Mornington Peninsula Shire is facing a by-election bill of about $200,000 after Liberal Anthony Marsh’s win in the Nepean by-election.
Marsh is currently the Briars Ward councillor and Mayor of Mornington Peninsula Shire, but he cannot continue as both a councillor and a member of the Victorian Parliament.
His move to Spring Street means he will leave both roles, triggering a vacancy in Briars Ward and forcing voters back to the polls.
The ABC has reported the Liberal Party retained the seat of Nepean, with Anthony Marsh succeeding former Liberal MP Sam Groth, who resigned from parliament in February.
By-Election Date Now In Focus
The Victorian Electoral Commission is expected to confirm the Briars Ward by-election date once the council vacancy is formally created.
Under the VEC’s extraordinary vacancy timetable, a vacancy occurring between 7 March and 8 May 2026 would place the by-election on 1 August 2026.
If the vacancy occurs between 9 May and 10 July 2026, the by-election would instead be held on 3 October 2026.
STPL News understands the Briars Ward by-election is expected to cost Mornington Peninsula Shire about $200,000, with that cost ultimately falling to ratepayers.
Marsh To Leave Council Leadership
Marsh was re-elected mayor in November 2025, with Tanti Ward councillor Paul Pingiaro continuing as deputy mayor.
At the time, Mornington Peninsula Shire said both councillors would serve in their positions for the next 12 months.
That arrangement will now be cut short.
Marsh’s election to state parliament means he will no longer remain mayor or Briars Ward councillor, leaving council to deal with both a leadership change and a ward vacancy.
Staff Express Disappointment And Relief
Several Mornington Peninsula Shire staff members have told STPL News, on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly, that they were disappointed Marsh was elected to state parliament.
However, those same staff members also expressed relief that Marsh is expected to no longer serve as mayor or councillor.
Their comments do not represent the official position of Mornington Peninsula Shire.
Monitor Process Will Outlast Marsh’s Time On Council
Marsh’s departure also raises a question about the state-appointed municipal monitors currently examining governance at Mornington Peninsula Shire.
Municipal Monitors Prue Digby and Rebecca McKenzie were appointed to Mornington Peninsula Shire from mid-January, with council stating the monitors would observe council meetings and processes with a focus on councillor conduct and good governance.
Local Government Victoria lists the monitors as being in place for 12 months, from 19 January 2026 until 18 January 2027.
That means Marsh will be gone from council before the monitor process reaches its conclusion, leaving ratepayers to fund the by-election required to replace him while any direct council-level consequence may no longer be available.
The issue is not whether the monitors can examine events that occurred while Marsh was mayor or councillor. They can.
The question is whether any findings directly linked to Marsh would carry practical councillor-level consequences if he is no longer sitting on council when the process ends.
For Briars Ward voters, the immediate consequence is clearer: another election, another campaign, and an expected $200,000 cost to replace a councillor now headed to state parliament.
