Flinders Civic Hall packed as calls grow louder for Mornington Peninsula Shire to reverse arts and climate cuts – picture: Kim Taylor
Mornington Peninsula — More than 150 residents packed into Flinders Civic Hall on Saturday, demanding the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council reinstate funding for local arts and climate programs following controversial budget decisions.
Mayor Anthony Marsh, CEO Mark Stoermer, and Councillors Kate Roper and Michael Stephens were in attendance at the community-organised meeting, which was led by Save Our Arts MP and the newly formed Peninsula Climate Alliance.
The crowd heard from local arts organisations including Flinders Fringe Festival, Dreamhouse Theatre, and Peninsula Films, as well as climate advocacy groups such as Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network, Save Westernport, and the Victorian Farmers Federation Peninsula Branch.
Two key issues dominated discussion: the council’s decision to cancel its Climate Emergency Declaration and associated Climate Action Plan, and the defunding of arts development grants from the 2025/26 budget.
“Council cuts to creative and performing arts grants have devastated local creatives,” said Claire Thorn, co-founder of the Flinders Fringe Festival.
“These grants have built a creative community and a creative economy. Without that support, events like Fringe may never have come to life.”
Thorn also raised concerns that new funding guidelines now exclude sole traders—many of whom form the backbone of the local arts scene—from applying for support. The Save Our Arts MP campaign, she said, is continuing to work constructively with Council and urging a reversal of the cuts at the mid-financial year budget review.
On the climate front, Save Westernport President Jane Carnegie said the community was already witnessing the effects of the climate crisis, including worsening coastal erosion and extreme weather events.
“Our community wants action,” said Carnegie.
“We are increasingly at risk, and the time to act is now.”
A motion calling on Council to reinstate the Climate Emergency Declaration and Climate Action Plan was passed unanimously by attendees. A petition supporting the move has already garnered over 1,500 signatures. A second petition advocating for the return of arts funding has surpassed 2,900 signatures.
Event MC Tracee Hutchison described the meeting as a convergence of shared values.
“There is a huge intersect between our local creatives and environmental advocates,” she said.
“It makes sense for these groups to come together in their advocacy for the place we love.”
The Council is expected to revisit budget priorities later in the financial year.
