If you’ve got suggestions to add, we all need to see them! Please email to admin@nepeanvoters.org. Annual plan updates will ensure all items are completely relevant & emerging needs are captured.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council "Council & Wellbeing Plan"
Mornington Peninsula Shire has developed a Council and Wellbeing Plan with a set of operating principles for how it will be delivered. The Council and Wellbeing Plan provides the framework for everything we do to enable elected representatives to best serve the community.
Theme 1
A healthy natural environment and well-planned townships
Vibrant and unique townships balanced with a natural environment that is protected now and into the future, accelerating climate action and celebrating cultural heritage.
Theme 2
A robust, innovative and diverse economy
A community with abundant and varied education and local employment opportunities. We are open to new ideas and work with our partners to grow a strong, diverse and future-focused economy.
Theme 3
A flourishing, healthy and connected community
An inclusive and creative community
that values safety, physical and mental health and wellbeing. A community with accessible services and transport to keep us connected.
Our Community Driven Area Plans have adhered to the three operating principles defined in the Council & Wellbeing Plan & represent the voice of our communities.
SORRENTO COMMUNITY VISION & AREA PLAN
With input & support from the following groups as well as our community:
Portsea Sorrento RSL
Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club
Portsea Camp
Sorrento Community Centre
Spirit of Sorrento (comprising 26 groups and businesses)
St Pauls Rd Action Group
Nepean Voters Action group
Weeroona Bay Swimmers Group
Nepean Historical Society
Sorrento Chamber of Commerce
Petition with 350 Signatures
Emails from Residents
Feedback from Social Media Posts
Feedback from Sorrento Watchers & Stakeholders (FB Page)
Nepean Ratepayers Association*
(*except where NRA marked with an asterisk)
History:
Sorrento is an area rich in significant Victorian & Australian history including settlement, two world wars & indigenous history.
There is amazing architecture everywhere you look, dating back over 100 years, recently the Continental Hotel, Hotel Sorrento & a host of shops in the main street are all being refurbished at a cost of many, many millions, the latest being the Cinema.
Most of Sorrento’s basic infrastructure dates back well over 30 years, & now is in disrepair – footpaths, fences, furniture, vegetation, toilets, public spaces etc. The level of basic amenity in this area is struggling to cope with residents let alone the millions of visitors that come here every year – this is reflected in comments provided from both residents & visitors. The future population of Sorrento should be determined by the number of houses multiplied by the average number of residents, not the numbers collected at census which are misleading – we need to plan strategically.
The vision for Sorrento from the community is to preserve history & character as a priority. They are not looking for change, rather maintenance & upgrades for function & accessibility.
1. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY - CROSSINGS & PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS
Morce Avenue IGA to Sorrento Community House side. A raised pedestrian crossing as per site visit is required, from the back of the IGA across Morce Avenue, there have been many suggestions of the removal of a couple of carparks for access to community centre side parking. Other side has a path for access.
*Kerferd Avenue at Ocean Beach Road. The Darling St crossing would have been better here where there is far more foot traffic, For some reason most pedestrians are in the area from Darling St to the Conti on both sides of the road, probably as there are no retail shops on the west side of the road in this area. The next time funding is available look to this area.
Pt Nepean Rd Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. The Tuckey Track spills directly onto Pt Nepean Rd. There needs to be a clearly marked pedestrian refuge or a zebra crossing, this is extremely hazardous. Too close to Erlandsen St for lights, but they would have been perfect here easing the entry & exit of the SSCBC.
Pt Nepean Rd & St Pauls Rd. Most requests have been for the western side of the intersection to have a large pedestrian refuge on Pt Nepean rd as lights are no longer an option due to Erlandsen st, & a well marked up crossing that shows cars where to show additional caution is often requested.
Pt Nepean Rd & Bowen Rd. Extremely busy cross over point on Pt Nepean Road to direct foreshore access, requests for marked up pedestrian storage (road has space for the additional road widening as there is a reserve on the foreshore side)
*Coppin Rd near Kerferd Avenue southern side. Sorrento Primary School, has no safe passage for children as there is not even a hardstand for them, the same applies to pedestrians. It is worse at Newton Street, but foot traffic usually avoids this area even though it is the way to St Josephs school.
*Coppin Rd near Newton St southern side. St Josephs Primary School, has no safe passage for children as there is not even a hardstand for them, the same applies to pedestrians. A hardstand should be prioritised
The Esplanade near Italico & opposite the foreshore near Rusty’s. This crossing is almost invisible & entirely unsafe, many requests to incorporate safe pedestrian crossings into the the DoT solution for the corner. There is another invisible crossing going up the hill to Sorrento shops
Melbourne Rd / Ocean Beach Road intersection/roundabout. This roundabout is battered by trucks trying to use the only viable access to Portsea, suggestions of a flat roundabout. Many people have had a little nudge at this intersection, there needs to be visible pedestrian crossings & signage to cross when safe to do so.
Melbourne Rd Coppin Rd intersection. Upgrade existing crossing & pedestrian storage to make more visible & fit for purpose, check the positioning as it doesn’t see right. There is trouble with the placement of the island as there has been quite a few hits to it. Buses have to do an awkward manoeuvre to navigate around it.
2. PATHWAYS & CLEARANCE FOR ACCESS MINIMAL CONCRETE
Hotham Rd (back beach rd to Melbourne Rd roundabout). This is a matter of urgency as for many years residents have requested safe passage along Hotham Rd. small children & pets have exacerbated the safety issues. As this is a major pedestrian thoroughfare, residents want to see a compliant concrete or compacted crushed rock or granitic sand path from Back Beach Road to the Footy Ground.
George St. A few power poles make the walk along George street difficult, due to terrain & the poles taking up the flat spaces, often it means walking on the roadside of parked cars is the only option. This is a popular route to get to the shops. Advocacy to the power provider is needed.
St Pauls Road. To keep residents & visitors safe, residents want to see compacted crushed rock or granitic sand paths in this area to link up an informal path, with directional signage. This work can be assisted by local groups & residents
*Hughes Rd to St Pauls road. Residents have made it clear that it is vital that there is clearance near property boundaries for pedestrian access, residents want to see compacted crushed rock or a granitic sand path. We need safe options to get people off busy roads.
*Hughes Rd to back beach. Residents have been vocal on getting safe access to the beach, at the moment the busy road is the only way.
Darling St Kinder Access More detail is required, but pathway is necessary for access to the kinder, it is difficult for mums with younger children in prams.
3. RAISED BOARDWALKS & HARDSTANDS
Coppin Rd near Newton St/Constitution Hill Rd. This is St Josephs school access, no safe passage for children or pedestrians with significant drop-offs on either side of the road & literally nowhere to walk or stand. There have been many requests for a raised timber hardstand. The Coppin Rd path is rarely used & in the wrong direction to help children getting to school from past Bowen Rd
Hotham Rd near footy ground corner. This is a busy pedestrian area as a main route from Portsea, access to the David MacFarlan Reserve, Ocean Beach Road shops & traders & Hotel Sorrento. This corner becomes a scramble to avoid cars with some opting to jump onto the roundabout for safety, once again a timber hardstand is what residents would prefer.
4. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Pt Nepean Rd near Ocean Beach road (Conti & Stringers). This intersection needs a solution. It is a delicate dance to get over this intersection & not just during summer, eye contact has to be made with other drivers & hand signals to indicate intent. It has been put to the DTP that it can only be a roundabout or traffic lights with a roundabout the preferred community solution.
Pt Nepean Rd / The Esplanade intersection. This intersection is what causes from Blairgowrie to Portsea to be in gridlock for up to 45 minutes at a time for the last few years.
Discussions with DTP identified The turning lane from Pt Nepean Rd into the esplanade needs to be significantly extended to fit more cars. Currently if more than 2 cars are looking to turn into the Esplanade, traffic is backed up toward Blairgowrie. This is the only entry to the Ferry. Carparks & pedestrian island can be removed allowing turning lane to be extended.
Issues
- There is no break in traffic for cars coming down from Ocean Beach Road making cars unable to turn into the Esplanade coming from Blairgowrie.
- Often 2 lots of ferry car passengers arrive one after the other so they don’t miss their ride home – allowing for traffic can make this a real possibility. There are enough car spaces within the ferry terminal area for an entire ferry, but here are no allocated carparking anywhere near the ferry.
Suggested Solutions
- Extend the turning lane from Pt Nepean Road into the Esplanade by taking some of the south side of Pt Nepean rd reserve to widen the area
- Remove car parks from Pt Nepean Road and encourage them into the Bowen Rd informal carpark once the dead shrubs are removed – this may also provide a bike lane
- Open up the council paid parking carpark near the ferry for ferry users only over January and high tourist times (easter and some weekends). There is almost an entire ferry worth of cars that can fit here.
ROADS FEEDING ON TO OCEAN BEACH ROAD
George St
- This road is only one way from Hotham to Morce avenue and pedestrians are forced to walk on the road due to power poles taking up the limited road reserve and any chance of a path.
Darling Street
- Road is a one way street for most of it and pedestrians are forced to walk on the road due to poorly planned nature strips and parked cars on the road side. The road is very narrow and has no pedestrian access
Kerferd Avenue
No crossing available over Coppin Road on either North or South side – very problematic for children & pedestrians considering how busy it is due to the school & shops
5. CARPARKING
- Morce ave carpark. A concept is currently being drawn up for a complete top deck on top of existing carpark, it has been a constant source of discussion for over a decade, but never any forward progression. Clever residents have suggested this run independently of the bottom layer & come off George st. If done well it could take cars off Ocean Beach Road – as they feel this will be the best value for money.
- Hotham rd between Pt Nepean rd and Melb Rd. The best option would be for this entires street to have 90 degree parking when Monterey Cypress are removed & Norfolk Pines are planted.
- Block next to the RSL on Hurley St. Adding more disabled parking & the rest being regular parking – it is in the David MacFarlan Master plan as a priority. The Redmond Pavilion to be removed once the netball courts are finished
- Informal Parking on Foreshore side of Pt Nepean Rd at end of Bowen rd. This area is now under a masterplan, tweak to maximise car parking spaces and ensure vegetation is not intrusive and does not inder view lines. Dead shrubs will be removed mid 2024.Remove dead shrubs & treated pine poast and rail for a more organic barrier
- Sorrento East Camping Ground. Scrape area behind the amenity block nearest the Sailing Club for informal parking. Currently has 6x camping sites to be made redundant.
- Sorrento West Camping Ground. Add crushed rock to area opposite the ranger station running along Pt Nepean rd tucked behind vegetation. This is a huge area and is very rarely used by campers.
- Area Opposite St Pauls Shop. The area opposite the shop has severely encroached on the reserve with 2x stone walls – this area needs to be carparking that is desperately needed.
- Area Cnr Ocean Beach rd & Melbourne rd roundabout.This are is already informal parking but could be better utilised
6. TOILETS - IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, BASED ON USAGE & NEED
New Toilets on the Foreshore. It is imperative we get a toilet block here soon. There are 1million people who use the ferry each year & a lot of them stop here to use the facilities before or after the ferry trip. The current blocks are often out of order or closed for repairs or something. It is gruesome inside, with the cleaners doing the best they can on a clearly 3rd world toilet block – one user actually said he’d used worse, but they had travelled China. Requests are for a “changing rooms” disability toilet, & 2 mixed use ambulant toilets/change rooms.
Sorrento Community Centre Toilets. This shovel ready project is a necessary addition to our township & will provide much needed public toilets.
Footy Ground near Bowling Club Public Toilets Refurbishment. These well used toilets have seen better days, but just need a refresh to keep them functional & fit for purpose. It is imperative these are kept open & usable for child safety reasons.
Websters Corner Playground Toilets. Need a refurbishment to make them functional & with disability access.
Botanical Gardens Toilets Refurbishment. Whilst functional, these toilets are in need of some care & all ability access.
George St toilets. Ideally these should be stripped of the electronic devices that see these toilets unreliable & a scary place to visit, & have simpler toilets installed.
TOILETS – NON BULDING WORKS
Opening up toilets in Camping Ground. Toilets in the Sorrento East Camping Ground near the SSCBC are also at the junction of the Tuckey Track. With the next toilet at Hughes Rd Carpark it is a long way between stops. It is incredibly embarrassing to notify visitors that they will have to walk a couple of kilometres to get to the toilet, & a lot of the coast trek events pass by this. I have had suggestions that they could be closed up at night & that the shower area could be hoarded off. The nearby amenity block near the ranger station could be used by the limited number of sites in this area
Advocating to Parks Vic for a toilet at the end of the Dorothy Houghton Walk. This spot would be perfect for a single toilet, the building there already has all services so the cost would be manageable.
7. STREET LIGHTS FROM FORESHORE TO MELBOURNE RD ROUNDABOUT & ON FORESHORE AREAS
Ocean Beach Road, Foreshores, parks etc. Character lights as recently installed in Morce Avenue need to be installed as like for like replacement in Ocean Beach Road/Pt Nepean Rd & the main open space areas – no downgrading or cheapening of this historical area.
8. OCEAN BEACH RD SAFETY BOLLARDS
Stumpy bollards with galvanised caps in Ocean Beach Road. Often referred to as “Caroline Springs” bollards to be removed & replaced with classic cypress bollards, properly installed to provide function. These currently provide no safety aspect as the sit on top of the ground with only gravity holding them in place – this was a poor decision. It is suggested that the chunky ones could go elsewhere on the peninsula perhaps used as signage posts on the peninsula trail
*Safety for pedestrians on East side of Ocean Beach Road where cars often mount the footpath & go through shop fronts. Cypress, or concrete bollards or even concrete planter boxes on Ocean Beach road to stop/slow cars on footpaths. There is a history of cars damaging shopfronts & in one case going through to the back of the tenancy, It only happens on the East side of the street & we are extremely lucky that injuries have not been significant.
9. NEW PLAYGROUNDS
Tuckey Track. Residents have requested a small playground adjoining the tennis courts. This is a lovely well kept area, complete with shaded pavilion near to the BBQ area & joined on to the amenity Block, there have been requests for additional tables & chairs
*Websters Corner Playground. The plan to come out of this has been called unsafe & non inclusive. There are steps not ramps, no line of sight for parents, dodgy playground equipment & no reference to overgrown weed vegetation & rodents. The BBQ covered area proposed looks like the old ones at Rye done decades ago by dads, there have been requests for a stylish gazebo. The adjoining fence is falling over & needs to be replaced.
10. VEGETATION REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT
*Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club. Roadside vegetation to the Western Sister carpark from the SSCBC is dense & full of weeds, there is nowhere to walk except on the very narrow single lane road where cars are fighting for priority between themselves, All but significant trees & selected ground cover should be removed. This work can be done by the SSCBC & the Tuckey Track Friends group with a little help from council.
Pt Nepean Rd Blairgowrie to Portsea woody weed removal. There are so many complaints about the state of vegetation on our foreshores & road reserves. Residents only want the road reserves on the foreshore to look like Tootgarook to Rye with only significant trees remaining, all woody weeds (with the exception of the Monterey Pines), regular weeds, dead trees & debris to be removed – consider a 5 year project with grant funding
Hotham Rd Sorrento & Pt Nepean Rd Portsea. For years residents have automatically expected that the Monterey Cypress will be removed due to safety concerns & replaced with Norfolk Pines as is fitting with this area. Residents have made it clear that the Monterey Cypress to be replaced with Norfolk Pines on road reserves on Hotham Rd Sorrento & also in Sullivan Bay Park. There is some conjecture about the area along Pt Nepean Rd from the Baths to Bowen Road for the Monterey Cypress to be replaced with Moreton Bay Figs – in a like for like replacement.
Pt Nepean rd Bowen Rd to Websters corner. This area is full of dead & dying vegetation including boxthorn, polygala, weeds & shrubs, replace with a moonah grove similar to the one between Rye & Blairgowrie. This “garden bed” is very narrow & has a huge drop off to the beach, a moonah grove would be practical as you could see through the twisted limbs to the water.
Pt Nepean Rd up the hill to the shopping strip. Spikey grasses have been planted here & are not only very unattractive, but they block access. Remove & replace with suitable plants.
11. NEW MULTI USE STADIUM
*Multi use stadium There have been several requests for a multi- use stadium, ideally this could have fitted within the David MacFarlan Reserve masterplan where 2x lone tennis courts stand or the area near behind the bowls club near the swamp or the location of the current netball courts. Perhaps the next masterplan will capture this. A stadium would be great for netball, basketball, pickleball, volleyball, futsal etc & can be used for year round training.
12. UPGRADE MEMORIAL GARDENS
Gardens are located next to museum. With a number of new & existing apartments, we need to maximise function of this beautiful area. A stylish gazebo for weddings has been suggested, also additional picnic seats & tables have a lot of support. It is a way to future proof our township – this beautiful area currently has no real functionality. The Historical society has advised that the centre piece garden must stay, & the front half running along Ocean Beach Road is the best place for picnic furniture & a covered area (gazebo?).
13. BEACH FURNITURE & IMPROVED ACCESS
Foreshore & Beach Furniture. There have been numerous requests for seating & boardwalks on the bay beach, Cameron’s Bight now has new benches set up along the dog beach from the Dorothy Houghton Walk to the Boat ramp – so DEECA must be on board. This would be something the community could really get behind with a little support from the council.
Beach Access. Systematically replace steps with timber ramps along the foreshore bay beach, & provide a board walk section for those in wheelchairs or have pushers.
14. ROADS
Roads need to be evaluated on a road by road basis & repaired & resealed where necessary. Bike lanes are to be included where the road shoulder permits it.
Bowen Road & St Pauls Rd. Both in dire need of reparation works & to accommodate bike lanes, Bowen Road also has a dodgy roundabout that should be flat. But it is time to look at all roads that cross from Melbourne Road directly to Pt Nepean Rd.
Pt Nepean Road from Hughes Rd to St Pauls Road. This is a Vic Roads asset but we need to advocate for better roads & bike lanes.
15. OCEAN BEACH ROAD SORRENTO MAKEOVER
The community has been working together for some time to come up with a concept that sees ugly additions stripped back & classic beauty restored to Ocean Beach Road. This includes new plantings to replace dead trees, eucalypts, bottlebrushes & unattractive ground covers. We were recently awarded gold in the tidy town awards as voted by visitors and locals, that is how much Sorrento is loved, however it seems all other coastal towns across Victoria are looking much better than Sorrento.
Apart from new vegetation, the suggestion is for oversized pots & tree surrounds, classic bollards & very little else. There has been feedback from residents, consultations with arborists, advanced tree specialists & vital members of our community with decades or history. We now have a concept outline & are hoping to get some rough sketches after final input is added.
Whilst the changes are very minor to fit the brief & wishes of our community, they will make a huge difference to the beauty & functionality of our township. The Sorrento Chamber of Commerce Traders will continue to add to & guide this conversation to ensure that traders are well considered & any changes to the layout are entirely functional. They will also be working on additional seating, bins etc. https://www.nepeanvoters.com/ocean-beach-road-revegetation/
16. REPLACEMENT OF TREATED PINE POST & RAILS WITH CYPRESS PINE BOLLARDS
Cypress Bollards The dated & dangerous/poisonous treated pine post & rail should be replaced with traditional 140 x 140mm cypress bollards for a classic look & better function. It would be great if the material could be harvested from the Monterey Cypress that will be removed throughout the ward.
17. AREAS ADJOINING FORESHORES
NOTE: Sorrento’s Five Foreshore Masterplans – we were successful in our quest to save our foreshores, keeping history & character, just providing a refresh & better access. https://www.nepeanvoters.org/sorrento-foreshore-blueprint/
*Fence between The Baths restaurant & Websters Corner. Parts of this fence are damaged with round treated pine posts, the rest of it from Bowen Rd to Websters cnr is rusted chicken wire with star pickets – ugly & dangerous. Residents are happy with the sections of fence in nearby Rye Blairgowrie where there are timber rails top & bottom.
*Scrappy vegetation on the beach near Bowen Rd. Consisting of dead trees & weedy grass, this could be removed & the area planted with low lying indigenous ground covers to ensure the view is not blocked & the sand is retained. This area gets a lot of complaints.
*Area under the Monterey Cypress between the Baths & the newish toilet block. A large sweeping ramp from Pt Nepean Road to the base of the existing trees, attached to an extensive boardwalk area. When replacement trees area planted, this will be a lovely shaded area to sit & look at the water – once the dead trees & scrappy vegetation is removed.
*The path from the Baths restaurant to Websters corner to be removed & redone with exposed aggregate as is done throughout the Shire in high profile areas. The necessary asphalt resurfacing to part of the path will help the situation until funding is available for a permanent solution. This is our most visible path & deserves a better material & a professional job.