Catch up on the latest news from the Somerville Times & Peninsula Local.
Capel Sound’s netball courts have won a state innovation award after Mornington Peninsula Shire resurfaced them using recycled household paint. The Truemans Road Reserve project took out the Innovation in Parks, Sport and Recreation category at the Parks and Leisure…
New bus timetable changes are now in effect across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, with revised services, improved train connections, additional Saturday services on Route 833 and the withdrawal of Route 786. Passengers are encouraged to check the latest timetables before travelling.
Wayne Murray, a Rye resident has raised concerns about the condition and durability of Melbourne’s road network, questioning why newer roads appear to require more frequent major repairs compared to older infrastructure.
South east manufacturers have used SEMMA’s energy forum to call for gas exploration in Victoria and renewed debate on nuclear power, arguing stable and affordable energy remains critical to local manufacturing jobs.
A Bittern man has had his licence suspended and vehicle impounded after police alleged he returned a breath test reading more than five times the legal alcohol limit following a two-car collision in Mount Martha.
CJ Castle Care & Support Pty Ltd, the Somerville-linked disability provider founded by director Richard Ingram, has been ordered wound up in insolvency after failing to deal with a $15,565.65 statutory demand over unpaid portable long service levies. The order…
A rumoured political snub is circulating on the Mornington Peninsula after new Mayor Stephen Batty did not attend Anthony Marsh’s maiden speech in State Parliament. Marsh, the new Liberal Member for Nepean and former Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor, delivered his…
Cr Stephen Batty has been elected Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor after councillors broke a two-week deadlock following repeated tied votes.
A 22-year-old Hastings woman has died after a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of Balnarring and Myers roads in Merricks North.
Frankston City Mayor Cr Sue Baker and CEO Tennille Bradley will take part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout as council calls for $2.5 million in State Government funding to expand local homelessness outreach.
Safety Beach resident Joe Lenzo argues the Mornington Peninsula Shire should focus more on clear communication and practical waste education if it wants to reduce recycling and FOGO bin contamination.
Mornington Peninsula Shire has started random kerbside bin audits after recycling contamination added $1 million to waste fees, with household bins checked for wrong items left out for collection.
Young people in Frankston have two days left to help shape the city’s next five-year youth plan, with feedback closing on 31 May.
The Salvation Army says vulnerable Australians are skipping meals, eating expired food and struggling with power and medical costs, as homelessness pressures continue across the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston.
RedBridge director Kos Samaras says new modelling points to “the end of the Menzies project”, with One Nation projected to overtake the Coalition if an election were held now.
The Mornington Peninsula has received three honours at the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Awards, recognising local projects in reef restoration, conservation and youth environmental education.
Newly elected Liberal MP Anthony Marsh alleged Safety Beach retiree Joe Lenzo harassed him with repeated emails, mocking language and the nickname “Marshy” during Marsh’s time as mayor. Marsh later withdrew the case after winning Nepean. No final order was made.
Mornington Peninsula Shire has been forced to scale back the Emil Madsen upgrade after councillors ignored officer concerns in February and backed a larger option that exceeded available funding, reigniting debate over sporting infrastructure priorities across the shire.
One Nation’s Farrer breakthrough has added weight to warning signs already visible in Nepean, where the party topped several booths and exposed pressure on the Liberal primary vote. With Hastings held by Labor on a narrow margin, November’s Victorian state election could be far more volatile than expected.
Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors will be asked to scale back the Emil Madsen Western Pavilion project, less than three months after the Marsh-led bloc of six backed a larger option that officers now say has a significant funding gap.
Frankston’s Australia’s Most Accessible Beach program will return next summer after strong demand during its first season at Frankston Foreshore.
Somerville Football Netball Club is heading into the 2026 season with confidence, strong recruitment and a clear focus on success both on and off the field.
The Liberal Party is being labelled desperate after copies of an anti-One Nation flyer, authorised by the party itself, began circulating across the Nepean electorate.
Police have released CCTV images as they investigate a hit-run collision on the Peninsula Freeway at Rosebud, where a driver allegedly fled the scene on foot before the offending vehicle was driven away.
Anthony Marsh is facing fresh scrutiny after appearing to mark a pothole on White Hill Road, a state-managed 80 km/h arterial road, without visible hi-vis gear or traffic control. STPL News has contacted Roads Minister Melissa Horne for comment.
Frank Schiefler has been chosen by the Liberal Party for endorsement as its candidate for Hastings at the November Victorian state election, with a formal public announcement still pending.
The Victorian Liberal Party appears to have repeated in Hastings the same top-down preselection play used in Nepean, raising fresh questions about rank-and-file members being shut out and the political cost of party arrogance.
Frankston local Dan Stroede says his debut novel Spencer Sparkles is building momentum, with strong reader feedback, local interest and growing attention around the book.
A local resident says uneven access to services, transport and community facilities across the Mornington Peninsula is leaving some suburbs isolated, particularly older residents and people living with disability.
A letter to the editor argues Australia’s fuel crisis is not solely a government failure, but the result of global instability, disrupted oil supply routes and long-term policy decisions that weakened fuel security.
The latest edition of the Somerville Times has flown off shelves at some collection points, with the allocated print supply moving quicker than usual. Readers who missed out can access the digital version now, with collection points set to be refilled on Monday.
The latest edition of the Somerville Times is rolling out now and will be available at all collection points from tomorrow, featuring local headlines, election coverage and community issues.
The northern section of the Somerville to Baxter Trail is now open, but the full link remains incomplete as work continues on a key crossing near Frankston-Flinders Road.
One Nation candidate Darren Hercus says the party does not want to play a support role in the Nepean by-election, instead pitching itself as a genuine contender while campaigning on cost of living, housing, crime and Rosebud Hospital.
Five candidates have announced campaigns for the 2026 Nepean by-election following the resignation of Sam Groth. STPL News is tracking the candidates and key developments as the campaign unfolds.
A claim that Mornington Peninsula mayor Anthony Marsh increased road funding by 72% is examined against council records, budgets and procurement documents. The fact check looks at when the increase occurred and what decisions led to the higher spending.
Rosebud local Tracee Hutchison has launched her campaign as a community independent in the Nepean state by-election. She will contest against Liberal candidate and MPSC mayor Anthony Marsh, Darren Hercus, Libertarian Peter Angelico, and the Greens candidate. Hutchison pledges to fight for local healthcare, ensure fair government spending, and be the first woman to represent Nepean.
As International Women’s Day is marked across the Mornington Peninsula, it is hard not to reflecting on the inspirational life of Annie Moriah Sage, a pioneering nurse from Somerville whose leadership in maternal and child health helped shape nursing and community care across Victoria.
STPL News issues a statement responding to an MP News article by Cameron McCullough, clarifying the matter is a civil enforcement process and raising concerns about omitted key details and misleading framing.
A vacant shop at Bayside Shopping Centre will be converted into a pop-up street art studio from 19–22 March as part of the 2026 Frankston Street Art Festival, with tours, workshops and a post-festival silent auction.
STPL News has published an interim snapshot of results from the Rate Your State MP survey, covering Hastings, Mornington and Frankston for the 2022–2026 term. The survey is ongoing and voluntary. See response totals, key themes and interim grades, and take the survey.
Frankston City Council has released its “Frankston City First” advocacy priorities ahead of the 2026 Victorian state election, seeking $17.05 million for pavilions, shared paths, public spaces and support services across Frankston, Carrum and Hastings.
Latest edition of the Somerville Times by STPL News.
Somerville Times returns on Wednesday 25 February 2026 with a refreshed layout and design, leading with coverage of the monitors’ appointment and terms of reference and confirmed developments in the Nepean race involving Mayor Anthony Marsh. This edition also includes a local crime roundup, a Rate Your MP survey snapshot and how to participate, an MPCA Country Week carnival recap, Australia Day in Hastings revisited, and more.
STPL News’ Rate Your MP survey is tracking what locals want prioritised in 2026. Early responses point to cost of living, crime, roads and housing as key issues across Hastings, Mornington and Frankston.
Stephen Batty says his resignation from Frankston Football Club had nothing to do with the alleged fraud inquiry, instead citing unrelated board decisions and governance concerns.
STPL News has launched a community feedback survey inviting residents in Hastings, Mornington and Frankston to rate their local state MP’s performance during the current parliamentary term (2022–2026). Nepean will open after the by-election result.
A shark sighting near Rye Pier has been reported by swimmers after a large fin surfaced close to shore. The animal later swam toward the pier, prompting swimmers to return to shore and warn others.
Sam Groth has resigned as the Liberal Member for Nepean, prompting a by-election. In a statement dated 4 February 2026, the Leader of the Opposition thanked Groth for his contribution and said the contest would focus on cost of living, crime, health and housing ahead of the November 2026 state election.
Australia Day begins warm before a hot mid-week spike across the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston, with UV expected to stay high to extreme. A cooler change is forecast for the weekend, with light showers possible on Saturday.
