City of Ballarat Cr Damon Saunders and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison with users of the newly developed Alfredton Primary School netball courts The Alfredton community is gearing up for a huge netball season following the completion of new netball courts to cater to the needs of the growing western suburbs The Alfredton Recreation Reserve Netball Courts project is now complete following an overhaul of two outdated netball courts as well as the refurbishment of a third court at the adjacent Alfredton Primary School The joint $1.33 million project was supported by $700,000 from the State Government’s Community Support Fund the first stage of the project saw the two existing netball courts receive new LED lighting and undergo a complete reconstruction that was completed in 2023 involved a reconstruction of the netball court and new lights on the Alfredton Primary School property This court will be shared by the Alfredton Primary School and the Ballarat Football Netball Club City of Ballarat Alfredton Ward Councillor Damon Saunders joined Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and representatives from the Ballarat Football Netball Club and Alfredton Primary School to celebrate the project’s completion on Friday Cr Saunders said the entire project ensured the consistency of high-quality netball facilities throughout the municipality following recent similar surface and lighting upgrades at City Oval North Ballarat and Learmonth netball courts “We know how important it is to provide high quality sporting facilities especially in our growing suburbs,” he said “There is a strong need to invest in modern infrastructure to increase participation in sport and that’s what makes projects like this so important.” Juliana Addison said she was delighted to see the important upgrades completed “With so many families choosing to live in Alfredton it is so important we continue to invest in world-class facilities to support community sport,” she said “Co-locating the new community netball court at Alfredton Primary School is a win for the school – providing teaching and learning opportunities as well as an additional court for students to use at recess and lunch.” 5320 5500 Services and Requests info@ballarat.vic.gov.au City of Ballarat © | Privacy Statement | Website Terms and Conditions The City of Ballarat acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on, the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past, prese​nt and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Picture fileBallarat detectives are appealing for information on the whereabouts of two vehicles stolen from a home in an aggravated burglary in Alfredton overnight All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe offenders were on Canopy Avenue about 12.30am on Wednesday when they saw an open garage door at their victim's house Police said they walked into the garage and then into the house through an unlocked personal access door they found the keys to a black 2020 Mazda CX5 They also noticed a set of keys in the ignition of a grey Ford Ranger ute before stealing both vehicles Police said the offenders drove off in an unknown direction The Mazda has a registration of BFJ203 while the Ford has a registration of BNR523 Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 A confidential report can also be made online at crimestoppersvic.com.au It comes as Crime Stoppers and Victoria Police launch a new campaign about the importance of securing homes and vehicles as many head away for the easter and Anzac holiday periods "The Key to Safety: Is it Locked?" campaign urges people to take small but effective steps to prevent opportunistic crime a home security camera - these are small actions They tell would-be intruders that this home isn't an easy target," Crime Stoppers Victoria CEO Stella Smith said "Providing information to Crime Stoppers can make a huge difference - even something like sharing doorbell or home security footage could help identify an offender or prevent another break-in Your information can be shared anonymously." The data from the Crime Statistics Agency also revealed a 16 per cent increase in recorded motor vehicle thefts while residential aggravated burglaries went up If you or someone you know is impacted by crime, call the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817 or visit www.victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au Today's top stories curated by our news team. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Picture by Lachlan BenceResidents are calling for new road measures in the growing suburb of Alfredton after a driver lost control of their car and destroyed the front of a garage Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThey say it's one of many in the suburb since their pocket was connected to the Ballymanus Estate and they want something implemented to slow drivers down Alfredton resident Muller Wang was woken up when a car crashed into their garage The family had only been living in the house for about five months I was thinking it would be much more relaxed A spokesperson confirmed Victoria Police was investigating the incident and said it was believed a Toyota Camry lost control when travelling on Lawrie Drive The car crashed into the front yard of a house on Dorset Drive The driver was taken to the hospital for assessment Borken walls at a house in Alfredton after a car crashed into the garage around 4.30am Picture suppliedPhotographs show that bricks from the corner of the garage were crumbled onto the floor and there were major cracks in the brick walls The garage door could be seen in pieces on the floor Mr Wang said there were often people driving very quickly down the road He said he often could hear tyres skidding around corners and would like to see something done to encourage drivers to slow down A car crashed into the front of an Alfredton home in the early hours of the morning Picture suppliedA sign of a bigger problemNeighbour Nick Thurlbeck was woken up by the loud screeching from the crash Since becoming connected to the new Alfredton estate the "very quiet street" had become a "thoroughfare" there's a near miss of someone driving through it at high speed "We've seen the rollover in Merino Drive - that's a classic example of what's going on through the area and there was also a hit and run in January." came across the crash scene about 7am on Saturday He said he had previously raised the issue with the City of Ballarat council and asked for speed-reducing measures acting infrastructure director Luke Ives said a traffic study was done in 2020 Mr Ives said the road was "not of an adequate priority to be awarded funding compared to the many other candidate sites" The letter said the council was now working on a new traffic study to better understand how busy the road was Dr Watson said he saw lots of people speeding on the roads He said the area was often busy with families using the recreation park or children walking to school or around the estate "There was one morning I was taking the dog for a walk and a fully loaded concrete truck was coming on that same corner where the accident happened .. "A little car was coming up the other direction The main roads in the area, Dyson Drive and Ballarat-Carngham Road are due to be duplicated to accommodate growth The Ballarat-Carngham Road is waiting for state funding and the Dyson Drive duplication has been part of the council's federal election advocacy Mr Thurlbeck said residents in these growing areas were facing congestion on the main roads and were then looking to save time by cutting through on smaller suburban roads Neither major party has committed to funding Dyson Drive during the 2025 election campaign "It's so disappointing that we have a federal member who's responsible for that particular portfolio and ignores her electorate when we desperately need it," Mr Thurlbeck said "We need the Link Road to be completed; that's been delayed for the last eight years." Nieve is The Courier's political reporter. She covers council, state and federal politics. Something bothering you in the community or want to see change? Send an email at nieve.walton@thecourier.com.au Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Picture by Michelle SmithResidents in Alfredton and Delacombe have been advised that smoke will be visible from a fire at a waste management facility in Learmonth Street Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice and CFA have blocked off Learmonth Street between Napier Street and Winter Street with traffic detours in place Fire Rescue Victoria and CFA firefighters were called just before 9.15am with smoke rising from the recycling centre A fire at a waste management facility has triggered an advice warning for residents in Alfredton and Delacombe.An FRV spokesperson said crews arrived on the scene within two minutes to find a fire involving a large pile of waste Fire trucks and resources from stations across the city and nearby towns have been called to the scene CFA said there was no current threat to the community but local residents should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions and keep roads clear so emergency services can respond to control a blaze at an Alfredton green waste recycling depot Picture by Fire Rescue VictoriaA blaze at an Alfredton green waste recycling centre on Friday took firefighters almost five hours to bring under control All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWhen the first Fire Rescue Victoria crews arrived just after 9.30am there were fears that the fire in a windrow of green waste could "expand significantly" to nearby piles of green waste and building material scraps The first FRV crews on the scene, from nearby Lucas Fire Station arrived to find an area of green waste about 40m by 50m well alight with a smoke plume drifting into Delacombe and Winter Valley Smoke particulates impacting nearby residents were a major concern for crews on scene with an advice warning issued for the neighbouring suburbs Picture by Fire Rescue VictoriaThe fire was at the rear of the business on Learmonth Street forcing FRV officers with support from the CFA to set up a twin 450m hose relay from the road to the fire Learmonth Street between Napier St and Winter St was closed to traffic for much of the day FRV specialist appliances including a ladder platform hazmat team and tech rescue appliance also attended with Ambulance Victoria on scene for health monitoring Learmonth Street between Napier St and Winter St was closed to traffic for much of Friday as fire crews battled a blaze at a green waste recycling centre Picture by Michelle SmithIt took firefighters nearly five hours to bring the fire under control with a combination of ground-based monitors A large excavator pulled the burning pile apart to help extinguish the fire and a gun was allegedly found in a car hours later on Friday night Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice were first called to Balanada Close about 6.30pm after reports of a dispute and what was believed to have been the firing of a gun Police allegedly found several bullet holes in a glass window of one of the properties and investigations commenced police were called to Cuthberts Road in Alfredton following reports of a crash and a brawl Officers saw a vehicle of interest relating to the incident earlier in the evening parked in a driveway nearby During a search of the 2003 Holden Commodore police allegedly found a .22 calibre rifle under the driver's seat believed to have been used in the incident in Balanada Close A 19-year-old Alfredton man was charged with a number of firearms-related offences and remanded to appear in court File picturePolice allege a repeat family violence offender shook a two-month-old infant during an incident this week Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe alleged family violence offence took place at about 7pm on Tuesday when the 23-year-old man confronted the mother of his child while in the driveway of an Alfredton home Neighbours reported seeing the man yell at the woman before hitting the car with a crutch and a metal pole Police said the incident then escalated when the man went inside of the home and grabbed their two-month-old infant He allegedly returned to the car and began shaking the baby back and forth and the baby was found to be uninjured by paramedics It's alleged the offending continued the following morning after the man was granted bail at 1am Police said the man reattended the Alfredton home about two hours after being released The woman called police to the address and the alleged offender was arrested after he was found hiding under a bed He appeared at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday afternoon to apply for bail further alleged incidents of family violence against the same woman were read to the court Police said there had been 21 family violence callouts at the Alfredton address - five occurring in the past month and 13 in the past year the man allegedly drove his car at the woman The 23-year-old's bail was opposed by police believing he was at risk of further re-offending if released The court heard from the man's disability support coordinator who said he would provide accommodation to the man if released The man could then be placed on offender-specific programs such as the men's behaviour change program which offers a 20-session group program said the plan didn't address the "immediate" risk of reoffending the man posed if released And said it could be three weeks before the man began any behaviour programs "I am really concerned that at least one of these allegations was when your partner was heavily pregnant.. another was when there was a two-month-old infant present and being actively used in an instance of family violence," the magistrate said and what I have heard in this bail application today I don't accept that you will do what you promise to the court that you will do." Support is available for those who may be distressed Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; MensLine 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 Picture filePolice are calling for information following an aggravated burglary and the theft of car keys in Buninyong Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice said unknown offenders went to a home at 12am on Monday and broke into a vehicle before finding a garage remote and using it to open the garage They then got into the house via an unlocked access door to the house while the victim slept The offenders stole a set of keys to a Ford Falcon Ute before leaving the property in an unknown vehicle Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 a Delacombe woman has been hit with a number of charges over the alleged theft of a vehicle and theft from a vehicle in Alfredton Police were called to Sydney Way on Tuesday following reports of the thefts and detectives from the Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit began to investigate They later identified and arrested the 26-year-old and charged her with offences including theft of a motor vehicle three counts of contravening a condition of bail and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail She was remanded in custody to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday She was granted bail but will re-appear in court on Friday Picture by Lachlan BenceA 27-year-old man has sustained "minor injuries" during a home invasion in Alfredton on the weekend as police continue to investigate the incident Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice said offenders gained entry to the property just before 7.00am on Saturday and a 27-year-old man was harmed before fleeing from his home The home was still surrounded by investigators and cordoned off with police tape hours after the incident happened a Victoria Police spokesperson said no arrests had been made and the investigation remained ongoing It comes after the release of new data from the Crime Statistics Agency that showed an almost nine year high in the number of recorded criminal offences in Ballarat The house was cordoned off with police tape early on Saturday morning Picture by Lachlan BenceIn the year ending December 2024 the Ballarat local government area recorded 172 residential aggravated burglaries compared to 131 in 2023 Anyone with information or dashcam and CCTV footage of the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Picture by Kate HealyEmergency crews have been called to a vehicle rollover on Merino Drive in Alfredton Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe incident occurred about 3.20pm on Friday A second vehicle parked on the street also appeared damaged Police at the scene said it appeared one vehicle clipped the parked car and rolled - speed is being investigated as a possible factor Picture by Kate HealyActing Sergeant Mitch Chalmers urged drivers to take care on residential roads An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed no emergency treatment or transport was provided Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMissing Alfredton teenager Riley has been found Police confirmed the 14-year-old is safe and well after a public appeal was issued after he was last seen on Saturday Police are appealing for the public to help find Riley an Alfredton boy who has been missing since Saturday Police and his family are concerned for the 14-year-old's welfare due to his age He was last seen in Windsor Avenue in Alfredton about 11am on Saturday police say Riley is described as being Caucasian in appearance about 170cm tall with dark blonde hair and blue eyes He was last seen wearing a red jumper with a picture of a mushroom on it black runners and carrying a small black bag Investigators have released an image of Riley hoping it may help someone provide information on his whereabouts Anyone with information or CCTV/dashcam footage is urged to contact Ballarat Police Station on 5336 6000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Picture by Kate Healy and suppliedA house in Alfredton with a weed-filled front yard is to generate at least $1950 a week in rent if its six rooms are fully occupied Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe property in Mayo Street features six furnished bedrooms The rooming house fills a gap where there are not many one-bedroom properties available director of investment company Help Me Rent said the rooming house differed from a shared house but they are built a little bit differently," Mr Sharma said He said the rental yield of this kind of property is upwards of 10 to 12 per cent per year. According to real estate statistics agency CoreLogic, the current gross rental yield of Ballarat's housing market is 4.1 per cent A rooming house is a building where at least four tenants can live tenants can rent from the rooming house operator with separate agreements and the operator can decide who can live on the property without consulting those who have moved in Consumer Affairs Victoria data shows there have been 23 rooming houses registered in Ballarat properties were being turned into rooming houses for up to 12 people as the city's accommodation crisis showed no signs of easing CoreLogic data shows the current median weekly rent in Ballarat local government area is $445 for houses and $369 for units Each room in the Mayo Street property is listed for rent at $325 per week with an additional tenant in any room costing an extra $75 per week Each room is listed for rent at $325 per week Picture supplied."Every room has its own space So they have their bathroom - a private outdoor area - a small kitchenette They also have a common kitchen with common laundry services," Mr Sharma said "It's just like a smaller version of a hotel where you have a long-term lease in place." Mr Sharma said the cost of investing in the rooming house was 30 to 35 per cent higher than a regular investment Mr Sharma said there are now four tenants living at Mayo Street and then we have one pilot moving in two weeks," he said there are [not many] one-bedroom properties If a single person wants some autonomy - they probably need to go for a two-bedroom one "These types of properties are the future of Australia in terms of new people coming in and finding their feet on the ground." Shared areas of the rooming house at 3 Mayo Street in Alfredton Picture suppliedMr Sharma said they currently had about 55 rooming houses under construction in different regions across Victoria "We should probably have 100 by the end of this year," he said CoreLogic economist Kaytlin Ezzy said it is "not surprising" to see rooming houses pop up in Australia, given the strong rent increases over the past years it is probably more appropriate to look at it as a block of flats because the way that they're advertising it and the way they're trying to sell it is as individual studio flats," Ms Ezzy said "Houses' rents across Ballarat local government area were up 1.3 per cent over the year compared to about a seven per cent increase in unit rents "Ballarat hasn't had the same upshoot in the unit rental market that other capitals have." The current vacancy rate across Ballarat is about 1.9 per cent "As you increase any type of supply to the market that is going to help put some downward pressure on [the rental market]," Ms Ezzy said Qiyun (Gwen) Liu is a bilingual journalist in English and Chinese with The Courier. For story tips on Ballarat : gwen.liu@austcommunitymedia.com.au. Picture by Kate HealyAlfredton Ward candidate Nathan Anderson says he has "countless" ideas on how to improve his community Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe journalist turned political staffer turned Triple-zero call taker said he had long thought about running for government but was only brought over the line after a conversation with his children "The kids probably got sick of me complaining about it and just turned around a said 'do something'," Mr Anderson said I can't sit back and complain about council if I am not willing to step forward and put myself in the coal face." Mr Anderson has lived in Ballarat for seven years majority of which have been spent in either Alfredton or Lucas Prior to his role as a Triple-zero call taker Mr Anderson had worked as a journalist for the Hamilton Spectator an electorate officer for former premier Dennis Napthine and in communications at the Pyrenees and Moira shires He said his council bid was not endorsed by the Liberal Party He is also a member of the Victorian Ambulance Union One key issue spurring Mr Anderson into action was the commitment from the City of Ballarat to transition to a fortnightly rubbish collection system Other key issues for Mr Anderson are potholes specifically along Cuthberts Road and Dyson Drive getting an off-leash dog park for Alfredton and moving towards hard rubbish collection "Obviously everyone is concerned about the cost of living the rate rises and how we don't seem to be getting any value for our money," Mr Anderson said He also said accountability and communications were big concerns for him as a candidate and that he would like to see monthly "cuppa with a councillor" sessions if elected "You don't have an opportunity to consult with the councillors unless it is through question time and then you have to submit your questions "Once a month a councillor could go to a council facility and make themselves available to members of the community to chat about council projects Picture suppliedThe Ballarat housing market has posted a strong performance in both home values and sales volume in February Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueData from real estate statistics agency CoreLogic shows that home values have risen by 0.6 per cent to $545,652 in the past month The median house price increased by 0.5 per cent to $574,273 while the median unit price rose by 1.7 per cent to $365,377 CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen said it was "a pretty strong result" "The market is coming back up," Ms Owen said a two-storey house was sold for $1,110,000 on 28 February The property is at 33 Signature Drive and features five bedrooms Property history shows the former owner bought the 508-square-metre land in 2015 and built the family home Ballarat Real Estate agent Joshua Donaldson said the home was under contract within one week of negotiations "We are seeing a huge improvement in the market - we are not seeing properties just sit there for as long as they used to," Mr Donaldson said the average time properties have been listed on the market over the past three months is 59 days Ms Owen said the number of properties listed for sale in February dropped from 1529 to 1337 compared to last year "It generally points to this idea of the market tightening in terms of listed supply and values getting a boost through February," she said "This one month of uplift signals potentially the start of a recovery trend more broadly for regional Vicotria." "We have seen the market stabilise. This could be because people are willing to pay a little bit more on the knowledge that they might be able to access more finance through the rate cut." Ms Owen said the cause of the rise in home values was "not necessarily the interest rate change itself" but the expectation of lower rates "We saw an improvement across Victoria's growth trend about a week before the rate cut announcement," she said CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen. Picture suppliedMs Owen said people might see it as a good buying opportunity in Victoria's housing market, which has been 'pretty discounted' due to the land tax for investors "The tax position doesn't really incentivise a lot of new investors into the market but there are a couple of positives offsetting that," she said "The first is that values are down quite far from their record high So even if investors have to incur more tax the property value might be cheap enough that it's feasible for them to buy into the market "The other aspect is a cohort of buyers who are not investors For first home buyers and potentially people looking for a tree change Ms Owen said there are still a lot of uncertainties in the housing market "We can't make guarantees when we talk about future movements in the market But you would have to imagine that as rates continue to trend lower that will support values to move higher," she said Occupation: Retired patrol policeman, prosecutor, and detective. Born and raised here. Went to Ballarat High School. Family’s lived in Ballarat for generations. Community involvement: Policeman in Ballarat for approximately 16 years, I was able to help and protect a lot of people, the victims of crime. Associated with a political party or movement? An Independent candidate. I was briefly a member of the United Australia Party, their memberships were free. I’ve since cancelled my membership. Campaign budget? Receiving financial support? I haven’t accepted any donations. My campaign is only funded by me. It will cost me a few thousand dollars… Real community consultation… Delivering the basics very well… Fix our roads. Keep our rates down. Collect our rubbish weekly, not fortnightly. Fix our footpaths. Free parking to support small businesses. Street cleaning. Sports facilities. Heritage protection. Sufficient infrastructure for growth, including drains. New, improved children’s playgrounds. Elderly, Disability and Youth Services. More green open spaces… Public Amenities. Services for the homeless. Occupation: Ambulance Call taker, Triple Zero Victoria. How long have you lived in your ward? About six years. Community involvement: As a single parent, I’ve had some time off to focus on my children. These days I am on the Ballarat High School Council and assist with the Primary School and also helping out with the Scout barbecues, and looking forward to contributing more to the community in the future. Associated with a political party or movement?: I have been a member of the Liberal Party on and off for many years, however they are not endorsing me and I have not asked their permission to stand. I am standing because I want to stand up for my community. Campaign budget? Receiving financial support?: My campaign is self-funded, and is probably about $300 all up. People are concerned about the condition of local roads such as Dyson Drive and Cuthberts Road; keeping weekly rubbish collection; and in Lucas, the need for an off-leash dog park, among many others. I have lived in Alfredton with my four children since 2008. Community involvement: FedUni University Council/Academic Board, parkrun, Ballarat Marathon, and involvement with various community organisations.. Keynote speaker on family tourism and family violence… Led community project in 2012 to prevent farmland being rezoned into light industry (now Ballymanus) and community project in 2011 to prevent $40m ratepayers’ money being spent on Council offices. Associated with a political party or movement?: No. Campaign budget? Receiving financial support?: I spent money on a small number of core things but ensured they were quality – such as photography, marketing, artwork, and printing… Hand-delivering all my flyers… Three most important issues in your ward?: 1. Seek to improve local roads and traffic flow. 2. look for ways to provide a more efficient council to ensure best value for ratepayers. 3. Ensure decision-making is informed by community input with genuine consultation. The Courier will be interviewing each candidate for the local government election Candidates will all be asked the same series of questions about the issues in Ballarat and how they'd take action as a councillor Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAcademic and migrant advocate Doctor Sundram Sivamalai hopes to bring a diverse perspective to the City of Ballarat council The rural health professor will be standing as an independent for the Alfredton Ward in the upcoming council elections he says after many in the suburb asked him to run "Several of the residents from the Alfredton Ward came to me and said 'Sundram we would like you to stand'," Dr Sivamalai said "They said 'The expanding Ballarat has got people from a diverse background you being the chair of BRMC (Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council) and a founder you are more suited than anyone we can think of'." Dr Sivamalai has lived in Ballarat for 35 years first moving to the city to lecture at Federation University He has since worked at Melbourne University and James Cook University as an expert in rural health At the top of his priorities for Alfredton is the state of the area's roads which he said need improvements to save lives "If you were to take a drive along the Alfredton Ward you would find that the roads are not quite safe," Dr Sivamalai said Another key issue was public safety from crime - which he said was getting worse and warranted a whole-of-community response children have been intimidated and people have been chased There are the things we need to follow up on," Dr Sivamalai said "Just listening to what happened is not good enough we need to follow up to see what the best way forward is Maybe one suggestion is to bring up our neighbourhood watch more actively." Dr Sivamalai also sits on the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria board and was the City of Ballarat's Citizen of the Year in 2021 Scoring goals: Alfredton Primary School co-captain Annie, vice-captain Luella and co-captain Eli on the school's new netball court. Photo: MIRIAM LITWIN THE Alfredton Reserve netball project has been completed, with upgrades to two existing courts and the construction of a third. The reserve’s two ageing courts have been upgraded to include a competition standard surface. The new court was built at Alfredton Primary School. All three courts have 200-lux LED lighting and fencing. Alfredton Primary School co-captain Annie said the new court will encourage students to get active. “It will help them to get experience, grow up and do a lot more sports and try new things,” she said. The project was funded with $700,000 from the State Government and more than $600,000 from the City of Ballarat. “The quality of facilities at this reserve are more important than ever,” Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said. “This is about saying that women’s and girls’ sport is so important, and they deserve this investment.” Alfredton Recreation Reserve is used by Ballarat Junior Football Netball Club, Ballarat Storm Junior Football Netball Club, and Ballarat Redan Cricket Club. The new court will allow the football netball clubs to develop new programs, accept more members and host matches. “Essentially now we’ve doubled the number of junior netballers that can now get a game,” Ballarat Football Netball Club president Craig Lightfoot said. “We’ve grown to over 400 girls now that get a regular game of netball with us. “Without this investment we certainly couldn’t provide that.” Community involvement: Founder and Chairperson of Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, Ex-Board Member of Ballarat Community Health, Ballarat Intercultural Advisory Committee. Campaign budget? Receiving financial support?: $10,000. Financing myself – no help from anyone. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDetectives were seen walking a man from a house to a divisional van on Tuesday Police at the scene said firearms warrants were included in the search "Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives arrested a man Alfredton on Tuesday," a Victoria Police spokesperson said on Tuesday night "Investigators executed a search warrant at a property about 10.45am as part of an ongoing investigation "A 35-year-old man has since been released pending further enquiries "More information will be provided once operationally appropriate to do so." Need more news from The Courier? Follow our WhatsApp channel for the latest stories, or download our app for the fastest access to our news, Today's Paper and puzzles. Picture by Adam TraffordA man has been hit with a number of charges after he allegedly crashed a car into a house in Alfredton causing damage to a corner of the building Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA 43-year-old Alfredton man has been charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury breaching a court order and drink driving offences after the incident happened on Calgiari Drive just after 12am on Monday Police allege the man lost control of the vehicle before crashing into the house "It is understood there were people inside the premises at the time however they were not injured," a Victoria Police spokesperson said He is due to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday The vehicle remained at the scene on Monday morning with the area fenced off Police are urging anyone with information on the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au Picture by Kate HealyAfter 34 years in the police force retired former detective Damon Saunders thought he would try his hand at a local government Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 56-year-old Alfredton ward candidate didn't get much time for extracurriculars when on the force and says now his combination of experience and energy makes him the "perfect age" so I have got the time and energy available I have a blend of experience but still with energy," Mr Saunders said police prosecutor and a detective as part of the specialist fraud unit He said the role saw him catch disgraced Aboriginal leader Geoff Clarke who stole more than $1 million from Indigenous community organisations in the western district "I take a great deal of pride in my job and I really bust my guts to achieve whatever I set my mind to," Mr Saunders said helping the public and protecting the community from criminals and I would do the same thing for Alfredton ward Mr Saunders is running as an independent. He said he was dissatisfied with the current performance of the council - highlighting the City of Ballarat's sliding results in recent customer satisfaction surveys "The Ballarat City Council are doing what they want and not what the people want," Mr Saunders said "It is the people's money and the Ballarat City Council are spending it like it is their money That is what people want their money spent on He said his key issues were community consultation with the council "The people want real and transparent community consultation without any predetermined agenda." Picture by Lachlan BenceThe Courier will be interviewing each candidate for the local government election Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThis management consultant and accountant has more he wants to give to the Ballarat community This is why Thomas Lam is running for council in the Alfredton ward The Lake Gardens resident has lived in Ballarat for a decade originally moving to be closer to his children -now he doesn't know where else he would want to live The relaxing lifestyle and reduced traffic as well as great schools and amenities keep him here "I've decided to live the rest of my life in Ballarat .. (and) you start asking yourself the questions Infrastructure and connection between growth areas and more built-up parts of the city are important to him particularly the bottlenecks that make travelling around the city difficult "The executive team together with the councillors should have regular visits to the bottlenecks," he said Mr Lam is an associate partner at Ernst and Young work which has allowed him to work across the world He is also passionate about financial accountability for the council meeting the community expectations without raising rates and stopping "pet projects" - he gave the examples of lake lighting and e-scooters When asked what he would do when the state government made requests of the council he said it was important to look at community expectations Mr Lam said he wanted to see councillors holding council staff accountable making sure behaviour from past ombudsman reports "never happens again" "Some of the existing councillors presided over that period and they're still on the council Mr Lam said there was opportunity for change with the new council system and they would need to work as a team if he was elected compromise where we need to for the greater of the whole of Ballarat," he said Mr Lam said he is not a member of a political party and "never will .. I don't believe one party has all the good ideas" Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Walking into Djila-tjarriu in the heart of Alfredton light-filled community lounge space with scattered seating and tucked- away corners Following the hallway through the building These state-of-the-art spaces are now available for the Alfredton community to use for education City of Ballarat Team Leader Community Hubs and Outreach Eleanor Wight says the Djila-tjarriu Community Hub is designed to be an accessible facility for the local Alfredton community but we want to activate the facilities as community spaces and open them up to community-based programs and events,” Eleanor says "Anything from learning and recreation programs to tech help sessions we’re open to ideas and community groups approaching us with programs they’d like to run in the space.” Since the opening of the facility in February this year the City of Ballarat Community Hubs team have already hosted several community groups in the space “The Community Welcome event provided local community members with an opportunity to wander through the doors and participate in some fun recreation and learning activities,” Eleanor says “It was essentially an opportunity to welcome people into the space Given the rapid growth of Ballarat’s western suburbs Eleanor says there is a thriving intercultural community in Alfredton and surrounds along with many young and multi-generational families The Community Hubs team want to design and host programs at Djila-tjarriu that would address the specific needs of the local community “It could include resume writing workshops for mothers who are looking to return to work after having children or financial literacy programs for young families,” Eleanor says “We are also aware of lots of families where the parents are working and the grandparents are doing the bulk of the childcare so we’re looking at running programs that might help support them specifically.” To figure out exactly what kind of programs would support the local community the Community Hubs team will be engaging with residents of Alfredton and surrounds Visit the Djila-tjarriu Community Hub page  for more information Picture by Adam TraffordAn Alfredton drug trafficker found with more than 180 grams of GHB will likely fight sexual offence allegations levelled against her police raided the woman's Alfredton house after being told she was drug trafficking out of the address two small bags of methamphetamine and two bottles containing a combined total of 182 grams of GHB This is more than three times the 50-gram trafficable quantity of GHB Police also searched the property's back garden where they seized seven small cannabis plants the drug trafficker pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified in November 2023 and speeding in October 2022 police pulled her over after she was clocked driving 137 kmh on the Western Freeway When asked why she had been driving more than 20 kmh over the 110 kmh speed limit the woman told officers it was because she didn't want to be "stuck in Ballarat" the court heard the woman was also facing charges of a "sexual nature" in relation to an alleged 16-year-old victim but that she was planning to contest these in a higher court A defence lawyer called on their client, who has spent the past 173 days in custody, to be handed a time-served prison sentence due to her traumatic upbringing and because the offences lacked aggravating features When sentencing the woman to a six-month prison term and a $500 fine Magistrate Ronald said her problems stemmed from long-term drug abuse "[You need] to address those issues if you want to make something of your life before it's too late," he said Had the woman been found guilty following a contested hearing Mr Saines said he would have sentenced her to eight months in prison A major City of Ballarat project in the rapidly-growing western suburbs is starting to take shape Work is well under way at the site of the facility currently known as the Alfredton Community Hub on Donegal Drive with the concrete slab poured and steel framing installation underway The City of Ballarat is funding the project with $4.68 million from the Ballarat West Developer Contributions Plan and $3 million from the 2023/24 budget while the State Government has contributed $2.25 million Cr Des Hudson and council officers were joined by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison to inspect the beginning of the works at the site on Monday being constructed by Ballarat company CIQ Construction Management Pty Limited and ensure kindergarten infrastructure in the area meets demand The purpose-built facility will feature three preschool rooms to accommodate 99 children at a time Cr Des Hudson said it was pleasing to see works progressing on the facility “It wasn’t that long ago that this site was a vacant piece of land but already we can see how much has already happened,” Cr Hudson said “The need is there now to cater to families in Ballarat’s growing western suburbs and investment in facilities like this is crucial “I can’t wait to see the finished product and have the centre thriving." Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said she was proud to invest in the future of Ballarat’s children Best Life reforms are transforming early childhood education and care across Victoria,” she said “I am proud that the State Government is investing $2.25 million in Alfredton to ensure our littlest learners have access for the best kinder facility.” As identified in the Community Infrastructure Plan 2022-2037 the population in Ballarat’s west is forecast to grow by 73 per cent from 2021-2036 Other key growth forecasts from 2021-2036 include:   The project is expected to be complete in early 2024 and demonstrates how the City of Ballarat is committed to Delivering a Better Ballarat.  Picture by Adam TraffordFEARFUL community members are leading a public forum on Friday evening in what they say is an urgent response to a spate of carjackings in Ballarat in the past week Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueResidents from the Alfredton and Lucas areas are encouraged to come forward and share their personal experiences in a bid to collectively spark change This comes after two violent incidents within three days - Saturday and Monday - at Coltman Plaza Lucas while a third carjacking attempt was made when a man was sitting in his car outside a Peel Street store on Sunday afternoon Community member Sundram Sivamalai said those affected in the attacks had been experiencing severe emotional distress and there had been a general raised anxiety for people taking daily walks in the neighbourhood - or even to go shopping "The incidents that happened were certainly behaviours that were unexpected from anyone in our harmonious city," Mr Sivamalai said The aim of the forum was for a calmer outcome and would not be a platform for people to target certain perceived demographics can help them feel 'I'm not alone'," Mr Sivamalai said this is a platform for people to share their anxiety and see people in their community are caring." Police have told The Courier it was unlikely the latest car-jacking attempt on Monday had been racially motivated. A 37-year-old nurse, who hails from India, was put in a headlock and punched in the face after returning to his car near the former Orchard Cafe and Wilson's site in Lucas Ballarat police acting Superintendent Jason Templar said the attack had appeared "opportunistic" from four youths who had been waiting near the car The offenders had been chased off by a passing member of the public Two days earlier, two women and a man threatened a male shopper with a weapon before taking his car keys and punching him about 4.30pm which was later found along the Princes Freeway in Laverton The meeting is open to all at Djila-tjarriu Community Hub on Donegal Drive Australia’s best servo has been named at the Australian Association of Convenience Stores 2024 Gala awards taking out the prestigious award.The 24/7 service station was awarded Overall Store of the Year at the AACS Gala while also being crowned Independent Store of the Year.AACS CEO Theo Foukkare congratulated APCO Alfredton retailers Olivia and Ivor Riesewyk on their win.“This really is the biggest honour in our industry especially when you consider there are more than 7,000 convenience stores across Australia.“For Olivia and Ivor to snag both independent of the year and store of the year is just phenomenal and I think their regular customers in Ballarat all know just how great of an operation they’re running.“Quality food and coffee is paramount in the modern convenience store and APCO Alfredton now proudly owns the title of Australia’s best servo.”Mt Foukkare said there were several reasons why APCO Alfredton took out two top AACS awards.“APCO Alfredton offers a terrific combination of an IGA X-press in-store with very competitive pricing for everyday supermarket grocery items and there’s also an expanded fresh food offering including deli and gourmet foods,” he said.“Then you’ve got the APCO Cafe24-7 Barista Coffee bar and café quality foods and it’s all within reach of the growing new residential hub of Ballarat.APCO Cafe24-7 which operates in stores across the nation also won the top prize for Excellence in Food and Coffee Offer Development. with Mr Foukkare congratulating APCO Directors Robert and Peter Anderson on the win.“APCO really did dominate this year’s AACS Gala and in an industry that is ever-evolving to meet the needs of the modern customer that’s a huge gong especially when you consider just how much Aussies love quality coffee and wholesome tasty food and great customer service,” Mr Foukkare said.Theo Foukkare is available for interview on 0423 003 133APCO’s Jess Guareschi can also be contacted on 0428 233 457 to arrange interviews with the winners Subscribe to our free mailing list and always be the first to receive the latest news and updates theo@aacs.org.au Workplace Relations Advisory Sustainability Uniting Communities Forecourt of the Future Consumer Choice & Balance State of Industry Reports Presentations Renew Membership Retail Membership Supplier Membership Join AACS AACS Mission the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today © 2025 Australian Association of Convenience Stores. All Rights Reserved   |   Privacy Policy Visual display: Adelaide's Emma Hack's work will be among those on show at the revamped Begonia Festival Art Show and Sale next weekend. Photo: SUPPLIED THE region’s visual arts community has another reason to look forward to the annual Begonia Festival beyond the stunning and colourful floral displays. The Apex Art Show, an event staple run by the Ballarat/Eureka Apex Club for more than 60 years, is being revived under Alfredton Rotary Club after nearly a decade of dormancy. Rebranded as the Begonia Festival Art Show and Sale, the exhibition will run across the long weekend with a range of works from local and interstate artists. Alfredton Rotarian and the show’s co-organiser, Jill Oliver, said the comeback has been welcome news for many Ballarat artists. “The word’s got out and we’ve already got a couple of artists clamouring,” she said. “It hasn’t been around for a long time so the artists have been that excited, especially the ones who exhibited years ago. “The president of the Ballarat Society of Artists was absolutely glowing. He said ‘This is fantastic. This is what the artists locally and interstate looked forward to.’ It used to be a big thing.” Based out of a marquee on the Lake Wendouree foreshore opposite the floral festivities at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, the show will feature more than 50 unthemed pieces. Entrants will range from Ballarat Society of Artists members to celebrated Adelaide creative Emma Hack. About 40 display panels originally used in the art show have been donated to organisers by Apex for use in the revived exhibition. “In the past, it’s been open air, and we’ve instead got an enclosed marquee because with Ballarat weather, you never know,” Ms Oliver said. A ticketed opening night event for people aged 18 and older will take place on 7 March. Ms Oliver said a key aim for the club is to secure a staple event. “Every Rotary Club has an event to hang their hat on – Ballarat has SpringFest; Ballarat South had the showgrounds market; Ballarat East have their book sale,” she said. “We haven’t had much to hang our hat on so we’ve decided to apply to the [City of Ballarat] to revive the art show.” The Begonia Festival Art Show and Sale will run from 10am to 5pm from Saturday 8 to Monday 10 March. Entry will be $5 and free for children under 12. Therese Scarff and Joan Scarff with the petition they created to change rental laws Picture by Lachlan BenceAlfredton family the Scarffs have used a tragic incident in 2022 to create change for renters All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTwo years ago, 52-year-old Simon Scarff died when a fire started in his rental property and he could not leave but was unable to answer the questions," Simon's sister Jo McConville said the [triple zero calltaker] didn't know who to send or where to send someone "Had the smoke alarm been blaring in the background she would have known to send a fire truck," she said Rules to how often real estate agents need to check smoke alarms changed in 2021 but leases entered before then are not included Through the Coroner's inquiry into his death Mr Scarff's sisters Ms McConville and Therese Scarff found 240,000 homes in Victoria were in the same boat His sisters did not want Simon's death to be in vain They started an online petition which had more than 5000 signatures and spoke with Wendouree MP Juliana Addison to advocate for a change to the legislation Ms Addison said she was grateful for the changes to ensure more people will be safe "No other family has to go through what the Scarff's have done," she said "They've been so generous in sharing their story and sharing their grief." Joan Scarff with Wendouree MP Juliana Addison with consumer affairs minister Gabrielle Williams Picture by Lachlan BenceMr Scarff's mother Joan Scarff was in disbelief on November 19th when the politicians visited She said she did not believe the advocacy her daughters had been working towards would ever come to fruition She said she was very grateful to see change come about Consumer affairs minister Gabrielle Williams said it was important for renters to know their rights and what they can reasonably and fairly ask for Consumer affairs minister Gabrielle Williams with Therese Scarff and Jo Mc Conville Picture by Lachlan BenceBut she also said the burden was not all on renters "It's important that rental providers are well aware of the obligations that they are under and that they are meeting those obligations because the consequences are dire if they don't," she said "I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child or a sibling let alone in circumstances like this," Ms Williams said "To be able to turn that into advocacy that has such clarity is a remarkable because you've been such a significant voice in this discussion." The changes will be sent to parliament in a bill next week and should come into effect in 2025 Similar changes to gas and electrical safety checks will be introduced to parliament next year and should be implemented by 2026 Ms Williams said they are working to tighten these time frames City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison with Harlow at the opening of the new community hub and kindergarten in Alfredton The City of Ballarat’s newest community asset is open and ready to thrive The new community hub and kindergarten in Alfredton was officially opened on Wednesday with City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson welcoming Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison for a ribbon cutting and tour of the facility The Donegal Drive facility will prove a valuable asset for the rapidly-evolving western suburbs The kindergarten rooms will support children in Alfredton and surrounding areas to be ‘school ready’ and cater for up to 99 children at one time There are already more than 50 children currently enrolled in three and four-year-old funded kindergarten at the hub The kindergarten will continue to accept enrolments and expand sessions as needed throughout the year Attendance at funded kindergarten is free in Victoria for all three and four-year old children The community meeting spaces will be publicly available to service the growth areas and provide spaces for education Cr Des Hudson said it was a thrill to cut the ribbon on the new facility “Not only does this facility look incredible but it also delivers so much community benefit in Ballarat’s west,” he said “Already we are seeing dozens of families using the kindergarten and the smiles on the children’s faces are terrific to see “The community is hub is still in its infancy and I can’t wait to see it once it is firing on all cylinders.” The project has a budget commitment of $9.9 million inclusive of $2.25 million from the State Government’s 2022-23 Building Blocks Capacity Building Grants The official name of the facility is currently in the final stages of being formalised following a period of public consultation earlier this year Further information will be provided to community members wishing to tour the facility in the coming weeks with a Community Welcome Day expected to be held in April All children enrolled in a funded kindergarten service are eligible for 15 hours of free kindergarten each week as part of the state government’s Free Kinder program with enrolments still being taken for the 2024 year For any queries regarding kindergarten throughout Ballarat, please visit the City of Ballarat kindergarten page For more information about community use of the community hub in Alfredton, visit the facility’s page on the City of Ballarat website.  The City of Ballarat acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on the Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung People and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways prese​nt and emerging and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People A LOCAL service station has been crowned the best of the best in Australia APCO Alfredton owners have won big with three accolades at the Australian Association of Convenience Stores Gala Awards The business netted the Overall Store of the Year as well as the Excellence in Food and Coffee Offer Development awards Co-retail partner Ivor Riesewyk said he was overwhelmed to receive the recognition “We’d only just been one year old when the awards came along in March so it’s quite significant for us and showing that we’re doing a good job and our team are part of that,” he said “What sets us apart is our store is pretty much four businesses in one with the cafe fuel service and IGA supermarket with about 8000 lines of product “It’s something of a new model and one big difference.” the Alfredton-based APCO IGA X-press store was established in March last year as a combined service station Mr Riesewyk worked for about three decades at Ballarat Base Hospital before making the jump to service station delivery at the suggestion of his partner and co-owner Olivia Bates who also represents APCO’s human resources department “It’s been a big learning curve for both of us,” Mr Riesewyk said The pair manage more than 40 staff members and Mr Riesewyk said the business will continue to grow “We’re trying to bring more local produce in we’ve got Wilson’s fruit and veg here and a couple of other Ballarat products,” he said “There’s 80 or 90 suppliers but we’re trying to bring more Ballarat people in and sponsor more local business as well.” Australian Association of Convenience Stores CEO said APCO Alfredton beat out more than 7000 convenience stores in the country to receive the accolade “For Olivia and Ivor to snag both independent of the year and store of the year is just phenomenal and I think their regular customers in Ballarat… all know just how great of an operation they’re running,” he said “APCO Alfredton offers a terrific combination of an IGA X-press in-store with very competitive pricing for everyday supermarket grocery items and there’s also an expanded fresh food offering “Then you’ve got the APCO Cafe24-7 Barista Coffee bar and cafe quality foods and it’s all within reach of the growing new residential hub of Ballarat.” Picture by Adam TraffordAn Alfredton woman who committed a Victoria-wide crime spree helped steal her house guest's car Tanya Zimmerman, 39, pleaded guilty in the Ballarat Magistrates' Court via video link from custody on September 24 to 42 charges in relation to a series of incidents Zimmerman invited an individual to stay with her at her Ballarat home but would help rob them of their possession just three days later While the victim was inside a Redan address Zimmerman jumped in their car and drove off without them they found most of their belongings had been stolen including tools Zimmerman was arrested and interviewed in relation to the incident on September 22 and told officers her then-partner was responsible for stealing the car and items from the home the 39-year-old helped steal a motorbike from a Melbourne address and made $900 of purchases at a Narre Warren shopping centre using a stolen credit card She also helped sell stolen property from across Melbourne a speed boat valued at $12,500 and a boat trailer she also pleaded guilty to stealing fuel on numerous occasions from petrol stations across Ballarat and was caught driving unlicensed several times the 39-year-old pretended to be her sister on multiple occasions Zimmerman was eventually arrested by police on January 10 defence lawyer Ffyona Livingstone Clark said her client had a limited criminal history and had committed the offences during a period of "highly problematic" drug use She also said Zimmerman was facing years behind bars for other matters and would therefore be unable to pay back the businesses she had stolen from Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz adjourned the matter until October 15 for sentencing "Given the number of charges I'm going to need to go away and carefully think about the sentence," she said The City of Ballarat has welcomed the announcement of $2.25 million in Victorian Government funding to help meet the cost of a new community and early years hub at Alfredton (Ballymanus) Cr Daniel Moloney said the $2.25 million Building Blocks capacity building stream grant will mean the centre can be delivered sooner to meet high demand for kindergarten places and community facilities in the rapidly growing area “Financial support for this project will mean we can begin the detailed design phase of the project with an ambition to have the hub ready for residents to use in 2024," he said “The need for a community and early years hub in this location was identified as part of our planning (Ballarat West Precinct Structure Plan 2016) for the new Western Growth Area combined with the Victorian Government’s requirement that by 2029 all three year old children should have access to 15 hours of kinder a week means there is a pressing need for the new kinder places this hub will deliver.” The City of Ballarat has $4.68million in Developer Contributions* earmarked for the new community and early years hub The City of Ballarat will fund the balance of the cost over the next two budget cycles.  The new community facility in Donegal Drive Alfredton will include community meeting rooms and an early years hub with a three-room kindergarten Cr Moloney said the City of Ballarat had already delivered similar community facilities at Lucas and Bonshaw and is planning for more new community facilities at Delacombe Town Centre and Winter Valley “We are hoping there are opportunities to partner with government to deliver those facilities also” he said * The Ballarat West Development Contributions Plan (DCP) contributes funds towards the delivery of essential infrastructure to new communities in the Ballarat West PSP Area DCP funds are paid by developers when they subdivide land to pay for major projects including those such as the Alfredton (Ballymanus) Community Hub The Alfredton Recreation Reserve has been transformed thanks to a partnership between the City of Ballarat, the Victorian Government and Cricket Victoria with new practice wickets bowlers and netballers as well as local schools and residents Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today joined the City of Ballarat and local clubs to officially launch the new facilities at the Reserve made possible by a $3.7 million investment from the Local Sports Grant initiative Home to the Ballarat Swans Football Netball Club Ballarat Storm Junior Football Netball Club Ballarat Redan Cricket Club and Ballarat Memorial Bowling Club Alfredton Recreation Reserve has more than a thousand members playing sport at the venue - making it one of the most popular in Ballarat The upgrade includes new female friendly player and umpire change rooms with amenities a new electronic scoreboard and extra car parking The new female friendly facilities ensure the growing number of women and girls at the reserve can train and get ready for the big games without having to get changed in the old public toilets Local clubs now have the perfect base to develop new programs Nearby schools and community groups will also be able to access the new facilities From sport pavilion upgrades to new pitch lighting investments like these provide high-quality and accessible facilities that allow Victorians to reap the benefits of sport and active recreation participation and fast-tracking community recovery by improving the health and social outcomes for Victorian communities Ms Addison thanked the City of Ballarat for its commitment and financial contribution of $1,260,000 to the project and Cricket Victoria for its $75,000 Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Julianna Addison bowls and cricket clubs are the heart and soul of our communities - they deserve appropriate facilities they can be proud of The fantastic new facilities at Alfredton Recreation Reserve open up more opportunities for participation Quotes attributable to City of Ballarat Mayor "The Census shows Alfredton has grown from 9,220 people in 2016 to 16,835 people in 2021 with the median age of 34 making it a relatively young population." "I can't thank the state government enough for their contributions to the reserve over the years and the tireless efforts of the sports clubs in advocating for their community." "These new facilities will mean more young sports stars and residents of Alfredton will have the best options available to learn Picture Google Earth and Nieve WaltonResidents in Lucas are one step closer to long-awaited public transport connections Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRipon MP Martha Haylett announced on Monday December 16 the route 10 bus will be extended to cover Lucas with fewer stops in Alfredton and Ballarat Central and instead extending out to the new suburb Wendouree and Ballarat stations will still be main stops on the line and the bus will loop around the estate and around Lucas Primary School But if residents want to get to other locations in the city they will need to connect to other buses from the stations Ms Haylett said this makes the bus route cleaner and means the government "can actually deliver this much more quickly than otherwise" To get this change, Ms Haylett had to petition her own government and after collecting 500 signatures passed the document to transport minister Gabrielle Williams in November Ms Williams and the transport department came up with a new plan The government has made the new bus route announcement without releasing a map of bus stops or route changes The Courier understands this will be available in late January Ms Haylett said this was a happy day for Lucas and will now turn her attention to other bus deficits in the region including the Ballarat West Employment Zone and Cardigan Village "This is just the first step in much more bus connections to Ballarat's west and north," she said But advocacy work on a whole network review Ballarat residents have expressed their desire to have more direct routes to other locations in the city through feedback to the council Ms Haylett insists her work to get buses in Lucas has not been to the detriment of the rest of the city She said she was working with her colleagues Wendouree MP Juliana Addison and Eureka MP Michaela Settle to push for improvements across the city "My focus and my priority as one of those outer suburbs MPs is to actually get the bus connection let alone the services to fit," Ms Haylett said City of Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves said the council was "delighted to hear" the bus announcement "The Ballarat Bus Network Review has been one of our advocacy priority projects for many years with a Council led bus network survey conducted in early 2023," she said in a statement after he stole items including a motorbike and wallet Picture fileA dramatic Alfredton arrest saw a man hospitalised after he was chased down and bitten by a police dog Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIke Richards was arrested after he came to the attention of police for stealing a motorbike and wallet containing $1500 cash from a property on the Western Highway in Armstrong on November 19 police conducted surveillance on Richards' movements in Ballarat officers searched the Ballarat East home of a friend of Richards where they found the stolen motorcycle with false registration plates attached Police then continued their surveillance on a Mazda sedan which Richards had driven to the property in Armstrong this surveillance led them to a unit in Alfredton but when they attempted to apprehend Richards which chased down Richards and latched onto his arm in the process injuring the 29-year-old who was then hospitalised police searched the unit and found the stolen wallet containing $650 cash as well as 14.2 grams of high purity methamphetamine in a bum bag belonging to Richards A subsequent search of his Mazda sedan also uncovered two .22 calibre sawn-off rifles and a three-edged knife At a hearing in the Victorian County Court on June 19 Richards pleaded guilty to five charges in relation to theft handling stolen goods and possession of drugs and firearms Defence lawyer Erin Byrt said while her client had an extensive criminal history he had reflected on his behaviour during his 569 days in custody She said the 29-year-old's rehabilitation would be supported by his family and he would have stable accommodation with his sister and employment with Grampians Waste Management on his release Richards was also determined to improve his behaviour so he could be a better parent to his young children "At times in a young man's life there comes a time where they have to grow up," she said "[Richards' family] have seen significant change in his personality during his time in custody reflection has occurred in terms of insight which hasn't been demonstrated on other occasions." Ms Byrt said Richards had experienced a troubled childhood where he developed a drug addiction but had since maintained various jobs including in an abattoir on a sheep farm and for an event hire company She also said Richards' injuries from the arrest had been so severe he was unable to participate in courses and work when first admitted to prison At times in a young man's life there comes a time where they have to grow up Judge Damian Murphy said the former abattoir worker had an "extensive" criminal record which included prior convictions for the possession of illegal firearms He said the most serious element of the crimes were the two sawn-off rifles which had been altered so they could be easily concealed and used in "nefarious" activities Mr Murphy said Richards had experienced a troubled upbringing and had shown remorse via a letter written to the court "In your letter you've reflected on firearms in the community and your own stupidity in being involved in the possession of those firearms," he said In your letter you've reflected on firearms in the community and your own stupidity in being involved in the possession of those firearms "You're expressing sorrow for your actions but now you have to grow up and move on with life." Richards was sentenced to two-years-and-eight-months in prison with a non-parole period of 20 months He has already served about 19 months in prison since his arrest "You have effectively blown some of the best years in your life," Mr Murphy said to Richards after handing down his sentence "You're at a fork in the road in your life should you fall back into the use of drugs and criminality you will receive a long period of imprisonment." Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA green waste mulch fire in Alfredton on Friday is believed to have been caused by heat build-up in windy conditions 3.45pm: Alfredton residents are being told to close all their doors and windows after a fire that has been burning all day flared up Helicopters were called in to fight the blaze just after 3pm after it increased in size in windy conditions has been burning all day and firefighters have been at the Learmonth Street site the entire time The fire is still listed as being contained The cause of the fire is believed to be through a heat build-up in the wind droves +9Photos: Lachlan Bence and Luke Hemer.A 'watch and act' warning has now been issued for the immediate area surrounding the fire while the larger scaled 'advice' warning also remains in place People in the orange zone on the VicEmergency page are warned to close all exterior doors and windows and close vents and ensure that heating and cooling systems are turned off There is a heavy smoke presence in the area and it is expected to remain for some time The incident is not being treated as suspicious and the watch and act alert has been in response to the amount of smoke in the area 8.22am: A large mulch fire in Alfredton has been declared under control About 14 firefighters are continuing to respond to the industrial fire after crews first turned out about 6am in response to a triple-zero call Firefighters arrived at the premises in four minutes and worked to bring the fire under control within two hours The green waste mulch blaze is still emitting large plumes of smoke and firefighters will remain on scene for some time to monitor for hotspots and ensure the fire is fully extinguished The advice warning remains in place and flames may be visible Firefighters from Fiire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority are working alongside Victoria Police and the local council on scene EARLIER: A mulch fire is burning out of control in Alfredton this morning An advice message has been issued for most suburbs in Ballarat that "a lot of smoke and flames may be visible" The fire is burning a pile of mulch near Learmonth Street The pile is understood to be about four metres high with firefighters working to prevent the blaze spreading There is expected to be a heavy presence of emergency vehicles so people are asked to avoid the area It is the second large early morning fire this week, after a suspicious blaze erupted at the Ballarat Towing Service base in Delacombe on Wednesday Our team of local journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: including a car have been severely damaged Picture: Adam TraffordPolice are waiting the results of forensic testing as they work to identify the remains of a person who was found inside a burnt out unit following an early morning fire in Alfredton on Saturday morning Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services were called to the residence in Almurta Street to reports of the fire about 6.30am Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before discovering the body inside the house Ambulance Victoria has confirmed paramedics did not treat anyone else The front of the building has been blocked off with temporary fencing The fire has been deemed non-suspicious and the exact circumstances surrounding the fire are still to be investigated Investigations remain ongoing, anyone with information that could assist is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Families with young children in the rapidly expanding western suburbs of Ballarat will soon have access to a new and expansive community facility The community hub in Alfredton on Donegal Drive is nearing completion with construction set to be finished and the facility handed over to the City of Ballarat by the end of 2023 the facility is expected to be open in late January 2024 in time for Term 1 of the kindergarten/school year Enrolments are now open for three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten and families with young children are being encouraged to take advantage by enrolling now All children enrolled in this service are eligible for 15 hours of free kindergarten To enrol, visit the City of Ballarat kindergarten page with the car park and outdoor areas starting to take shape Cabinetry and floor coverings will also soon be installed Cr Des Hudson said the project had been completed on time and would offer a much-needed centre for early childhood education “It’s fantastic to see such a major project nearing its completion date and I cannot wait to see the facility opened to the community and filled with children,” he said “Families in the area should be counting down the days until the doors are open and I encourage them to enrol now for the 2024 kindergarten year “This facility is going to deliver a much-needed boost not only for childhood education but also to the broader community as facility that everybody can use.” The City of Ballarat project has a budget commitment of $9.9 million In addition to three kindergarten rooms to accommodate 99 children at a time the facility being constructed by Ballarat company CIQ Construction Management Pty Limited will also feature two community rooms The community rooms will be available for community booking with more booking information to be delivered early in 2024.  All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTeaching mostly "on adrenaline" for the first year, hours were spent on blackboard presentation, creating worksheets using the spirit duplicator and making up resources for the class. Now, thousands of families across the Ballarat region know Ms Donaldson who has spent her whole teaching life at various schools in the area. As principal at Alfredton Primary School, where she has been in charge for 13 years, she yesterday celebrated her teaching milestone on a pupil-free day with a planned staff breakfast, and a surprise morning tea. Reflecting on four decades as an educator, she said the challenges of the past few years with COVID-induced remote learning were among the most significant of her career. "It was a challenging time for principals, for teachers, for parents - it was challenging for everybody," she said. Principal Laurel Donaldson and assistant principal Paula Sprague dressed up as fairies armed with bubbles and balloons as families walked, rode and drove past the school to pick up lollipops from a treasure chest as part of a a school fun day during remote learning in May 2020. Picture by Lachlan BenceJuggling students who needed to come on site, and those who couldn't because of COVID restrictions were tough, as was supporting families who needed it. Then there were snap lockdowns when teachers needed to pivot the entire curriculum to suit remote learning with sometimes just a few hours' notice. It was the technology, which she considers the biggest change over the past 40 years, that allowed education to continue through the pandemic but has also become a big "rob" for teachers. "The first year of teaching you are living on adrenaline a lot and working really hard because there's a lot of learning. I think back to the first year and preparing things like using the spirit duplicator, there was so much work put in to the blackboard and resources and things like duplicating sheets ... so technology has been a big change but it is both a tool and a rob for us," she said. "The things we can do now, and the communication it provides, that's fabulous but then again we are a bit of a slave to it. We used to get mail, open it, and reply when we could, but the internet and technology is immediate. "However, imagine how we would have coped with COVID and remote learning if we had not had high levels of technology." I just think I've been really privileged and had such a really fulfilling career in education. I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing educators, met wonderful families, wonderful children and it all comes down to those relationships and connectedness between each others that make a difference. While many people believe children have changed over recent decades, Ms Donaldson is not so sure. She says the children are the same, the influences on them are not. "I think kids are still kids, but when you (consider) the technology side of it it's disappointing they are not as active and able to just go out and play and be creative and use their imaginations," she said. "They do focus a lot of their time on devices and being inside which I think is a shame. I think we tend to be more protective now and not allow kids that freedom to be out and explore, we are more worried which is a shame. I don't think the dangers are any more than what they were years ago but maybe because of the internet and reporting of things people are more worried about their safety." Ms Donaldson's first teaching job was at Mount Pleasant Primary. Check out Ballarat's best footy and netball news right here"My first day was at Mount Pleasant Primary School in 1983 .. my first grade was grade three and a delightful group of students but I must say it was a very steep learning curve," she said was a shared PE specialist at the Bungaree cluster of small schools returned to Mount Pleasant as a leading teacher then joined Woady Yaloak Primary School as an assistant principal was acting principal at Miners Rest Primary School for a year then was appointed to Alfredton Primary in 2010 A few years ago one student from her original grade three class at Mount Pleasant was the father of children attending Alfredton Primary - completing a full circle of education "It makes you realise how long you've been around Ms Donaldson said the demands on teachers and school leaders had grown considerably over the years "The demands on teachers and principals in general are huge The role of shaping the lives of young people is so incredibly important but then there's all the additional things If only we could concentrate on teaching and learning but there's all the other things mandated we have to be aware of .. the extra layers of accountability we are responsible for and expected to deliver," she said Laurel Donaldson has been part of many school communities across the Ballarat district Picture by Adam Trafford "Things arise in society that might be flagged as an issue and it's usually then passed on to schools who have to deliver education around that area - things like social media "That's why it's vital that educators get the support and resources they really need to contribute to that valuable work and their efforts." Ms Donaldson said over the years there has been less trust from parents in education and the roles and responsibilities of teachers but we live in a bit of a blame society sometimes and we see a lot more questioning accountability from parents and their expectations when coming in to bat for their kids .. COVID offered many parents an insight in to the challenges of teachers "I think during COVID and remote learning there was a greater appreciation for the role teachers play," she said Ms Donaldson said her passion for education had never waned "I just think I've been really privileged and had such a really fulfilling career in education I've had the opportunity to work with some amazing educators wonderful children and it all comes down to those relationships and connectedness between each other that makes a difference," she said It's given me lots of opportunity to develop as a leader to support and witness growth and nurture other young teachers and children." Have you tried The Courier's app? It can be downloaded here celebrating 50 years of Grinos family ownership in 2021 Picture by Jeremy Bannister.The Greek community - and Ballarat's community at large - is paying tribute to an Alfredton takeaway icon Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGeorge Grinos was the friendly face behind the counter at the Arch Fish Shop in Sturt Street from the time he arrived in Australia in the mid 1970s even in the most hectic times at the shop," daughter Amelia said "Dad believed there was never a problem that couldn't be solved George Grinos during he period when he worked as a tailor in Greece Picture supplied."He always saw life as a gift." April 14 - Orthodox Good Friday - the most spiritually significant day of the year for the Greek community The 77-year-old's memorial service will be held from 2pm on Wednesday at the Greek church he helped establish in Humffray Street North George Grinos before he migrated to Australia in the mid 1970s Picture supplied.Mr Grinos' story began on February 16 1946 in the mountain village of Aetos in central northern Greece Ms Grinos said her grandmother was too poor to look after her young father and he spent much of his childhood fostered out "From a really young age he was very independent and had to support himself," she said "In Greece at the time it was compulsory to join the army for a few years A souvenir from George Grinos' paratrooping days during compulsory service in the Greek defence force Picture supplied."Dad was a paratrooper and jumped out of planes 20 or 30 times "After that he went to a larger town called Agrinio where he worked as a tailor George Grinos during compulsory service in the Greek defence force Picture supplied.NEW LAND Mr Grinos visited his elder brother Thomas in the 1970s and Ms Grinos said he instantly fell in love with Ballarat married my mother Olga and brought his bride to Australia," Ms Grinos said "Dad worked for my uncle for a short time and then they went into a partnership George and Olga Grinos during their Greek honeymoon in 1977 Picture supplied."The two brothers actually became much closer in Australia "Dad didn't really grow up with his family - but in Ballarat they made a really strong connection." Ms Grinos was born in Australia - as were sisters Julie and Theodora "We lived around the corner from the shop - and we also lived right next door to my uncle and his family," she said "They had a remarkable working relationship - and a remarkable way of drawing the line between family and work "As kids we never saw any bickering or arguments about work "After a few years my uncle retired - and my cousin Andrew went into partnership with Dad "They've now been working together for 25 years." The Grinos family began operating Alfredton's Arch Fish Shop in September 1971. Tom's widow Nikki with George, his nephew Andrew and wife Olga in 2021. Picture by Jeremy Bannister.FISH SHOP The Arch Fish Shop celebrated 50 years of Grinos family ownership in September 2021 The daughters all have early memories of helping in the shop "We put the potatoes in an electric peeler It would probably take a few hours and it was early in the morning," Ms Grinos said "We were called in if it got busy - especially on Thursday and Friday nights "It's a family tradition to come in and help "I think the shop is going to stay in the family for a long time yet." In the years before the Ballarat bypass opened in 1995 she also recalled how many Adelaide-bound trucks stopped at the shop milkshakes and cigarettes - focusing solely on traditional fish and chips as well as things like hamburgers "The recipes they had back then would not have changed." The women formed their own association and organised raffles social events and fundraising meetings," Mr Grinos told the newspaper "We sold tickets at our shops and we were so busy promoting it that the Aussies would say we would use Catholic churches to worship or travel to Geelong." renovate it and build the hall gave the community a focal point From the 1970s to the turn of the millennium children had a Saturday Greek school and were able to grow up with Greek culture as a central part of their lives in Ballarat Picture supplied.RADIOMr Grinos also hosted a Wednesday night Greek language and music program on Ballarat community station Voice FM "He was connecting with his community and connecting with his roots," Ms Grinos said "It lasted 20 years and only came to an end when the pandemic hit." Ms Grinos said her father was also a keen traveller - and had been to the United States Picture supplied."And he was especially fond of roses and his garden," she said "He would always pick a rose from his garden and give it to my mum on Valentine's Day George worked in the Arch Fish Shop until he turned 77 in February Picture supplied."If someone didn't have enough money for their fish and chips he would just tell them it was fine and not to worry about it." Wednesday's funeral will be followed by a gathering at Peter Tobin Funerals Have you tried The Courier's app? It can be downloaded here. Jaskirat (India) and Aylee (Greece) say it has been fun learning more about their own heritage and sharing with classmates Picture by Lachlan BenceAN EXPLORATION trip around the world from Alfredton classrooms turned out far bigger than anyone had expected Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueRepresentatives from the United Arab Emirates embassy in Canberra flew to Victoria to meet Alfredton primary grade fives and sixes The Moroccan embassy sent a soccer jersey and cap among about 30 return letters from embassies and consulate generals including Libya and a personalised response to a young Afghani girl had each been assigned a different country to research then persuade peers to want to visit via a travel expo on December 14 Some country showcases offered more a focus on humanitarian aid research or political reasons for visiting Indian-born Jaskirat said food definitely helped win classmates over Most of her Indian snacks had gone before the final bell but friend Aylee had Greek relatives making loukoumades (Greek doughnuts with honey and cinnamon) to share later Pupils with cultural heritages were encouraged to share a little of their culture "I was born in India but I got a little help from my friends because I wanted to see India from their eyes," Jaskirat said "I know a lot of things I like in India but I wanted to see what they think is cool." who has Irish heritage on her dad's side of the family said the project have her a chance to write about Castle Donovan started at the school after the project had started but said her new friends quickly helped guide her on what she might want to write She said it helped to already know a lot about her country All visitors to the expo were offered a boarding pass on which to put their name and chosen destination to help determine which country exhibits proved most popular Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBallarat police said the owner of the Ballarat-registered SUV had been identified but they were yet to work out who was driving at the time of Thursday's 7.59pm Alfredton crash Officers who were at the scene - at the corner of Cuthberts Road and Kallioota Street - said speed was likely to have been a factor in the rollover which saw the Ford Territory slam into a pole and land on its roof The precariously positioned power pole near the corner of Cuthberts Road Picture Viuctoria Police.Police said 14 triple-zero calls were received within the space of 30 seconds - and there were initial fears someone may have been trapped inside the wreck The vehicle was empty by the time emergency services arrived Members asked locals to remain inside while Powercor dealt with dangling electrical lines Police said there were also fears a pay-TV cable could give way Senior Sergeant Brad Hall said he wanted to thank residents of Kallioota Street and Cuthberts Road for their co-operation during the complex operation Around 100 of the 4000 customers affected by a blackout were still offline at 9am Friday CCTV or dashcam should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Powercor said the remaining 100 customers still offline after Thursday's 8pm Alfredton rollover should have electricity restored sometime on Friday morning Powercor said repairs to the line would be completed "in the next few hours" Around 4000 customers in Ballarat's west were affected after a car crashed into a pole near the corner of Cuthberts Road and Kallioota Street causing power outages across Ballarat West which occurred shortly before 8pm on Thursday happened near the corner of Cuthberts Road and Kallioota Street The impact of the crash bent the power pole with nearby residents describing the noise as "a huge clap Bystanders watched as two men ran from the scene A Victoria Police spokesperson said there were no injuries from the crash 3,109 residents in Alfredton are without power 168 in Delacombe and six in Cardigan and Newington Power is expected to be restored by 12.30am features a mini IGA and barista-style cafe Picture by Adam TraffordPROMINENT independent supermarket brand IGA has moved into the petrol convenience space with a twist to shake up the Ballarat market Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIndependent Grocers of Australia has a mini-supermarket built into one of Ballarat's newest petrol stations launched by independently owned fuel APCO in Alfredton While not under the family-owned string of IGA's in the region the IGA express model will maintain a brand focus on locally sourced produce Bigger in size than the express stores of the supermarket giants a yoghurt bar and freshly made food and barista-style coffee Alfredton marks the third Apco in Ballarat but the first with an IGA express supermarket in town This follows a model in seven other regional stations APCO pointed to Alfredeton having one of its "largest footprints" in a fast-growing suburb forecast to increase by about 25 per cent in the next 13 years APCO (formerly Anderson Petroleum Company) was founded in Warrnambool in 1968 and has headquarters now in Geelong Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEmergency services have rushed to a "significant" blaze which has gutted a two storey home in Alfredton about 5pm on February 9 as well as numerous police and paramedics attended the fire on Cottesloe Place which caused the home's roof to partially collapse Firefighters survey the damage to an Alfredton home on February 10 Picture by Adam TraffordDuring the operation Cottesloe Place and Parkview Drive were closed to traffic Investigations into the cause of the blaze remain ongoing but The Courier understands Victoria Police are not treating the fire as suspicious Fire Rescue Victoria acting assistant chief fire officer Anthony Pearce told The Courier the house had been more than 50 per cent gutted by the blaze but there had been no injuries to any of the occupants He said there had also been no damage to nearby properties Firefighters extinguishing a blaze in Alfredton on February 10 Picture by Adam Trafford"[It was] great work by the initial responding crews who contained it to the building involved and there's no threat to the community," he said "It was a pretty significant structural fire and the house will be uninhabitable." Acting assistant chief fire officer Pearce said crews from metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong were coming up to Ballarat to provide coverage while the fire was being extinguished The occupants of the home were unharmed in the fire Picture by Adam Trafford"[There's been] extensive impact on Fire Rescue Victoria and CFA resources," he said "It's a timely reminder about smoke detectors and making sure those smoke detectors are fully functioning and all electrical appliances and gas heaters and the like are in good condition and working order." Smoke visible from Lucas from the housefire in Alfredton Picture contributedHeavy smoke was visible as firefighters brought a raging house fire under control in Alfredton Crews were called about 4.56pm on February 10 to Cottesloe Place a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said the house's occupants had self-evacuated "FRV crews in breathing apparatus (worked) to extinguish the fire alongside the CFA," they said VicEmergency notes the fire was brought under control about 5.45pm Dark smoke from the housefire in Alfredton Picture contributed.Ambulance Victoria was also on scene Witnesses said they saw the roof of the house collapse as the fire took hold and large amounts of dark smoke was visible The cause of the fire is not yet known at this time The incident followed a two-vehicle crash at the corner of Tait Street and Ascot Gardens Drive in Delacombe about 1pm Picture: Adam TraffordTwo of Ballarat's most prominent sporting clubs are set to benefit from new infrastructure for their netball teams Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe tender process is currently open for two netball projects in the construction of new netball change rooms at North Ballarat and new netball courts at Alfredton Recreation Reserve The new netball change rooms at North Ballarat will complement the brand new netball courts which are under construction currently North Ballarat Football Netball Club's new netball precinct will be built over an existing section of car park next to the reserve's second oval and north of Mars Stadium and the North Ballarat Sports Club the new pavilion will include two change rooms a first aid and admin room and an umpires room with a covered verandah at the front overlooking both courts from the northern base line North Ballarat president Leon Jones said the new courts and pavilion were well overdue We encourage them and they need first-class facilities to the equivalent of what the males have got so it's really exciting for the ladies in the club," he said "To have two courts will be fantastic for juniors all the way through to seniors you're limited to how many can train there at any particular time but it just opens up a new world for us in regards to expansion of our juniors and also to improve our senior netballers as well "It's also good for the Ballarat Football Netball League because when they have the grand final on Mars Stadium they're going to have two premier courts to be able to run for the female finals as well so it's going to be fantastic for the whole community." Ballarat Football Netball Club's netballers will also benefit from new infrastructure with the existing courts at Alfredton Recreation Reserve set to be replaced with brand new courts The new courts will be built in almost the exact same position and layout as the existing courts and will include a new paved acrylic surface along with new lighting for training and night games The layout of the new courts will receive minor alterations with larger runoff areas around each court while the colour of the courts will change from their familiar clay red to a brighter blue Four light poles will be built around each court on either side of the attacking thirds while a shelter and fencing will be built at the Cuthberts Road end of the courts The new netball courts complement the construction of a new $3.5 million pavilion at Alfredton Recreation Reserve which will serve Ballarat FNC Ballarat-Redan Cricket Club and Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowls Club Ballarat FNC vice-president Craig Lightfoot said the new courts were much-needed but the club was already at capacity with a third court also on the way "The Ballarat Storm Junior Football Netball Club is a new club that's based out of the Alfredton reserve as well and our juniors are full in that club as well We've got two lots of full sets of juniors for girls and one lot of seniors as well we're short a netball court and my understanding is there is funding for a new netball court too," he said We've added five junior girls football teams in the last four years and we've added eight new junior netball teams as well We're actually already turning kids away again We still can't fill the spots that we've actually created already." If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier as we made this story available only to subscribers Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city