STPL News - Somerville Times & Peninsula Local

25/06/2026

🚨 𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗗𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

A Bittern man has lost his licence on the spot after police alleged he returned a breath test reading of 0.269 following a two-car collision in Mount Martha.

Police said the collision happened at Moorooduc Highway and Males Road just before 5pm on Wednesday.

Full story in the comments or visit STPL News.

25/06/2026

Bittern Man Allegedly Five Times Over Limit After Mount Martha Collision

A Bittern man has had his licence suspended and vehicle impounded after police alleged he returned a breath test reading more than five times the legal alcohol limit following a two-car collision in Mount Martha....

Mount Martha drink driving charge: a Bittern man was charged after police alleged he returned a 0.269 breath test following a collision.

24/06/2026

🚕🚌 𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦, 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Mornington Peninsula residents are being asked to help shape the Shire’s draft transport plan after earlier feedback raised concerns about public transport gaps, unsafe crossings, poor cycling links and traffic pressure across the region.

The Shire’s own advocacy material says 82 per cent of the Mornington Peninsula does not have adequate public transport.

Residents can comment on the draft Integrated Transport Strategy before feedback closes on 18 August.

Read more on STPL News.

23/06/2026

‼️ 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗬 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗜𝗧-𝗥𝗨𝗡, 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗡 𝗩𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗟𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗

Police took a 34-year-old Somerville man into custody after an alleged collision involving a Toyota Prado and a wheelchair accessible taxi in Lynbrook.

Victoria Police said the Prado allegedly left the scene before officers later found it dumped in a shopping centre car park.

Police allege officers found an imitation firearm, multiple large knives, an axe and a baseball bat during a search.

Checks on the Prado allegedly showed it had been stolen from Cranbourne West earlier this month.

No one in the taxi suffered injuries, according to police.

Full story in comments.

23/06/2026

Somerville Man In Custody After Alleged Hit-Run, Stolen Vehicle And Weapons Find

Police took a 34-year-old Somerville man into custody after an alleged hit-run involving a stolen Toyota Prado in Lynbrook and an alleged weapons find....

Police took a 34-year-old Somerville man into custody after an alleged hit-run involving a stolen Toyota Prado in Lynbrook and an alleged weapons find.

22/06/2026

Anonymous Tip Leads To Drug And Fi****ms Charges In Carrum

A 25-year-old Carrum man has been charged after police allegedly seized more than $200,000 worth of ketamine, fi****ms, knives, cash and suspected co***ne during a warrant....

A 25-year-old Carrum man has been charged after police allegedly seized more than $200,000 worth of ketamine, fi****ms, knives, cash and suspected co***ne during a warrant.

19/06/2026

‼️ 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗝 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 & 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝘁𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆.

The Somerville and Hastings-linked disability provider, associated with 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, failed to deal with a statutory demand over unpaid portable long service levies.

The Court appointed Shane Justin Cremin of Rodgers Reidy as liquidator.

CJ Castle did not appear when the matter came before the Court on 17 June.

This is one confirmed part of the company’s financial fallout. It remains unclear whether further action will follow over alleged unpaid wages, superannuation, worker entitlements, supplier debts or other creditor claims.

STPL News will continue to follow the liquidation process and any further verified information involving CJ Castle, Arcadia Sport and Recreation, Arcadia 4 ALL and Tanderra Fields.

Full story in comments.

19/06/2026

Court Orders CJ Castle Wound Up Over Workers’ Long Service Levy Debt

The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered CJ Castle Care & Support Pty Ltd wound up in insolvency after the company failed to deal with a $15,565.65 statutory demand over unpaid portable long service levies. The order was made on 17 June 2026 by Judicial Registrar Woronczak. The Court appointed Shane Justin Cremin of Rodgers Reidy as liquidator. The decision confirms a major escalation in the collapse of the disability support provider, which has been the subject of repeated former staff allegations over unpaid wages, superannuation, entitlements and links to Hastings-based Arcadia operations....

CJ Castle Care & Support has been ordered wound up after failing to deal with a $15,565 portable long service levy debt.

17/06/2026

𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗬 𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗬𝗢𝗥

Mornington Peninsula Shire has a new mayor.

Cr Stephen Batty was elected on Tuesday night after councillors returned to break the deadlock from the previous 5-5 stalemate.

The meeting first saw Cr Paul Pingiaro and Cr Kate Roper nominated, but that vote also ended in a tie.

After a 15-minute adjournment, Cr Batty was nominated by Cr David Gill, while Cr Andrea Allen nominated Cr Pingiaro.

Cr Batty received six votes, enough to secure the mayoralty.

Cr Pingiaro remains Deputy Mayor.

Full story below.

16/06/2026

‼️ 𝟮𝟮-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

A 22-year-old Hastings woman has died after a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of Balnarring and Myers roads in Merricks North.

Victoria Police said the woman was driving a Nissan C12 when it collided with a Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Landcruiser about 11.50am on Monday.

Three other people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Somerville Highway Patrol officers are investigating and will prepare a report for the coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam or CCTV footage, or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Full story in comments.