Brendan Rees, Inner City News Journalist Profile

Articles

Flinders continues fundraising for outdoor gym

1 week ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

THE Flinders community is stretching its fundraising muscles to pump up support for a new outdoor gym at the Flinders Recreation Reserve that it hopes everyone can enjoy. The Flinders Community Association (FCA) spearheaded the idea three years ago to provide a free and accessible way to stay active, while promoting health and fitness to people of all ages and visitors.
Lyn takes the reins at Hastings SES

1 week ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

LYN MacLeod, Hastings SES unit’s newly announced controller, says she’s ready to rise to the challenge and continue making a difference in the community. A volunteer of three years, MacLeod takes the reins from respected colleague Brett “Dutchy” Holland who led the unit over the past four years with passion, dedication and a “constant drive”. “I’m petrified,” she said good-humouredly of her new role.
Shire seeks grants for sports upgrades

1 week ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will submit two significant grant applications aimed at enhancing community sports and recreation facilities. The proposed projects are the electrification of Pelican Park Recreation Centre in Hastings under the federal government’s Community Energy Upgrades Fund (CEUF), as well as seeking funding for the Sorrento Netball Courts redevelopment project through Sport and Recreation Victoria’s County Football Netball Program (CFN).
Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

1 week ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

SEVEN dangerous road sites on the Mornington Peninsula are set to receive $3.9m in upgrades under the 2025-26 federal government’s Black Spot Program. The safety upgrades will target road locations where crashes occur or are at risk of occurring. The Mornington Peninsula Shire confirmed it had been awarded the funding at its 3 June, with all seven road projects unanimously approved by councillors.
School zone road safety in the spotlight

2 weeks ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

TRAFFIC congestion, speeding vehicles, unsafe crossings and footpaths, and parking issues have emerged as the top concerns around peninsula schools, a survey has revealed. All schools and preschools as well as families were invited to participate in a consultation process by Mornington Peninsula Shire earlier this year as part of its Integrated Transport Strategy Development (ITS) and Safer Roads Funding and Priorities.
Wastewater talks rejected

2 weeks ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

A MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillor’s push to meet with South East Water over PFAS concerns in wastewater – despite there being no current detections of the contaminant – has been rejected. Cr David Gill raised a motion at the council’s 3 June meeting to initiate formal talks with South East Water about “any long-term public health related issues in our environment” of the synthetic chemicals – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, “if there’s a need for improvement”.
Author returns with new thriller

2 weeks ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

PENINSULA author Mate Antolos is preparing to unveil his second novel, The Fall, with a book launch to be held this month in Mornington. The writer’s new book follows Emir ‘Eddy’ Muravic, a young detective sergeant with the Australian Federal Police as he takes long service leave to visit his family in the former Yugoslav state.
Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

2 weeks ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have acted to review its flag policy after the Australian flag was left off a kinder flyer, prompting a wave of public backlash. The flyer, which was recently circulated to encourage families to register their children in the shire’s kinder programs for 2026, included the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pride flags – but not the Australian flag.
Cancer survivor advocates for health ‘transformation’ for all women

2 weeks ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

VICTORIA Sharp’s story is about hope and the power of research to deliver better treatments and outcomes for women with gynaecological cancers. Her story is one of those being told as part of an initiative by the Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) about advancing research into these types of women’s cancers. Diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, Victoria Sharp’s future looked dire until a ground-breaking clinical trial offered her a second chance.
Crib Point road project blows out by $1m amid property disputes

3 weeks ago | mpnews.com.au | Brendan Rees

A PLANNED road and drainage upgrade project in Crib Point has blown out by at least $1m – and costs could keep rising as unresolved issues with property owners and authorities delay progress. The Mornington Peninsula Shire originally budgeted for $795,000 to undertake the works at Creswell St (stopping at Denman St) and Cooma St in Crib Point which were rezoned from industrial to residential in 2019.