PLANNING Minister Justin Madden was bushwhacked by a multi-pronged protest from members of several peninsula lobby groups when he arrived in Mornington on Thursday for the official launch of the town's structure plan.

Five years in the making, the plan restricts future Main Street buildings to three storeys, and helps retain the town's "coastal village character", says Mornington Peninsula Shire.

What was meant to be a celebratory day turned tense as protesters took advantage of the visit to air their views on a range of issues.

However, Mr Madden lightened the mood inside the Mornington shire offices when he told more than 80 people, including about 25 protesters carrying banners, that he'd hoped for a stronger police presence. Right on cue, Mornington Secondary College's police drum corps arrived.

Protest group representatives included:

■Crib Point Advisory Group, which opposes the Boral bitumen plant that Mr Madden approved in August contrary to the advice of a State Government panel he set up.

■Mt Eliza Action Group, which is objecting to a proposed caravan park in green wedge land in Tower Road, Mt Eliza.

■Mornington Environment Association, which is against any increase in building height in Main Street.

■Devilbend Foundation, which has fought a long battle to keep Devilbend Reserve for wildlife.

Adding to the tension was Hastings MP Neale Burgess, who challenged Mr Madden to explain why he had approved the Boral bitumen plant, breaking a 2006 state election campaign promise.

Mr Madden asked Mr Burgess why he did not challenge him in parliament.

Mr Burgess said he had raised the matter 11 times, most recently on September 15 when he asked the minister to "reverse his destructive decision".

"The community is only now becoming aware of the extent of the Brumby Government's grubby plan for Crib Point," Mr Burgess said. "We now know that it intends to use Crib Point as a toxic dumping ground for bitumen, brown coal and fertiliser."

After the meeting, Mr Burgess said: "The minister sits in his comfortable office and makes uninformed decisions that destroy communities, but is offended when someone has the nerve to ask him to justify it. I invite the minister to a public debate on the merits of the Government's plan to industrialise Crib Point."

When launching the Mornington plan, Mr Madden said the Government was taking action to accommodate growth and to help families secure their lifestyle.