H5 Bird Flu Threat Prompts Western Port Wildlife Warning

Residents are being urged to report sick or dead birds and marine mammals as H5 bird flu threatens wildlife, tourism and poultry operations around Western Port.

Residents are being urged to report sick or dead birds and marine mammals as H5 bird flu threatens wildlife, tourism and poultry operations around Western Port.

Grade 5 students from Western Port primary schools put their engineering skills to the test at the seventh annual Inter School Activity Challenge, with Crib Point Primary School taking first place.

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.

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.

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.

A shark sighting was reported off Merricks Beach in Western Port Bay on Saturday afternoon, with the animal listed as about 50 metres from shore, according to a public Dorsal Shark Reports entry.

Warmer weather returns this week, but so does the wind. Here’s the BOM outlook for Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, plus key safety notes on UV and marine conditions.

Western Port community members gathered at Hastings foreshore for the opening of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign, joining a march and community event promoting respect and gender-based violence prevention.

Outrage is growing in Hastings after Mayor Marsh's remarks on the club's closure. Community leaders point to council inaction, unequal funding, and long-standing neglect of the Western Port region.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Anthony Marsh says council had “little choice” but not to fund the Hastings Club, sparking criticism and reigniting concerns of neglect in the Western Port area.

Tyabb Football Netball Club volunteers were forced to fill rabbit holes on Bunyguyan Reserve’s top oval after MPSC failed to deliver promised repairs, highlighting ongoing infrastructure neglect in Western Port. With the council's budget approaching, many wonder: Will Western Port be forgotten again?

The Hastings Club's closure highlights long-term underinvestment in Western Port, with residents vocally criticizing the Council's inadequate support for local sports infrastructure over decades.

Hastings MP Paul Mercurio claimed the Hastings Club is not a not-for-profit, but official records tell a different story. The club has pushed back, calling for clarity and support.

After a prolonged closure caused by delayed building repairs, the Hastings Club has entered liquidation. Community leaders are questioning Mornington Peninsula Shire’s handling of the issue.

Hastings Police and Neighbourhood Watch hosted 'Coffee with a Cop' in Somerville, fostering open discussions with the community. Learn about the event and the upcoming Emergency Services Open Day at Hastings Foreshore.

Construction has started on the Somerville to Baxter section of the Peninsula Trail, a $7.8M project funded by the Australian and Victorian governments. Cr Kate Roper, Mayor Anthony Marsh, and Paul Mercurio MP highlight its benefits for local connectivity, walking, and cycling.

Port of Hastings Chosen for Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal
The Port of Hastings has been selected as the preferred location for the development of the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal, a key project aimed at bolstering the state's offshore wind capacity.
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