More than five months after a major leak forced the closure of the Hastings Club, board member Kevin Miles has issued fresh criticism of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, accusing it of neglect and unequal treatment of Western Port communities.

Speaking on RPP FM’s Peninsula Talks, Mr Miles did not hold back, stating the club had been left with no choice but to go into liquidation due to a complete lack of income and what he claims is a failure by the Shire to provide financial support.

“Right now all the repairs are still not done inside the building,” said Mr Miles. “So we’ve effectively been shut for a bit over five months now with no income whatsoever. We had no choice but to go into liquidation as we had no funds. It’s all been closed down due to no fault of our own.”

Mr Miles went on to allege that requests to the council for financial support were refused, despite the building being under the Shire’s management.

“When we’ve asked the Shire for some financial support for the club to continue, they won’t help at all – even though it’s their fault we’re shut,”

He said.

The closure of the club, originally built and funded by community volunteers in the 1960s, has already cost over $100,000 in lost bookings. Community leaders and residents continue to express disappointment and frustration at what they view as a lack of timely support from local government.

Mr Miles also raised broader concerns about what he described as an “inequity of investment” across the peninsula, suggesting the Hastings region and other Western Port townships consistently receive less attention and funding compared to other areas.

The Hastings Club served as a vital social and sporting hub for the local community, and its closure has left many residents wondering what the future holds for community facilities on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula.