An artificial intelligence system fitted to an RACV roadside assistance van has detected more than 300 road defects across 1,000 kilometres of Victorian roads. The system, called RoughSense, was developed by RMIT University and tested with RACV. It identifies cracking, rutting and emerging potholes as the van completes its normal duties. The highest concentration of defects was found along the Frankston-Flinders Road corridor. Researchers are still assessing the system's accuracy, and the trial runs until January 2027.
Melbourne alt-rock band Among The Restless will play its first show at the Westernport Hotel in San Remo on Saturday, December 12. Local band The Foxy Junes will provide main support, with Melbourne's The Satts also on the bill. The group is touring its debut album, Seasons, due out on October 30. Lead singer Lachie Dunn said bringing original music to regional towns matters to the band. The show is for audiences aged 18 and over, with tickets sold through Oztix.
Mornington Peninsula Shire has accepted appointment as Committee of Management for 25 hectares of bushland in Hastings. Councillors voted unanimously at the 29 September council meeting to take on the land at 197A Henderson Rd, which the state government proposed to reserve. Council officers ranked it among the shire's top ten most significant natural sites. Councillors also asked the Department of Planning to consider adding an adjoining southwest parcel and to investigate a northeast site of about three hectares for social housing, subject to a flora and fauna assessment.
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Mornington Peninsula Shire libraries have undergone upgrades, including new furniture, a dedicated library pod at Mornington, and a mural by local artist Daniel Van De Wiel at Hastings. The enhancements aim to create more comfortable and flexible spaces for reading, studying, or community gatherings. Children's areas have been improved to foster a love of reading, while the library pod offers a quiet space for meetings or focused work. These upgrades complement the shire's Community Art Spaces program, showcasing local artists.
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Stephen Batty and councillor Michael Stephens have celebrated the completion of restoration works to the Hastings–Western Port Historical Society’s historic Fisherman’s Cottage. Built around 1900, the cottage is one of the oldest buildings in Hastings. The shire-funded project included a new heritage-style front fence and a covered viewing area for a historic couta boat. Historical Society President John Woolley recognised the contribution of volunteers in preserving the cottage.
