 Develop the Playspace and Outdoor Exercise Strategy

  On Track

The development of the Strategy is scheduled to begin in November 2025. A Project Brief and plan has been developed in Q1. All playground audits and a gap analysis (through the Open Space Strategy) have been completed in preparation of the strategies development.

2.2.2.3 Develop the Pavilion Strategy

  On Track

We are currently finalising the draft of the Pavilion Strategy. This strategy will incorporate the sports facility development standards outlined in the Sport Capacity Plan once it is adopted. We expect to present the draft Pavilion Strategy to the Council for public exhibition in early 2026. Additionally, we have created a priority list of pavilion projects based on an audit of our existing pavilions.

2.2.3.1 Develop the Arts, Culture and Events Strategy 2026-2036

  On Track

We have engaged a consultant to deliver a background paper that will inform the creation of the Arts, Culture and Events Strategy 2026-2036. The background paper is expected at the end of November 2025.

A consultation plan and community engagement survey have been developed and are planned to go live in mid-October 2025. Consultation with key stakeholders, Arts and Culture Advisory Panel members and Councillors has been completed.

2.2.4.1 Implement the Library Strategy

  On Track

Actions delivered in support of the Library Strategy include:

  • Completing a review of OliV, Our Library Van, with the recommendations from the review to be implemented in February 2026.
  • Completing the July and September School Holiday programs.
  • Celebrating NAIDOC Week with activities.
  • Successfully securing grant funding to deliver the Libraries After Dark program.

Actions scheduled for next quarter include:

  • Implementing a new procurement process.
  • Planning for January School Holiday programs.
  • Installing a new chute at Somerville Library.
  • Holding a Community Engagement Survey.

2.2.5.1 Improve community engagement process for Shire projects and commence review of Community engagement Strategy

  Off Track

The Community Engagement function has been moved to the Communities Directorate as part of the Organisational Structure review. This aims to create stronger links between our services and programs and the community engagement we undertake. Due to this realignment the work on updating our approach to community engagement has been put on hold until the Organisational Structure review is completed in October.