Tyabb, 13 April 2025 – A recent post by Robert Kay on the Mornington Peninsula Noticeboard VIC Facebook page has sparked widespread concerns about the ongoing neglect of infrastructure in Western Port. Kay’s post on 13 April highlighted a recent issue at the Bunyguyan Reserve in Tyabb, where members of the Tyabb Football Netball Club spent nearly four hours filling in rabbit holes on the top oval, after the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (MPSC) failed to address ongoing maintenance issues. This has prompted further concerns about the council’s handling of infrastructure on the Western Port side of the Peninsula.
A Temporary Fix for a Long-Standing Problem
On 12 April, the club’s volunteers worked to fill in the rabbit holes that have plagued the surface of the top oval for weeks. MPSC had previously indicated that the surface would be repaired prior to the match, but the only remedy provided was approximately two metres of topsoil. This minor fix led to the cancellation of a scheduled game, after umpires deemed the surface unsafe for play.
A club official shared their frustration with STPL News, saying,
“We’ve filled in the holes several times, but the ground is still unsafe. The rabbits keep coming back, and despite our efforts, the pitch is not up to standard.”
Concerns About Council’s Response
This incident has highlighted long-standing concerns about the council’s response to maintenance requests from the Western Port side of the Peninsula. Despite the club’s repeated attempts to address the issue, including complaints from the local Cricket Club, the council’s promised intervention has not materialised.
One club official questioned the council’s commitment to ensuring the safety of local athletes, saying,
“We’ve been dealing with this issue for a long time now, and we need proper action from the council to ensure the ground is safe.”
Western Port’s Struggles: A Broader Issue
The situation in Tyabb is seen by many as part of a broader issue of neglect on the Western Port side of the Mornington Peninsula. As Robert Kay wrote in his Facebook post:
“Another situation where the Western Port side of the peninsula is overlooked. Bring on the council election.”
The question many residents are now asking is:
“Would this happen at Mornington?“
Upcoming Budget Concerns: Will Western Port Be Forgotten Again?
As the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council prepares to release its budget soon, Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro has already indicated that it will be a tough budget, following the council’s unanimous decision to increase rates by the maximum 3% cap. This news has raised further concerns among Western Port residents, who are questioning whether the area will once again be sidelined in favour of more affluent parts of the Peninsula.
With many local organisations like the Hastings Club and Tyabb Football Netball Club struggling with inadequate infrastructure and ongoing maintenance issues, there is growing concern that the Western Port side will once again miss out on much-needed funding in the upcoming budget.
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