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Local ‘Think Tank’ survey shows community support for the Baxter Rail Project.

A recent survey undertaken by the Committee for Mornington Peninsula (CfMP) showed that of the 191 respondents, 87% supported the electrification of the rail line from Frankston to Baxter. The survey also asked “If the metropolitan rail network and services were extended to Baxter and possibly on further toward Hastings into the future, would you support a re-introduction of diesel rail services between Mornington and Baxter and more frequent services along the Stony Point line?”- 90 per cent of respondents supported this. 

Shannon Smit, President of the CfMP said “Our community survey showed that there appears to be significant community support for the electrification of the rail line from Frankston to Baxter and also other rail options on the Mornington Peninsula. This project already has a $225 million commitment from the federal government, and it will bring much needed jobs and economic stimulus to the Mornington Peninsula particularly in in the COVID-19 recovery phase. ”

A recent CfMP study found 45 per cent of Peninsula residents worked outside the region and less than 20 per cent of the Mornington Peninsula is serviced by public transport forcing nearly half the region’s residents to drive to work with significant impacts on the environment. 

“Our region has the lowest access to public transport facilities within metropolitan Melbourne and this impacts our community by inhibiting access to educational services, jobs and visitor connections to the region.”

Recently the MPS released a Climate Emergency Plan.

Shannon said “The MPS Climate Emergency Plan notes that Transport is the second largest source of carbon emissions on the Mornington Peninsula (31%) with most of this being attributed to road transport. The MPS on one hand acknowledge the need to reduce motor vehicle use, yet on the other do not support a “park and ride” option at Baxter which would go some way to getting a significant amount of commuter vehicles off the roads and improve greenhouse gas emissions. We believe the objections of the MPS is based on stabling requirements, which is no longer the case due to the stabling that has been constructed at Kananook Station. There are significant benefits of the Baxter rail project on a number of fronts for Monington Peninsula residents, including jobs and economic stimulus in the COVID-19 recovery phase. By supporting the Baxter rail project, the MPS can significantly reduce carbon emissions. ” 

 “We know that only 2.6% of Australia's transport greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to rail. This 2.6% includes both passenger and freight rail so, in fact passenger rail contributes even less, so it is curious why the Mornington Peninsula Shire object to the Baxter Rail Project that already has a $225 million funding commitment from the federal government. The CfMP urge the state government to match this commitment and the MPS, if they are serious about reducing greenhouse emissions, road trauma and improved public transport for the Mornington Peninsula to show their support for the project.”

Transport for NSW have identified that:

  • A train line can move 50,000 people an hour. Compare this with a freeway lane which can move 2500 people an hour.
  • To move 1000 people it takes: 
  • One train (eight carriages)
  • 15 buses
  • Anywhere from 250 to 1000 cars. This would then require 1.37 hectares of parking space in the Sydney Central Business District.
  • Urban rail transport is seven times safer than road per passenger kilometre.


 Get in touch: info@committeeformp.com.au 


Join Committee for Mornington Peninsula members for a coffee and light breakfast to meet with business leaders and discuss industry issues in our region. …


Join Committee for Mornington Peninsula members for a coffee and light breakfast to meet with business leaders and discuss industry issues in our region. …


The Committee for Mornington Peninsula was pleased to be able meet with Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Federal Member for Flinders Zoe McKenzie to discuss the priorities for our region - including keeping jobs here on the peninsula, addressing disadvantage, and fighting for our fair share of government investment. …

If there’s one thing that unites us as a community, it’s our need for health, wellbeing and education.

If there’s one thing that unites us as a community, it’s our need for health, wellbeing and education.

In the case of the Mornington Peninsula, we deserve better healthcare and education systems.


As travel and capacity limits ease, Melburnians and regional Victorians making their annual pilgrimage to the Mornington Peninsula will find that the shops and restaurants are woefully unprepared for mandatory vaccine passport check-ins.

Op-ed by Committee for Mornington Peninsula Executive Officer, Briony Hutton, published in the Herald Sun South East Leader 29 September 2021. Full article here: tinyurl.com/3rfwra69 …


Politicians of all persuasions at all levels have started talking about our upcoming COVID-Christmas.

Op-ed by Zoe McKenzie, CfMP Board member. Published by Mornington Peninsula News, 7 September 2021. …


The Committee for Mornington Peninsula has written an open letter to the Victorian Premier and Chief Health Officer to request the Mornington Peninsula be urgently included in regional Victorian-level restrictions in the new roadmap to reopening. …


Disappointingly, there are no recommendations for significant improvements to public transport for the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria's Infrastructure Strategy 2021- 2051 released yesterday, despite this being one of the Peninsula's most significant infrastructure deficits.

If the Mornington Peninsula is unworthy of metropolitan public transport investment in the next 30 years, according to the Victorian Government’s key infrastructure advisers, then the legitimacy of our current metropolitan classification is once again thrown into serious question. …


The Committee for Mornington Peninsula is urging the Federal and Victorian Governments to provide additional financial support for communities under lockdown restrictions, including those on the Mornington Peninsula.

Yesterday’s announcement of a reinstated border between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria means that from today, the Mornington Peninsula will once again be subjected to ongoing lockdown restrictions despite having no active cases and our last listed exposure site being 15 days old. …


The Committee for Mornington Peninsula welcomes the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s move to investigate a possible reclassification of the Mornington Peninsula from the current metropolitan designation.

We welcome the Council’s attention to this issue to enable a collaborative solution to ultimately address the Peninsula’s economic disadvantage, which the Committee has focused on since 2019. …


The Committee for Mornington Peninsula is disappointed that the Mornington Peninsula received just 0.09 per cent of the funding announced for our neighbours in greater Geelong in this year’s State Budget.

$424,000 of new funding was announced for the Mornington Peninsula whilst $463.43 million of new funding was announced for Greater Geelong, which has the same enrolled population as the Mornington Peninsula.

After extended and repeated metropolitan Melbourne lockdowns, the CfMP would have expected more support for our local businesses and public assets and services to help the Mornington Peninsula to recover, however no new funding was announced for our local hospitals, schools, TAFE, parks, roads or public transport services in this Budget.

Disappointingly, new taxes will be imposed on major employers on the Mornington Peninsula and our residential and commercial properties will be taxed at a higher rate as businesses and property owners attempt to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.

We remain hopeful that over the coming months, the Victorian Government will announce local funding initiatives for the Mornington Peninsula from the state-wide funding programs announced in this State Budget. …


This unpredictability of government decision-making contributes to the general unease in the community about unforeseeable restrictions that could be imposed upon Victorians at any moment.

The lack of a clear and consistent approach to reopening and locking down Victorian communities erodes business and consumer confidence to plan, resulting in damaging effects to local economies, community mental health outcomes and the reputation of Victoria as the place to be. …


Victorian members of the Committees for Cities and Regions are calling on the Victorian Government to actively consult with the community to develop a long-term Covid readiness plan for Victorian cities and regions.

As Victoria faces another long weekend under lockdown-style conditions, the Committees are calling for a common set of publicly available and industry-informed standards to be applied to decision-making on Covid restrictions in Victoria. …


With us all the time, through all seasons and despite Covid restrictions, are Mornington Peninsula’s skilled winemakers.

Cellar door visits are always popular, and even when Covid restrictions limit opportunities to browse and taste, the product of the region’s winemakers is still available.  If we can’t go to them, they’ll come to us.

Let’s face it - a lovely Pinocchio from Crittenden Wines or a Red Fox Pinot Noir from Foxeys Hangout are just the thing to help ease the Covid blues.   …

Appointment of Zoe McKenzie to Committee of Management

Appointment of Zoe McKenzie to Committee of Management


The Committee for Mornington Peninsula is excited to release our Post-COVID Plan for the Peninsula, officially launched at our Members Event on Thursday 25 March.

Based on our foundational policy pillars established in 2019, the Committee's revised Post-COVID Plan reflects emerging changes in long-term community needs due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on our region's economy.

This Plan will form the structure of our ongoing advocacy to government at all levels for improved investment and policy outcomes for the Mornington Peninsula.

You can view a copy of the Plan here: …


Following the Premier's confirmation that if Lockdown 3 were to be extended, he would once again divide regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne, the Committee for Mornington Peninsula has again called for the Peninsula to be considered regional.

Read the full Herald Sun Leader article below. …


COVID-19 demonstrates the need for regional designation for the Mornington Peninsula.

Yesterday's announcement that the Mornington Peninsula would be placed into lockdown, but not Geelong, is yet another example of the disparity of those who have regional designation and those that don’t. …


The leadership of the regional group committed to lifting economic and social prosperity as a priority for the Mornington Peninsula has recently made key appointments.

  …

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Postal address: Level 1, 328 Main St, Mornington VIC 3931
Office address: G7/786 Esplanade, Mornington VIC 3931
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