Alert, no alarm

Long-term Phillip Island locals are accustomed to the occasional background noise from live-fire classes at HMAS Cerberus, with the popping sounds travelling across Western Port bay.

However, newcomers to the island have taken to social media to remark at the strange sounds.

“I find the sound of gunfire in the morning very disturbing,” wrote one resident.

To which another responded: “I’d be more concerned if a naval training base wasn’t doing practice / maintenance on their guns.”

HMAS Cerberus is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base that serves as the primary training establishment for personnel.

The site for the Cerberus naval base on Hanns Inlet, between Sandy Point and Stony Point on Western Port was purchased in 1911.