Lobby group’s ‘ambitious blueprint’ for the future

THE Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula has launched a strategic plan based on the region’s population reaching 350,000 over the next 15 years.

While the state government is pushing for 67,000 new dwellings to be built in that time in Frankston and on the peninsula, the committee’s plan calls for “diverse housing options … for home buyers, renters, work force, crisis accommodation and visitors”.

The committee also wants “meaningful bus services”, trains every half hour between Hastings and Frankston, and express trains for a 40-minute service from Frankston to Melbourne.

Other projects being pushed in the strategic plan include redeveloping Rosebud Hospital, a “renewable energy terminal” at Hastings, a “flagship” conference and exhibition centre and hotel, an extra lane on Peninsula Link and safer, less congested roads.

The controversial renewable energy terminal (to assemble offshore wind turbines) was put on hold in January by federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek who said it had “unacceptable and unmitigable risks to the Ramsar Wetlands of Western Port”. The Port of Hastings Corporation has since announced that work on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process for the terminal is “progressing” (Investigations into wind terminal effects, The Times 17/6/24).

The committee’s CEO Josh Sinclair said the strategic plan had been developed “through consultation with members, key stakeholders, and workshops held at the committee’s Future Forum in April”. Priority areas for public and private investment and support were homes and livelihoods; better connectivity; better infrastructure; sustainable development; smarter people; healthy communities; a thriving local economy and world–class destination.

Sinclair said the priorities included “key advocacy objectives and opportunities” that aligned with local governments, health and education providers, large employers, and community organisations on the peninsula. Sinclair said the committee wanted “our fair share of government support for … diverse and dense housing”, including in Frankston, which has been designated by the government as a key metropolitan activity centre.

Release of the strategy plan also follows a visit to Canberra late last month by Sinclair and Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Simon Brooks to lobby politicians about housing and homelessness on the peninsula and the use of port land at Hastings.

With its sights set on using port-related land near Hastings for housing and “broader commercial and industrial use”, the committee outlined the benefits of improving the Stony Point railway line and providing more frequent and reliable services from Frankston towards Hastings.

The committee’s strategic plan can be viewed at: cfmp.org.au

First published in the Frankston Times – 23 July, 2024