Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is spending between $400,000 and $500,000 a year on memberships with local government, business and advocacy groups, but it’s unclear what ratepayers are getting in return.
The Shire pays annual fees to more than a dozen organisations, including the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), South East Melbourne (GSEM), Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), South East Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) and the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula (CFMP).
These memberships are meant to strengthen collaboration, advocacy and policy influence, but the Shire’s limited involvement suggests residents may be paying for access that isn’t being used.
Paying for a gym you never visit
It’s a bit like paying for a gym membership or Netflix subscription you never use. The money keeps going out each month, but if you’re not showing up, there’s not much value coming back.
At a Greater South East Melbourne (GSEM) advocacy event held at Victorian Parliament House, attended by MPs and regional mayors, Mornington Peninsula Shire didn’t send a representative despite paying around $55,000 a year for membership.
It’s not an isolated example. Earlier this year, STPL News reported that the Shire’s $60,000 MAV membership was also under scrutiny after councillors failed to take part in key sessions, effectively paying for representation they don’t use.
Big fees, tokenistic returns
Add in $38,000 to the VLGA, $38,000 to SECCCA, and $30,000 to $40,000 to the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula, and total membership costs climb close to half a million dollars a year.
That’s a hefty price tag for a council that only months ago raised rates to the maximum allowed under the State Government’s rate cap, warning residents it was facing financial strain and a potential “fiscal cliff”.
The contrast hasn’t gone unnoticed. Many locals say the spending doesn’t square with the council’s own warnings about financial pressure.
Calls for accountability
Community members and several councillors are now calling for a review of membership costs and engagement, arguing that ratepayer money should only go toward partnerships that deliver measurable results.
Until then, it appears Mornington Peninsula Shire will keep paying for memberships that look good on paper but offer little benefit to the people footing the bill.
