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Future Proofing Frankston & the Peninsula

More than 170 people packed the Frankston Football Club on Tuesday 16 April for the Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula’s Inaugural Future Forum.

Business leaders, civic leaders, local government, institutions, not-for-profits, and the region’s biggest employers came with their thinking caps on and eyes firmly set on the peninsula’s future.

Led by a panel of representatives from all levels of government and industry leaders, attendees discussed the long-term vision and strategy required for the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston City to respond to the challenges which will be thrown at us over the next twenty years.

The forum was facilitated by the ABC's Bridget Rollason, while Simon Kuestenmacher – from The Demographics Group – presented to the packed room the demographic changes impacting our region.

‘Millennial Frankston’ means Frankston is home to more and more young professionals looking for a vibrant Frankston CBD and great quality lifestyle. Meanwhile, a ‘Boomer Peninsula’ requires more targeted support around aspects like healthcare, aged care, and connectivity issues. Additionally, the Mornington Peninsula’s noticeable distance from Melbourne’s CBD requires innovative ‘metropolitan’ solutions to a seemingly ‘regional’ part of Victoria.

Joining the Government-led panel was the Minister for Planning and Carrum MP, the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny; the Federal Member of Flinders, Zoe McKenzie; and Deputy Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Antonella Celi. Critical issues canvassed by the panel included diverse housing options around activity centres, key worker accommodation, and infrastructure investment in more remote areas of the Peninsula.

Leaders from industry shared their vision for our region from their respective fields, including Matt McDonald (Searoad Ferries), Felicity Topp (Peninsula Health), David Baker (Woodleigh School), Craig Mitchell (Peninsula Hot Springs), and Karen Lau (South East Water).


Contributions today from CFMP members will help form the basis of the Committee’s Strategic Plan and future advocacy projects. Some of the items raised today include: 

  •        Diverse housing needs – significant need for affordable housing and rentals, key worker accommodation, and short stay options for visitors.
  •        Activating key activity centres at Frankston, Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud.
  •        Connectivity – better public transport –better rail connectivity through to Hastings and Mornington, better east-west bus connections
  •        Government nuance – are we regional, perri regional, metropolitan? Government should invest based on need, not a classification.
  •        Port of Hastings – rezoning land from SUZ to industrial and for housing, what do new industry opportunities like renewable energy and hydrogen look like?
  •        Aged care and health care workers for an ageing population. These workers need somewhere to live – so where will they come from?
  •        Convention and Exhibition Centre for our region – the demand is there
  •        Equitable access to education – from Frankston to Portsea, private and public – and a significant uplift and improvement at Chisholm Rosebud.
  •        Redevelopment of Rosebud Hospital – access to health shouldn’t depend on which part of the Peninsula you live
  •        Sustainable tourism opportunities and activating Western port as a destination, revitalizing Frankston as a activated city that people want to come to
  •        Decrease red tape at every opportunity to encourage economic growth – including payroll tax – and better policy alignment across governments.
  •        Advocating to governments with a collective voice through the Committee and collaboration with our partners

  

Quotes attributable to CEO Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula, Josh Sinclair:

 “We’re going to need a bigger venue next year. The response to the Committee’s Future Forum has been overwhelming!”

 “The contributions were bold and forward-thinking, and they’ll help us articulate a collective voice that we want to take all the way to Spring Steet and Canberra.”

 “Developing our key advocacy goals and strategies alongside local government, local businesses and big employers, and community groups ensures wide-reaching feedback from the Peninsula community.”

 “I want to thank all our panellists, Members of Parliament, Frankston City and Mornington Peninsula Shire councils, and our CFMP members for their valuable contributions at this forum.”

 “We look forward to facilitating thought-provoking conversations like this one again very soon.”