🚨 Crime, Police and Public Safety
Bullet threat fails to intimidate Frankston MP
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke says he will not be intimidated after a bullet was left on his car bonnet.
The bullet bore the word “rat” and the Police and Emergency Services Minister’s former firefighter number.
United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall condemned the threat and pledged full cooperation with police.
Responsibility has not been established, with the incident occurring amid a firefighters’ pay dispute and union campaign against Labor.
Bentons Square fire destroys butcher’s shop
An overnight fire destroyed Lindens Meats and damaged neighbouring businesses at Bentons Square Shopping Centre.
Firefighters reached the Dunns Road centre at 12.31am and brought the blaze under control within 20 minutes.
The Pantry House cafe and Top Pho were also damaged, forcing the Mornington centre to close for safety checks.
Investigations are continuing, with no cause or reopening time confirmed in the week’s bulletins.
Frankston beach death referred to coroner
Emergency services were called to the Gould Street foreshore just before 5pm after reports of a man missing in the water.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
The death came almost a year after two men drowned near Frankston Pier.
In that earlier incident, a friend entered rough water to help a surfer in difficulty and neither survived.
Summer police operation targets beaches and jet skis
Operation Summersafe begins on Sunday with extra police patrols across Peninsula beaches and waterways.
Local officers will be backed by Water Police, mounted police and the Public Order Response Team.
Police will target dangerous jet-ski riding, violence and antisocial behaviour, with drug and alcohol testing for riders.
The Peninsula recorded 54 drowning deaths from 2014 to 2024—nine times the Victorian council-area average.
Operation Furlong puts Cup weekend drivers on notice
Motorists are being warned to expect widespread road policing over the Melbourne Cup break.
Police will target speeding, impaired driving, distraction, fatigue and seatbelt offences through Wednesday night.
Victoria Police says speeding has contributed to 29 per cent of road fatalities this year.
Almost 3,000 speeding motorists were detected during last year’s operation.
PSO patrol powers retained at Bayside precinct
Protective services officers remain authorised to patrol Frankston’s Bayside shopping precinct under new regulations.
The permanent arrangements followed the expiry of the precinct’s temporary designation.
Bayside is among 70 shopping centres and eight shopping precincts designated across Victoria.
The published notice sets patrol boundaries but does not specify staffing numbers, hours or whether Frankston gains extra patrols.
New Blairgowrie crash material referred to IBAC
New information about the 2013 Blairgowrie crash involving the Andrews family’s SUV and cyclist Ryan Meuleman has been referred to IBAC.
The Herald Sun reports police assessed material supplied by former chief commissioner Kel Glare.
Daniel Andrews and his family deny wrongdoing.
The referral does not confirm that IBAC will investigate or establish any wrongdoing.
McKenzie briefs federal police over security concerns
Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie says she and her staff have become more vigilant following the attack on Helen Haines.
Speaking on RPP FM’s Peninsula Talks, she reported a rise in behaviour causing concern.
Ms McKenzie says she has briefed the Australian Federal Police.
She believes community anxiety and anger can intensify around election periods and says proper reporting processes must be followed.
🏥 Health, Housing and Community Support
Emergency department pressure renews Rosebud debate
High demand at Peninsula University Hospital prompted warnings of longer emergency-department waits over the weekend.
Non-urgent patients were directed towards urgent-care clinics, GPs and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department.
Save Rosebud Hospital convenor Sue Gilbert says greater capacity at Rosebud could help relieve pressure across the Peninsula.
She wants every party to state its position on a rebuild before the state election.
Mornington gains supported housing and outreach service
Twenty supported-housing beds are planned for Mornington after land was secured for a project funded through Victoria’s short-stay levy.
Housing Minister Nick Staikos also confirmed an outreach service backed by $2.1 million for two workers over four years.
The announcements follow sustained advocacy by support centres, the Southern Women’s Action Network, council and business groups.
Separately, ten homes for women and children are being built by YWCA Australia on Shire-leased land with Homes Victoria funding.
Podcast series confronts Peninsula gambling harm
Mornington Peninsula Shire has launched a three-part podcast series on gambling harm and available support.
The series features a Deakin University researcher, a lived-experience advocate and a Gambler’s Help representative.
It aims to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help during Gambling Harm Awareness Week.
Almost $88 million was lost on Peninsula poker machines in 2023–24—about $240,000 each day.
🏛️ Council, Politics and Development
Frankston rejects proposed governance-rule changes
Frankston Council rejected proposed changes to its meeting rules after almost an hour of debate.
The review followed five councillor sessions and consultation informed by IBAC concerns raised through Operation Sandon.
Disputed issues included word limits, alternative proposals and bundling several matters into a single vote.
The main proposal and an alternative both failed, leaving the existing rules in place with scope for a later review.
Seventy-million-dollar Davey Street project approved
Frankston Council has approved a $70 million mixed-use development in the city centre.
The 15-storey Davey Street project includes more than 140 apartments and an 80-room, round-the-clock hotel.
The revised proposal is 20 car spaces short of the original specification and drew objections from neighbours and the adjacent Deck bar.
The developer will fund the widening and extension of Bay Lane between Davey Street and Nepean Highway.
Frankston planning decisions beat state average
Frankston Council says its town-planning service is meeting every key performance target.
It recorded 73 per cent of decisions within statutory timeframes in 2024–25, above the statewide average of 69 per cent.
The result also exceeded figures cited for Mornington Peninsula, Kingston and Casey.
More recent data put Frankston’s performance at 75.17 per cent.
Leahy joins Shire as council backs key strategies
Mornington Peninsula Shire formally welcomed Christine Leahy as the new Briars Ward councillor.
The company director replaces Anthony Marsh following his move to State Parliament.
Council also tabled its annual report, which Deputy Mayor Paul Pingiaro said showed encouraging trends.
Councillors unanimously supported the Peninsula Towards Zero road-safety strategy and Green Wedge protection.
Shire election forums sharpen local advocacy
Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula chief executive Josh Sinclair has praised the Shire’s candidate forums.
The three-part series tested candidates across local electorates on issues important to council and the community.
Mr Sinclair says the forums strengthen the Shire’s case when lobbying ministers, shadow ministers and political leaders.
He hopes the public-question format continues beyond this election campaign.
🚧 Roads, Coast and Environment
Mount Eliza group demands action at three intersections
Residents want safety upgrades at Nepean Highway intersections with Volitans Avenue, Mount Eliza Way and Baden Powell Drive.
They cite speeding traffic, poor sightlines and short gaps between vehicles.
Campaigners say the Wooralla Drive–Mount Eliza Way junction has recorded 24 crashes since 2012, including three fatalities.
An online petition seeks independent safety audits and publication of crash and injury data.
Smart patrol van finds more than 300 road defects
A pothole-detecting patrol van recorded more than 300 road defects during a two-month Peninsula trial.
RMIT and RACV equipped the vehicle with artificial intelligence, GPS, video and movement sensors.
Defects were most common along Frankston–Flinders Road through Tyabb, Hastings, Bittern and Balnarring.
The trial continues until January and could lead to larger fleets identifying damage before it becomes dangerous.
Portsea campaign presses for permanent beach fix
Residents and businesses are rallying behind the Bring Back Our Beach campaign before Portsea consultation closes.
Ratepayers’ president Colin Watson favours a wave screen and groyne to reduce wave energy and help retain sand.
The existing sandbag seawall is expected to reach the end of its life in 2029.
Sand replenishment at Brighton’s Dendy Beach highlights a shared bay-wide erosion challenge, although causes and solutions vary by location.
Crib Point students win state environmental award
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School at Crib Point has been recognised as a Victorian state winner in the Paint Australia Beautiful competition.
Grade five and six students worked with OzFish to study mangrove ecosystems and Western Port marine life.
The program involved collecting, propagating and planting mangrove seeds and gathering environmental data.
More than 1,000 mangroves planted at Woolleys Beach also inspired a mural celebrating local wildlife.
🌱 Community, Heritage and Local Achievement
Book records three decades of women’s advocacy
Southern Women’s Action Network is launching Where Swans Fly, documenting 30 years of community work.
Founded in 1996, the group created forums addressing human rights, homelessness, equality, aged care and family violence.
Its work also covered First Nations issues and contributed to roundtables and government submissions.
The launch accompanies a portrait exhibition, while Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea is taking the book to Parliament.
Young Peninsula auctioneer steps onto The Block
Former Frankston High School student Ryan King is appearing as the youngest auctioneer in The Block’s history.
The 22-year-old has established a career as a Mornington Peninsula sales agent.
He will auction house number five for father-and-daughter contestants Rick and Tayla.
The auction episode screens nationally on Sunday night.
HMAS Cerberus receives Freedom of Entry
Mornington Peninsula Shire is granting Freedom of Entry to HMAS Cerberus on Saturday, 31 October.
The honour recognises more than a century of connections between the naval training base and the community.
Cerberus personnel and the Royal Australian Navy Band will march from the Esplanade along Main Street to Albert Street.
The ceremony runs from 9.30am to 10.15am, with temporary road closures in central Mornington.
Local services mark Remembrance Day
Pearcedale residents are invited to a Remembrance Day commemoration at the public hall on 11 November.
The City of Casey-supported event runs from 9am until 11.30am.
Frankston RSL will also hold a service at the Frankston War Memorial in Beauty Park.
Australians observe a minute’s silence at 11am for those who died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
🏆 Sport
Langwarrin juniors named Victoria’s community club of the year
Langwarrin Junior Football Club has been named AFL Victoria’s Community Club of the Year.
The Lloyd Park club has more than 750 players across 37 teams.
It was recognised for player development, inclusion, wellbeing, cultural recognition and community connections.
The club also strengthened senior pathways and achieved Women and Girls Chartered Club status.
Rain fails to wash away local cricket highlights
Pines and Baden Powell drew in RPP FM’s broadcast match during a rain-affected weekend.
Udara Ravindu’s unbeaten 114 helped Dromana chase Sorrento’s 237 with two overs remaining.
Long Island secured its first Peninsula Division win, while Moorooduc remained unbeaten in District.
Main Ridge and Baxter won in Sub-District, but Sunday’s women’s competition was abandoned.
Heatherhill and Somerville headline weekend broadcast
Heatherhill meets Somerville in Saturday’s RPP FM Peninsula Division cricket broadcast.
Both teams are seeking a win after the season’s rain-interrupted start.
Sub-District fixtures have been redrawn after Pearcedale requested a move to a lower division.
Coverage begins on RPP Plus at 12.30pm and moves to all RPP FM frequencies from 2pm.
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