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The Mornington Rotary Greenway
Mornington Rotary Club has undertaken the first tree planting as part of a plan to create a Greenway from the Nepean Highway to the Esplanade, largely along the old railway line easement. This is the intended route of the Peninsula Trail. This first planting adjacent to the Bays Hospital includes the installation of bench seats and signage. It has been funded by Grants from Council, Rotary District 9815 and the Club. The Greenway is consistent with Council's Urban Forest Strategy that aims to green our town, provide shade and environment for our fauna.
(photo - July 2025 - Dep Mayor Paul Pingiaro, Bays CEO Jade Phelan and members at the planting)
In subsequent stages understory may be planted here, and further tree planting will continue in either direction.
As many locals will know this section is now kikuyu grass with no plants. A recent Council study reported that Mornington has the third lowest tree canopy cover of all the towns on the Peninsula.
The Greenway at this time does not have any formed paths, but it is nearly all away from roads. There is an existing worn walking track that locals currently use and in the future a path could be formed as part of Councils Plan for the Peninsula Trails – Moorooduc to Mornington.
In Stage two Mornington Rotary wants to extend the Greenway from Mornington Station to Bungower Road, alongside the rail track, with Tanti Creek and Narambi Reserve and Wetlands as features.
Mornington Rotary is undertaking this project as part of Rotary’s International focus on environmental sustainability. Mornington Rotary created the Briars Forest in 1981, and aims to bring similar success into the town, for the benefit of both visitors and residents. The Greenway will connect people and our community with nature..