Consultation
We have completed extensive community engagement with local residents.
The exhibition process
The exhibition process for the Mornington Peninsula Technology, Industry & Business Park has involved extensive community engagement.
Over 5,500 mailouts were sent to residents, complemented by public notices in local newspapers and the Gazette. In addition, five community hall sessions were held to gather feedback. Detailed supporting documents, including an explanatory report, maps, and technical assessments, were provided to ensure transparency and clarity throughout the process.
Listening to the community
Community support for the amendment is strong, with submitters emphasising the positive impacts the proposal would bring to the local community, the Mornington Peninsula region, and beyond. Submitters highlighted benefits including job creation, enhanced amenities, business growth, and the attraction of innovative industries, all aligning with the area’s economic and social development goals.
114
Submissions Received
61
Expressed Objection
53
Expressed Support Or No Objection
“I live nearby and pass the site morethan once a day. I am totally in favour of the Proposed Amendment as we desperately need these larger factories to create local jobs”.
– Neighbour. Submitter 3.
“I’m presently commuting into Melbourne, so the idea of technology-based industries that could provide these opportunities on the Peninsula is fantastic!”
– Resident. Submitter 9.
“This development would not only attract engineers, but also forge pathways through local schools and colleges to keep STEM students local. This amendment is a crucial step towards ensuring that the Peninsula remains a vibrant and liveable community for generations to come”.
– Local Worker. Submitter 37.
“We currently employ 72 staff from the Peninsula region. I see this development as a positive opportunity to further scale our business and also bolster the development of technology based roles on our community. We have outgrown our home in Mornington and would absolutely be looking to move our tenancy into this development. This development would have a direct and positive impact on jobs in our organisation”.
– Resident. Submitter 57.
“I view the upcoming development as a valuable addition to the community. It presents a unique opportunity for the creation of career pathways that are currently absent in the local job market”.
– Resident. Submitter 59.
“My manufacturing company is currently based in Dandenong South. My preference would be to move my manufacturing into the Peninsula... this excites me to be able to have a facility closer to my customers and my home”.
– Resident. Submitter 60.
“I fully support all changes presented under the amendment and the economic development it will provide for the Somerville and greater Mornington Peninsula Shire area”.
– Resident. Submitter 13.
“I believe it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many on the Peninsula and the proposal will see current and future generations prosper from its development”.
– Resident. Submitter 22.
“Having worked in manufacturing all my life I think this is a really good idea to support local jobs and keep manufacturing in Australia. I have seen that Somerville is growing quickly, particularly with the population transfer from Melbourne over the past few years. These people need to work close to home for a better work-life balance and to reduce traffic on our roads to the city”.
– Resident. Submitter 51.
“Over the past 8 years, we have worked to find connections with industry that motivate our students, particularly girls, in the necessary field of STEM education. Unfortunately, these options mean travelling to the city where they are in abundance which inevitably means we stand to lose some of our best and brightest talent from the Mornington Peninsula. Ensuring we have connections and pathways in necessary fields is integral for our area and for our students”.
– Educator. Submitter 77.
“I live nearby and pass the site morethan once a day. I am totally in favour of the Proposed Amendment as we desperately need these larger factories to create local jobs”.
– Neighbour. Submitter 3.
“I’m presently commuting into Melbourne, so the idea of technology-based industries that could provide these opportunities on the Peninsula is fantastic!”
– Resident. Submitter 9.
“This development would not only attract engineers, but also forge pathways through local schools and colleges to keep STEM students local. This amendment is a crucial step towards ensuring that the Peninsula remains a vibrant and liveable community for generations to come”.
– Local Worker. Submitter 37.
“We currently employ 72 staff from the Peninsula region. I see this development as a positive opportunity to further scale our business and also bolster the development of technology based roles on our community. We have outgrown our home in Mornington and would absolutely be looking to move our tenancy into this development. This development would have a direct and positive impact on jobs in our organisation”.
– Resident. Submitter 57.
“I view the upcoming development as a valuable addition to the community. It presents a unique opportunity for the creation of career pathways that are currently absent in the local job market”.
– Resident. Submitter 59.
“My manufacturing company is currently based in Dandenong South. My preference would be to move my manufacturing into the Peninsula... this excites me to be able to have a facility closer to my customers and my home”.
– Resident. Submitter 60.
“I fully support all changes presented under the amendment and the economic development it will provide for the Somerville and greater Mornington Peninsula Shire area”.
– Resident. Submitter 13.
“I believe it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many on the Peninsula and the proposal will see current and future generations prosper from its development”.
– Resident. Submitter 22.
“Having worked in manufacturing all my life I think this is a really good idea to support local jobs and keep manufacturing in Australia. I have seen that Somerville is growing quickly, particularly with the population transfer from Melbourne over the past few years. These people need to work close to home for a better work-life balance and to reduce traffic on our roads to the city”.
– Resident. Submitter 51.
“Over the past 8 years, we have worked to find connections with industry that motivate our students, particularly girls, in the necessary field of STEM education. Unfortunately, these options mean travelling to the city where they are in abundance which inevitably means we stand to lose some of our best and brightest talent from the Mornington Peninsula. Ensuring we have connections and pathways in necessary fields is integral for our area and for our students”.
– Educator. Submitter 77.
Our approach to community feedback
Community feedback has highlighted concerns around traffic and transport, site suitability, amenity impacts, infrastructure, market gardens, and ecological effects. Below is an overview of how these concerns are being addressed.
Some concerns questioned the site’s suitability for industrial use, citing its context and Green Wedge misconceptions:
- The site is within the Urban Growth Boundary, zoned Special Use Zone (Schedule 1 – Port Related Uses), and has been identified as industrial land since 1976.
- Recognised as Regionally Significant Industrial Land-Existing in the Melbourne Industrial andCommercial Land Use Plan (2020), the site is proposed to be rezoned to Industrial 3 (IN3Z), suitable for light industrial uses compatible with residential neighborhoods.
- Its strategic location and zoning history support its transition to light industrial use.
Concerns about infrastructure adequacy are addressed in an Infrastructure.
Assessment Report by DPM Consulting (April 2022):
- Necessary services, including sewerage, drainage, gas, and NBN, are available, with infrastructure costs borne by developers.
- The proposed DPO24 mandates a Section 173 Agreement requiring developers to fund infrastructure, transfer required land, and contribute to upgrades.
- Drainage infrastructure and other services will meet standards set by relevant authorities.
A Preliminary Transport and Movement Plan, peer-reviewed by council-selected engineers, ensures the precinct’s traffic and transport needs are effectively managed:
- Local road networks can accommodate additional traffic without exceeding capacity.
- Bungower Road will not require duplication due to manageable traffic growth.
- A signalised intersection at the precinct entrance will provide safe and efficient access.
- A shared pedestrian and bicycle path will connect to existing networks along Frankston Flinders Road
- Future bus stops are anticipated, subject to consultation with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).
- On-site car parking will meet demand, with proposed road parking restrictions to reduce disruptions.
- If required, Council may implement truck curfews or restrict truck access to Lower Somerville Road, subject to DTP approval
Concerns regarding noise, odour, pollution, light spill, and hours of operation have been addressed through the proposed DPO24, which includes:
- Noise Management: High-noise industries (Eg. bitumen batching plants) are excluded, with noise mitigation measures required for all developments
- Odour Control: Odour impacts will be assessed at the planning permit stage, adhering to EPA guidelines.
- Pollution Mitigation: Industries with significant pollution potential are prohibited, and sustainable practices like renewable energy use are promoted.
- Light Spill: Development applications will include measures to minimise light spill on nearby properties.
- Hours of Operation: Hours will be determined for each business, with Council oversight to minimise disruptions.
Ecological preservation is a priority, with measures guided by an Ecological Conditions Report from Ecology & Heritage Partners:
- Native Vegetation Management: Identifies and conserves ecological values, providing offsets for vegetation removal.
- Landscape Plans: Retains significant vegetation and establishes buffer areas with locally native species during early development stages.
- Section 173 Agreements: Protect vegetation of high biodiversity value in line with the approved management plan.
Concerns about potential impacts on Market Gardens are mitigated through:
- Construction Environmental Management Plan to control erosion, sediment runoff, and pollution.
- Exclusion of high-risk industries (Eg. materials recycling) that could pose environmental risks.
- Note: Both Gazolla Farms and the Victorian Farmers Federation have expressed broad support for the proposal.