Sorrento traders exploring plan to secede from Mornington Peninsula Shire
Fed-up Sorrento traders are plotting their own ‘Megxit’ to escape “reverse snobbery” and being “ignored” by the local council.
South East
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A holiday haven for the rich and famous wants to form their own “republic” blaming “reverse snobbery” for being neglected by the local council.
A grassroots campaign from fed-up Sorrento traders — complete with T-shirts emblazoned with The Republic of Sorrento — aims to secede from the Mornington Peninsula.
The proposed new entity would include Portsea and Blairgowrie and be modelled on Victoria’s smallest local government area – Queenscliffe Borough – on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Trader Julie Collins has written to Local Government Victoria to find out how to make the process a reality and was considering a community meeting and petition to gauge support for the plan.
She has also created exclusive merch in response to the “reverse snobbery” towards the town and a growing feeling of being ignored by the shire.
“We’re not being listened to and the shire doesn’t support our events,” Ms Collins said.
An application for a $10,000 council grant to help revive the Taste of Sorrento festival was knocked back and a recent move by the shire to allow a food truck on the foreshore also rankled.
“The chamber told the shire that traders didn’t want food trucks on the foreshore and not only did they not listen, they gave a permit to a business that will be in direct competition with one of our own traders,” Ms Collins said.
The decision to grant Dromana business Peninsula Fresh Seafood a permit to operate a food truck on the foreshore was slammed by the Sorrento Chamber of Commerce.
Nick Tate, who runs the town’s only fresh fish shop, said it would put him out of business and the Sorrento Chamber of Commerce threatened to “blockade” the town to stop the food truck from operating.
The council is now investigating the “public threat”.
Mornington Peninsula mayor Steve Holland said “cartel conduct” was contrary to the spirit of a local Chamber of Commerce, and that it was at odds with community values.
Sorrento is part of Nepean Ward, which stretches from Tootgarook to Portsea.
Ward councillor Susan Bissinger said the push to break away was “not surprising”.
“It’s a reflection of the sentiment residents have been expressing to me,” she said.
Many locals had complained about recent decisions that went against community wishes including installing pedestrian lights “at the wrong spot” on Point Nepean Rd and failing to extend Stringer Reserve to include a third oval for the town, Cr Bissinger said.
Nepean Ward generates about 25 per cent of rates for the shire which expected to collect about $206 million in rates and charges in 2022/23.
Cr Holland said the Kennett government’s amalgamations in the 1990s “remained controversial in some small corners on the community”.
“Secession is ultimately a matter for the state government,” he said.
Victorian Local Government Minister Melissa Horne could recommend a new council be created or existing municipal boundaries changed.
Prior to making such a recommendation a restructuring advisory panel would have to be established to advise the Minister on the decision.
Significant support for the change from the community would be needed to trigger the process.
Queenscliffe Borough takes in part of Point Lonsdale, Queenscliff and Swan Island.
It’s estimated 2022 population was 3206.