The Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula has hailed its first Future Forum as a major success. CEO Josh Sinclair said the response to the forum had been “overwhelming”, with “bold and forward-thinking” contributions that would “help us articulate a collective voice that we want to take all the way to Spring St and Canberra”.
“Developing our key advocacy goals and strategies alongside local government, local businesses, big employers and community groups ensures wide-reaching feedback from the Peninsula community,” Mr Sinclair said.
More than 170 people packed the Frankston Football Club on April 16 for the forum, where business and 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”, the CFMP said on its website. “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 20 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 health care, 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 Carrum state Labor MP and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, Flinders federal Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie, and Mornington Peninsula Shire deputy mayor 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. Industry leaders to share their visions for the region included Matt McDonald from Searoad Ferries, Felicity Topp from Peninsula Health, David Baker from Woodleigh School, Craig Mitchell from Peninsula Hot Springs, and Karen Lau from South East Water.
The CFMP said contributions from its members would help form the basis of the committee’s strategic plan and future advocacy projects. Some of the items raised included:
- The significant need for affordable housing and rentals, key worker accommodation, and short-stay options for visitors
- Key activity centres at Frankston, Mornington, Hastings and Rosebud
- Improved public transport with better rail connectivity through to Hastings and Mornington, and better east-west bus connections
- Government investment being based on need, not whether the region is classified as regional, peri-regional or metropolitan
- What the rezoning of Port of Hastings land from special use to industrial and for housing would mean for new industry opportunities such as renewable energy and hydrogen
- Sourcing and accommodating aged care and health care workers for an ageing population
- Satisfying the demand for a regional convention and exhibition centre
- Equitable access to private and public education from Frankston to Portsea and a “significant uplift and improvement” at Chisholm Rosebud
- Redevelopment of Rosebud Hospital
- Taking advantage of sustainable tourism opportunities, activating Western Port as a destination, and revitalising Frankston as an “activated city” that would attract more people
- Cutting red tape and payroll tax to encourage economic growth, and better policy alignment across all levels of government
- Advocating to governments with a collective voice through the committee and collaboration with its partners.
“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,” Mr Sinclair said. “We look forward to facilitating thought-provoking conversations like this one again very soon. We’re going to need a bigger venue next year.”
To contact CFMP, go to www.cfmp.org.au
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