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Development Victoria is unlocking land at a vacant site in the Gippsland region to help deliver much-needed homes
Acting Group Head Housing, Nemesia Kennett, said plans are progressing to prepare the unused site at 10 English Street in Morwell for more homes
Creating these land lots in Morwell is the one of the ways we are helping to address the demand for more homes in the Gippsland region while creating vibrant
we will also ensure the land has essential community infrastructure
helping to establish a connected and thriving community.”
A Planning Permit application for subdivision of the site was submitted to Latrobe City Council for approval in early 2025
Development Victoria will work closely with Latrobe City Council
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) and the local community to ensure the project meets the needs of the Gippsland community
Find out more about the Morwell regional housing project.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Development Victoria respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Victoria. We recognise their continuing cultural heritage and connection to land, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.
Yinga Biik Birranga-ga (Sing land and Country), Steve Ulula Parker
Connect with us to stay up to date on the latest developments.
COMMUNITY passion was evident on Sunday night, as locals congregated to hear from international nuclear experts in Morwell.
The Nuclear for Australia roadshow made its way to the Latrobe Valley, with more than 200 people cramming into the function centre of the Italian Australian Club.
The panel discussion was headlined by former Miss America and nuclear engineer Grace Stanke.
Ms Stanke spoke for around half-an-hour, detailing her career and attempting to spell out some misconceptions surrounding a possible nuclear future for the Latrobe Valley.
She was followed by UBH Chief Nuclear Officer, Mark Schneider, speaking on the finer points of nuclear operations, and University of Adelaide Adjunct Nuclear Law Lecturer, Kirsty Braybon on what would need to take place for nuclear to be given the green light at federal level.
Well-known local union delegate Mark Richards (of the Mining Energy Union) also spoke briefly.
The panel then took questions, although these were selected by the emcee through an online system.
Questions from the floor were not permitted.
Nationals MPs Darren Chester and Danny O’Brien were in attendance, as was Latrobe City Mayor, Dale Harriman and deputy mayor, Sharon Gibson.
Security was tight for the event, with tickets and bags checked upon arrival. Tickets were not available at the door.
Crowd behaviour was first rate, and the selected few who did not entirely agree with what was being said quietly walked out. One man did however mutter a few unpleasantries on his way to the exit.
With Ms Stanke and Mr Schneider both hailing from the United States, their speeches focussed greatly on nuclear in their home country. As a result, it was understandable there were some who felt the Morwell event became little more than a Yankee talkfest.
For the majority however, most reported finding the evening informative and insightful.
Full coverage of the seminar will feature in next week’s Express.
FIRST National Real Estate Central KW (Morwell) was recognised for outstanding achievement during a glittering state awards event held at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The awards recognised the achievements of First National’s Victorian and Tasmanian estate agents throughout 2024, with winners now progressing to the national awards which are to be announced at the network’s annual convention next month.
First National Central KW Principal, Frank Palermo, said it was his team’s honour to be recognised for the results achieved over the past 12 months.
“These awards are a testament to the dedication, expertise, and resilience of my team,” he said.
“Their commitment to delivering outstanding customer service, even in the face of challenges, is truly commendable. Each accolade reflects not only their individual talent but also our collective drive to set new benchmarks in real estate.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.”
Mr Palermo said the First National Real Estate State Awards are an important event as they as they encourage First National’s agents to aspire to an ongoing process of performance improvement that benefits customers.
GRACE Stanke, who was the 2023 Miss America and is a 22-year-old nuclear engineer will be in the Latrobe Valley later this week, as part of a broader tour of Australia to talk about nuclear energy.
She will hold an information evening in Morwell on Sunday, February 2, from 6pm to 7.30pm along with two Australian nuclear experts – Kirsty Braybon, Adjunct Nuclear Law Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, and Mark Schneider, Chief Nuclear Officer for UBH Group in Australia. The venue will be released closer to the date.
The organisers say people will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the implications of adopting nuclear energy in the Latrobe Valley and to address their concerns directly to the panel.
The federal Opposition has proposed building a government-owned nuclear power station at the site of Loy Yang power station.
Ms Stanke’s visit has been organised by the founder of Nuclear for Australia, 18-year-old Will Shackel. The entrepreneur and philanthropist Dick Smith is the patron of Nuclear for Australia.
During Ms Stanke’s year as Miss America 2023, she was named the ‘New Face of Nuclear Energy’ by the Wall Street Journal and was on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Energy. Outside the nuclear industry, Ms Stanke is an avid water skier, classical violinist and a travel enthusiast.
In a telephone interview from the US with the Express, Ms Stanke said she aimed to reach people who care about climate change and reliable energy.
“They have heard about nuclear but also have heard about safety concerns; they don’t know where to go to ask questions,” she said.
“I want to provide that opportunity – for people to ask questions, to provide an opportunity for warm and open conversation. I’m open to education and people who want to learn.”
Ms Stanke, who said nuclear in the US was a politically bipartisan subject, started as a nuclear engineering student in 2019.
“I didn’t know much about nuclear energy then. As I continued to get my degree, learnt so much about it, worked as a research assistant in a nuclear fusion lab, and worked for the company I now work for. I did two years’ full-time work while getting my undergraduate degree, and also a year’s service as Miss America when I was able to advocate for nuclear,” she said.
She completed her degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and now works as a nuclear fuels engineer and clean energy advocate at the nuclear company Constellation.
“I continue to do advocacy work like this,” she said, encouraging the worldwide change for clean, zero-carbon emission energy sources.
For a country like Australia, looking to possibly build its first nuclear power station, Ms Stanke said the most important thing was the workforce.
“We’ve got this global resource, one that sets apart nuclear as a whole is the community that exists with it. We are always looking to learn from each other’s mistakes – mistakes happen in every single industry,” she said.
“It’s the same for building; we have the workforce that has built nuclear stations in America. That workforce will continue training a larger workforce for a hopefully larger nuclear industry in America and globally.”
Electricity generation from commercial nuclear power plants in the US began in 1958. As of August 1, 2023, the US had 93 operating commercial nuclear reactors at 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states supplying about 20 per cent of the country’s electricity.
Queried whether new nuclear stations were being built in the US, Ms Stanke said currently a couple of experimental stations, Generation 4 reactors, were under construction right now, such as Bill Gates’ reactor in Wyoming. There were also a couple of micro reactors – companies were building their test reactors.
“There is a lot of innovation going on,” she said.
Regarding the existing commercial fleet, there was no new construction happening right now, at least not publicly announced.
“But power plants that have been decommissioned are coming back online. They’ve got licence renewals, so extending a lifetime fleet to allow more electricity through improved technology and modernisation. In addition, they are bringing back these power plants that have been decommissioned to come back online,” she said.
The most famous is the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania in 1979.
“It’s a not very well-known fact, there are two units; it’s common for nuclear power plants to have more than one nuclear reactor – some Canadian power plants have up to six nuclear reactors, it’s very common,” Ms Stanke said.
“In the 1979 Three Mile Island incident – only one of the units had the partial meltdown. The other unit continued operating until 2019. It was one of the best performing reactors in America. They had a critical eye on it in that time, but it was decommissioned in 2019. Five years later, it was announced it will be restarted as a clean, green energy sector.”
Regarding the cost of nuclear compared to renewables, Ms Stanke said she was not an economic expert, but there were lots more costs here than just dollars.
“We’re looking at workforce, the positive impacts – jobs from nuke plants, tax dollars going back into communities, the longevity, the lifetime of these power plants,” she said.
“It comes down to healthy, reliable and resilient grid. What’s the point of this transition if you don’t have a reliable grid, if the lights don’t turn on. That’s where nuclear comes in. Combined with some renewables and other power sources that are clean – geothermal, hydroelectric or tidal – all these different power sources, we have to focus on having base load electricity, 70 per cent of power always available for people to use.”
Ms Stanke said the ‘nuclear waste’ “most people are talking about” referred to the commercial generation of spent nuclear fuel.
“When they refer to nuclear waste, they are talking about high-level radioactive waste that comes from nuclear plants, that is uranium oxide pellets put through three cycles of power generation,” she said.
“They’ve gone through six years of power generation then removed, but after they have been removed. Here’s the fun thing: 90-95 per cent can be re-used.”
It was happening in France, India, Russia, and soon in Japan, but not yet in the US. However, there were other options for spent nuclear fuel as a fuel in different types of reactors, she said.
Ms Stanke’s tour will include private events, a parliamentary briefing and meetings in all state capitals from January 29 until February 6.
Police Beat with Tom Hayes and Katrina Brandon
HOMICIDE squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 91-year-old Harry Wright in Morwell last Thursday (January 30) evening.
Police were called to an address on Maryvale Road about 9.20pm.
Officers allege they entered the property and located the deceased resident, later known to be 91-year-old Morwell man, Mr Wright.
A 42-year-old man, Moses Alith was located nearby and was taken into custody.
Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged and remanded Alith with aggravated burglary. He appeared at the Latrobe Magistrates’ Court on Monday, February 3.
Alith has not been charged in relation to Mr Wright’s death, as the investigation remains open.
The court was told that Alith was on bail at the time of his arrest.
Detective Senior Constable Rhys Marriot gave evidence of a sample that could be used to compare DNA found on Mr Wright and his belongings that Alith was in possession of.
Alith will be forced to take a buccal swab to collect his DNA, following an approved request by prosecutors.
Alith has been remanded until July 25, 2025.
Investigators will await the results of a post-mortem, while the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or visit: crimestoppersvic.com.au
DETECTIVES from Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit are currently investigating a burglary at the Hazelwood Cemetery.
Between January 3 and 6, 2025, unknown offenders forced entry into the maintenance shed and stole a yellow Club Cadet ride on lawn mower, a solar panel inverter, power tools, and a Kings car fridge.
Investigators have released images of some of the stolen property, which can be found on the Eye Watch Latrobe Facebook page.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000, or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit an online report at: crimestoppersvic.com.au
YALLOURN Power Station experienced an ammonia leak on Saturday, February 1.
Emergency services arrived to the scene around 3pm and the public were urged to avoid the area.
POLICE are investigating a stabbing in Morwell on Wednesday, February 26.
It is believed a physical altercation occurred between two men on Commercial Road just after 4pm.
During the altercation, a 38-year-old Moe man sustained a stab wound. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and remains in a critical condition.
The attacker, a 23-year-old Morwell male fled the scene on foot and was arrested overnight.
He was charged with recklessly causing injury, affray, carrying a controlled weapon, and using a controlled weapon. He was bailed to appeared in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in May.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential report at: crimestoppers.com.au
A 13-year-old boy from Moe handed himself into police after an allegedly stolen car was involved in a collision in Warragul.
Police report the collision occurred on February 12 at 8.45am involving a grey Ford Ranger which was reportedly stolen the night before.
Police allege three boys attempted to flee after the collision, with a 13-year-old Warragul boy apprehended by a bystander. He was taken to Warragul Police Station to be interviewed.
The 13-year-old Moe boy later handed himself into the station.
Police are seeking a 15-year-old Trafalgar boy to assist with further investigations.
POLICE have issued an urgent warning to vehicle owners, as intelligence reveals that tech savvy thieves are behind a surge in car thefts across the state.
Increasing numbers of cars are being stolen – more than 70 per cent from residential streets, driveways, and other community locations – with no associated burglary, robbery, or carjacking.
This trend has coincided with third party electronic devices, which are capable of programming or mimicking keys, becoming increasingly available for purchase. Once inside a vehicle, this device can be plugged into the cars on board diagnostic port to override the security system and start the engine.
Police intelligence suggests certain makes and models with electronic push start technology are being targeted, given no ignition key is required. Owners of these vehicles are urged to look at a range of preventative measures to help deter thieves, including an on-board diagnostic port lock which prevents an offender connecting a reprogramming device to your vehicle. These locks are highly affordable and self-installable.
Police urge the community to take these simple steps to stop opportunistic thieves in their tracks:
-Lock your vehicle, even when parked at home;
-Park your vehicle off the street if possible;
-Remove items such as keys and garage fobs, and;
-Keep valuables out of sight, or out of the vehicle entirely.
Read more information about addition vehicle security measures at: police.vic.gov.au/preventing-motor-vehicle-theft
AN act of vandalism took place at Ronald Reserve throughout the night of Thursday, February 27.
This has left the AFL change room pavilion and the shared multi-use pavilion with significant damage, with the bill estimated to exceed $10,000.
Victoria Police have been on site investigating with Latrobe City Council officers to commence the extensive clean-up. As the clean-up progresses, there will be no access to the multi-use pavilion to ensure community safety.
This isn’t the first time this pavilion has been targeted. Over the past five years, it has been broken into and vandalised around five times, with this being the most serious incident to date.
Council is now exploring solutions to prevent future break-ins, including the installation of CCTV and building shutters/gates.
Anyone who has any information relating to this incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Brigade members gathered at the fire station on Thursday
27 March to celebrate the new addition to their fleet
where CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer Bryan Russell had the honour of handing over the keys
Morwell Captain Wayne Draper said the brigade was excited to use the new tanker which will put them in a better position to protect the community because of the increased water capacity of 4,000 litres
“The new tanker has been great for morale since coming into the station
It’s very user friendly and will be a great benefit to us,” Wayne said
“The extra 1,000 litres of water will go a long way out on the fireground
“It is also now a lot more comfortable for members to ride in the cab
and the simplicity of the layout has been easier for our volunteers to navigate
we’ve put a lot of work into adjusting to a completely different truck
as this one is a lot bigger than what we’ve had previously
“I’ve been really proud of how well our members have embraced the challenge
We’ve had eight drivers and operators do more than 15 hours of training each to become accredited and they are keen to put their training into practice.”
CFA Assistant Chief Fire Officer Bryan Russell said the new tanker will not just be an asset for response but also for the safety of the members
with updated crew protection systems and burnover protection
plus full equipment stowage,” Bryan said
“The new features also aim to reduce crew fatigue and improve safety and ergonomics including easy-to-read electric monitors and electric rewind hose systems.”
we’re reducing impacts through use of recyclable building materials and higher levels of emission controls.”
The heavy tanker’s 4x4 capability and automatic transmission will also help crews access fires in difficult terrain
The new vehicle was funded through the Victorian Government’s CFA Capability Funding package and is one of 48 new tankers being rolled out to CFA fire brigades across Victoria to ensure volunteer firefighters are well-equipped to protect their communities
Morwell Fire Brigade has a strong membership of 78
and a strong female presence of six operational
The brigade has a large response area in the Latrobe Valley area of Gippsland and averages 310 callouts a year
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THE largest-ever intake into Ambulance Victoria’s Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Bridging Program has hit the road
lifesaving care to Victorians when they need it most
Mary-Anne Thomas visited the Ambulance Victoria Capability Hub at Victoria University in Sunshine to meet the 30 interns who will join Victoria’s 586-strong MICA team
The group started their six-week training course in January and will be joined on the road by a further 24 MICA interns later this year
To be eligible to undertake the bridging program and become a MICA Paramedic
participants must be qualified for at least two years as an Advanced Life Support Paramedic
The six-week course covers clinical responses to respiratory
as well as sessions with specialists on welfare
the MICA interns begin 18 months of practical on road training
Fully trained MICA paramedics can work solo or in pairs
managing complex cases with advanced procedures such as airway management
They can also administer medications into bone and fluids in paediatric patients – providing immediate treatment that can help save lives
The state government has invested more than $2 billion into ambulance services – recruiting more than 2200 additional paramedics
delivering 41 new or upgraded ambulance stations and is establishing a new centre for paramedicine in partnership with Victoria University
A further $146 million from the Victorian Budget 2024/25 is supporting services like the Secondary Triage Service and Medium Acuity Transport Services
freeing up paramedics so they are available to respond to the most time-critical patients
These investments are as important as ever
with the latest quarterly performance data revealing Victoria’s hardworking paramedics continue to face record demand
responding to nearly 100,000 Code 1 cases this quarter
POLICE were in their numbers at Morwell’s Mid Valley Shopping Centre last Friday (October 4) afternoon
seizing four knives and one small bag of methylamphetamine
There was also one occurrence of Hinder Police
three adults) were interviewed and are to be charged via summons
“Operation OMNI is an operation approved by the assistant commissioner of the eastern region regarding the Control of Weapons Act designated area for searching,” Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant
“We have identified that Mid Valley and the surrounding car parks and bordering roads have had
significant violent offences in the last 12 months.”
Lasting for just six hours between 2pm and 8pm
police were conducting random searches on the public
looking for weapons and other illegal instruments
Mid Valley was recognised as a hot spot for crime
after numerous records of dangerous activity taking place
including an assault on an elderly man by a group of five youths earlier this year
Needing sufficient data from intelligence checks
reports and records to justify the application to the assistant commissioner
Operation OMNI was given the green light to proceed
It’s a general deterrent for people to bring knives and weapons to community locations like Mid Valley
but it’s also a public relations exercise where we can get some buy-in from the community to at least show them that we’re taking it seriously,” Det Serg Van Der Heyden said
but we are dedicating ourselves to investigating knife crime and deterring some of our youth offenders that have been causing some issues… and reassuring the public that we’re here.”
police had a van stationed in the car park
while multiple police cars were located throughout the car park
Both uniformed and non-uniformed police patrolled the area
conducting searches on the public throughout the afternoon
also answering many questions that the public had to ask during the operation
“Part of the legislation for the Control of Weapons Act – we have the power to conduct a search on any person within the designated area
it isn’t targeted to any specific person
race or demographic,” Det Serg Van Der Heyden said
detain and search people using a metal detector
If the metal detector returned a positive reading
or the search could be escalated to a pat-down
“I’d say 90 per cent of the public from what I’ve seen in the first few hours has been positive
But then there has been that 10 per cent that have been resistant to speak to us
however once we explain our search powers… everyone has co-operated,” Det Serg Van Der Heyden said during the operation
He explained his aspirations to run the operation again in the Latrobe Valley
“I’d hope that we can do it again
because to enable us to do it we need to meet certain criteria about these locations being identified as having violent crime occurring,” Det Serg Van Der Heyden said
“Whilst ideally we don’t want that occurring
if we can identify a location where it is occurring
then that would be something we’ll be putting forward at local level.”
IN a cross-state ride that takes them to Phillip Island
the Black Dog Ride Australia made a stop for brew in Morwell last week
More than 45 riders pulled into J Smith Motors for a snag and a drink on Wednesday
sporting their slick bikes parked outside the Elizabeth Terrace site
Black Dog Ride Australia is a national charity raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention
with thousands of volunteers doing community rides all across the country
“One bloke had lost a friend to suicide and to try and work his way through that he jumped on his bike and did a lap of Australia,” Black Dog Ride Australia
(he) chatted to a lot of people as he went
trying to talk out his understanding of it all and by the time he got home
he had a bit of a following and that following turned into a charity.”
The opportunity in Morwell came about due to J Smith Motors owner Darren Cornell riding alongside a group of them in his spare time
“Daz (Cornell) and I have known each other for a few years
and for him to be able to host us for lunch with support from RACV and some others
that speaks a lot to (how well) our charity’s received and that we’re doing some good in the community,” Mr Garvey said
these outings give opportunities for those from local clubs to tag along the journey with a common bond
giving them a new space to open up or explore themselves
“They feel better about talking to somebody else
they’re outside their community or their family group where you spin around and around in circles,” Mr Garvey said
“If you’ve got a mental health issue that’s manifested by the fact that you just bounce off the same four walls
if you can get out and do what we’re doing
Faculties from Victoria and South Australia linked with those from Queensland and New South Wales as they made their way to the FIM Superbike World Championship which held its season opening of its Australian round at the acclaimed Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit at the weekend
Black Dog Ride Australia is the official charity of the 2025 Australian Superbike Championship
Australian Off-Road Championship and Australian ProMx Championship
with volunteers from the organisation featuring prominently across all events taking them through to August
Black Dog Ride Australia holds its annual 1 Dayer ride that has a section in Latrobe Valley beginning at Gippsland Social Motorcycle Club
Money raised goes to smaller charities and mental health organisations that don’t receive government funding with the aim to support communities directly
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has today announced plans are progressing to deliver approximately 70 land lots in Morwell – preparing the unused site at 10 English Street for more homes
with at least 10% social and affordable housing
A Planning Permit application for subdivision of the site has been submitted to Latrobe City Council for approval
“More homes mean more opportunity – that’s why we’re unlocking surplus government land to deliver more homes close to work
education and services in Morwell,” said Minister Shing
“Regional Victoria is a wonderful place to live
and that’s why we’re making sure more young Victorians and families can have the chance to call this beautiful part of the world home..”
new footpaths and roads will be constructed within the site
as well as a shared path to connect into the adjacent reserve
Development Victoria says it will work closely with Latrobe City Council
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) and the local community to ensure the project meets the needs of the community
the Labor Government is delivering 65 homes in Outer Gippsland and 110 in Inner Gippsland
out of the first 1,000 homes to be delivered under the Regional Housing Fund
the Government is also delivering 504 homes across the Gippsland region
the Government is unlocking and rezoning surplus government land to deliver around 9,000 homes close to jobs
transport and services across 45 sites in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria
The Government is also investing $6.3 billion through the Big Housing and Regional Housing Build and Regional Housing Fund to deliver more that 13,300 social and affordable homes across Victoria – with 10,100 homes already complete or underway
including more than 2,000 across the Gippsland region
Information and Events for Local Councils throughout Australia
Contact us: newsdesk@insidelocalgovernment.com.au
TRIBUTES have continued to flow in for Harry Wright
who was found dead in his Morwell home following a home invasion on the evening of Thursday
Family and friends are known to have gathered for a private function at the Morwell Bowling Club on Monday
Mr Wright volunteered at the Morwell Bowling Club for more than 25 years
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the board of directors
and members of the Morwell Bowling Club regret the sudden passing of long-term member Harry Wright,” the Morwell Bowling Club wrote
who volunteered at the club for over 25 years
“Despite the tragic way his life ended
he would want everyone to celebrate his life
This gives us the opportunity to reflect on the fabulous person we were lucky enough to know and work beside.”
Tributes have flowed in the comments of both the Express’ and Morwell Bowling Club’s online posts:
In a remarkable moment for both tennis fans and local history enthusiasts
the Australian Open trophies made a special stop in Morwell as part of the AO on the Road Trophy Tour
Morwell, VIC, Australia, 12 December 2024 | Nadia Dimattina
The prestigious Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup visited the Morwell Tennis Club as part of the AO on the Road trophy tour
The visit was not just a celebration of the nation’s premier sporting event
but a tribute to a historical connection that has spanned decades – a connection to one of tennis’s most remarkable figures
we have a long history with the Sir Norman Brookes trophy
Sir Norman Brookes opened the original site of the Morwell tennis site back in 1959
so I guess we like to say there is a little slice of Morwell in the Australian Open Men’s trophy,” Vice President of Morwell Tennis Club Glenn Palmer said
It was a moment that marked a new chapter for the region’s sporting landscape
and Brooke’s involvement left a lasting legacy
As the nation’s first Australian Open champion and celebrated figure in the tennis world
Brookes’ visit was both an honour and an inspiration to the local community
His legacy lives on today – with his name immortalised in the centre of Morwell
“The park is the original site of the Morwell Tennis Club – it is still named the Sir Norman Brookes Park
the leisure centre is there now but it was the original site of the Morwell Tennis Club,” Palmer said
AO on the Road brings the excitement of the Australian Open to regional communities across Victoria
giving tennis fans the chance to see and even pose with the magnificent trophies
Australian tennis champion and former Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald made a special appearance
meeting fans and celebrating the spirit of tennis
they are kind to me too – they treat me like the king when I arrive
It’s good to be with good tennis people because we are all the same and we all love our sport
it’s a game for life,” John Fitzgerald said
Morwell Tennis Club hosted a fantastic community open day with their junior and senior teams as well as gave life members of the club the opportunity to cherish the occasion
“It has been great – the excitement it has generated with players and other clubs that are coming to play in the junior club
it’s been really good to get that focus back on tennis,” said David Ing
The trophies have already been to Bacchus Marsh
giving local communities the chance to experience the excitement of the Australian Open
The tour will conclude at the Inter-Regional Championships in Creswick in early January
the trophies will begin their journey back to Melbourne for the Australian Open
AO on the Road is delivered by Tennis Australia and Tennis Victoria
with support from the Victorian Government’s Visit Victoria
For more information about the AO on the Road Trophy Tour, visit AO on the Road
who was found dead in his home last Thursday (January 30)
will be remembered as a “gentle giant” who “loved life”
according to his daughters Karen Cassar and Kerry Wright
Mr Wright’s death is under suspicious circumstances
after police found 42-year-old homeless man Moses Alith nearby
Ms Cassar and Ms Wright explained the unfairness of the situation for this to happen to their elderly father
He wouldn’t even be able to protect himself
“You should be able to sit in your own home and feel safe.”
Mr Wright’s daughters believe he would have offered everything in his house to the man who invaded his home
“He would’ve given him everything when he opened that door,” Ms Wright said
“He would have said ‘take anything you want’
if he had have given him the chance,” Ms Cassar added
When asked how they would want their father to be remembered
“You only have to look around at the support we’re getting
dad was loved by all in the community,” Ms Cassar added
that he was set to be on a cruise this week
Ms Cassar recalled going with him to get his passport the other week
When he was asked if his passport should be for five or 10 years
Ms Cassar said he would have never seen himself as a 91-year-old
Mr Wright would sit outside his home every day
People on social media recalled seeing him on their walks on Maryvale Road
Mr Wright took time to get to know all the neighbours and loved to walk his dogs twice a day
“He had a group of friends that all go to Mid Valley (Shopping Centre) every morning for a coffee
they’re going to miss him down there too,” Ms Cassar said
he did his lawn bowls and volunteer work at Morwell Bowling Club,” Ms Wright added
saying he would’ve been the first person to help someone
After finishing up at The Morwell Club he volunteered at the Morwell Bowling Club for 25 years
The 57-year-old was last seen in the vicinity of Ironbark Track in Goongerah on the morning of Friday
Investigators have established that John and an associate
left Morwell early that morning and travelled together in a white Hiace van to the vicinity of Ironbark Track
John left the van on foot to canvas the nearby surroundings
leaving his two small terrier dogs inside the van
John’s associate was located by local hunters at approximately 6am the following day after he became bogged on a muddy track about 30 kilometres southeast of Ironbark Track
The 47-year-old Morwell man has been interviewed by detectives a number of times and is assisting with the investigation
John’s two small terriers were located by a passer-by wandering near the Bonang Highway
John’s disappearance is being investigated by detectives from the Missing Persons Squad
Investigators are of the belief that John may have met with foul play
An image of John has been re-released in the hope someone will come forward with information about his current whereabouts
Police are also keen to speak to anyone with information about his movements in the days leading up to his disappearance
Investigators would like to speak to anyone who saw this van travelling that day between Morwell and Goongerah
Police are again releasing an image of this van
John is described as being about 170cm tall
of Caucasian appearance with short brown hair
Anyone who sees John is asked to call Triple Zero (000) immediately
If you have any information that may assist police to locate John make an online report (under the category 'suspicious activity or other crime.)
Return to our missing persons list to see if you recognise a name or a face.
Deputy Chief Officer Trevor Owen had the honour of awarding her a CFA Commendation for Service in front of an adoring community crowd
Trevor said it was a real pleasure to acknowledge the hard work and dedicated effort Jackie has gone to in developing the young people in the Morwell Fire Brigade through the Junior Volunteer Development Program
“The impact Jackie has had on the lives of young people stretches far and wide
families and the broader township,” Trevor said
“It was a real treat and a surprise to her
and a great pleasure for me to publicly thank her for the lengths she’s gone to over the past two decades.”
Having not had a junior program for many years
Morwell Captain Wayne Draper said the much-admired Jackie grabbed the opportunity to revamp it
“Jackie has a great deal of passion for the program and for junior kids learning the discipline side of the fire brigade - she’s been at the forefront of the program’s success,” Wayne said
“She is committed to making it accessible for all local youth
it doesn’t matter if you have a disability
“The love and appreciation for Jackie felt across the brigade was only further emphasised on Monday night
The amount of people joining the occasion was just incredible.”
alongside fun activities like movie nights and their recent presentation night at the bowling alley
“The best part of our brigade is that we treat each other with respect and as family
I was so proud to see that embodied on Monday
There were a few tears in the room,” Wayne said
“I set a challenge when I first took over
I set the framework and they’ve just gone from strength to strength
and Jackie’s been a big part of that
“Two senior members are also involved who came up through the junior ranks themselves.”
Jackie’s son and Warragul brigade member Brian Dalrymple said CFA has always been a big part of her life and that she is always raving about the juniors
“Over the years she's seen the benefits of the impact that the program can have on young and disadvantaged kids - which there are quite a lot of in Morwell and in the program,” Brian said
“She gets an immense sense of pride when they go on to become senior members
She loves it when they bring their babies down to meet her
and mum would drive me to the station and just sit in the car out the front
After a year they poached her in to join and she hasn’t left since.”
The program will continue to grow in the new year
with hopes to integrate with other CFA brigades and agencies like the Army Reserve for overnight camps
having welcomed 20 new brigade members in the last 18 months
CFA will build a brand new fire station in Morwell by the end of 2019
replacing the existing station on McDonald Street
Three parcels of land measuring a total of 7,242 square metres has been purchased to build the new integrated fire station with plenty of space for training and shared facilities for volunteers and career staff.
Situated on a large block of land on the corner of Princes Drive and Collins Street in Morwell
the new station will provide firefighters with the latest facilities to respond to and recover from emergency incidents around the clock
Morwell Officer-In-Charge Chris Loeschenkohl said volunteer and career firefighters have been turning out to around 850 incidents a year from the current fire station
The brigade has outgrown its existing station
“The brigade has continued to grow with more volunteers and career staff in order to meet community need
so we’re looking forward to having more space for training and incident preparation and recovery in the larger
more modern station,” Mr Loeschenkohl said
“It’s a great boost for the community to have a state-of-the-art facility in Morwell
which will be able to be used for community safety briefings and educational sessions for schools and other groups
“The new fire station will have a fully-fitted kitchen
dining area and meeting rooms as well as a specialist rope rescue training gantry for our firefighters to have everything they need for response
We will shop locally as much as we can to purchase a range of items required for the operation of the station."
The major infrastructure development is part of CFA’s 350 Firefighter Program
which is a Victorian Government commitment CFA is delivering to improve service delivery at integrated fire stations
Morwell Fire Brigade recently received a new heavy pumper
one of 12 state-of-the-art vehicles rolled out to various stations across the state as part of CFA’s Growth Programs. The heavy pumper includes a range of new design elements including improved technology and stowage capacity
Neighbouring Traralgon Brigade has also received one of the new heavy pumpers
The 350 Firefighter Program involves significant investment in the recruitment of 350 new career firefighters
creating and deploying 350 mixed-rank positions from the existing workforce
renovating existing infrastructure and purchasing new fire trucks and equipment.
Construction work on the new station in Morwell is scheduled to start by December 2018.
AN electrical fault has been discovered to be the cause of the fire that destroyed the Morwell Bowling Club in the early hours of Tuesday
Fire investigators believe the fault occurred in the switchboard
which forced more than 60 firefighters consisting of Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) personnel and support from neighbouring Country Fire Authority crews to be called to the fire at 12.30am
“On arrival the brigade found that the fire had extended through the roof – and the building is approximately 80 metres by 60 metres,” Morwell FRV captain
it ran through the roof space very quickly
It is reported that the fire in the roof caused it to collapse
forcing internal firefighters to operate externally
which slowed down the extinguishing process
Water supply was reported to be an issue for firefighters
as they were required to call for more resources from as far away as Dandenong
“Close to 95 per cent of the building is completely destroyed,” Mr Mynard said
He said that most of the extension was saved
however the destroyed portion of the building will likely need to be demolished
The blaze took about three hours to get under control and was confirmed to have started from the inside
Mr Mynard said the business was last open until about 11pm on Monday
At the time he believed the incident wasn’t suspicious
but it couldn’t be determined until the investigators came to a conclusion
“It’s a bit of a hub for the local community
and it’s a shame that this has occurred,” Mr Mynard said
the Morwell Bowling Club won multiple awards at the Community Clubs Victoria awards night
The club was presented with the awards for Best Community Club Redevelopment
was at a loss for words describing her reaction to the blaze
I’m looking out thinking ‘This doesn’t happen
Teena Johnson has been a part of the club for more than 20 years and has held the position of general manager for the last five
She said the community support has been second-to-none
with many organisations and individuals asking to help in some way
“You realise how much a club like this means to everyone when something like this does happen,” Ms Johnson said
“We’ve had all the clubs in the Latrobe Valley virtually reach out to us
“All of the sporting clubs we sponsor
same thing – they’ve reached out.”
Ms Johnson told the Express that clubs from all over the Latrobe Valley had offered rooms to hold meetings or use as office spaces
the bowling clubs in particular had granted access to Morwell Bowling Club members to use their greens to practice or play
as well as offering to host events of all kinds on the Morwell Bowling Club’s behalf
Ms Johnson spoke of some short-term and long-term resolutions for the Morwell Bowling Club
with a number or different avenues arising in the days after the blaze
“Everything I’ve heard… it’s virtually a pull down and rebuild,” Ms Johnson said
She said the people she had spoken to have told her the process could take around two years to complete
Ms Johnson hopes to bring operation back to the Morwell Bowling Club in a temporary form while the likely demolition and rebuild is in progress
“The aim is for us to virtually get operational as much as possible
“Our aim is virtually as soon as we’re able to get some form of structure operational
We’ll trade through this while we’re building
“The room through the middle of the bowling green is still intact
so I’m hoping they’ll allow us to have public access
We could at least set up an office in there
“The insurance company has also mentioned the idea of virtually doing a pop-up club in the car park just to get us operational.”
While details get sorted in the coming months
Ms Johnson is hopeful that operation of some form mentioned can come to life within the next three months
which was initially reported to have no damage
If the function centre was free from damage
the Morwell Bowling Club could have operated out of it in the interim
Ms Johnson also confirmed they won’t be able to host any functions until the final re-build is complete
Ms Johnson is yet to know what the future will hold for them
with no realistic return point set at this stage
she hopes with her short-term ideas that staff will be able to return to work and connect with the community once again before the end of the year
Ms Johnson held a meeting with Morwell Bowling Club staff at the end of last week to provide a brief update on the situation
She also met with insurers in hopes of gaining more information on the foreseeable future
Morwell Bowling Club is the home to many events
Plans for how these events will be facilitated are already in the early stages
“We do have a big bowls event in September (Jack Wilkinson Open Spring Classic) – that may not go ahead
A lot will depend on the structural engineer and what access they’re going to allow us around the damaged areas,” Ms Johnson said
the plan is we’ll be operational to some form
and we will be going for the Vic Open.”
Bowls Victoria’s Vic Open is set to be played in March and according to Ms Johnson
with an operational bistro the final thing they’d need for the event
countless memories were lost in the fire last Tuesday morning
the Morwell Bowling Club lost many possessions including irreplaceable memorabilia and photos
“That’s hitting a bit hard right now that it’s been lost
That affects the members also because that’s their history,” Ms Johnson said
Warning: the following story deals with the death of a child
four-year-old Ivy Bella Roze passed away after drowning in a pool on Spring Court
mother Rhiannon Egan-Lee went to boil the kettle while Ivy and her niece were playing less than 10 metres away
when Ivy moved a panel off their fence to go into the neighbour’s pool
Ivy was flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital
where after many days of unsuccessful efforts to revive Ivy
the co-op board who owns Ms Egan-Lee’s house and the previous neighbours have argued over who is responsible for the boundary fence
“The guy next door with the pool owns the house
and he was told by the real estate company that they had a copy of the pool compliance certificate
so he was told that the fencing had met all of the requirements,” Ms Collis said
The co-op who owns the house that Rhiannon is renting had told Rhiannon upon collecting the keys when she first moved in that the fence needed replacing
“The fence was also talked about at several of the monthly co-op meetings
and there were other people in co-op properties at those meetings saying they were having the same issue with fencing
and the manager said that it was a massive problem with all of the co-op properties in the area.”
the fence should never have been deemed “okay” because of uneven plank heights
“The height just initially jumps out at you,” she said
I think it adds to the hurt of the incident because this isn’t a tragic accident that couldn’t have been prevented
This is a tragic accident that was completely preventable
It was acknowledged by the co-op that there was a problem with the fence.”
Pool regulations state that pools must be registered with the local council and have adequate fencing that is clear from any climbable objects by children
officials should never have ticked off the Spring St property pool
there was no barrier on the property to prevent anyone from getting into the pool
and a garden bed about a metre away from the fence and the pool
A council spokesperson told the Express that the property with the pool was inspected on February 18
and the inspector issued a certificate of compliance on February 28
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the family of Ivy
who passed away in such tragic circumstances,” the spokesperson told the Express
“Community members who own or live at a property with a pool or spa are encouraged to check their barriers regularly and
arrange an inspection to ensure they remain in a safe and compliant condition.”
Council does not inspect pools to register their safety compliance
Property owners and occupiers are responsible for ensuring that their swimming pools comply with state government pool safety barrier regulations
Registered building surveyors or registered pool inspectors inspect swimming pool barrier compliance
it is a requirement for the property owner to register the pool safety certification with the council as the authority responsible for administering records of pool safety compliance certification
the new neighbour brought in contractors to replace the fence
the fence took less than five minutes to remove
OMNIA Specialties Australia’s Morwell-based plant has been labelled a “hidden gem” by Member for Morwell
highlighting the potential global success that awaits the business
in the development and manufacturing of fertilisers and biostimulants
Its wider range is used globally to improve plant and soil health
Omnia is a South African-based company as a listed entity in Johannesburg
the importance of Morwell’s plant is next level
Omnia has flown under the radar as a locally-based business
positioned on Tramway Road between Morwell and Churchill
with many locals unaware of what the plant is used for
Omnia recently had the spotlight shine upon them
due to the global demand for their fertiliser coat
reaching as far as Europe and the Americas
Omnia purchased the technology from HRL Technologies more than 20 years ago
who originally worked on extracting elements from brown coal
before buying it due to expansion to meet the growing volume just seven to eight years ago
Speaking with the Express earlier this month
Omnia Specialties Australia Managing Director
James Freemantle explained the research and development that the business conducts
“The whole business is really based around taking leonardite – which is like a weathered brown coal
That’s waste for (the power stations),” he explained
“We take that layer… bring it on-site here and we extract an organic acid called humic acid… into a very concentrated form to make products out of that
Omnia has a contract with the Latrobe Valley coal-fired power stations
undertaking geological testing before extracting
With coal mining set to be a thing of the past
Omnia has already looked toward the future
hoping to keep efficient fertilisers a thing of today
so it won’t run out from the resource being there
what will be is how we get access to it,” Mr Freemantle said
“What we need will still be there (when coal-fired power stations stop operating)
work with the government to get a licence.”
The humic acid product is used as a coat for fertilisers
or an ingredient to increase fertiliser efficiency
From that we’ve evolved into a full range of crop nutrition products,” Mr Freemantle added
“We say we operate in the soil health
and now we’ve gone into seaweed extraction as well
turning kelp from Tasmania into a concentrated liquid.”
Omnia’s Morwell site is described as the global hub for biostimulants
while on-site is where much of the company’s research and product development is
The Morwell site is heavily involved in research
collaborating with companies from Africa and the US
During a recent tour of Omnia’s facilities
Mr Cameron said: “it’s another prime example of just how valuable and resource rich our coalfields are
and the impact they can have on the state’s economy
and it’s all done right here in Morwell.”
“This is exactly the sort of industrial development the state government needs to back instead of letting our brown coal go to waste because of ideology and politics.”
Melina Bath joined Mr Cameron on the tour of Omnia’s facility
“I can’t imagine there are too many specialised Morwell products being marketed as far afield as North and South America on this scale,” she added
“This remarkable good news business is going from strength to strength
which is a win for Morwell and the Latrobe Valley
a win for the importance of our coalfields
and an opportunity with an incredible future.”
With growing global populations comes a growing demand for food
The growing demand for food means there is becoming less and less land to grow crops
“There’s more and more pressure on fertiliser to get out and grow more crops
but there is also environmental pressures to make sure fertiliser isn’t being wasted into the atmosphere or lost into the ground water,” Mr Freemantle said
“That’s why we’ve had this massive expansion into the Northern Hemisphere
but really major fertiliser companies are looking to make their fertiliser more efficient.”
The technology to enhance fertilisers has been around for decades
with many companies existing in Europe where there are good deposits
but Omnia has struck gold with the Latrobe Valley
hence we can get a very high concentration when we extract,” Mr Freemantle said
“It’s just been pushed into the spotlight because environmental policies
there’s more focus on decarbonisation
and friendlier – and this is what these products do
“But what’s exciting for us is
we compete really well on a global scale because of the quality of our raw material and the concentration
There is not too many globally that can extract the concentration we can
and that’s our competitive advantage.”
with their biggest coming from the sub continents
and south-east Asian countries such as India
The US and Brazil in the Americas already have huge agriculture markets
“Given the size of their agriculture
they would eventually be number one,” Mr Freemantle said
Some European countries have been found to have a tougher environment from the perspective of growing crops
due to the poor soils which sees those countries investing heavily in growing crops
With the expansions continually occurring at Omnia
they hope to reinvest back into the community by the way of job opportunities
The Allan Labor Government is helping families in the Latrobe Valley cut their energy bills by installing rooftop solar and energy efficient heat pump
As part of the $10 million Residential Electrification Grants program
AusNet received $132,000 towards their Electrifaircation program which will help low-income and vulnerable households get solar panels and heat pump hot water systems to slash their energy bills
The program will help 55 families with an existing home in Morwell
Hazelwood and Hazelwood North to switch to efficient electric heat pumps and install solar by the end of 2025
will receive rebates of $1,400 for their solar installation and $1,000 rebate for heat pumps installation through Solar Victoria
with the rest of the costs covered by AusNet - making sure families are not out of pocket
By installing solar families will slash $1,000 off their energy bill each and every year
Installing a heat pump hot water systems will save these families $250 a year
AusNet is working with local community organisations like Morwell Neighbourhood House to reach residents that could benefit most from these upgrades
Households can attend information demonstrations at Morwell Neighbourhood House and other opportunities though the Gippsland Climate Change Network
For more information visit, solar.vic.gov.au/electrification-grants(opens in a new window)
As stated by Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio
"We're making the cost of getting solar and installing a heat pump free for some families in the Latrobe Valley and will slash more than $1,000 off their energy bills each year."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
and Hazelwood North families to start using solar to power their homes will make a big difference to household energy bills."
The Village Twin Cinema in Morwell has become a trash-filled
syringe-littered eyesore used by squatters hiding in its maze of corridors and rooms
Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later
Any Questions? Please call 1800 070 535
Saturday & Sunday 7:00am – 11:30am (AEST)