Should cats be kept at home 24 hours a day?

The current regulation in Frankston City is that cats must stay on their owner’s property between sunset and sunrise. But many still roam. We know most of you want stronger protections in place and 73% of our community supported a 24-hour cat curfew in a 2021 survey.

So Council is now proposing to extend the current curfew to 24 hours a day as part of our draft Domestic Animal Management Plan.

To support the transition, Council is proposing:

• an amnesty period
• community education
• access to cat enclosures for those who need them.

This proposed 24hr curfew is to protect cats and local wildlife and is already in place in many LGAs, including neighbouring Mornington Peninsula and Casey. Have your say before engagement closes on Sunday 7 September

You can find more information on our DAMP below.

$506M private investment boosts Frankston City development

Frankston City Council has approved planning application for a $91 million private development at the cinematic location of 438-444 Nepean Highway Frankston. The former home of Frankston Cinemas will be transformed into a 14 storey mixed-use building with breathtaking views of the bay. This latest application is one of a long list of approved and recently completed projects for Frankston City, totalling $506 million in private development.

Award-winning Melbourne-based Pace Development Group’s approved plans include 144 apartments, one shop, two hospitality spaces, a wellness centre, gym, plus 202 car parking spaces across three basement levels accessed from Nepean Highway. Works are due to commence early 2026 for completion in early 2030.

Ashleigh Avenue shopping strip upgrade

A $5 million upgrade to the Ashleigh Avenue shopping strip is on the way — bringing new shops, fresh food, dining and better public spaces to the heart of the Karingal neighbourhood.

It’s another big tick for our local economy and a sign of growing confidence in Frankston’s future. And yes — the post office is staying (and getting bigger)!

$40,000 grant to support paediatric healthcare access

Frankston’s most vulnerable children will benefit from better access to healthcare, thanks to a $40,000 grant from Frankston City Council to Menzies: Caring For Kids.

Menzies: Caring for Kids is an organisation that has been supporting young people in Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula for over 150 years.

Since 2017, the organisation has delivered over 7,600 free paediatric appointments and facilitated more than 2,200 case conferences involving paediatricians, teachers, and allied health professionals—ensuring coordinated, wraparound care for children who may not otherwise have access to it.

Engage your way

Your city. Your say. Your way.  

We are refreshing our Community Engagement Framework — the plan that guides how, when and where we engage with our community. 

We’re committed to delivering meaningful, inclusive engagement and we want to know what that means to you! 

Explore our engagement principles and provide feedback to help shape how Council listens and makes decisions, now and into the future. 

Whether it's surveys, interactive maps, idea boards or pop-up events, now’s the time to trial the tools and tell us what works best for you and your community. 

Visit Engage Frankston to have your say and go into the draw to WIN one of three $100 Prezzee vouchers by Sunday 31 August.

Are you making the most of our four-bin system yet?

The Victorian Government is standardising waste and recycling services across Victoria, and all Councils are required to provide households with access to the full four bin services including:

• mixed recycling bin (yellow lid)
• glass recycling (purple lid)
• food organics and garden organics (lime green lid)
• general waste (red lid)

We'll be working to connect all households to the four bin system over the coming months. If you have any questions, you can come and chat with our Waste Circularity Team:

• Monday 22 September, Carrum Downs Regional Shopping Centre (near Woolworths)
• Thursday 25 September, Bayside Shopping Centre (near Coles)
• Monday 29 September, Gateway Shopping Centre, Langwarrin
• Tuesday 30 September, Coles Ballarto Road Carrum Downs
• Wednesday 1 October, IGA Towerhill Frankston South

In the meantime, you can reach out to us at any time to get a purple and green bin for your property. Visit: frankston.vic.gov.au/Council/Contact-Us 

A thank you for preserving our local history

Congratulations to the Frankston Historical Society who were honoured at the August Council Meeting for their outstanding dedication to preserving and sharing our city’s rich heritage.

From caring for the historic Ballam Park Homestead and museum to conserving artefacts, documents and memorabilia, their work keeps Frankston’s history alive for locals and visitors alike.

Their contribution goes beyond heritage – partnering with Council on beach accessibility mobility device recharge points and inclusive events that help make our community stronger and more connected.

Rotary acknowledged for supporting our community

Congratulations to Rotary Peninsula 2.0 on receiving a Councillor Appreciation Award for their impactful fundraising initiatives. 

The club has raised over $97,000, which has contributed towards installing accessible beach matting, purchasing life-saving defibrillators through The Duck Derby, creating The Birth Tree, and many other meaningful projects. 

Are you up for the challenge?

The Mayor's Reading Challenge 2025 is in full swing, as Frankston City's smallest readers burn through the books to win some great prizes! Open to kids 0 to 8 years, to join the fun simply collect your Reading Record and Sticker Sheet at your local library branch to get started.

Council supports charities in building stronger local connections

Mums Supporting Families in Need is among six Frankston-based charities set to share in $43,000 of funding through the Frankston Charitable Fund’s 2025 Community Connection Grants. Their $10,000 grant will support the Hamper of Hope Project, delivering essential material aid to families fleeing domestic violence.

First Peoples' Health and Wellbeing (pictured) was also awarded a Frankston Charitable Fund 2025 Community Connection Grant of $5,000, which will support Arts Connect: a series of art and wellbeing workshops designed to foster connection, healing, and cultural strength among First Nations people in Frankston.

First Peoples' Health and Wellbeing is a trusted Aboriginal community-controlled organisation delivering holistic, culturally safe health services.

Welcoming our Sister City Susono Japan!

We proudly welcomed an inbound delegation from its Japanese Sister City, Susono, as part of a long-standing friendship that continues to enrich both communities through cultural exchange, mutual respect and international connection.

The official visit included community members from Susono led by representatives from Susono City Council including the Deputy Mayor, the Susono Overseas Friendship Association (SOFA) and primary and secondary students from schools in Susono.

Council calls for planning reform and funding certainty on tobacco trade

Council is advocating for planning reforms to regulate the location of tobacco retailers and is calling on the state government to provide funding certainty for its role in tobacco education and compliance beyond June 2026.

The push follows the introduction of the new Victorian Tobacco Business Licensing Scheme on 1 July 2025. While the scheme introduces state-level licensing for tobacco retailers, we are concerned that without complementary planning controls, communities remain vulnerable to health and safety risks.

Easier social work access available at Frankston Library

The Monash University Social Work Clinic at Frankston City Libraries is a collaboration between Council and Monash University providing community members free access to student social workers.

Since opening in September 2024, the clinic has provided vital support to 123 people, assisting with housing stress, Centrelink challenges, family violence, grief, and more.

Thank you to the Monash University team, our student social workers, and our staff for making this happen.

To be referred to the Monash University Social Work Clinic you can:

1. Speak with a library team member about your desire to be referred to our service OR

2. Self-refer through our clinic email or mobile number below. You may drop in on the days that we are located at the Frankston Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30am–3.30pm. 

Phone 0492 192 88 or email Socialworkclinic@monash.edu

School holiday fun at PARC

PARC is packed with fun for all ages these September school holidays! Splash Island is back with slides, slopes and balance beams, plus giant games, scavenger hunts, face painting and more. Splash Island runs weekdays from Monday 22 September to Friday 3 October (excluding the Grand Final public holiday). Book Splash Island and see the full program below.

The Great Pet-Together

Sunday 12 October, 10am–2pm, Ballam Park Frankston

The event is dedicated to our ‘best friends’ that bring together the community, by providing a fun pet-friendly day out with activities, specialty market stalls, interactive demonstrations, and education and awareness seminars. Highlights will include a community dog walk, pet paw-traits, costume competitions and a pup-cup eating competition. Keep an eye on the Imagine Frankston website for more details.

Recognise a local champion

Expressions of Interest for the Selection Panel and nominations for Frankston Citizen of the Year Awards 2026 open Monday 1 September. Get involved by joining our panel of judges or nominating a local champion. The awards are an opportunity to recognise individuals and groups that have made an outstanding contribution to our community over the past year or over a number of years. 

Pictured: The 2025 Citizen of the Year Wayne Holdsworth

Soft plastic recycling is back

Thanks to the retailer-led Soft Plastics Taskforce trial, you can now drop off certain soft plastics at several Woolworths stores in the area. This service is for Woolworths customers and household plastics only – that means things like:

• plastic shopping bags
• bread bags
• chip packets
• cereal box liners
• confectionery wrappers.

We are also preparing to launch a soft plastic drop-off service at the Frankston Regional Recycling & Recovery Centre in the coming months, in line with the expanded local recycling capacity.

For now, check the Woolies website to find a full list of participating trial stores near you.

Heatherhill Road safety updates complete

Council has completed a series of important road safety upgrades for drivers, pedestrians, and bike riders along Heatherhill Road. Thanks to the valuable feedback we received from residents, schools and businesses, the upgrades are designed to reduce vehicle speeds and improve visibility along this key local corridor. 

Upgrades included: 

• improvements to roundabouts at Lardner Road, Brooklyn Avenue and Kalmia Street. These safety-focused designs aim to strike a balance between traffic calming and functionality

• resurfacing a stretch of Heatherhill Road between Kalmia Street and Frankston–Flinders Road. 

After completing works, we identified some areas that could be refined and we’ve now improved the central islands at Brooklyn Avenue and Kalmia Street to reduce driver confusion. We’ve also added new line markings at these locations and updated the Lardner Road roundabout to make it clearer that vehicles can safely mount the central island if needed — especially important for larger vehicles. These follow-up works have been completed with no additional budget impact for ratepayers.  

This $1.1 million project was delivered with the support of the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery program. Thank you to everyone for your patience. 

Skye Road safety improvements 

Families, students and road users near Karingal Heights Primary School can now enjoy a safer, easier-to-navigate intersection at Skye Road, Onkara Street and Carramar Drive. 

Cr Sue Baker and Council staff recently met with local residents on site to check out the road safety upgrades, which include: 

• a new slip lane and raised pedestrian crossing 

• a relocated school crossing with a pedestrian refuge island 

• fresh asphalt and pavement markings 

• native landscaping designed for safety and low maintenance.

A huge thank you to our community for speaking up and helping shape these important safety improvements. The project was fully funded by Council. 

Coming soon: brighter lighting.

Help stop theft and vandalism in our reserves

We’re calling on our community to help protect Sandfield, Carrum Bella, Lady Emily, Paras, Brolga and Regency Reserves in Carrum Downs, and Skye Valley Reserve in nearby Skye, after a string of thefts and acts of vandalism. 

Recently, thieves have stolen newly planted trees and wooden slats from seating and tables at these reserves, and we've also seen damage around the Sandfield Reserve youth space, including graffiti. 

This not only delays progress on the upgrade at Sandfield Reserve, it also costs ratepayers and takes vital resources away from other community projects. 

If you see something, say something:  

• Report theft or suspicious behaviour to the Police Assistance Line 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Victoria 1800 333 000
• Report stolen or damaged items to Council using Snap Send Solve Report Local Issues to Councils | Snap Send Solve 

Earlier this year, with the community’s help, someone was charged over similar tree thefts. Your reports make a real difference. Let’s work together to protect our public spaces! 

Support our local ecosystem with an Environmental Sustainability Grant 

Do you have a project idea that could help protect or enhance Frankston’s natural environment or combat climate change? Frankston City Council’s Environmental Sustainability Grant is opening this September, offering one-off funding of $1,000. The grant is available to local community groups and landowners who want to make a meaningful impact through environmental sustainability. 

Applications open Monday 1 September and close Monday 20 October. 

Fish have arrived at Balambalam Lake! 

There’s something fishy (in the best way!) happening at Balambalam Lake in Ballam Park! Forty silver perch and 40 Australian Bass have just been released into the water. 

These fish aren’t just beautiful to look at, they’ll play an important role in supporting the lake’s growing ecosystem. 

Balambalam Lake is part of a clever natural system designed to filter and clean stormwater before it reaches Port Phillip Bay. With help from native fish, aquatic plants, and water circulation, the lake is being transformed into a healthy, balanced environment for all kinds of life. 

Unleash a better future for pets, people and the planet

Love your pet? So do we! Council’s draft Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) is now open for feedback — with key changes proposed for how pets live, play and roam in our city. 

This plan is about promoting responsible pet ownership and helping animals live healthier, happier lives, while protecting our natural environment and making sure parks and public spaces continue to work for everyone. The plan includes a proposed 24-hour cat curfew to protect wildlife and keep cats safe, along with a new Dogs in Public Places Policy to guide where dogs can go off-leash and how shared spaces are managed. 

Visit Engage Frankston to have your say by Sunday 7 September. And while you're there, make sure to enter the photo competition to go into the draw to WIN one-of-four $100 Prezzee vouchers. 

Experience of work survey

Do you work in Frankston or on the Mornington Peninsula? Your voice matters — let’s shape better workplaces together! 

The Experience of Work Survey from TeamLife and the Frankston Business Collective is your chance to share what’s working, what’s not, and what you think could make a real difference!

Whether you're running a team, working solo, or part of a bigger crew — your insights will help shape stronger, more supportive workplaces across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region. The survey is anonymous and easy to complete.

Insights from the survey will be shared at the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Business Festival this August.

Your feedback will help inform future programs and initiatives that better support our local business community.

The 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey results are in 

Local residents have shown confidence in Council’s vision and planning for the future, according to our 2025 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey.

Frankston City received an overall satisfaction score of 7.0 out of 10, in line with other metropolitan councils and well above Frankston’s long-term average of 6.4 since 2012.

Satisfaction with housing affordability and availability saw a significant increase and Council also outperformed the metropolitan average in several key areas, including services for children, community centres, arts and cultural events, and aquatic and leisure centres.

But it was our planning for the that stood out, with the community rating us strongly in improving Frankston’s image, planning for population growth and on the appearance and quality of new developments.

Echidnas are on the move in and around our natural reserves

Breeding season is fast approaching which may mean that we start seeing echidnas out and about wandering the suburbs. If you see one, it is important to leave it alone as not only are they solitary creatures, but relocating a healthy echidna risks them losing their scent trail or leaving their young unattended in the burrow. If in danger, an echidna can be moved the shortest distance possible in the direction it was going so as not to lose their scent trail back to their burrow and possible young one.

Echidnas lay only one egg that hatches after 10 days in its pouch. Left in the burrow for up to a year, their mother returns to the burrow via the scent trail every four to six days to feed the baby echidna.

So remember to leave echidnas where you find them unless they are in danger and keep your dogs on a leash and well away if you see one. If you do find an injured echidna, photograph so you have an exact location of where it was found then take it to a vet. Do not feed, give water or apply heat as temperatures over 30 degrees are fatal. You can report a wildlife emergency via the Wildlife Victoria website.