RPP News Wrap - 28 Sept to 2 Oct
Public Safety and Police
Police Rule Out Hit Run in Rosebud Death Inquiry
Police are continuing to investigate the death of a 57-year-old Rosebud man found critically injured at Point Nepean and Boneo roads on Saturday morning.
Passersby performed CPR, but the man died at the scene.
Investigators are no longer treating the death as a potential hit-run and have spoken to a bus driver as part of their inquiries.
Somerville Highway Patrol will prepare a report for the coroner and is seeking witnesses, dashcam footage and CCTV.
Two Fatal House Fires in Five Days
Two people died in house fires in the greater Frankston area within five days, with the causes of both blazes still under investigation.
A person was found dead inside a Rhone Grove home in Skye after emergency services were called about 10.40am on Monday.
Police said that fire was not believed to be suspicious at this stage; a 51-year-old woman had died in a Stanley Street, Frankston, fire the previous Thursday.
Anyone with information about either fire has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
Three Teenagers Charged Over Langwarrin Stabbing
Three teenagers have been charged over the stabbing of a Langwarrin man who confronted youths allegedly trying to break into a vehicle.
Police allege the 41-year-old was stabbed outside a Govan Street property shortly after midnight on Saturday.
He remained in hospital during the week, but his condition improved from critical to stable.
Two 16-year-olds from the Casey area and a 17-year-old from the Frankston area were remanded to face a children’s court on charges including intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence.
Police Inspector Finds Crime at the Fuel Pump
A police inspector trying to refuel in Moorabbin was twice diverted by vehicles allegedly displaying stolen number plates.
He first spotted a Subaru at a South Road service station and arrested a Seaford man nearby after the driver fled.
Returning for another attempt to refuel, he saw a Jeep also allegedly carrying stolen plates and arrested two more people with help from colleagues.
The two encounters produced three arrests and two allegedly stolen vehicles — but no confirmation that the inspector ever filled his tank.
Councils and Community
Premier Shelves Proposed Change to Council Rate Cap
Premier Ben Carroll has shelved a reported proposal to loosen Victoria’s council rate cap.
The Herald Sun reported the former government had considered allowing councils to recover wage costs outside the cap, but the proposal was dropped.
The existing rules remain for Mornington Peninsula and Frankston councils, with average rate increases capped at 2.75 per cent this financial year.
Councils say the cap pressures budgets and services, while the government says it helps protect household finances.
Meals on Wheels Secured Until at Least 2029
Mornington Peninsula Shire has voted unanimously to continue its in-home aged care services, including Meals on Wheels, until at least June 2029.
Council reversed its June decision to withdraw after the Commonwealth extended the Home Support Program for two years, giving providers greater certainty.
Councillor Paul Pingiaro acknowledged the distress caused by the earlier decision and praised volunteers whose visits can be a vital point of human contact.
Existing clients can continue receiving council support while longer-term arrangements are settled.
Rooming House Review Defeated by One Vote
Frankston’s 121 registered rooming houses — up from 70 in 2020 — are again under scrutiny over housing standards, safety and community consultation.
Council data cited 135 complaints in two years, at least 456 contacts or attendances by environmental health staff and 116 inspections.
Councillor Nathan Butler’s call for a state review, stronger protections and better enforcement was defeated five votes to four.
Councillor Brad Hill argued extra planning permits would add red tape.
McCrae Residents Challenge Shipping Container Barrier Plan
Mornington Peninsula Mayor Stephen Batty is facing criticism from displaced McCrae residents over council’s latest proposal to help them return home.
Two temporary barriers made from filled shipping containers could allow three households to return, subject to engineering and safety approvals.
The evacuated residents group says it rejected the idea a year ago and wants an independently verified, fully funded recovery plan with firm return dates.
Batty says the barriers offer a quick, robust safety response; ratepayers will fund the work, with costs still being finalised.
Briars Ward Postal Ballot Closes
Postal voting to choose former mayor Anthony Marsh’s replacement in Briars Ward closed at 6pm on Friday.
The successful candidate is expected to join Mornington Peninsula Shire Council later in October.
Two candidates contested the vacancy, including Mount Martha business leader and mother of two Christine Leahy.
Leahy campaigned on financial management, safer roads, the green wedge and leadership through collaboration.
Politics and Economy
Coalition Promotes Fuel Shield for Peninsula Motorists
Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie is promoting the Coalition’s Fuel Shield proposal as relief for Peninsula motorists facing rising living costs.
She cited interest rate rises, inflation, petrol prices approaching three dollars a litre and the region’s limited public transport options.
The proposal would temporarily cut fuel excise by 27 cents and reduce the road-user charge to zero if oil remained above US$100 a barrel for two weeks.
Those reductions would remain for about three months or until the oil price fell back below the trigger level.
Regional Election Forum Draws Strong Interest
Sitting MPs and election candidates for Frankston, Hastings, Mornington and Nepean will take part in a regional forum next month.
The Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula will hold the event at Mornington Racecourse on 6 November from 11am to 1.30pm.
Journalist Heidi Murphy will moderate discussion on regional priorities, with guests able to submit questions.
Organisers said 300 places had already sold, with tickets available to both members and the public.
Coast Environment and Fire
Portsea Sand Squad Demands Its Beach Back
About 50 volunteers formed a bucket brigade at Portsea front beach, sending an election-year message to the State Government to restore the foreshore.
Local benefactor Max Beck said sand loss since the channel deepening had left the once-celebrated beach looking like a war zone and brought him to tears.
Mornington Peninsula Shire wants a permanent solution before the temporary sandbag wall reaches the end of its expected life in 2029.
Nepean MP Anthony Marsh and Mornington MP Chris Crewther have sought release of a government coastal study that the Environment Minister said was in its final stages.
Mud Islands Monitoring Continues After Bird Flu Tests
Wildlife officers are continuing to monitor Mud Islands near Portsea for signs of H5 bird flu.
A small number of dead pelicans spotted during aerial surveillance earlier in September tested negative for the virus.
The islands, about six kilometres northeast of Portsea, are an important nesting site for pelicans and other seabirds.
People who find sick or dead birds are urged not to touch them and to report the sighting.
Victoria Opens Fire Restrictions Early
Victoria’s first fire restrictions of the season began at 1pm on Monday, two weeks earlier than last year.
The CFA cited exceptionally dry conditions, low soil moisture and heavy fuel loads across the state’s southeast.
The restrictions did not yet apply in Frankston or on the Mornington Peninsula, because fire danger periods are declared separately for each council area.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan urged households to clear dry grass and leaves and prepare a fire plan.
Main Ridge Launch Sharpens Local Fire Warning
Fuel loads were front and centre when the CFA launched its statewide Get Fire Ready campaign at Main Ridge, where the last major fire was in 1997.
Brigade captain Matt Gallace said the district has no reticulated water supply, leaving firefighters reliant on local tanks, dams and swimming pools.
He warned the CFA cannot put a truck at every house and urged residents to prepare properties while visitors learn the area’s fire risks.
Main Ridge and Red Hill brigades will jointly host a community preparation event, with details available from the CFA.
Culture Heritage and Recognition
Three Frankston Projects Reach Tidy Town Finals
Three Frankston City projects were named finalists in the 2026 Victorian Tidy Towns and Cities Awards.
Great South Side was recognised for its women’s clothing exchange and donations to Dress for Success.
Frankston’s accessible beach program was shortlisted for transforming the foreshore for people with disability.
The community-led Seaford Banksia Arboretum project was also selected after volunteers planted more than 2,500 banksias on degraded roadside land.
Steam and Red Rattlers Return to the Frankston Line
A steam locomotive and heritage Red Rattler carriages carried passengers between Mordialloc and Glen Huntly on Sunday.
The excursion marked the steam train’s first visit to the new Mordialloc Station.
The carriages date from 1908 and retain features including opening windows and pressed-metal ceilings.
Steamrail staged the journey while celebrating 60 years of its Vintage Train tours.
Mornington Remembers Illustrator Terry Denton
Mornington is remembering celebrated children’s author and illustrator Terry Denton, who died aged 76.
His drawings brought Andy Griffiths’ Treehouse series to life for millions of young readers.
Denton was a familiar and much-loved visitor to Farrells Bookshop in Mornington.
The bookstore said his imagination and humour would continue reaching children through the books he leaves behind.
Aquatic Centre to Honour Bay Pioneer Linda McGill
The North Bellarine Aquatic Centre will be named for Linda McGill, the first person to swim across Port Phillip Bay to Frankston.
McGill completed the 40-kilometre crossing in 1968, spending about 13 hours in a shark cage.
She was also the first Australian to swim the English Channel, later swam around Hong Kong Island and received an MBE.
Greater Geelong Council approved the Linda McGill Aquatic Centre name following overwhelming public support.
Frankston Pines Named Metropolitan Club of the Year
Frankston Pines Soccer Club has been named Victoria’s 2026 Metropolitan Club of the Year.
The award recognised stronger governance, financial sustainability and child safety under the club’s first all-female executive committee in 60 years.
The club has worked to rebuild its junior and senior programs while creating opportunities for all-abilities players.
Frankston Pines credited its players, coaches, volunteers and wider community for the achievement.
Local Sport
Recruitment and Rivalries Launch the MPCA Season
The 2026–27 MPCA season opened with RPP FM’s Bendigo Bank Match of the Day between Tyabb and Moorooduc, clubs that last met in 1973–74, with coverage beginning on RPP FM Plus before all frequencies joined.
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