STPL News - Somerville Times & Peninsula Local

13/12/2025

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺-𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲

In an interview with STPL News, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Cam Williams acknowledged that September’s term-limits motion was not about reform, but was instead used to target Cr David Gill. The comments have renewed scrutiny of the so-called “bloc of six” and what some have described as a toxic council culture.

🔗 Read more: https://stplnews.com.au/latest-news/councillor-term-limits-motion-target-colleague-mpsc/

13/12/2025

Police vehicle Rammed in Mornington, Driver Still Not Caught

Police are appealing for information after a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly rammed a parked police vehicle at a Fleet Street unit complex in Mornington on Friday night before the driver ran off. Detectives want any CCTV or dashcam footage....

Police are appealing for information after a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly rammed a parked police vehicle at a Fleet Street unit complex in Mornington on Friday night before the driver ran off. Detectives want any CCTV or dashcam footage.

12/12/2025

𝗦𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺

Frankston City councillors have elected Cr Sue Baker as Mayor and Cr Cherie Wanat as Deputy Mayor for 2025–26, creating the city’s first all-female leadership team alongside incoming CEO Tennille Bradley. The new leaders have flagged housing, cost-of-living pressures and aged care reforms as key priorities for the year ahead.

🔗 Read: https://stplnews.com.au/frankston/sue-baker-elected-frankston-mayor-all-female-leadership-team/

12/12/2025

𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲

Outgoing mayor Kris Bolam has used his final statement to reinforce that Frankston has taken a bold leap into the 21st century, highlighting record investment, governance reforms and city shaping projects as he ends a record 1,116 days in the role.

🔗 Read:
https://stplnews.com.au/frankston/outgoing-frankston-mayor-kris-bolam-record-term/

11/12/2025

🚨 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱 $𝟭𝟳𝟮𝗸 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗣𝗼𝗹 🚨

Police say a string of raids from Carrum Downs to Rye has cut off an alleged $172,000 drug pipeline aimed at school leavers on the Mornington Peninsula, with nine people arrested and a mix of illicit substances seized in the lead-up to schoolies...

Read the full story: https://stplnews.com.au/crime-news/mornington-peninsula-schoolies-drug-pipeline-cut-off/

11/12/2025

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

Victoria Police are investigating the death of a 42 year old man discovered inside a home on Curlew Court, Hastings on Wednesday 10 December.

Read the report here:
https://stplnews.com.au/crime-news/police-investigate-hastings-death-curlew-court/

11/12/2025

Untitled

Police are investigating after a 42-year-old man was found dead inside a Curlew Court home in Hastings about 5 pm on Wednesday 10 December. Homicide Squad detectives are assisting local officers and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers....

Police are investigating after a 42-year-old man was found dead inside a Curlew Court home in Hastings about 5 pm on Wednesday 10 December. Homicide Squad detectives are assisting local officers and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

10/12/2025

𝗖𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺

Cr Sue Baker has been elected Mayor for the next 12 months, with Cr Cherie Wanat chosen as Deputy Mayor at Frankston City Council's special council meeting on Wednesday 10/12/25.

🔗 Read the full report: https://stplnews.com.au/frankston/sue-baker-elected-frankston-mayor-cherie-wanat-deputy/

10/12/2025

👞 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹: 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲

Frankston City Council has just locked in a new Nepean Partnership with Kingston City Council, right before tonight’s mayoral vote.

The deal is meant to:

🔹 Align priorities along the Nepean corridor

🔹 Help the two councils chase funding together

🔹 Coordinate projects that cross the municipal boundary

It caps off a year of partnerships, major announcements and debate over the value of some of Council’s international alliances. The next Mayor will now have to decide how hard to drive this new cross-border agenda.

📰 Read the full story in the article below for the detail on what the deal covers, what comes next and why it matters ahead of tonight’s vote.

👇 Link to full article in the comments

If you find this useful, don’t forget to follow STPL News, and like and share this post to keep locals in the loop.

09/12/2025

𝗠𝗣𝗦𝗖 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲

Mornington Peninsula Shire has released its draft Rating Strategy for 2026–27, with most households set to pay higher waste charges, while properties without a bin service would see their fees fall. ♻️💰

Key points:

📌 Most homes with kerbside bins would see their annual waste charge rise from $433 to $474

📌 Households without bin collection would see charges drop to $130

📌 A new retirement village discount would be funded by adding about $4 to the average household’s rates

📌 The separate “pay in full” option would be removed from 2027–28, with standard quarterly instalments instead

Community consultation is open until 15 February 2026, with a submission hearing planned for 19 February at the Shire’s Rosebud office. 🗣️

📰 Read the full breakdown on STPL News for all the details and what it could mean for different ratepayers.

Read:
https://stplnews.com.au/mpnews/mpsc-households-face-higher-bills-under-draft-rate-plan/

👍 Like, comment and share to help other locals stay informed.

09/12/2025

𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 👶📚

Frankston parents have secured major changes to the way kindergarten places are allocated, following a strong community push for a fairer and more stable system.

Key changes include:

✅ Children can stay at the same kinder from 3-year-old to 4-year-old programs

✅ Sibling priority extended from two years to three years

✅ Families can nominate up to three preferred kinders

✅ Rules will be reviewed each year to stay in line with community expectations

Council is also investing $15.45 million in kinder upgrades across Frankston South, Seaford and Langwarrin to create extra places and improve facilities.

📲 Read the full story:
https://stplnews.com.au/community-news/frankston-kinder-enrolment-overhaul-win-for-parents/

If you know a family with little ones heading to kinder in the next few years, tag them below so they do not miss this update.

🔹For more local news like this, follow STPL News and like & share this post.

Frankston parents have secured a major overhaul of the local kinder enrolment system, with new rules to keep children at the same centre, stronger sibling priority and extra places created through upgrades in Frankston South, Seaford and Langwarrin.

08/12/2025

🎅 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 & 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 🎄

Santa Comes To Somerville is back for its 5th year on Saturday 20 December, with Santa touring three local shopping precincts, free goodie bags for children and a Christmas Window Wonderland competition showcasing Somerville’s local businesses.

The event is organised by the Somerville Business Group Inc -Vic and partially supported the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

ℹ️ Full details of the event, including Santa's schedule can be found in the article below.

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Santa Comes to Somerville returns for its 5th year on Saturday 20 December, with Santa visiting three shopping precincts and a Christmas Window Wonderland showcasing local businesses.