Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is collaborating with two local primary schools to cultivate an endangered native species is part of the Climate Action Living Lab initiated by Casey Council to “deliver and validate innovative solutions for climate action” the team members from the garden visited the Botanic Ridge Primary School and Cranbourne Primary School to work with the students to set up the garden beds for Swamp Everlasting One of the remaining populations of Swamp Everlasting is in the City of Casey the director of Learning and Community Engagement of Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne students were going to monitor the species the plants will go to flower and then seed And they’re going to collect the seed for us which comes back to the garden for safekeeping to help protect the species in the future,” he said “We’ll work with our science team to analyse the seed from there They’ll even check the viability of that seed as well “And they’ll germinate it and test how good the quality of that seed growing at the Botanic Ridge Primary School is compared to Cranbourne Primary School… “All of this is really valuable data for us.” Mr Liu hoped that the students would learn a whole range of horticulture and science skills along the way “They’ll pick up on how to grow these plants and threatened species and the environmental factors that help contribute to their growth,” he said We’ll probably expect them to lose some of these plants “One of the bigger things is the particular species that we’ve chosen “So we’re sort of exploring along the way the impact of human development and urban development It’s a case study for them to learn about climate change as well.” the program is an extra step the garden has taken to see what else it can do to grow and look after threatened species but we actually want to involve the community more and more in these kinds of projects,” he said If upsizing the family home has been on your mind you might find your answer south-east of Melbourne A new age of development is ushering in a wave of growth in the suburb of Botanic Ridge Drawing its name from the neighbouring Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne Botanic Ridge offers an elegant suburban dream for buyers looking for everyday conveniences in a peaceful and beautiful locale Completed homes in the Summerhill masterplanned community at Botanic Ridge “There are a lot of similarities in Botanic Ridge to what you might find [in the developments] out west but with a bit more prestige,” realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee says “The area is very ‘green’ and developers are obviously aiming to create something from scratch that is quite special.” The Summerhill development by Peet is one such example of an exclusive masterplanned community that prioritises space and seclusion for upsizers seeking a retreat from the hustle and bustle With the Royal Botanic Gardens at one end and a nature reserve at the other selected Summerhill lots will be able to take in the bush scenery through their own windows A depiction of the walking paths and waterway at Summerhill Summerhill and the neighbouring Acacia development place significant emphasis on outdoor lifestyle self-sufficient community – offers manicured gardens while Summerhill has walking paths and a new waterway “We have found the environment so relaxing The community on the weekend and at night is so quiet,” Summerhill resident Felicity James told realestate.com.au We feel as though we are on holidays the whole time I walk out my front door and see green every day including the Mornington Peninsula holiday haven spacious and stylish homes complete with luxurious extras like SMEG appliances and Caesarstone surfaces The blocks are around 600-990 square metres in size with options to buy land from $390k or house and land from $699k “The blocks at Summerhill are quite large and so they allow families to have space,” Felicity confirms “I know quite a few families who have features such as triple garages or a pool.” features slightly smaller blocks as well as sophisticated medium-density townhouses for those who don’t mind less space but are craving a tree change The self-sufficient Acacia development will host a shopping village with a Coles supermarket among other retail stores all within reach of everyone in Acacia and Summerhill The amenities of Cranbourne – including a number of sporting facilities – aren’t far and a primary school has also opened in Acacia masterplanned community has everything you need who relocated to Summerhill in their retirement noted the close proximity of vital services “When you are retired and you move locations The healthcare in this area is extraordinary the facilities in the Casey region are excellent We use the aquatics facilities at Casey recreation and aquatics centre all the time and there are so many supermarkets that are very easy to get to.” third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. The permit allows for a 6000 square metre shopping centre – Botanic Ridge Village – about 60 per cent of which will be leased to Coles (this space is also the only full-line supermarket allowed in the Botanic Ridge Precinct Structure Plan) Coles Development Group also offered a 9046 square metre pad site appropriate for a mixed-use project Mr McIntosh added lack of supply is putting upward pressure on pricing; there were only six Victorian neighbourhood shopping centre transactions last year (story continues below) A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login A 36 year-old man was charged with trafficking proceeds of crime and firearms offences after raid at Botanic Ridge house in Melbourne A mountain of Lego found in a suburban drug raid is so large police are going to need a truck to seize it The 1,130 boxes worth more than $200,000 were discovered on Tuesday alongside a meth lab and boxes of gemstones at a Botanic Ridge house on Melbourne’s suburban fringe Police said there were so many of the plastic building blocks that a truck will be needed to transport them A Lego collection valued at more than $200,000 was found at the house Photograph: Victoria policeA 36-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were arrested and the man was charged with trafficking Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup He appeared at Melbourne magistrates court on Wednesday and was remanded to reappear in February “It’s not unusual for police to seize a range of different items from a property as part of an investigation like this however this is more often drugs or cash,” Det Insp Anthony Vella said “This is the first time our detectives have seized a Lego collection – let alone one so large that it requires specific transportation to remove it.” Police will allege the Lego and gemstones are proceeds of crime An artist’s impression of Summerhill estate by Peet in Botanic Ridge PEET’S latest community at Botanic Ridge is targeted squarely at buyers chasing larger block sizes and is located between the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and Peet’s Acacia community There has been solid interest in the development since sales began in September last year with more than 20 lots from stage one already sold Some larger blocks of 990sq m are planned for later releases Peet managing director and chief executive Brendan Gore said design guidelines had been carefully tailored to ensure the larger lots catered for expansive and custom-designed homes while also protecting “the privacy and sense of space buyers are looking to enjoy” Summerhill will also include its own peaceful gardens and a picturesque waterway providing a wonderful space for residents to enjoy,” Mr Gore said The sales office is where your new-home journey starts The community is close to a number of sporting facilities including Casey RACE (recreation and aquatic centre); Casey Fields outdoor sports facility; a future 9ha sporting precinct; and a range of local sporting clubs The Cranbourne Park shopping centre is a five-minute drive from Summerhill with more than 140 specialty stores and large retailers to choose from which is slated for the neighbouring Acacia estate Buyers with small children are well catered for There is a host of daycare centres and more than a dozen schools in the local area Casey Grammar and Casey Childcare and Kindergarten Start planning your new lifestyle in the Summerhill sales office “There’s also no shortage of places to get out and about on the weekend with plenty of attractions close by from Port Phillip and Western Port bays to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula drivers can access the South Gippsland Freeway Western Port Highway and EastLink toll road A number of bus routes run along Craig Rd to Cranbourne Park shopping centre and there are regular services to Southern Cross station in the CBD from the nearby Cranbourne train station summerhillbotanic.com.au Melbourne Cup champion jockey Jye McNeil is selling his home Melbourne Cup winner Jye McNeil is hoping to rein in a buyer for his Botanic Ridge home just a month after winning Australia’s most famous race The champion rider and his partner, fellow jockey Jessica Payne, have put their four-bedroom house at 81 Limeburner Grove on the market with $800,000-$850,000 price hopes It comes just a month after the 25-year-old collected his $220,000 share of $8m prize money after his impressive Melbourne Cup win on Joseph O’Brien-trained horse Twilight Payment RELATED: Luke Currie: Jockey lists Essendon home of 17 years The Emerald Hotel: Site of South Melbourne pub for sale Kaz and Drew Morphett’s Cloverdale agistment farm listed for sale McNeil on Twilight Payment in the Melbourne Cup McNeil said he relocated from Melbourne’s outer southeast to the inner city just after his four-month-old son Oakley was born in August “The only reason we’re selling is to be closer to Flemington and Caulfield racecourses and my conditioning and fitness coaches,” McNeil said “I was driving 19 hours a week just to get to the trackwork and with a young baby it’s just not feasible.” Jye McNeil with partner Jess Payne and baby Oakley modern living area inside their family home It was the perfect spot for Oakley’s first home He said they were still on the lookout for their next home in Melbourne which would ideally be about 10 minutes away from the major courses McNeil said he would miss the modern property’s location inside the Settlers Run Golf Course estate and its comfortable and contemporary accommodation It was also an easy drive away from Cranbourne Racecourse where McNeil frequently raced early in his career The kitchen has plenty of storage and modern appliances It is in a golf course estate with city skyline views CoreLogic shows he bought the property for $665,000 in May 2016 shortly after it was built Buxton Bentleigh director John Rombotis said the large house offered plenty of space for a family a large contemporary kitchen and views of the city skyline from the backyard The property was near-new when bought by the couple “Jye will be there on December 17 when I take it to auction and we plan on having the Melbourne Cup on display too,” Mr Rombotis said “I think it will sell really well based on the quality of the home itself It could go to a younger family or an older demographic who want to life in an estate with golf outside the front door.” READ MORE: Sunday Creek house with man-made beach smashes local record Melbourne home values rise for first time since March Buddy and Jesinta Franklin quietly sell Rose Bay home and buy $5m apartment soon to become a family favourite in the City of Casey The centre will open its doors first-thing Wednesday morning with a performance by Botanic Ridge Primary School a ribbon cutting to celebrate the brand-new full-line Coles and a balloon artist for the younger visitors The first 150 people through the doors will get their hands on a free tote bag and coffee voucher courtesy of Ridge Café – the local café which will quickly become a crowd favourite kicking off from midday – a free gift when you spend $50 or more in centre locals will have easy access to leading healthcare at Botanic Ridge Doctors and Tom Lane Pharmacy and hospitality options including Botanic Ridge Pizza & Pasta and On The Hook Fish & Chips which will be delivered by local property group SRL open space and an activity area for the local community The team at SRL is looking forward to welcoming the community to the centre “ We are pleased to be opening the doors and look forward to serving the Botanic Ridge community – whether they’re coming down to check out the centre there will truly be something for everyone during launch week “ The centre will be another member of the Botanic Ridge community and more – we’re looking forward to seeing how local residents respond,” he said Melbourne Cup winner Jye McNeil has sold his home The sale of reigning Melbourne Cup champ Jye McNeil’s Botanic Ridge home has passed the post faster than expected as fellow jockey Luke Currie offloaded his longtime Essendon abode McNeil and his partner, fellow jockey Jessica Payne, have collected a windfall from their four-bedroom family home at 81 Limeburner Grove which sold for an undisclosed price on Thursday Buxton Bentleigh director John Rombotis confirmed a deal above the $800,000-$850,000 price guide was negotiated hours before the property was set to go under the hammer RELATED: Jye McNeil: Melbourne Cup 2020 champion selling Botanic Ridge home Luke Currie: Jockey lists Essendon home of 17 years The Emerald Hotel: South Melbourne racing institution sells to real estate identity McNeil lived at the property with his family “There were three interested parties and negotiations went late into Wednesday night and started up again the next morning,” Mr Rombotis said “A family from Clyde North with two beautiful children have bought it.” who raced Joseph O’Brien-trained horse Twilight Payment to Cup victory said he and Jessica were “delighted” to sell to “a beautiful young family who can enjoy it like we did” “It’s more important to us to sell to a family than try and extract even more money,” he said The 25-year-old has profited a decent sum from the modern house which CoreLogic shows he bought new for $665,000 in 2016 McNeil and partner Jess Payne with baby Oakley McNeil said he had already left Melbourne’s outer southeast and was living in the inner city “I was driving 19 hours a week just to get to the trackwork and with a young baby (five-month-old son Oakley) McNeil said he missed living inside Settlers Run Golf Course estate and the easy drive to Cranbourne Racecourse Luke Currie — who rode Arcadia Queen to victory in the Mackinnon Stakes — has sold his Essendon home of 17 years Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images The north-facing yard with a pool was a selling point Currie also capped off a successful end to 2020 by selling his Essendon home of 17 years at 2B Thomson Street for an undisclosed price above his and wife Sophia’s $1.5-$1.6m asking range The deal came about a month after the 39-year-old returned from long-term injuries to achieve “the biggest win” of his career at the Mackinnon Stakes Frank Dowling Essendon sales manager Anthony Elliott said five local families made offers on the four-bedroom with a Niddrie family “upgrading to get into school zones” claiming the keys “They’d been looking for about a year,” Mr Elliott said (and buyers) loved the north-facing yard with a pool.” Currie had loved reading the paper in the light-filled dining space Currie — who has ridden more than 1000 winners in his career, including legendary mare Makybe Diva — said he would miss living “so close to the main racetracks in Flemington and Moonee Valley” as he and his young family moved near Sophia’s family in Bayside MORE: Phil O’Meara: Victorian, WA cricketer lists longtime Parkdale home Melbourne real estate: Christmas and New Year’s rush tipped for market Jacinta Parsons: ABC Radio Melbourne host’s property journey A Botanic Ridge man is one of 26 people arrested by the Frankston Crime Investigation Unit as part of Operation Washed last month The investigation commenced in February after local police identified an increase in criminal activity around short-stay accommodation and licensed premises in Frankston The 35-year-old was located near a licensed premises in Seaford allegedly in possession of imitation firearms nunchuks and drugs of dependence on 1 March He was charged with four counts of possess imitation firearm three counts of assault police and reckless conduct endangering serious injury He was bailed to appear at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 15 July 26 people have been arrested as part of the operation for various offences including drug trafficking A Victoria Police spokesperson said licensed premises and surrounding areas should be “a safe place for all patrons and members of our community.” “There are increased penalties for the possession of weapons around licensed premises and there is no excuse for bringing them to these locations,” the spokesperson said “If you think you can come to these areas and engage in criminal conduct We will find you and will not hesitate to being you before the courts.” The operation is continuing with police actively targeting people frequenting these premises and the surrounding areas for the purpose of conducting criminal activity Anyone with information regarding illegal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to submit at confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au A welfare check in Botanic Ridge led to the discovery of a homemade bomb in the early hours of Wednesday 24 March Police were called to an address in Green Mist Crescent Botanic Ridge at 3.55am to conduct a welfare check A 39-year-old Botanic Ridge man was taken to hospital for assessment Police located an improvised explosive device at the scene and cordoned off the area A safety check was completed by the Bomb Response Unit and the area was deemed safe and reopened Construction is progressing on Botanic Ridge Village Construction on the Sandhurst Retail and Logistics-owned shopping precinct began in March and are due for completion in early 2022 has recently completed the slab pouring at the future Coles supermarket with the pre-cast concrete panels installed for the supermarket and underway for the eight speciality stores The structural steel for the Coles roof has been installed and the roof panels are beginning to be fitted on the site A Coles supermarket will anchor the centre for the growing population in the area with forecasts showing that the population in the area is expected to almost double over the next ten years It’s expected the new centre will provide a boost to local employment with benefits to flow into the local economy from increased employment and consumer spending is looking forward to unveiling the centre in 2022 and playing a long-term role in the region’s growth “Our Botanic Ridge centre will provide much-needed retail amenity to one of Victoria’s fastest growing regions and we are pleased to be working with Coles to support the community and economic growth in the area “Botanic Ridge Village will get the basics right – essentials employment and community spaces; we are creating a positive where community members will be able to work Sandhurst Retail and Logistics will manage the centre once it opens With the disruption and ongoing uncertainty of Covid-19 Make-A-Wish Australia now has more than 800 seriously ill children waiting for their wish to come true To help make these wishes become a reality guests and crew of Hungry Jack’s can donate to Make-A-Wish by purchasing Wishmaker Stars ($1 $2 and $5) at any Hungry Jack’s location or online during March until April 4 is encouraging everyone to get behind Wishmaker month this March to help raise much needed funds to for Make-A-Wish Australia Now in remission for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia “Shayla’s wish was a magical experience for our family,” Ms Gluyas said “We visited the Gold Coast because Shayla wanted to have her birthday party in summer “We often talk about the wish memories and how grateful we are “Our family is now in a position where we can now give back to Make-A-Wish and help other families experience the amazing things that we’ve experienced The experience of a wish can help renew a sick child’s sense of purpose Ms Gluyas said that her families’ experience was no different “After everything our family has been through it was so lovely to see Shayla so happy when her wish came true “I don’t think people realise the stress on relationships and family having a seriously ill child can create the need for community support is greater than ever before Make-A-Wish relies on the incredible generosity and support from the community to make wishes possible,” said Ms Bateman we can highlight the lasting impact that wishes have on seriously ill children and their families.” Make-A-Wish Australia has been supporting Australian children in the community for over 36 years To donate to Make-A-Wish Australia this March $2 or $5 Wishmaker star in-store at any Hungry Jack’s via the Hungry Jack’s App or online: order.hungryjacks.com.au/ Wishmaker stars are available until April 4 All proceeds from Wishmaker stars sold at Hungry Jack’s go to Make-A-Wish Australia For more information on the Hungry Jack’s Wishmaker campaign please visit: hungryjacks.com.au/community/wishmaker-2022 A 'plague' of snakes seeming to target elderly women and dogs in Australia has led one resourceful neighbourhood to band together and build a fence to keep the deadly reptiles away decided to do something about the epidemic when his four-year-old son spotted a brown snake behind their hot water service just days before a lady down the road found a venomous tiger snake hiding in her laundry ‘The neighbours were getting sick of the problem so we all got together and helped build the fence,’ Mr Holt told Daily Mail Australia The chicken-wire fencing digs beneath the surface and stretches across 15 houses along the leafy street which backs onto a golf course and is 45 kilometres southeast of Melbourne While spotting snakes was becoming a near-daily affair before the fence was erected Mr Holt says he hasn't seen a single snake since the barrier went up in November ‘We haven’t seen any snakes since … People keep saying snakes can climb and all that stuff but I think the fence has really helped ‘It’s hard for them to get through because we dug under the fence and put chicken wire into the ground as well.’  Last Wednesday less than ten minutes up the road from the Holt family Barbara McDougall was bitten on the leg by a venomous tiger snake while putting out her bins She told Daily Mail Australia three of her neighbours' dogs have been killed by venomous snakes in the past two weeks ‘Everyone’s been talking about seeing snakes around,’ she said adding that in the past the residents would only see ‘the odd snake here and there’ ‘Everyone’s been asking if I live on a farm,’ she said ‘It’s a bit worrying for people who’ve got kids.’ Dr Bob Cavey from Ultimate Veterinary Clinic in Narre Warren South told Daily Mail Australia they have noticed an increase in bitten pets ‘We’ve certainly noticed that a lot of people have been ringing us this year with dogs that have died with what looks like snake bites,’ with ample evidence to conclude it was the cause of death ‘A lot of people are seeing tiger snakes in our area here,’ he said ‘This year we’ve heard of a lot,’ Dr Cavey added saying summer 2012 had also been a big year for snake bites Dr Cavey also said that snakes are more active on the especially hot days the more active the snakes are – definitely.’ ‘There’s also a lot of new developments so the snakes don’t have the habitat that they used to have so they’re basically moving into people’s backyards’  and to ensure pets have no access to wood heaps rubbish piles or sheds which make great hiding spots for tiger snakes He said snakes are more venomous at the beginning of the season when they come out of hibernation Not even the local police station at Carrum Downs has been spared from the 'plague' - calling in a relocator to help them move a huge brown snake that had stuck itself to a cockroach trap The spate of snake appearances in Victoria comes after nine people were either rushed to hospital or treated by paramedics for snake bites in Queensland in the space of just 36 hours, ABC reported. Barry Goldsmith, a snake catcher, wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday that ‘there is no plague of snakes’. ‘I have been doing this for many years and I can tell you that there is less snakes than ever but with the building of housing and industrial estates and freeways the animals that occupy this bushland have nowhere to go,’ Mr Goldsmith said. He said it appears there are more of these ‘displaced animals’ because ‘more people are coming into contact with them’. Last week, another woman's Doberman Pinscher was bitten by a tiger snake in Tasmania.  The dog had been kept at the veterinary for several days and his legs were not working properly. On Monday evening, father Anthony Parker discovered a large tiger snake caught in a mouse trap in his family home at Cascade in Western Australia.  That same day it emerged that 14-year-old Isaac Bain woke up to find a mulga brown, one of the world's deadliest snakes, had bitten him on the arm at their 94,000 acre property in rural Queensland, 200 kilometres south of Charleville. Last Friday, veterinary student Emma Lewis was bitten by a copperhead snake on her 21st birthday in Glenorchy, Tasmania. A day prior, 73-year-old Edna-Mae Green was bit by a 1.8-metre eastern brown snake at Lower Mount Walker, near the NSW-Queensland border. She accidentally stood on the extremely venomous snake, and wrapped a plastic grocery bag around her bite and drove herself halfway to hospital. After failing to get an answer from triple zero, the 73-year-old used one leg to begin the drive to Ipswich Hospital. 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Neighbourhood bands together to build snake-proof fence amidst plagueCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} A Botanic Ridge father has been jailed after a police raid uncovered drugs was sentenced in the County Court on Friday 30 October after pleading guilty to a string of drug trafficking and gun charges According to court documents obtained by Star News police executed a search warrant at Madkour’s Cornflower Rise property on 14 March 2019 more than 1.8 kilograms of butanediol – which is often used as a GHB substitute – and five bottles of steroids were located inside the garage Police also seized a homemade 9mm firearm and 20 rounds of ammunition More than $37,000 in cash and jewellery was also located on the property In the backyard, police also found four cannabis seedlings Madkour was arrested as he attempted to flee police by running through the back door He was taken to Dandenong police station for an official interview where he made no comment regarding the trafficking of drugs or owning the gun admit to owning the steroids and growth hormone and told police he self-medicated with GHB Madkour also stated he collected the samurai swords and purchased the extendable baton from Gumtree as a “vehicle safety device” Judge Christopher Ryan sentenced Madkour to a maximum of seven years and two months He was handed a non-parole period of five years Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Residents in two estates in Melbourne’s south-east say foul smells from a nearby tip are keeping them up at night and making them ill but authorities have said the gas does not pose a public health risk Families in the Brookland Greens and Botanic Ridge estates in Cranbourne have endured rotten-egg-smelling gas leaking from a construction and demolition waste tip on Ballarto Road for months leaving them unable to open their windows and doors CFA crews visit homes in Brookland Greens to monitor gas levels during a previous incident Some have described the stench as a combination of rotten eggs and other gas smells while others say it is like rotting carcasses and rubbish Brookland Greens resident Aliks said the smell had become so bad she had packed up and driven for two hours to her parents’ home with her five-week-old daughter “just to have some fresh air” “I’m up during the night to do the night feed but the smell is actually waking me up before I have to do that,” she told 3AW on Tuesday afternoon and no matter if you shut all your doors and windows a bad taste in her mouth and gagging as a result of the foul smell which is believed to be caused by hydrogen sulfide emanating from the landfill facility’s treatment ponds Other residents have reported experiencing similar symptoms and waking up in the middle of the night struggling to breathe Tal Blackburn said her children had begun experiencing severe bouts of asthma around the same time the stench became more intense and had to be put on stronger medication She said they spent most of the time stuck inside coughing and had missed out on childcare and socialising with friends and we can’t help thinking there’s a connection,” she said “We’ve been hearing from many other families in the estate that their asthma symptoms are worsening said she had begun to question whether she made the right decision “I went as far as looking for properties the other day when my kids were coughing and struggling for another day,” she said ‘No matter if you shut all your doors and windows Another neighbour who is seven weeks pregnant also said the stench was causing her two-year-old child to cough and gag and her husband’s asthma to flare up Her biggest concern was the impact the gas could have on her unborn baby “They’re saying what we’re smelling isn’t bad in the short term but it’s sort of starting to turn into a long-term issue – it’s happening every day,” she said Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority said it was first alerted to the odour three to four months ago but the number of calls had soared in recent days The authority believes the smell is caused by rainwater slipping into the facility’s treatment ponds through poorly covered construction and demolition waste The recent cold and still weather could have contributed to the stench by preventing the gas from dispersing in the atmosphere as it normally would EPA acting southern metropolitan regional manager Steve Lansdell said the gas could cause coughing and eye irritation but did not pose long-term risks to residents’ health “The issue itself has been occurring on and off for months and that’s why there’s a big focus on trying to resolve it as quickly as possible,” he told 3AW Angry Brookland Greens residents attend a public meeting after a methane gas scare in 2008.Credit: Angela Wylie “The impact is often on the colder mornings when the weather’s still .. We encourage people to keep their windows closed and try and prevent smelling the odours during those periods.” Lansdell said tip operator SBI Group had installed a bio filter to manage the smell and changing weather conditions should bring some relief to residents in the coming days According to a letter to residents seen by The Age the authority is planning to issue remedial notices to SBI Group to manage air emissions and reduce the smell It is not the first time residents in the Brookland Greens estate area have been exposed to foul-smelling and potentially harmful gases Lansdell said the current smell was coming from a different landfill site to the one at the centre of the 2008 incident It did not take household garbage and other materials that emit methane gas when they break down “I really want to assure people it’s very different to issues years ago and there’s no indication of any long-term impacts from gases like hydrogen sulfide,” he said The EPA will meet with residents at Woolworths Cranbourne on Friday to discuss the issue SBI Group did not respond to The Age’s requests for comments but in a statement released to 3AW the company said it had been working with the EPA to solve the issue “Unfortunately attempts to treat the water onsite have been unsuccessful and as a result we have been trucking this stagnant water offsite since Friday afternoon,” it read The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here Residents in two estates in Melbourne\\u2019s south-east say foul smells from a nearby tip are keeping them up at night and making them ill Brookland Greens resident Aliks said the smell had become so bad she had packed up and driven for two hours to her parents\\u2019 home with her five-week-old daughter \\u201Cjust to have some fresh air\\u201D \\u201CI\\u2019m up during the night to do the night feed but the smell is actually waking me up before I have to do that,\\u201D she told 3AW on Tuesday afternoon the smell is still creeping inside.\\u201D which is believed to be caused by hydrogen sulfide emanating from the landfill facility\\u2019s treatment ponds and we can\\u2019t help thinking there\\u2019s a connection,\\u201D she said \\u201CWe\\u2019ve been hearing from many other families in the estate that their asthma symptoms are worsening It\\u2019s never been this bad for them.\\u201D \\u201CI went as far as looking for properties the other day when my kids were coughing and struggling for another day,\\u201D she said Another neighbour who is seven weeks pregnant also said the stench was causing her two-year-old child to cough and gag and her husband\\u2019s asthma to flare up \\u201CThey\\u2019re saying what we\\u2019re smelling isn\\u2019t bad in the short term but it\\u2019s sort of starting to turn into a long-term issue \\u2013 it\\u2019s happening every day,\\u201D she said Victoria\\u2019s Environment Protection Authority said it was first alerted to the odour three to four months ago The authority believes the smell is caused by rainwater slipping into the facility\\u2019s treatment ponds through poorly covered construction and demolition waste EPA acting southern metropolitan regional manager Steve Lansdell said the gas could cause coughing and eye irritation but did not pose long-term risks to residents\\u2019 health \\u201CThe issue itself has been occurring on and off for months and that\\u2019s why there\\u2019s a big focus on trying to resolve it as quickly as possible,\\u201D he told 3AW \\u201CThe impact is often on the colder mornings when the weather\\u2019s still .. We encourage people to keep their windows closed and try and prevent smelling the odours during those periods.\\u201D More than 450 residents launched a class-action lawsuit against the City of Casey and the EPA in 2008 after a dangerous on Stevensons Road led to the evacuation of hundreds of people They were awarded more than in court in 2011 \\u201CI really want to assure people it\\u2019s very different to issues years ago and there\\u2019s no indication of any long-term impacts from gases like hydrogen sulfide,\\u201D he said SBI Group did not respond to The Age\\u2019s requests for comments but in a statement released to 3AW the company said it had been working with the EPA to solve the issue \\u201CUnfortunately attempts to treat the water onsite have been unsuccessful and as a result we have been trucking this stagnant water offsite since Friday afternoon,\\u201D it read The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories \\u2018No matter if you shut all your doors and windows the smell is still creeping inside.\\u2019 The 2023 UCI BMX World Championships are shaping up to be the most exciting race of the year for Botanic Ridge resident and Pearcedale Primary School student Harla Sinclair After earning a spot on the 2023 Australian BMX Team Harla is one of three nine-year-old girls from Australia who will take on the world’s best at this year’s World Championship in Glasgow The goal of BMX Racing is simple: cross the finish line first But that’s easier said than done with eight riders and a complex course of high-speed curves big bumps and even bigger jumps between the start gate and gold medal glory “I am really excited but also a bit nervous to be racing for a World Championship in Scotland this year,” Harla said “I have been working really hard with my coach and look forward to racing the world’s fastest girls.” Harla has been racing BMX since the age of three After a great first year of competitive racing in 2022 – with a State Championship win and a second place at the final round of the AusCycling National Cup last year – Harla is ready to take on the next step and head to Scotland with her father Mick this August “What an opportunity for Harla,” Mick said we put a huge amount of effort into BMX Racing at a local and to see Harla’s name on the list of riders for Team Australia was a proud moment for us it’s amazing to see the effort she is putting in and no matter what the outcome is over there Harla is a member of the Frankston and Casey BMX Clubs Harla has the world at her feet with BMX and I’m excited to be on this journey with her,” Bella said and deserves great results at the World Championships but I’m also teaching her that anything can happen at races like this and that she needs to be prepared for anything “I’m really proud of Harla and love coaching her.” The single lap 400-metre course at the Glasgow BMX Centre has been specially built to test the top speeds track skills and racing smarts of the world’s best BMX racers The championships take place in four phases the top four finishers progress to qualifying with only the top two moving on in the competition the top four out of eight progresses to the final Races happen in 30-40 second sprints of acceleration Track position is paramount as everyone fights for the fastest racing line and riders must be bold if they want to take the gold For more information on the UCI BMX World Championships visit: https://www.cyclingworldchamps.com/championships/bmx-racing/ and to follow Harla’s journey go to https://www.instagram.com/harla.sincs/ Casey Council plans to boost the region’s sub-par tree canopy by 30 per cent in six years According to its Greening Casey final report the council area is home to an estimated 660,000 trees but its 11.3 per cent tree canopy rate is well short of the 19.3 per cent metro Melbourne average The council has targeted a 15 per cent coverage rate by 2030 – which would be a 30 per cent increase the council aims to hit 20 per cent canopy coverage The plan includes planting more than 10,000 street trees in the next three years Currently there are 360,000 street and park trees managed by the council Another aim is to protect and boost the stocks of 300,000 privately-owned trees with a mix of regulation “Greening Casey 2024-2030-2050 sets out how we will increase tree canopy cover across the city which areas will be targeted for more planting and how trees and vegetation in the city will be monitored and managed into the future,” chair of administrators Noelene Duff said “Protecting and enhancing tree canopy cover and vegetation also provides many benefits for our community a reduction in carbon and providing habitat.” 95 per cent of respondents wanted more trees in Casey with strong support for species resilient to climate change Less than half wanted tougher regulations to protect privately owned trees The priority suburbs for more tree shade include Cranbourne North The greatest canopy “opportunities” on public land were wide road reserves Activity centres with extensive slabs of asphalt car parks were some of the hottest areas in Casey Casey gained nearly 350,000 square metres of tree canopy mostly along roads and streets in new developments However large infrastucture projects had wiped out many of those gains The strategy looks at better preserving mature trees on private land 61 per cent of canopy cover was lost in three years “While this was for the purpose of development it raises the issue of whether more of these established trees should have been strategically retained at the planning phase,“ the report stated “It will take over 50 years to replace the amount of canopy lost.” Non-permitted vegetation removal and vandalism of 7 per cent of new planted trees were also issues the council doesn’t employ an officer to police these matters Greater Dandenong Council recently enacted stronger protection for trees on private land in its bid to increase canopy cover from a paltry 9 per cent to 15 per cent by 2028 A permit would be required to remove trees of 40 centimetres diameter at 1.4 metres above ground level Casey Council’s strategy also recommends exploring new local law protections of private trees It would also require canopy tree planting at the front and rear of subdivisions and developed properties encourage Significant Tree Register nominations and incentivise residents to plant trees there was a “driver” for developers to maximise yield at the expense of trees and gardens and the highest value land use is for residential housing trees on private lots are often seen as a construction constraint rather than opportunity to site dwellings within the existing landscape.” Casey said it was also dealing with the legacy of “poor past decision making” with older trees damaging underground infrastructure such as the Eucalpytus scoparia that’s being replaced in Timbarra Estate within a decade they were causing impacts to infrastructure and property.” Comments: “The layout stretches out over varying topography with the most interesting holes to be found rising and falling across the terrain The variety of shots this produces fits in well with the Greg Norman Bob Harrison and Harley Kruse design philosophy.” – Paul Wilson “The conditioning of the course at Settler’s Run is coming along nicely under the new course superintendent.” – Kevin Nolan www.settlersrungcc.com.au Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2012) Comments: “There’s nothing outside the regulation Greg Norman and Bob Harrison playbook but the fundamentals are all there for a golf course that asks interesting questions and never feels like a slog despite its difficulty.” – Scott Warren “I really like Stonecutters Ridge because of the playability of the design for golfers of all standards you feel there is enough width not to get into trouble if you play conservatively but if you want to be aggressive and skirt the trouble It is a course where you need to play to the edges to make the best possible score.” – Joe Thomas www.stonecuttersgc.com.au Designers: Vern Morcom (1963); Richard Chamberlain (2018 & ongoing) Comments: “I was pleasantly surprised at how good Royal Hobart is becoming There are still issues with bits of the routing but it was in great condition and there is lots interesting movement in the fairways they are addressing tree encroachment and have started to open the course up and get a bit of width back in the fairways.” – Brian Walshe “For a flat course there is plenty of movement in the fairways The removal of hundreds of trees that tightly hugged the fairways has improved the angles to the greens With a new masterplan and plenty more changes coming the course should continue climbing its way up the rankings.” – Kevin Nolan “The vegetation management undertaken over the past five years has paid dividends improved playing lines and a return of strategy and width to the course The greens have returned to a high-quality surface The recent work on the 7th hole has removed some of the adjacent congestion on the 6th and 8th holes Royal Hobart has returned to that list of courses you wish to re-play next time you are in Tasmania.” “It comes as no surprise that the tree removal in recent times has not only improved the playability of the layout but the turf quality is significantly better as well.” – Peter Shaw “The recent changes with a new 7th hole designed by Richard Chamberlain More strategic options now become a factor Hopefully this change continues across the rest of the course.” – Carl Murphy www.rhgc.com.au Comments: “Links Lady Bay has maintained its position at No.70 in a ranking with volatile movements up and down for many courses It has been a consistent performer in this list and is undoubtedly in the best condition ever seen by our judges.” – Brendan James “This is an exceptional layout and makes me pity we don’t have more courses in Australia from this talented design trio.” – Craig Read “This links course gives you space off the tee and provides risk-reward opportunities for the low marker but a proliferation of bunkers could make it harder for the high handicapper.” – Ashley Clinch “Links Lady Bay always plays firm under foot and the greens are the equal of those famed courses in Adelaide.” – Tara Vincent www.linksladybay.com.au Designers: Jack Watson (1964); Geoff Ogilvy Mike Cocking Ashley Mead – OCM (2019 & ongoing) Comments: “After watching the TPS Victoria tournament in January (2021) I had to visit Rosebud and see the course for myself It exceeded all my expectations in terms of design and conditioning It left me feeling the $75 weekday green fee was outstanding value for the round.” – James Walsh “Rosebud’s North Course has always been highly regarded but has sometimes been lost in the conversation about the Mornington Peninsula’s best courses simply because there are just so many good layouts in the area But the appointment of course superintendent Ian Todd (formerly of Victoria Golf Club) has seen significant improvements across the layout and is an absolute joy to play.” – Paul Wilson www.rosebudcountryclub.com.au Comments: “I always enjoy the challenge the Open Course presents Don’t expect to play here and shoot well under your handicap It is one of the longest and most challenging courses in the land and that is only magnified when the wind blows you will have fun trying to conquer what designer Peter Thomson called his ‘Leviathan’.” – Paul Wilson “I’ve been a regular visitor to Moonah Links over the years and rarely have I seen it in such a consistently good condition than it has been during the past two years.” – John Blackwell www.moonahlinks.com.au Designers: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000) Comments: “Without knowing the back story of this course you could swear this layout has been in the ground for 100 years and was crafted by Mother Nature with a little bit of human intervention The fact is this land was a flood-prone salt plain as flat as a tack and lifeless in the late 1990s and Norman and Harrison crafted it into a wonderful golf course It has been 22 years since the first tee shots were struck here and it just keeps getting better with age.” – Paul Wilson “Sanctuary Lakes is a testament to the design partnership of Greg Norman and Bob Harrison that they were able to turn a flat parcel of land that was just 'nothing' into an interesting and sometimes stern test of golf for players of all levels.” – Kevin Nolan www.sanctuarylakesclub.com.au exciting and unique layout to add to your wish list.” – Craig Read “Kalgoorlie is one of the best courses Graham Marsh has ever created.” – Tristan Holmes Kalgoorlie is a very unique golfing experience and a genuinely good layout that has utilised the terrain beautifully.” – DJ Loypur It plays firm and fast as a desert course should It’s a challenge with some raised large greens with bunkers that hug most greens Conditioning is consistently first class across the entire course.” – Ashley Clinch www.kalgoorliegolfcourse.com Comments: "A multi-million-dollar renovation of Arnold Palmer’s only Australian course design has breathed life back into the famed layout The condition of the course had been in a steady decline for several years which was played out in its ranking position during the past ten years All 18 greens were rebuilt and the surfaces changed to TifEagle ultradwarf (as used on the adjoining Palms layout) and the results have been outstanding.” – Joseph Baker I played the Pines in early 2020 and it was Ok but the greens Fast forward to October 2021 and the layout was mint new greens and an overall high standard of presentation now showcase the best elements of the design.” – Sunny Chan www.sanctuarycovegolf.com.au Designers: Mike Clayton (2002); Geoff Ogilvy Comments: “How they got so much width on such a small site is great golf course architecture The downside is you're almost always hitting driver off each tee While there are good and bad sides of the fairway there is little club choice to made on all the longer holes The four of the five longest par-4s run in different directions meaning you will get relief from the wind on the strongest of blowy days The par-3s offer something different on each hole with the 15th probably the pick of the bunch replacing the wacky drive between the trees on the old par-4 due to the new water storage.” – Kevin Nolan with every last drop of excellence wrung from what may otherwise have been a pretty uninspiring property.” – Steve Beach www.ranfurlie.com.au Comments: “The Cut weaves its way through some big dunes next to the Indian Ocean The first four holes on the front nine next to the ocean are good fun and the back nine from start to finish is all fun I found the course in excellent condition given how much golf is played here.” – Ashley Clinch “For a seaside course that is easily affected by wind I think many of the fairways are a little too narrow to handle we played in a strong easterly that played as a crosswind on the beachside holes – like the 2nd 16th and 17th – and you had to aim well away from the fairway to get your ball on the fairway I enjoyed the challenge and will be back.” – Tristan Holmes www.the-cut.com.au Designers: Sam Berriman (1954); Geoff Ogilvy Mike Cocking & Ashley Mead – OCM (ongoing) Comments: “Cranbourne might lie on the outskirts of the Melbourne Sandbelt but it has all the hallmarks of a layout within the famed golfing region large bunkers cut into the edges of the large subtly sloping greens and playing surfaces that are first class.” – Chris Davidson “One word springs to mind to describe Cranbourne Immaculate conditioning combines with fair and challenging design in a beautiful setting “Cranbourne's three-shotters can be a bit of a snack for the longer hitters but woe betide any golfer who ventures offline The redesign of the par-3 14th makes the walk around the course seem more fluent There’s lots of risk and reward on some shorter par-4s while the presentation is generally excellent.” – Kevin Nolan www.cranbournegolf.com.au Designers: Michael Moran & C.W Cole (1938) Comments: “A terrific oceanside course with stunning views and equally stunning holes throughout There has been a lot of course work carried out here during the past few years and all of it has been good The clearing of areas of vegetation has made the playing corridors wider but this has not made St Michaels any less challenging … especially in the wind.” – Lucas Andrews “I can honestly say I’ve never scored well at St Michaels But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every round I have played there simply because each round has been completely different to the one before The only experience that remains exactly the same with each visit is the view.” – Felicity Chapman “Eradicating vast tracts of non-native bush scrub has opened up the layout The routing has changed very little since the days of Moran and Cole but a dozen holes now feature bunkers and/or sandy wasteland areas that did not exist nearly a decade ago This has transformed the course from simply being a testing layout to one that also oozes the visual appeal few courses in any Australian metropolitan area can boast.” – Brendan James www.stmichaelsgolf.com.au Monday 25 April presents us all with an opportunity to reflect and pay our respects to those who have served to defend our country on the battlefield catching up with fellow returned servicemen and women at the Dandenong RSL means more to him than his birthday The 48-year-old served two tours of Iraq between 2005 and 2007 in the Second Cavalry Regiment as an Australian Service Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) driver helped by his grounding as a truck driver for Kenworth Trucks He recalled the horror of watching the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 calling them a “gutless attack on innocent people” and concerned about the potential outbreak of another world war Along with his brother’s positive experiences in the defence force “I figured that if there was evil in the world I would rather fight them in their country I would join the collation fight against terrorism and I was prepared to go to whatever country the war took me to He begun live recruit training in 2003 and found himself crossing the border into Iraq on his 31st birthday in 2005 for a six-month tour as part of the Al Muthanna Task Group the first large combat operation for Australian forces in Iraq in a mentoring taskforce and a reconstruction taskforce with the Japanese armed forces He described his initial deployment as a “whirlwind” living on significant levels of adrenaline learning the ins and outs of combat and the unanticipated methods used by the enemy necessitating being switched on to any and every potential threat everything on the side of the road is an improvised explosive device “What they would rely on in this war was stealth and sneakiness where they would hide a bomb or detonate a bomb and injure some innocent people they wait for the first responders to get out and they detonate another device.” he was assigned an important task for an Australian VIP “I was the Australian ambassador’s driver in Baghdad in an armoured vehicle,” Mr Couch said close personal protection team in armoured suburban trucks and when he had to go outside the green zone into the Badlands of greater Baghdad “My role was to get the ambassador from point A to point B safely.” Mr Couch summarised his time on the battlefield as “a very slow continuous patrol with small moments of genuine terror” One such occasion came in January 2007 while driving his vehicle on a routine mail run when he came under fire from an insurgent brandishing an AK-47 assault rifle in the middle of road near an overpass he was acting as his group’s eyes and ears at the front of the convoy and found himself in a life-threatening situation he made a radio call to his crew commander which saw his crew opening fire to protect him I couldn’t fire back at the guy who was shooting at me but it doesn’t get much more personal than that bullets were impacting off of this overpass “I got on the radio and said ‘Victor 7 taking fire’ My crew commander started to engage targets because it was a complex attack “All I remember seeing was this dragon’s tongue of red tracer from this vehicle behind me engaging this guy who was engaging me and he just disappeared in this pile of dust.” His tours of service coincided with significant life milestones including the pregnancies and arrivals of two of his three daughters Belinda for her efforts in raising their children while he was serving highlighting the contributions made by those away from the battlefield that supported and allowed those engaged in combat to give their all Mr Couch believes he is still serving his country as a committee member of the Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL and helping fellow veterans deal with the personal and psychological fallout their time in combat as a lead volunteer for Young Veterans On the day itself ,he will be driving World War Two veterans in the Cranbourne March “Anzac Day to me is a day of celebrating the spirit of Anzac celebrating the traditions of the legacy of the first ANZACs “I believe that I’m a custodian of those traditions and I hold them in high esteem “I will reflect on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on the day I will reach out and I will have a beer or a phone call with most of my friends “It gives me a strong sense of identity and that link to the original ANZACs I didn’t go through the hell that they went through but I feel a kinship with them.” The Dandenong RSL dawn service will be held at 6am on Monday 25 April at the Pillars of Freedom in the Palm Plaza with the March to take place at 10.30am from the corner of McCrae and Walker Streets to the cenopath In Cranbourne there will be a Dawn service at Greg Clydesdale Square at 6am followed by a March down High Street to Sladen Street later in the morning from 10.40am FISHERIES officers have arrested five men and seized their car for allegedly taking 399 blacklip abalone from waters around Cape Schanck Victorian Fisheries Authority director Ian Parks said 12 Fisheries officers backed up by police caught the “highly organised illegal fishing syndicate” from Pakenham “This type of alleged illegal fishing has the potential to do serious damage to the sustainability of Victoria’s abalone population which is highly valued by commercial and recreational fishers,” Mr Parks said Officers said they saw four men walk from the car park down to the rocks leaving one as a lookout Three men were allegedly in the water for several hours diving for abalone while the fourth kept lookout Officers swooped when the men returned and allegedly stowed a large bag of abalone in their car boot Mr Parks said the offenders ran away “not making it far with others hiding in dense scrub nearby until being arrested” Officers allege 315 abalone were found in the boot with two more bags of 84 abalone found in the water After the arrests the abalone were returned to the water alive and the men taken to Rosebud police station They were charged under the Fisheries Act with taking and possessing a commercial quantity of a priority species trafficking a commercial quantity of a priority species and obstructing and hindering authorised officers First published in the Western Port Times – 25 March 2020 Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids You can now click/tap WATCH to start the live stream You can now click/tap LISTEN to start the live stream You can now click/tap LATEST NEWS to start the live stream Residents in two Cranbourne estates are living with a foul odour that’s making them feel physically ill and the EPA is encouraging them to see their doctor if they’re concerned has been plaguing the Botanic Ridge and Brookland Greens areas for years but in recent weeks it’s intensified significantly New mother Aliks says she’s being woken up by the smell She’s been forced to pack up her belongings and take her five-week-old daughter to her parents’ house two hours away “just so she can have fresh air” these symptoms,” she told Jacqui Felgate “If you shut all your doors and windows the smell is just creeping inside.” is seven weeks pregnant and she’s worried about the impact the gas is having on her unborn baby “They’re saying what we’re smelling isn’t bad in the short term but it’s sort of starting to turn into a long-term issue — it’s happening every day,” she said Press PLAY below to hear residents sharing their deeply concerning experiences The EPA says it’s received reports of an odour affecting residents in the Botanic Ridge and Brookland Greens areas over the past three or four months and complaints have increased sharply in recent days An EPA spokesperson says the stench is caused by hydrogen sulfide and the likely source of the smell is inadequately covered construction and demolition waste at SBI Group’s Cranbourne landfill on Ballarto Road which is allowing rainwater to flow through the waste and into treatment ponds still weather which has prevented the smelly gas from dispersing The EPA’s acting regional manager for the Southern Metro area says they’re doing “absolutely everything we can to resolve the issue as quickly as possible” “It can cause some short-term impacts but we do know as soon as that dissipates it can really help people get on with their lives,” he told Jacqui Felgate “If people are having serious concerns and ongoing impacts we’d encourage them to see their doctor.” SBI Group says it’s “been working closely with the EPA to resolve this issue but unfortunately attempts to treat the water onsite have been unsuccessful and as a result we have been trucking this stagnant water offsite since Friday afternoon” The EPA will be in the area measuring the odour again on Friday and there’ll be an online community update on Thursday Press PLAY below to hear what the EPA is doing about the smell THE LEADING SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE LEISURE INDUSTRY Back to Latest News back 24th September 2024 - Oran Park Leisure Centre delivers new aquatic and sport destination in southwest Sydney 30th August 2022 - ADCO Constructions awarded tender to construct Oran Park Leisure Centre 1st April 2022 - Sod turning marks commencement of Oran Park Leisure Centre development 27th September 2024 - BlueFit to continue focus on safety and commits to further staff training on breastfeeding awareness 22nd May 2024 - BlueFit named as new operator of Camden Council’s Aquatic and Leisure Centres 16th May 2024 - BlueFit’s Botanic Ridge swim school showcases flexibility of Myrtha modular pools 7th May 2024 - BlueFit and Fitness and Lifestyle Group announce learn to swim partnership 11th July 2023 - BlueFit submits proposal to City of Newcastle for $10 million makeover of Lambton Pool 4th November 2022 - BlueFit ‘thrilled’ with ARI award for management of the Lane Cove Aquatic Leisure Centre 8th June 2022 - Bluefit takes on management of Sydney’s Sans Souci Leisure Centre we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news Click here to view our subscription options Click here to view our subscription options product and event updates delivered right to your inbox The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services See more see more See the directory see all Get your business noticed in our targeted directory Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week Website by 11th January 2024 - Sandringham Family Leisure Centre re-opens to the community after implementation of alternative safety measures 15th September 2023 - Moonee Valley and BlueFit agree public-private partnership for investment in Riverside Sport and Recreation Precinct 16th November 2022 - Bayside City Council to deliver lighting and surface upgrade for Hurlingham Park Tennis Club 22nd October 2022 - Bayside City Council selects preferred tenant for new Dendy Street Beach Pavilion cafe 14th March 2022 - Bayside City Council invites comment on privately-funded wellness centre at Brighton Golf Course 20th December 2021 - Melbourne’s Bayside City Council considers warm water pool locations 5th November 2021 - Bayside City Council advise of work being set to commence on new basketball stadium at Sandringham Leisure Centre 26th October 2020 - BlueFit announces appointment of Brett McEwin as General Manager of Leisure 23rd January 2020 - Upgraded Sandringham Golf Course set to open nine holes to public ASX listed developer Peet Limited is paying $25 million for a 4.05 hectare farm in Keysborough about 25 kilometres south east of Melbourne The parcel at 182 Chapel Road is being encroached upon by housing estates to its east and south Given the Keysborough block’s proximity to the proposed neighbourhood activity centre, main roads and public transport nodes, Biggin & Scott Land marketing agents Andrew Egan and Frank Nagle said local medium density development is encouraged Perth based Peet holds a national development pipeline In Melbourne’s south east it is behind Lumeah in Cranbourne West and in Botanic Ridge About 3.64 hectares of the General Residential zoned Keysborough site is developable A more comprehensive 143-lot subdivision – some 48 blocks which would be for townhouses – was also promoted The parcel’s northern edge abuts Hidden Grove Reserve while its western boundary joins Keysborough Golf Club – both which will provide the incoming owner’s proposed housing estate a marketable point of difference “Keysborough has undergone an enormous transformation over the last 15 years as its market garden heritage has transitioned into a maturing metropolitan suburb enjoying abundant shopping recreation and educational amenity with excellent access to major road networks Keysborough is a vibrant new suburb enjoying various amenity such as the Parkmore Shopping Centre incorporating a Coles together with a new homemaker and retail centre” Biggin & Scott Land’s deal comes two months after we reported that a 2.1 hectare Keysborough farm at 152 Stanley Road sold to a local developer for a speculated price of more than $15 million Earlier this week a 1.5 hectare piece of the former Keysborough College Coomoora campus, in Springvale South, sold for $5.6 million to a local builder Frasers Property Australia recently completed construction of The Key Police have arrested and charged five children as part of Operation Trinity after a string of alleged offending and an extended follow through Melbourne Wednesday morning 3 April travelled in an alleged stolen Nissan X-Trail attended a convenience store in High Street Some of the children allegedly stole the store attendant’s car keys before stealing his MG wagon parked outside the store The remaining children fled in the Nissan X-Trail It’s further alleged the five attempted a robbery a short time later at a convenience store on Camberwell Road It’s believed the stolen MG was dumped and the Nissan X-Trail which had allegedly been stolen from a Mooroolbark residential driveway on 29 March was followed across a number of suburbs including Carlton Blackburn and the CBD with the assistance of Air Wing and multiple police units It was immobilised using stop sticks on Mount Alexander Road a 16-year-old child and two 17-year-old children were arrested in Kerr Street Fitzroy A 17-year-old Sunbury child sustained a minor injury to his hand and was conveyed to hospital for treatment He has been charged by summons with two counts of theft of motor vehicle two counts of attempted burglary and robbery He is due to appear at a court at a later date A 16-year-old Springvale child has been charged with two counts of theft of motor vehicle dangerous driving whilst pursued by police He has been remanded to appear at a court later today a 15-year-old boy from Oakleigh South and a 15-year-old child from Botanic Ridge have been charged with two counts of theft of motor vehicle They are expected to appear at a court at a later date Investigations are continuing into the location of the stolen MG wagon police have made over 1,400 arrests relating to burglaries and car thefts – with the overwhelming majority of these offenders’ children A further 2300 night shift arrests have also been made for other criminal offending due to the strong police presence as part of Operation Trinity Anyone with information or CCTV can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Irish champion runner Sonia O’Sullivan (L) is selling in Glen Iris Olympic track star Sonia O’Sullivan and top athletics coach Nic Bideau could get a speedy sale for their sleek Glen Iris home The married track champions have $2.2-$2.4m price hopes for 93 Glen Iris Road which they bought after Irish track and field star O’Sullivan retired from professional running in 2008 O’Sullivan represented Ireland when she won 16 major athletics championship medals across her renowned career including a silver medal for the 5000m race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and six gold medals from the World and European championships RELATED: Cathy Freeman’s old Kew home achieves multimillion-dollar sale Jye McNeil: Melbourne Cup 2020 champion selling Botanic Ridge home Buddy and Jesinta Franklin quietly sell Rose Bay home for close to $4m It’s been a family home for O’Sullivan and Bideau O’Sullivan with the Olympic torch and children from Little Athletics Waverley who coached his ex-wife Cathy Freeman until 2000 and other Australian athletes is now the director of the Melbourne International Track Club he’s recruited Buxton Sandringham agent Matthew Gray who was an AFL player manager at the same time that Bideau was a fitness coach at Carlton Football Club Mr Gray said he may have found the couple a buyer armed with a “compelling offer” just seven days into the sales campaign Coach Nic Bideau with the athletes that he trained before the Commonwealth Games A large modern kitchen is an impressive feature but it’s subject to a cooling-off period and it hasn’t officially sold,” Mr Gray said “But the speed of the sale is very in line with how competitive the market is at the moment.” He said O’Sullivan and Bideau had loved raising their children at the four-bedroom home but it was time to downsize The couple with their children Ciara and Sophie when O’Sullivan got Australian citizenship There are multiple living and dining areas “They spend a fair amount of time travelling overseas and it’s quite a big house to maintain,” Mr Gray said “But it’s the ideal house for a young family with direct gate access to Ferndale Park and a lot of accommodation “The front living space runs completely east-west meaning you get amazing morning sun coming through.” O’Sullivan frequently travelled back to Ireland where she is considered “sporting royalty” CoreLogic shows the couple paid $1.46m for the Glen Iris house in November 2008 Very few changes have been made to the Zen Architects design open-plan living zone and an additional media room There’s already an offer on the large property One of the four bedrooms could be easily converted to a home office There’s also a secure garage that fits three cars READ MORE: Chris Christofi: From Cyprus scratchies to property empire Park Orchards manor made from European antiques to set record Ryan Seacrest is selling his Beverly Hills mansion for $115.5 million Clyde locals say they are living in a “black hole” of network reception Optus and Vodafone showing Clyde as covered by 3G and 4G on their interactive maps Tracie Batty says despite living close to a tower her family is constantly left without service “We have a Vodafone tower at Casey Fields which has a 30km radius and Clyde North is within a 5km radius and we still have no service unless we are connected to our wifi,” she said Cameron Rothwell says the reception issues have a serious impact on daily life Cameron works from home while juggling appointments for one of his children who has autism “If nothing changes soon it may mean that we have to relocate to an area with a service at very least,” he said Kelz Lunna struggles as she cares for her mother “My mum has a lot of medical issues,” she said “I have to run around my whole house to try and have an important medical call in regards to treatments “If I am driving in the area and happen to receive a call from doctors I also have to try and find a spot where I can have the conversation.” Leanne Russell also says she finds it challenging to stay in contact with her father An Optus spokesperson has said the company has received “no reports of outages or customer complaints in the Clyde region” they can report it to Optus through the My Optus App or through the Optus website,” the spokesperson said “Customers can also see their network performance and explore the locations of towers near them via Network Pulse “Customer input plays an important role in coverage related investigations.” Telstra was contacted but did not respond before deadline While the company data suggests the problem of reception is under control many locals commented on how the technology is “backwards” in Clyde Melissa Thompson has gone back to using a landline phone “For a newer community you would think we could move away from landline phones,” she said “We pay good money to be able to call family and friends Jackie Bassett said she had “fast internet and great mobile reception ten years ago” rely on wifi-calling to stay in contact with the digital world Newcomers to the suburb are learning the hard way that living without access to mobile reception is untenable “Moving from Oakleigh to Clyde was a teletransportation to 20 years back in time,” Ramna Fayyaz said “I work from home and it is a shame when I have to tell clients or workers that I haven’t received their messages due to network issues.” The issue has been persistent for years according to locals “We have lived here since October 2018 and reception has gotten progressively worse,” said Justin Dumbleton “We are unable to make calls and when calls do connect they drop out.” Justin says the network problems also affect his children’s schooling as they are unable to complete homework on their laptops there’s no reception or at best one bar,” Chris Iskaf said “4G has better reception but you lose reception in black spots also when you get close to the antenna reception is a black hole.” Bec Brown says she is paying prepaid for her data and is still without NBN Lisa Jamieson fears that the suburb is left without crucial emergency services access “The fact that you can’t even call 000 and that it’s been previously reported but still hasn’t been addressed/fixed is absolutely disgusting,” she said Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards says connectivity in today’s digital world is a necessity “That is why we are partnering with Optus and Telstra through our Connecting Victoria program to deliver new and improved services between 2024 and 2025,” she said we are building a new tower and upgrading existing infrastructure in Clyde – this will provide better coverage to Botanic Ridge Manager Growth and Investment for City of Casey says the council is committed to meeting the needs of Casey’s growing community “It is the responsibility of the State Government to provide telecommunication services,” she said we assist to facilitate and negotiate with telecommunications providers to improve mobile services “This is done through using council-owned land where appropriate as well as the planning process of housing development.” Ms Seirlis says telecommunication companies are also working with private land owners and developers in the area to improve their services though the council has no influence on the timing of the installations The State Government’s Connecting Victoria project is set to see improvements made in Clyde The $550 million program will deliver coverage to Clyde North through investment in four mobile towers while Clyde will receive two mobile towers and one broadband solution Police are trying to locate 34 year old Rebecca Fuge Rebecca is wanted by police for six outstanding warrants related to drug driving Narre Warren and Berwick areas.Rebecca is known to frequent the Clyde If you have any information in relation to Rebecca’s whereabouts please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.  This is probably not the page you’re looking for If you believe that this is a technical error, please contact us and tell us the location of this page