SAVE OUR ARTS MP AND SAVE OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN MP COMMUNITY MEETING
SATURDAY AUGUST 2nd, FLINDERS CIVIC HALL
Following the spirited public response to Mornington Peninsula Council’s cuts to Arts and Environment grants, the Save Our Arts MP and Save Our Climate Plan MP groups are holding a community meeting on Saturday August 2 at Flinders Civic Hall, 3pm-4pm.
Organisers have stressed the objectives of the meeting are to regroup on the impacts of implemented cuts to Arts grants and Climate Action initiatives and to focus on constructive engagement with Council and Councillors to find ways forward.
Hosted by local broadcaster Tracee Hutchison, the community meeting will hear from speakers from impacted communities and update on next steps ahead of Council’s proposed mid-financial year budget review.
“After such strong public response to these budget cuts at the Council meetings in June, it’s important to ensure our community is kept informed on how these funding decisions are impacting local creatives and environmental groups – and work on maintaining constructive conversations with Councillors ahead of the mid-financial year budget review,” Ms Hutchison said.
Save Our Arts MP broadly represents creative practitioners and creative organisations based on the Mornington Peninsula, whilst the Save Our Climate Plan MP groups have formed a new Peninsula Climate Alliance which includes Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network, Save Westernport, the Victorian Farmers Federation Peninsula Branch, Flinders Zero Carbon Community, Repower Mornington Peninsula, Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Group and the Nepean Conservation Group, with more community groups in the pipeline to join.
The SaveOurArtsMP petition has attracted 2900 signatures, and the SaveOurClimatePlanMP petition has 1400 signatures – both calling for reinstatement of funds cut from the FY25/26 budget.
“The arts and climate communities have forged a collegiate and collaborative response to the funding cuts implemented in the FY25/26 Council budget. We share a deep connection to the incredible environment that nurtures creative practice and the natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula. We have naturally come together in our advocacy for the place we love,” Ms Hutchison said.
The Save Our Arts MP and Save Our Climate Plan MP community meeting is Saturday August 2, 3pm-4pm, Flinders Civic Hall. Attendees are requested to register via TryBooking.