Attached is our latest list of projects for all levels of government to take on board for Somerville.
It seems at times that we meet, we talk about things, we advocate, but nothing seems to happen.
Pleasingly the last three months we seem to have some limited success in the things we have been advocating for-:
· North West Rail project was knocked on the head by Metro Trains who despite originally pointing SBG to the Keep Australia Beautiful “Stationeers” project, were unable to grant permission to use the land through the Shire and the reason given that services run underneath that area. This wasted over six months’ worth of volunteer work. Paul Mercurio has been asked to find out exactly where the services run and what can be done with the area.
· Somerville Public Toilets - Significantly the Shire has put forward a grant of $ 40 000 which we will now work towards refurbishing the public toilets in Frankston-Flinders Road to coincide with the completion of the Baxter to Somerville Bike Trail. Meetings have been held with a registered builder and planning is underway with council officers.
· The Roundabout - There is ongoing dialogue with all our elected representatives regarding the Roundabout in Somerville. Significantly on the recent Mornington Peninsula Shire Council “Infrastructure Projects January 2025” on Page 10 under Roundabouts there is a box that says “Eramosa Rd West / Frankston-Flinders Rd - Determination of solution and concept design $1m TBD”.
This doesn’t mean money has been allocated, but it is now on the Shire Infrastructure projects list. This is something that one of our members brought up at our first meeting in July 2021.
· Mobile Phone reception - We made several representations to Zoe McKenzie, the PUMP program and Wavecomm in relation to poor mobile phone reception in Somerville. There is now an application by Telstra for a mobile telephone tower to be built in Bungower Road. The matter is now with the council planning department and is a watch this space for more information to come to hand.
· Ritchies site - We have been in constant contact with Gorman Kelly, the Real Estate Agents looking after the former Ritchies’ site in Eramosa Road East, they have indicated that they are looking to sign a Heads of Agreement for a tenant to takeover the supermarket area. They believe that once this is formalized that the bottle shop area will be let separately in the not too distant future.
· Medicare Urgent Care Clinics – not something that we advocated for, but the Federal Government has indicated that a clinic will be built in Somerville in the 2025/ 2026 financial year.
· Mornington Peninsula Technology, Industry & Business Park – also something we have not advocated for, but this has been referred to a Planning Panel appointed by the State Minister for Planning. This will create significant employment opportunities for Somerville.
Other things that have been completed include-:
· Some Footpath rectification works around the town.
· The light on the War Memorial cenotaph was finally fixed (after many, many enquiries by others & SBG).
· Pedestrian Crossing and Lighting at the Somerville Roundabout.
· Removal of the builder’s fence around the Mechanics Hall.
· The ongoing maintenance of trees around Eramosa Road East and Frankston- Flinders Road shopping areas.
It is anticipated that all the above will help to grow the local Somerville economy, bringing rewards for all business owners.
The main aim is to drive consumers and business at the macro level. If we have a great variety of shops and factories, people will want to Shop here, then more people will be able to Work here, which will drive Investment in Somerville and with better facilities people will want to Play here.
These things are worth fighting for.
Please let us know via email somervillebusinessgroup@gmail.com if there are any other projects that need to be looked at in Somerville.
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