Mornington Peninsula mayor blindsided by Point Nepean announcement

Camping will be allowed at the Point Nepean Quarantine Station after the state government approved plans to revamp the historic Portsea site.

But the announcement comes as somewhat of a shock to the local council.

Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Anthony Marsh didn’t know the $4.5 million project had been approved until he read it in the paper this morning.

“The announcement this morning, doubling down on this, was a bit of a surprise,” he told Emily Power and Jimmy Bartel, filling in for Ross and Russel.

Under the plan, a coastal campground on the lawn outside the quarantine station will be built, with a pre-pitched tents set up on platforms, and existing quarantine station buildings repurposed for a camp kitchen and toilets.

“While we welcome camping and tourism down the pointy end of the peninsula we’re not sure that $4.5 million dollars spent here is the best use of that money,” Councillor Marsh said.

“The thing that strikes me as a bit odd about this one is … it’s effectively glamping down at Portsea. That’s fine, but when you’re going to put $4.5 million into coast areas on the peninsula that’s not where we would start.

“Carparks and roads are where the money is required, I think, rather than sort of staying overnight.”

Press PLAY below to hear how the Mornington Peninsula mayor thinks the $4.5 million would be better spent