Address to the Coalition Campaign Rally A Dutton Coalition Government’s plan to get Australia back on track will deliver lower inflation, cheaper energy, affordable homes and safer communities. Australians have gone backwards under three years of Labor with the cost of living skyrocketing, the longest per-capita recession on record and the biggest fall in living standards in the developed world. Households Read More > I’ll repeat what I’ve said before – the Liberal Party and state and federal MPs – I thank you all for your energy and commitment.  Sussan Ley – we entered the federal parliament on the same day for your outstanding work – and all you do for our party.   To David Littleproud – our Coalition has never been stronger You’re a superb leader of the Nationals and I’m delighted you’re here today.  I commend the brilliant Katie Allen – who I have every confidence will be the next member for Chisholm.  we’re a step closer to winning government.  we can get Victoria and our country moving again.  it’s a new year and it’s an important one for our nation.  Australians will have an opportunity to remove a weak and incompetent Labor Government that has sent our country backwards.   Australians will have an opportunity to elect a new and strong Coalition Government to get our country back on track.  But oppositions can – and do – win elections.  Provided people know what they stand for.  Provided people understand their plan and vision to better the country.  experience and character of the alternative Prime Minister.  I want no Australian to be left wondering what the Coalition stands for.  I will outline our key priorities to get Australia back on track.  But with this being my first speech of the year I’ll start by reminding Australians of who I am I was born into an outer suburbs working-class family.  Mum and Dad – a secretary and bricklayer – didn’t have much money but they worked hard every day – and raised their five children with love and worked in a butcher’s shop after school and on Saturdays.  I saved diligently to afford a house deposit.  Buying my first home aged 19 was one of my proudest achievements.  In that butcher’s shop job – and in my Dad’s building business – I saw the hard work required to run a small business.  That experience equipped me later in life with the mindset to run my own successful small business that employed 40 people.  I completed a Business degree and was a Queensland Police Officer for nine years.  I first worked in uniform responding to some terrible incidents – like violent domestics fatal motor vehicle accidents and suicides.  But I also saw the wonderful side of society – of people willing to help others in their darkest hour.   I then became an investigator of organised crime the protection of women and children is something that continues to drive me today.   My time in law enforcement made me appreciate – all the more – the importance of stable families and safe communities.  The roles I hold most dear are those of husband to Kirilly – to whom I’ve been married for 21 years – and father to Rebecca My greatest privilege has been to serve my community and fellow Australians as the Member for Dickson.  I’ve been in Parliament for 23 years.  Being a minister – including in cabinet – was an honour.  I helped make Australia’s tax system fairer and reduced red tape for businesses.  I created the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund and increased hospital funding.  bulk billing was 84 per cent under me compared to 77 per cent today.  I kept the people smugglers out of business.  I removed all children from detention.  And I resettled 4,000 vulnerable Yazidis – especially women and children – who have new lives in Australia free from Islamic State’s barbarism.  we undertook thorough character and security checks.  I brought together law enforcement and intelligence agencies to make our nation safer.  I created the world class Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.  I delivered record funding for our men and women in uniform.  I played a pivotal role in establishing AUKUS.  And I laid the foundations for our missile enterprise.  As the Leader of the Opposition for the last three years I’m proud of what my team has accomplished.  We’ve done the hard yards in developing policies.  And we’ve engaged in a civilised battle of ideas.  Our prosecution of the ‘No’ case helped defeat our nation’s most divisive referendum.  We halted Labor’s Orwellian Misinformation Bill – which will never be resurrected under a government I lead.  With Labor acting like an opposition in government we’ve acted like a government in opposition – especially in cleaning up their immigration shambles.  we’ve fought back against the antisemitism afflicting Australia.  I’ve met so many Australians from all walks of life.  People have got to know me and what I stand for.  I believe the family is the most important unit in society.  Strong and supported families make for a confident and resilient country.  I believe we must preserve the innocence of childhood and nurture young minds in a responsible way.  I believe in egalitarianism; in judging people by the content of their character; and in pushing back on identity politics.  I believe in individual freedom and the rule of law.  I believe the main sources of enterprise and wealth creation are businesses and industries – not governments.  Australians are best served by smaller government which gets off their back But government does have a role to play in getting the big things right.  Managing the economy responsibly.   Ensuring our nation is secure and self-reliant.  Nurturing unity based on shared values and common sense.   And looking after citizens who are dealing with difficulty through no fault of their own.  I cherish what our forebears have gifted us.  and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country I’ve seen the mood of Australians change.  Australians have endured one of the most incompetent governments in our nation’s history.  They’ve suffered under one of our country’s weakest ever prime ministers.  The last three years have been a litany of bad decisions and broken promises.  aspiration has been replaced by anxiety.  Optimism has turned to pessimism.   And national confidence changed to dispiritedness.  “This election is about the future versus the past.”  I think the past three years are a good indication of what the future will look like under a returned Labor Government.  That’s a future Australians can’t afford.  Especially if the green-Teals or extreme-Greens hold the balance of power.  When a government gets its priorities wrong things go wrong for the Australian people.  The Albanese Government has had the wrong priorities.  It’s prioritised the agendas of inner-city Greens voters It’s disregarded everyday Australian workers families and small businesses – from city suburbs to regional towns to coastal communities.  Just like those here in this Labor-held seat of Chisholm.  It’s sidelined known industry winners – miners and farmers – and picked its own winners.  It’s built bigger government to exert more power instead of creating better government to empower citizens.  Labor will double-down on its priorities and positions if it wins the next election.  Weak leaders create hard times – but strong leaders create better times.   And the next federal election is a sliding doors moment for our nation.  A returned Labor government – in majority or minority – will see setbacks set in stone.  A newly elected Coalition Government is a last chance to reverse the decline.  Mr Albanese – who loves fighting Tories and who always plays the man and not the ball – has characterised this election as a “future war”.  what matters most is the political victory.  Whereas I want our country to be victorious.  I want Australia to emerge out of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.  I want future generations of Australians to not be denied the prosperity that previous generations of Australians knew.  The path to better times and a better country starts with having the right priorities.  things go right for the Australian people.  I’m pleased to launch our publication called:  Let’s Get Australia Back On Track: The priorities of a Dutton Coalition Government.  we will announce new policies in the days and weeks ahead to complement the many we’ve already announced.  At the last election – despite the pandemic – the Coalition handed over a strong economic position to Labor.  Australia was either world-leading or performed   Our debt was lower than any other major advanced economy.  Labor has been a wrecking ball through the economy.  The Government has pulled every wrong lever since coming to power.  Spending has lifted by a staggering $347 billion.  Personal income taxes paid have increased by 22 per cent.  The enterprise and productivity of business and industry has been suffocated by government intervention and regulation.  The cost of electricity has skyrocketed under a reckless renewables-only policy.  There’s no end in sight to Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.  interest rates have gone up 12 times.  the RBA Governor has said that inflation is now homegrown – with the Government’s rapid spending growth a major cause.  Households have now been in recession for seven consecutive quarters.  Australians are living through the worst collapse in living standards on record.  More than 26,000 businesses have gone insolvent.   Australia’s core inflation remains one of the highest in the G20 nations.  Our country is facing more Labor deficits.  here’s some key priorities of a Dutton Coalition Government:  We will fight cost-of-living pressures.  We will build a stronger economy.  And we will cut government waste.  Government is living beyond its means.  I know things like energy bill rebates and student debt subsidies help such expenditure doesn’t address the underlying problems – it just masks them.  interest rates and inflation stay higher for longer.  Inflation makes each dollar you earn buy less.  Inflation reduces the purchasing power of your paycheque.  We can only escape the clutches of the cost-of-living crisis by reining-in inflationary spending.  The expensive Panadol policies must stop.   The necessary economic surgery to stop wasteful spending must start.  And that’s what a Coalition government will do.  there’s key areas where we need to spend taxpayer money.  the NDIS and aged-care – to name a few.  But taxpayer money must be spent prudently – especially in hard times.  a dollar spent should create new dollars.  The aim should always be to spend taxpayer money where it has an economic multiplying effect resources and agriculture projects are good examples.  As is AUKUS – with its potential to foster a new arm of our economy.  I’m in the game of ending government waste.  Here’s just a few examples of Labor’s indulgences:   Almost $500 million on a divisive referendum.  Billions to subsidise uncommercial projects – like green hydrogen or the world’s first fault-tolerant quantum computer.  $450,000 for Welcome to Country ceremonies.  Has your life been improved by Labor hiring an extra 36,000 public servants – costing $6 billion a year?  We will end government waste and get back to doing things which help Australians.  A Dutton Coalition Government will deliver lower Australians should keep more of what they earn.  And we will protect Australians’ retirement savings from unfair new taxes.  Your super is your money – not the government’s.  We know Australians are hurting at the checkout.  And we’ve committed to deterring the big supermarkets from undermining competition and ripping off customers and farmers.  Central to re-energising the economy is ripping-up as much red and green tape as possible.  we will defund the Environmental Defenders Office.  And we will slash resource approval timeframes in half.  there’s more tax revenues and royalties.  And that means more money for infrastructure To unleash the potential of the marketplace another priority of a Dutton Coalition Government is to back small business.  We will increase the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and make this arrangement ongoing.  We will revert to a simple definition of a casual worker.  And we will curtail union militancy in workplaces.  exorbitant energy costs are causing inflation across the economy.  goods and services are all costing more.   Thanks to Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen’s renewables-only policy trainwreck Australians are paying some of the highest power prices in the world.  Your electricity bill hasn’t come down by $275 as Labor promised.  Australians are paying up to $1,000 more than Labor promised.  Australians are being asked to ration power and warned about blackouts.  Manufacturers have moved offshore where energy is cheaper.  You can’t run a full-time and functioning economy using part-time and unreliable power.  a further priority of a Dutton Coalition Government is to deliver affordable and reliable energy.  we will ramp-up domestic gas production to get power prices down and restore stability to our grid.  we will place the latest zero emission nuclear technologies on the sites of seven retiring coal-fired power plants.  We will have a balanced energy mix of renewables and ultimately nuclear to replace coal.  The independent and respected Frontier Economics costed our plan.  It’s 44 per cent cheaper than Labor’s renewables-only plan through to 2050 – a saving of $263 billion to Australians.  Labor will continue to carpet prime agricultural land and coastlines with industrial-scale renewables.  Nuclear power allows us to maximise the highest yield of energy per square metre and minimise our environmental footprint.  The Coalition’s push to have Australia join the growing league of nuclear-powered nations is one of the most visionary policies put forward in our country’s history.   It’s time to dispense with short-termism and shore-up our energy security for generations to come.  Just as energy is a major concern for Australians Rebalancing our migration program and fixing the housing crisis are also priorities for a Dutton Coalition Government.  Labor has opened the migration floodgates.  A record one million migrants have arrived in Labor’s first two years.  That’s 70 per cent more than in any previous two-year period.  With only 350,000 homes built over the same period We will impose a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing Australian homes.  We will reduce the permanent migration program by 25 per cent for two years – from 185,000 to 140,000 places.  we will return to a sustainable 150,000 and 160,000 places.  And we will work with major metropolitan universities to set stricter caps on foreign students to relieve stress on city rental markets.  we will free up more than 100,000 homes over five years.  We’ve committed $5 billion to support the building of essential infrastructure for new housing – like water This funding will get stalled projects off the ground.  And we’re confident we can unlock up to 500,000 homes.  An issue close to my heart is restoring the dream of home ownership.  home ownership is beyond reach for too many.   Entering the property market shouldn’t be limited to those who can rely on the bank of mum and dad.  That’s why a Coalition Government will allow Australians to access up to $50,000 of their super to buy their first home.  And we will extend that policy to assist separated women.  If home ownership is important to Australians Another priority of a Dutton Coalition Government is to deliver quality healthcare.   The Albanese Government paints itself as our health system saviour.  But bulk billing has fallen from 88 per cent when we were in government to 77 per cent under Labor.  Free GP services have decreased by 40 million.  And we’re facing a shortfall of 8,000 GPs by 2031.  A Coalition Government will grow our GP workforce.  We will incentivise junior doctors to train in general practice to help fill shortages in suburbs and regional areas.  Our review of the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemes will result in cheaper and new medicines for women.  And we will restore the number of Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions from 10 to 20 – and on a permanent basis.  Labor is again resorting to a Medi-scare campaign – it’s third attempt in less than a decade.  the Coalition will guarantee the growing funding of Medicare.  We will also not neglect disadvantaged Indigenous Australians.  Labor has lost its energy to address this issue.   we have an opportunity to move away from symbolic gestures We can press ahead with a Dutton Coalition Government’s priority to focus on practical action for Indigenous Australians.  it’s time to dispense with the racial stereotyping which treats all Aboriginal people the same.  education and employment are critical issues.  That’s where our efforts must be targeted.  We will start with a full audit into spending on Indigenous programs.  And in Indigenous communities where drugs and alcohol are prevalent we will reintroduce the Cashless Debit Card for working-aged welfare recipients in consultation with communities to make sure children are getting the support from their parents that they deserve.  We will bolster law and order in crime-heavy communities.  And we will hold a Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse in Indigenous Communities.  If Labor has neglected disadvantaged Indigenous Australians it has treated regional Australians like second-class citizens.  Chris Bowen has steamrolled over regional communities with his industrial-scale renewables roll-out.  Tanya Plibersek and Murray Watt have stymied new mines live sheep exports and salmon farming – the lifeblood of regional Australia.  Jim Chalmers has cut billions from regional infrastructure projects.  Anthony Albanese flies in for the photo op only to deliver a different message to a city audience.  Whereas a priority for a Dutton Coalition Government is to grow a stronger Regional Australia.  agricultural and manufacturing powerhouse again.  Regional Australia is at the centre of that vision.  And that’s why we will invest in regional roads An activist-led Labor has turned its back on industries which are our natural strengths.  I won’t because they’re still important – alongside new areas of the economy like artificial intelligence and automation.  Just as we want a resilient regional Australia we want communities to be resilient across Australia.  Another priority for a Dutton Coalition Government is to build strong and sustainable communities.  It means seeing children taught the basics – reading writing and maths – through explicit instruction across our primary education system – and ensuring classrooms are places of education It means restricting social media for under 16s given the impacts of harmful content and constant connectivity on young minds – while ensuring age verification in no way compromises individual privacy.  It means providing families with affordable child-care.  It means guaranteeing NDIS support to Australians with permanent and significant disability.  It means funding an aged-care system where older Australians have the dignity respect and assistance they deserve.  It means cherishing and looking after all our veterans – especially those who have suffered due to their service.   And it means reviving our unity – by nurturing pride in our country celebrating the achievement of modern Australia and coming together under our one flag.  Strong communities are important – and so is a secure nation.  Keeping Australians safe is another key priority of a Dutton Coalition Government.  The Albanese Labor Government has failed in this duty.  More than 280 hardcore criminals – including murderers and sex offenders – were released from immigration detention into the community by the Government.  Some 65 criminals have already reoffended.  the Government granted tourist visas to 3,000 people from a terrorist-controlled war zone without conducting thorough checks.  People smugglers were again given the green-light when Labor dismantled Operation Sovereign Borders.  Almost 500 people have tried to enter our country illegally on 26 boats – of which seven have reached Australia.  Youth crime has surged around the country.  some 78 women tragically lost their lives in violent circumstances.  antisemitism has surged by more than 700 per cent.  Every incident of antisemitism can be traced back to the Prime Minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.  Antisemitism should have been stopped there and then.  This Government is so morally confused it treats our ally its push for Palestinian statehood at this time would reward Hamas’s use of terrorism to achieve political ends.  And despite wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe – and tensions in our region – the government has reduced defence spending to under 2 per cent of GDP – and our defence bureaucracy is operating on a business-as-usual basis.  A Dutton Coalition Government will make a significant investment in defence.  We will equip our military at speed and scale to play our part as a credible partner in promoting peace through strength.  And in the first days of a Coalition Government I will call the Prime Minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed.  We stopped the boats before – and will do so again.  I cancelled more than 6,300 visas of dangerous non-citizen criminals – and we will not hesitate to cancel visas again too.  If you’re a guest in our country inciting or committing violence you will feel the full force of the law.  A Dutton Coalition Government will develop national uniform knife laws and introduce tougher penalties to prevent coercive control.  we will provide the moral and political leadership needed to restore law the priorities I’ve outlined today are our compact with Australians.  values and vision of everyday Australians.  Australians will again have a say in determining the future of our great country.  they will be under no misapprehension as to what a Dutton Coalition Government stands for – and what we plan to do.  I hope Australians will recognise that a Coalition Government is the only chance to get our country back on track.  Liberal Party of Australia Authorised by A This move-in ready Mount Waverley home in the prized Mount Waverley Secondary College zone sold for $1.21m following a sleek A Mount Waverley family has revealed how a full renovation and years of love helped them secure a $1.21m sale at auction Thushan and Karina Jayawardena bought 7 Dean Ave in 2008 and spent more than a decade gradually updating the home to suit their lifestyle and growing family “It was very original when we bought it — carpet laminate floors and creamy paint,” Mr Jayawardena said RELATED: Car sales king carving up huge Mornington Peninsula compound 41 in two days: Melb’s fiercest auction battlegrounds revealed Vic Govt faces alarming housing tax problem as investors flee “We wanted it to feel light and calm — your eyes are drawn out to the garden and trees and replaced an old sliding door with bifolds opening to a north-facing deck The couple also tackled the landscaping themselves creating a flat lawn that wraps around the home timber-decked entry and manicured hedges gave the home instant street appeal The original facade of 7 Dean Avenue before its transformation — tired concrete private and green — the perfect space for a young family Our two kids grew up playing out there,” he said The home sits on the high side of a quiet street in a tightly held pocket of Mount Waverley once known for its apple orchards It’s within the Mount Waverley Secondary College zone and a short walk from Syndal Station Valley Reserve and several top local schools Mr Jayawardena said they’ve always loved the area The updated kitchen features stone benchtops and high-end appliances for modern family living there’s a real community feel — and everything you need is close by,” he said Buxton Mount Waverley’s Peter Serafino said the location had played a big part in attracting the eventual buyers — a professional couple hoping to start a family “They were really focused on getting into this part of Mount Waverley — close to the station Oak floors and bifold doors create seamless indoor-outdoor flow in the light-filled main living area this flexible second bedroom works as a nursery Buxton Mount Waverley’s Cameron Tunbridge said the home’s layout and finish appealed to a wide range of buyers “It’s essentially a house-sized unit — move-in ready investors and first-home buyers,” Mr Tunbridge said Mr Tunbridge said buyers in the $1.2m–$1.3m bracket were increasingly favouring homes that didn’t require further work The main bedroom offers leafy treetop views a soft neutral palette and pendant lighting for a calm Owners Thushan and Karina Jayawardena transformed their original home with a minimalist European-inspired renovation designed for relaxed “People are leaning away from renovation projects The Jayawardena’s said they plan to stay local with a new build planned just a few blocks away “Hopefully the next owners enjoy it as much as we have.” Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Melb Gen Z couple reveals what they are giving up to buy a home Aspendale home with 11-car garage gains international attention Meghan’s new A-list neighbour in $22m compound 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. Link copiedShareShare resultsBy chief election analyst Antony Green posted Fri at 2:00pmFriday 2 May 2025 at 2:00pmFri 2 May 2025 at 2:00pm Updated 33m ago33 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 12:05pm updated 8h ago8 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:04am Chifley | Clark Chisholm is an eastern Melbourne electorate that stretches east-west between Tooronga Road and Dandenong Creek, generally north of Dandenong Road and the Monash Freeway. The electorate covers 73 square kilometres and includes all or parts of Malvern East, Glen Iris, Camberwell, Ashburton, Ashwood, Burwood, Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley and Wheelers Hill. Undergoes major boundary changes in becoming an east-west aligned electorate. Loses areas north of Eley Road to Menzies and south of the Monash Freeway to Hotham. Moves west of Warrigal Road in gaining parts of Camberwell, Glen Iris, Malvern and Ashburton from Higgins and Kooyong. The changes reduce Chisholm's Labor margin from 6.4% to 3.2%. See polling place result map below for detail of the boundary change. (Victories by a party of government are indicated by thick coloured underlining.) Randall is an architect specialising in accessible design for people with disabilities. He has lived in the Chisholm electorate for nearly a decade. Ong is a primary specialist teacher at an independent school and a former IT professional. McShane lived in remote areas of Australia and was educated by correspondence until nine years of age. She moved to Melbourne at 19, falling in love with the historical buildings, sights and experiences. She has worked as a pharmacy sales agent and was previously the United Australia Party candidate for Flinders at the 2019 Federal election and Monash in 2022. Dr Carina Garland grew up in south-east Melbourne and studied at Monash University. She graduated with an Honours degree in English Literature, before winning a scholarship to undertake a PhD at the University of Sydney where she worked as an academic. Garland was Assistant Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council before being selected as Labor's candidate for Chisholm. Garland won Chisholm easily in 2022 but faces a challenge in 2025 with the redistribution having halved her margin. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Horrified families fear their 'beloved neighbourhood' will turn into a ghetto overrun by violent criminals after a Melbourne council gave the green light for a rooming house to be built near homes and schools Rooming houses are notorious last chance homes for the homeless paedophiles and other sex offenders who need a place to live after their release from prison Typically found in areas such as Frankston and St Kilda the homes are known for housing high-risk tenants Monash Council in Melbourne's southeast has approved the construction of twin rooming houses in the highly sort after suburb of Mount Waverley will be converted into two townhouses with eight rooms each housing up to 32 tenants -sparking outrage among local residents a major train station and residential properties full of families and kids was last sold in November 2023 for $1.4million which formed to fight the council decision is seeking to raise more than $5,000 to initiate legal proceedings in a bid to have the plan binned 'We need support to challenge a council decision that threatens the character and safety of our beloved Mount Waverley neighbourhood,' a spokesperson for the group told Daily Mail Australia 'Rooming houses often accommodate individuals facing challenges such as who have just come out prison meth and drug addicts known for antisocial behaviour 'While we believe in support and rehabilitation placing a high-density facility in a neighbourhood designed for families is not the right solution 'The rooming house development will also result in increased traffic and the pressure on local resources will significantly impact our daily lives.' Locals fear the Mount Waverley plan will turn the suburb into another St Kilda which was home to the notorious Gatwick Hotel rooming house The Gatwick, also known as 'Hotel Hell', 'Hotel of Horrors' and 'The Ghetto' was infamous for drug use, crime and multiple homicides before it was closed down and sold to The Block in 2017. Frankston was also home to the despised Ambassador Hotel which was shut in 2019. The Ambassador, a former 80s and 90s party venue, became an illegal rooming house for drug addicts and criminals. At its worst, it was even labeled the 'most dangerous address in Australia'.  Residents reported living in fear, refusing to sleep without locking their doors and witnessing violent incidents including stabbings and even deaths.  Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris confirmed the council approved the rooming house plan at Mount Waverley. But Mayor Klisaris did not answer a direct question whether the council was concerned the rooming houses could bring criminals into the family-friendly area. 'This application remains within the timeframe for an appeal to review (the) council's decision, and this should be done via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT),' he said.  'If there is no application for review lodged, a permit will be issued.' Mayor Klisaris also said there was 'no current timeframe for construction'. The Mount Waverley plan wouldn't be the first time a quiet residential suburb was turned upside down by a rooming house. One such property at Caulfield South was raided by police multiple times after it opened up on the once peaceful Albion St. Neighbours of the rooming house said they were 'terrorised' and frequent fights between tenants - sometimes involving machetes - were frequent. Cops also raided the property and seized cannabis plants and drugs including magic mushrooms and Xanax. 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No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first. {{message}} A beloved dog stolen earlier today in Mount Waverley has been located safe and well this evening Police have been told the man was walking his dog Morticia along Huntingdale Road about 2.30am when a group of youths inside a black Holden Commodore pulled over and made demands for his dog The victim was chased by one of the youths to a nearby convenience store Waverley Road in Chadstone where an altercation occurred The offenders fled the scene in the black Commodore with no plates and was last seen driving south on Huntingdale Road It's understood the dog was located on Huntingdale Road and taken to the RSPCA before going home Any witnesses or anyone with CCTV/dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Suburban Rail Loop will shape our city and state for future generations ensuring Melbourne remains one of the world’s most liveable cities the 90km Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) will link every major rail line from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line universities and hospitals for all Victorians SRL East will connect our growing health retail and employment precincts in Melbourne’s east and south east between Cheltenham and Box Hill enable more direct journeys for regional Victorians and enhance walking The SRL East station at Glen Waverley will make it easier for people to access retail as well as travel to Melbourne's other middle suburbs The new station platform will sit around 17m below ground with a single station entrance oriented towards Coleman Parade and the existing Glen Waverley Station The 2-level underground station will include a concourse level and an island platform below with escalators and lifts for passengers Ticketing and customer facilities will also be located on the concourse level A new station plaza opposite Coleman Parade will enable passengers to easily connect with bus services and other surface transport options There will also be accessible pick up and drop off areas taxi bays and undercover bicycle parking located nearby New pedestrian laneways and cycling paths will make it easier to move around and access Kingsway and the Glen Waverley Activity Centre Above ground buildings at the station will accommodate bicycle parking and potential retail tenancies They will also house essential rail operations and systems equipment including emergency and safety infrastructure These 2 to 3 level buildings will consist of: About 7000 passengers are projected to use the SRL station at Glen Waverley daily when trains start running in 2035 with about 900 people interchanging with Glen Waverley Line services SRL East will deliver more jobs closer to where people live Employment in Glen Waverley is set to more than double to 25,000 jobs as a result of SRL East and SRL North Up to 8,000 direct local jobs will be created during construction of SRL East and it will support many more across the economy Trains will run every six minutes in the peak increasing with demand to around every two minutes Travel time between stations will be around every 3 to 4 minutes with a journey between Glen Waverley and Cheltenham taking around 15 minutes SRL East will build on the qualities and characteristics of the neighbourhoods surrounding stations with new and enhanced recreation spaces as well as improved walking and cycling paths to cater for our growing suburbs Delivering faster and more reliable public transport for Melbourne and regional Victoria SRL East will generate around 70,000 daily trips creating a 47% shift away from private vehicle use and easing road congestion Construction works for the SRL station at Glen Waverley will be carefully staged to ensure safety and minimise disruption to the community Construction stages and activities include: Construction of the SRL station at Glen Waverley will be completed in stages and is expected to take approximately 6 years Disruption at surface level is expected to be shorter than the overall construction time consisting of an approximate 1.6km area around the new stations As with other major infrastructure projects surrounding communities may experience some impacts during construction Works will be carefully managed to minimise traffic and transport disruptions to ensure people can still get where they need to go on Melbourne's road and public transport networks The following traffic and transport impacts are anticipated in Glen Waverley: A range of measures will minimise and manage impacts on businesses and residents similar to what has been done successfully for other recent major infrastructure projects in Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop Authority has prepared Business and Residential Support Guidelines which include specific measures to support businesses and residents who may be impacted during the construction of SRL East Suburban Rail Loop Authority has engaged more than 20,000 people via online and face to face consultation activities Your feedback is important to planning and developing Suburban Rail Loop and will contribute to making areas around SRL East stations even better places to live Mount Waverley leads Melbourne’s auction surge with 41 homes listed across Mount Waverley and Glen Waverley as buyer interest climbs Mount Waverley has topped Melbourne’s suburbs for scheduled auctions this weekend with 27 homes set to go under the hammer — part of a broader post-Easter surge in market activity Neighbouring Glen Waverley will host another 14 auctions giving the Melbourne Waverley patch a combined 41 listings 1177 auctions are scheduled across Melbourne this weekend marking the highest weekly volume since before the Easter break RELATED: Hollywood-style Melb house designed by Alistair Knox for sale Melb Gen Z couple reveals what they are giving up to buy a home Hollywood-style Melb house designed by Alistair Knox for sale Buxton Mount Waverley’s Peter Serafino said a key reason for the region’s popularity — and the flurry of listings — was its strong school zoning “We’re seeing long-term owners putting their homes on the market after 10 to 15 years,” Mr Serafino said sent their kids through Mount Waverley Secondary or Glen Waverley Secondary and now they’re looking to upsize or make a lifestyle change.” Buxton Mount Waverley’s Peter Serafino said turnkey homes in school zones are driving strong auction interest in Mount Waverley and Glen Waverley and in a good location — particularly within the school zones — are getting the strongest traction.” Mr Serafino said open-home numbers were encouraging post rate cut but noted that some buyers were still hesitant to act quickly “There’s a bit of wait-and-see in the air,” he said Modern family homes in Keysborough’s newer estates are attracting strong interest from young buyers and upgraders Reservoir remains a major performer with 22 auctions while Preston is also attracting attention from young families and second-time buyers particularly around the high school zone and Preston Market precinct Tarneit and Truganina are drawing a mix of first-home buyers and interstate investors many looking for brand new move-in ready homes at more affordable price points Buyers eye luxury homes in Kew with strong demand for turnkey properties near top schools and parks Keysborough is also expected to be a competitive patch on Saturday Buxton Keysborough director Ozan Kanbur said modern homes with minimal maintenance were leading the charge “The market is strongest in the newer estates where homes are under 10-years old,” Mr Kanbur said Period homes in Preston are drawing strong interest from young families and second-home buyers near schools and the market Tarneit’s new estates are luring first-home buyers and investors chasing move in ready builds and future growth “Buyers are prioritising ease and liveability who will take a custom-designed four-bedroom home at 95 Gladstone St said well-located prestige homes were also attracting interest especially from local downsizers and long-term investors “Buyers know Melbourne still represents good value — especially compared to Sydney and Brisbane,” Mr O’Halloran said MORE: Renter made homeless six times outraged by key factor of housing crisis Kamala Harris to jet to Aus for odd reason WHAT: Concerned local community members will assemble outside opposition leader Peter Dutton’s rally in the Chisholm electorate (Melbourne) this weekend They will deliver a message from their community calling for action on climate change and a commitment to cutting climate pollution and power power bills with renewable energy now not a fantasy of nuclear reactors in decades time From the community statement: “We support the continued roll out of renewable energy and storage is essential to maintain Australia’s prosperity.“Strong action on climate was endorsed by Australians at the last election and is demonstrated by the strong uptake of rooftop solar in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs We urge Mr Dutton to respect the preferences of the electorate and the aspirations of our community." For more information or to arrange interviews please contact: Leigh Ewbank Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet Pay per release or save with a subscription 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 Rival gangs produced a machete and attacked each other on the doorstep of a Mount Waverley property in a horrifying incident on Friday night Vision exclusively obtained by 3AW Drive shows a machete being held to the throat of a child as the unsuspecting owner of the house slams the door and calls police “I’ve been a reporter for 20 years and I’ve never been sent a video like the one I received this morning,” Jacqui Felgate said on 3AW Click PLAY to hear police union boss Wayne Gatt’s response to the story A post shared by 3AW Melbourne (@3aw693) rooftop bar: Glen Waverley’s new Italian hangoutThis new kid on the block wants to compete with the drawcard restaurants of Windsor and the city And it’s got more than a few tricks up its sleeve Remove items from your saved list to add more Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime ShareAs featured in the Melbourne March 2025 hit list. See all stories.Glen Waverley is known for lots of things – great noodles Korean barbecue and a fabulous antiques bazaar – but Italian food is not one of them a sleek restaurant and bar over two levels stands out with its arancini and squid ink linguine But it’s not a cookie-cutter Italian joint Gambino’s owners (also involved in city Armenian restaurant Sezar) have tapped chef Adrian Li to infuse the menu with his slightly madcap style of Italian he adds his unorthodox spin to many dishes But there are still crowd-favourites such as calamari fritti and sourdough focaccia to be loaded with antipasti The most head-turning dish might be the bistecca al pepe, combining two unlikely influences: steak diane and xiao long bao dumplings. Eye fillet comes to the table topped with a single raviolo and nothing else on the plate. But once the pasta is pierced, peppery mushroom sauce erupts just like a xiao long bao’s explosion of broth Steak with a pepper sauce that comes oozing out of raviolo.Chris HopkinsHe’s also bought some of his La Madonna calling cards a very sculptural take on the classic Italian side of tomato A plump whole tomato acts as a shell for a filling of stracciatella (the milky stuff that oozes out of burrata) it’s more umami than your average Caprese,” the chef says Gambino’s take on a Caprese is sculptural and a little early 2000s.Chris HopkinsThere’s also tuna and prawn crudo with Calabrian chilli; spicy vodka pasta using shell-shaped conchiglie; and cavolo nero risotto topped with garlic prawns a dish Li says he still gets asked about more than a year since leaving La Madonna will be available in super limited numbers each day The moody dining room of blue velvet, dark marble tabletops and rose-gold accents seats 80. One level up, Gambino’s rooftop bar (open since December) is brighter and more casual mini meatball sandwiches and a couple of pastas cooking in Glen Waverley represents a return to the area he spent the most time during his teens and 20s he was sad to see the main strip looking run down along with new apartments and the suburban rail loop he reckons there’s demand for more elevated experiences that don’t involve a trip to Windsor or the city “There’s nothing like this in the area. The next closest thing to us is probably Beverly [the South Yarra rooftop venue],” Li says Level 5, 73-75 Kingsway, Glen Waverley, gambino.au Sure, this cafe-bakery’s cakes are elegant, but its flatbread is sprinkled with magicParis-trained baker Mariana Chedid, of Brulee patisserie fame, leans into her Lebanese heritage at Salam. This 1860s pub punches well above its weight for food (even if there’s no chicken parma)Bobbie Peels’ simple dishes − including these chunks of fluffy spud − have surprising depth. Avoiding what’s obvious and popular, this hotel restaurant feels properly newFocused on the food of Portugal, Marmelo is one of the more exciting restaurants to open in recent memory. news and the hottest openings served to your inbox Fund Australia’s home of LGBTQ+ journalism Victorian Police are requesting assistance from the public over an alleged homophobic attack on a Melbourne train They have released images of the man the believe is responsible for the incident in Mount Waverley Members of the public are being urged to come forward with information Victorian Police have released details about the alleged homophobic attack that took place on February 9 Described as “homophobic assault” police say it took place at 4:30pm in Mount Waverley A 30 year old man and his boyfriend boarded a city bound train at Glen Waverley Railway Station on February 9 The boyfriend of the victim departed the train at Syndal Railway Station however not before they pair were approached by a man who verbally abused the man and his boyfriend with a series of homophobic slurs Shortly after the train departed with the victim and the offender both still on board Police allege that the man then assaulted the 30 year old victim before getting off at Mount Waverley Railway Station Now police at urging anyone with information to come forward “The offender is perceived to be Caucasian shoulder length brown hair and approximately 183cm tall” they said in a statement “At the time of the offence he was wearing a grey PUMA t-shirt black cargo pants and was carrying a black backpack.” “There is absolutely no place at all for degrading and homophobic behaviour in our community” Victorian Police stated “Victoria Police is disappointed that instances of this behaviour continue to occur.” “We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities and will continue to work closely with LGBTIQA+ communities to enhance trust and improve relationships.” Investigators have released an image of a man who may be able to assist with their enquires Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Editorial Submissions and Enquirieseditor@starobserver.com.au Advertising and Salessales@starobserver.com.au Accountsaccounts@starobserver.com.au they have made thousands of char kwai teow About 20 kilometres east of the city, on a modest strip that has cricket-themed Sri Lankan restaurant Spicy Wicket and cosy, French bistro Le Gaulois (try the snails), there’s a simple, one-room eatery run by the man who, in 1975, opened what was probably Melbourne’s first Malaysian restaurant. Danny Ko is 78 and his trusty wok has just turned 22. His wife, Honey, worked alongside him for decades, but her knees are not too good these days. In fact, their first place, Penang Coffee House, was Honey’s idea, luring Danny from his work as an engineer, then sweeping him into obsession, as restaurants tend to do. Penang Coffee House in Hawthorn was a revelation that became an institution. Over 20 years, the couple served thousands of Melburnians their first curry laksa (spicy soup noodles), char kwai teow (rice noodle stir-fry) and satay chicken, as well as giving Malaysian students a taste of home. In the 1960s, Danny Ko was one of those homesick university undergraduates: he understood the hankering for hawker-style noodles. In the early days, lemongrass, lime leaves and curry leaves were only available as frozen imports, and Danny’s mum posted spices for the laksa. Expats queued alongside dining cognoscenti and, in 1986, Danny and Honey even catered the 10th birthday celebration for Stephanie’s restaurant, widely considered one of Melbourne’s best places for fine dining. Founder Stephanie Alexander recalls the “satay and other delicious things” served in the backyard. Her then-business partner, Duré Dara, is a regular at Danny’s even now, popping in for a month’s supply of rendang as required. The Kos sold Penang Coffee House to a staff member in 1994; she ran it for another 15 or so years. Danny Ko took a seven-year break, ostensibly working as an engineer in Singapore but, really, eating and learning: “Once a restaurateur, always a restaurateur,” he tells me. Danny’s Kopitiam opened in Glen Waverley in 2002. Kopitiam means “coffee house” but it describes a casual restaurant that serves noodles, soups, curries and rice dishes. This one has 32 seats, no liquor licence, and an order-at-the-counter system for dine-in guests. Food comes as it’s made and there’s not much in the way of service, but Danny’s usually up for a chat if he’s not too busy. Go-to dish: Char kwai teow.Bonnie SavageThere’s only one wok here and it has made thousands of char kwai teow ($16.50). Fresh rice noodles are tossed with pork lard, soy sauce, oyster sauce and garlic and never allowed to rest so the wok hei (breath of the wok) infuses every strand. A handful of prawns, bean shoots and fish cake is thrown in, egg is scrambled through, and that’s it, a simple, Penang-style stir-fry from the food-obsessed island where Ko was born. His intense beef rendang ($22) is rich with roasted coconut, succulent with gravy beef, thick with coriander powder, rounded with belachan (roasted shrimp paste) and brightened with lime and curry leaves grown at the Ko home. Lime leaves also flavour the curry chicken Kapitan ($22), a fragrant and tender Penang classic scented with aromatic spices. Kampung fried rice with chicken, prawn and water spinach.Bonnie SavageIn its simplest village iteration, kampung fried rice ($15) comes only with crunchy anchovies to make a cheap, nourishing meal of carbs with a little ballast. Danny adds chicken, prawn and water spinach. Other dishes show similar finesse with humble ingredients: the mee pok ($15; egg noodles with pork mince) balances vinegar sharpness and chilli heat, and Singapore Hokkien mee ($18.50) is underpinned by prawn-head stock that creates a deep base flavour so the squid and chicken can have a protein party over the top. There are no recipes, nothing is weighed, everything is feel, touch and taste. Melbourne has changed immeasurably since 1975. Laksa is a shopping-centre standard; you can buy roti at the supermarket; every fruit shop has lemongrass. But some things stay the same, thank goodness. Review‘I’m full of praise for this Malaysian canteen in a suburban megachurch’AdvertisementDanny Ko still makes traditional Malaysian dishes with care and a fine knack too: Honey used to be able to make 24 a day The march of time will eventually consign Danny’s Kopitiam to the past let alone the man whose wrists must tire shaking it and a cook and entrepreneur to honour for the way he’s changed the city we all share Vibe: Low-key but precious suburban stayer but you can have Malaysian teh tarik (poured multiple times to “stretch” it); soft drinks include Kickapoo This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine Good Weekend Superquiz, October 12Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today’s interactive superquiz. It’s easy to see why this Middle Eastern restaurant is thronging every Saturday lunchtimeNour’s new chef sure knows how to have fun with Middle Eastern food. Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Peter Dutton strode into the Mount Waverley Youth Centre to fire up his Victorian base and within two minutes of his speech he mentioned newly minted state opposition leader Brad Battin The ascension of Mr Battin, an ex-police officer like Mr Dutton, marked a step right for the Victorian party and, Liberal MPs hope, an end to the Moira Deeming saga that has long distracted the state and federal outfits SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Riders on the Scotchmans Creek Trail through Mount Waverley will need to be alert to upcoming works to reconstruct the spillway at the retarding basin beside the trail Melbourne Water is removing the concrete slabs that form the spillway and needs to build an access track for machinery and vehicles and to establish a secure worksite for the upgrade there will be minor disruptions/detours to the trail between Lawrence Road and Scammell Close There is potentially a diversion of the trail around the retarding basin.  Work will be underway from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday from early November until late 2025 Some vegetation will need to be trimmed or removed so that crews and machinery can access the site Any vegetation removed will be reinstated at the end of the works.  There is a community information pop-up event with the engineers to learn more on from 9am-12pm on Saturday 26 October at the end of Lawrence Road in Mount Waverley Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point we launched our Affiliate Membership program specially designed for cycling groups and clubs Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry By Sophie Aubrey Glen Waverley’s new high-rises look out over suburban streets and the Dandenong Ranges.Credit: Joe Armao Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time there’s a term that is often uttered to describe Glen Waverley: the centre of the universe (“yu zhou zhong xin”) Within less than a kilometre there is a cinema specialty Chinese and Indian grocery stores numerous apartment towers and one eatery after another Arjun and Vishal Kapoor have strong family ties to Glen Waverley Secondary College.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui it’s humming with people seeking to fill their bellies with Chinese wontons and Sri Lankan hoppers fairy lights draped around trees guiding the way And as you talk to people who live and work in the area it doesn’t take long to realise that Glen Waverley seems to have a certain pull: once you move here migrated at age eight from Kenya with his family more than 60 per cent of Glen Waverley’s residents are born overseas he recalls being the only child who wasn’t white “The diversity of cultures coming in has changed the dynamic Which place would celebrate Chinese New Year Indian Diwali and still do the Anzac march He chuckles when he remembers his dad purchasing their family home for $74,000 in 1983 the median house price is more than $1.7 million While Kapoor and wife Shivani couldn’t afford a large family home in the suburb In 2008 they bought a two-bedroom unit near Wesley College to follow in his footsteps and attend Glen Waverley Secondary College one of Victoria’s most sought-after public schools and a big reason why property prices are so high in the zone surrounding it A decade’s worth of VCE results data shows the school consistently reached median scores of between 32 and 34 – above the state median of 30 Ninety-one per cent of students have a language background other than English “[In Asian families] education is first and foremost What comes with that is good teachers and leaders.” Many people will be familiar with Glen Waverley for being at the end of a Metro train line somewhat abruptly because this was once the eastern border of metropolitan Melbourne Original plans to extend the railway to Rowville and beyond were scuppered in favour of infill housing development It’s a decision that has long vexed those living further east but one that has given Glen Waverley an edge Waverley Historical Society president Ralph Bartlett at Glen Waverley’s Shepherds Bush Community Garden near the Dandenong creek and valley.Credit: Joe Armao Waverley Historical Society president Ralph Bartlett remembers when brick-veneer homes and winding suburban streets replaced the dairy farms and orchards that blanketed the hills leading down to the Dandenong Creek While some of these houses have been demolished and substituted for more modern “McMansions” many residents continue to have clear views of the Dandenong Ranges A residential area of Glen Waverley.Credit: Joe Armao Glen Waverley’s importance was amplified when the sprawling home of the Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Seminary became the Victoria Police Academy before the 16-hectare site underwent extensive development Bartlett says locals nicknamed the academy “Copper’s Christi” McDonald’s set up its first Victorian venue at the corner of Springvale Road and High Street It became a magnet for families across Melbourne eager to get a taste of American fast food Monash Council Mayor Nicky Luo’s first job was at the local Maccas she had only just moved from Shenzhen in China about a year earlier and her English was still rusty A 1973 advertisement for Victoria’s first McDonald’s which was established in Glen Waverley published in the Waverley Gazette.Credit: Monash Public Library Service  Luo has been a regular on Kingsway for 30 years and strolling down the street with her it’s soon apparent that she is on a first-name basis with many of the traders where she orders coffee every morning after a gym session a Cantonese restaurant she has been eating at with her family since she migrated Luo started her new Australian life in Glen Waverley and never left very quiet.” But the area quickly grew on her Monash Mayor Nicky Luo outside the council offices She migrated to Australia at age 15 and landed in Glen Waverley.Credit: Joe Armao says staying in Glen Waverley to raise her two children Luo is Monash’s first mayor of Chinese heritage Kingsway originally had more clothes and gift shops the Village cinema and a karaoke bar brought nightlife to the area apartment blocks have started to dot Glen Waverley’s suburban skyline including three residential towers built as part of The Glen shopping centre’s 2019 redevelopment a director at the Glen Waverley branch of real estate agency Biggins & Scott are opting for apartments on Kingsway as it evokes a modern Asian city but it’s not a huge change in lifestyle in terms of language and grocery shopping.” Chinese migrants were drawn to Glen Waverley thanks to feng shui an ancient practice that arranges the environment to promote harmony and health Glen Waverley was identified as the tail of the dragon with Box Hill the belly and Doncaster the head Xu’s property agency finds that about two-thirds of buyers are Chinese and only a small fraction are white Australian They came straight to Glen Waverley.Credit: Joe Armao Elaine Rodriguez moved to Australia from Singapore in April with her husband they’ve just finished a story session at Glen Waverley Library and are about to walk back to their eighth-floor rented apartment at The Glen Rodriguez explains that they had considered moving to Docklands or Southbank but settled on Glen Waverley because it had everything they needed while still giving them the peace they wanted The city is nice but it’s just too crowded all the time,” she says this definitely would be a very ideal place [to buy].” who is president of the Glen Waverley Secondary College school council but worries about the capacity of local schools to cope with the influx of families without greater funding “[Our school] is the heartbeat of the community,” he says worry about how unrecognisable central Glen Waverley is becoming “The great attraction of Glen Waverley was that it was open … You had plenty of sunlight and air The suburb is undergoing yet more change with the construction of one of six stations of the Labor government’s $34.5 billion first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop Glen Waverley residents and business owners are hopeful it will benefit the area by bringing more people in The state government is also overseeing planning controls around each station and has flagged that towers of up to 25 storeys will be permitted in Glen Waverley to help accommodate a predicted 2051 population of 46,500 but hundreds of parking spaces near Kingsway have been lost to construction works drivers are stuck doing lap after lap in search of a parking spot pictured at Mocha Jo’s in 2022 before he sold the business who founded cafe Mocha Jo’s in 1999 and turned it into a local institution the parking problems were just one of several issues that led him to sell up in October It was a tough decision; he adores the area But he says he couldn’t simply wait for the Suburban Rail Loop station to be completed the short term is what’s important,” he says But those glory days are unfortunately gone.” Hong Kong Dim Sum’s Kong Choi Leung is still on the tools.Credit: Joe Armao 73-year-old Kong Choi Leung is tossing a wok in the 15-year-old kitchen of Hong Kong Dim Sum with a grin He started the business with wife Shing Mui as a side hustle 24 years ago when they made dim sums to freeze and sell from their garage they just work,” jokes their son and business co-owner “None of this work-life balance nonsense.” From left: brothers Andrew and Phillip Leung and their parents Shing Mui and Kong Choi Leung (holding Andrew’s son Asher The space is unpretentious and when The Age visits tables are full of diners enjoying yum cha Others are buying from shelves of frozen dumplings a centre where people who live in surrounding eastern and south-eastern suburbs converge but as a teenager he’d meet girls from Keysborough on Kingsway for coffee dates friends would meet at Glen Waverley station to head to CBD nightclubs before stumbling back to Kingsway for a bite afterwards Leung says that with so many Chinese restaurants where the rent is half that of their Kingsway restaurant Freezers full of dumplings to take home at Hong Kong Dim Sum.Credit: Joe Armao And while he hopes the Suburban Rail Loop will further elevate Glen Waverley he’s scared the current parking and traffic havoc will prompt shoppers and diners to permanently take their business elsewhere It’s really frustrating for people who are hungry or just trying to do a quick milk run,” he says “You can’t be the centre of the universe if you don’t have enough parking spots.” A spokeswoman for the Suburban Rail Loop Authority said works started in May last year and the authority was doing all it could to minimise disruption Victorian Labor MP for Glen Waverley John Mullahy acknowledged the parking troubles being felt by locals hundreds of new spaces would replace removed parking has settled in Glen Waverley for the long term The state government plans to build a multi-level 500-space car park Monash Council is also extending one of its car parks for another 500 spaces Mullahy only moved to Glen Waverley from Oakleigh six months ago but is invested in its success: he too has decided he is here for the long haul His six-year-old daughter is at the local primary school “We made the move like the majority of constituents make the move Glen Waverley Traders Association vice-president Craig Lane has done business on Kingsway for 33 years and now runs three restaurants – Steak Ministry Paradise Road and Elephant Corridor – with a fourth on the way He says that while other eat streets of Melbourne are known for one particular type of cuisine One day you might find yourself inside a quirky seven-storey food complex you might head for a pint and a parma at the Waverley RSL a branch that started in 1950 and is adored by locals for fostering community spirit “You can come to Glen Waverley for a month and go to a different restaurant every single night.” grew up in Glen Waverley and wants the same for her baby.Credit: Joe Armao Jordan Harrick has been bringing specialty coffee to her home suburb for 10 years She set up Black Flat Coffee Brewers at age 22 and has found success as a go-to for rail commuters as well as local workers and residents The venue is tiny – it has four stools inside and a window espresso bar – but is at the base of an apartment tower right by the train station on Kingsway is even a nod to what European settlers originally called the suburb due to its rich agricultural soil grew up in Glen Waverley and met her husband at the public high school She fondly remembers wasting time at The Glen sipping on Happy Cup bubble tea and scarfing down food with her family at Imperial Kingdom Her family often joked about the suburb being the centre of the universe because it was buzzing day and night “I haven’t found a suburb that has this much energy all through the week and still feels really safe and family-friendly,” she says he refers to it Vishal Kapoor still refers to Glen Waverley as his village He still catches up for dinner once a month with his grade 3 friends they couldn’t bring themselves to leave the area “If you said to me where could I move to that ticks the boxes of education Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter there\\u2019s a term that is often uttered to describe Glen Waverley: the centre of the universe (\\u201Cyu zhou zhong xin\\u201D) And when you\\u2019re standing on Kingsway it\\u2019s humming with people seeking to fill their bellies with Chinese wontons and Sri Lankan hoppers it doesn\\u2019t take long to realise that Glen Waverley seems to have a certain pull: once you move here more than 60 per cent of Glen Waverley\\u2019s residents are born overseas he recalls being the only child who wasn\\u2019t white \\u201CThe diversity of cultures coming in has changed the dynamic \\u201CIt was dumb luck that we ended up here While Kapoor and wife Shivani couldn\\u2019t afford a large family home in the suburb one of Victoria\\u2019s most sought-after public schools A shows the school consistently reached median scores of between 32 and 34 \\u2013 above the state median of 30 \\u201C[In Asian families] education is first and foremost What comes with that is good teachers and leaders.\\u201D It\\u2019s a decision that has long vexed those living further east While some of these houses have been demolished and substituted for more modern \\u201CMcMansions\\u201D Glen Waverley\\u2019s importance was amplified when Bartlett says locals nicknamed the academy \\u201CCopper\\u2019s Christi\\u201D McDonald\\u2019s set up its first Victorian venue Monash Council Mayor Nicky Luo\\u2019s first job was at the local Maccas \\u201CI was very anxious going into that job it\\u2019s soon apparent that she is on a first-name basis with many of the traders very quiet.\\u201D But the area quickly grew on her Luo is Monash\\u2019s first mayor of Chinese heritage \\u2018Who needs to go to the city?\\u2019\\u201D apartment blocks have started to dot Glen Waverley\\u2019s suburban skyline including three residential towers built as part of The Glen shopping centre\\u2019s 2019 redevelopment but it\\u2019s not a huge change in lifestyle in terms of language and grocery shopping.\\u201D Xu\\u2019s property agency finds that about two-thirds of buyers are Chinese they\\u2019ve just finished a story session at Glen Waverley Library and are about to walk back to their eighth-floor rented apartment at The Glen The city is nice but it\\u2019s just too crowded all the time,\\u201D she says this definitely would be a very ideal place [to buy].\\u201D \\u201C[Our school] is the heartbeat of the community,\\u201D he says \\u201CWe can\\u2019t keep sticking portables up.\\u201D \\u201CIt\\u2019s a massive overdevelopment,\\u201D he says \\u201CThe great attraction of Glen Waverley was that it was open \\u2026 You had plenty of sunlight and air you weren\\u2019t walking around in shadows.\\u201D The suburb is undergoing yet more change with the construction of one of six stations of the Labor government\\u2019s $34.5 billion first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop who founded cafe Mocha Jo\\u2019s in 1999 and turned it into a local institution But he says he couldn\\u2019t simply wait for the Suburban Rail Loop station to be completed the short term is what\\u2019s important,\\u201D he says But those glory days are unfortunately gone.\\u201D they just work,\\u201D jokes their son and business co-owner \\u201CNone of this work-life balance nonsense.\\u201D but as a teenager he\\u2019d meet girls from Keysborough on Kingsway for coffee dates If you don\\u2019t know where to go for dinner he\\u2019s scared the current parking and traffic havoc will prompt shoppers and diners to permanently take their business elsewhere \\u201CIt\\u2019s hard to get in and hard to get out It\\u2019s really frustrating for people who are hungry or just trying to do a quick milk run,\\u201D he says \\u201CYou can\\u2019t be the centre of the universe if you don\\u2019t have enough parking spots.\\u201D \\u201CWe made the move like the majority of constituents make the move and that\\u2019s for the education,\\u201D he says and now runs three restaurants \\u2013 Steak Ministry Paradise Road and Elephant Corridor \\u2013 with a fourth on the way \\u201CEveryone lives in peace,\\u201D Lane says \\u201CYou can come to Glen Waverley for a month and go to a different restaurant every single night.\\u201D The venue is tiny \\u2013 it has four stools inside and a window espresso bar \\u2013 but is at the base of an apartment tower right by the train station on Kingsway \\u201CI haven\\u2019t found a suburb that has this much energy all through the week and still feels really safe and family-friendly,\\u201D she says \\u201CPeople stay here a long time.\\u201D they couldn\\u2019t bring themselves to leave the area \\u201CIf you said to me where could I move to that ticks the boxes of education Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories 2024 has been our biggest year yet, with construction of Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East powering ahead. We’ve had boots on the ground at all 6 station sites and the train stabling facility with more than 1500 people working on the project Our first major tunnelling contractors are now on site, kicking off major construction in Clayton soon after a blitz of works to move underground services and prepare the site earlier this year The second major tunnelling contract has been awarded and we have shortlisted 3 world-leading bidders to build the 6 underground SRL East stations The TBM launch site at Burwood is now more than 9m deep and getting deeper as workers prepare for the start of tunnelling in 2026 The first 4 TBMs for SRL East have been ordered and will start arriving on site next year Almost 870 women applied to be part of SRL’s world first all-women TBM crew We started building a temporary bridging structure along Whitehorse Road in Box Hill that will keep local traffic moving during construction of the station underneath As Australia’s largest housing project SRL East will help deliver 70,000 additional homes in the areas around the 6 new underground stations We received thousands of responses from communities and councils to our Draft Visions and Key Directions which will help shape structure plans for these neighbourhoods – and there are more opportunities for locals to have their say next year with works powering ahead from mid-January Here’s a snapshot of what’s coming up in your local neighbourhood traffic management and notifications will be in place to help locals and motorists plan ahead and we will do all we can to minimise disruption Box Hill Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives have charged a man following a sexual assault in Mount Waverley last month Police will allege the man sexually assaulted a child during a tutoring session at a business on Hamilton Place on Saturday A 56-year-old Mount Waverley man was arrested at his address on Monday He has been charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child under 16 years and was bailed to appear before Ringwood Magistrates' Court on 13 September Perhaps you want to invest in Melbourne’s property market but don’t know where to start Or maybe you’re wondering what the best Melbourne suburbs to invest in are for 2025 Melbourne has been Australia’s strongest-performing housing market over the last couple of years it has underperformed over the last 12 months dwelling prices have been basically stagnant while many other capital cities enjoyed double-digit capital growth Note: Melbourne's property values have risen 10.6% since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020 but they are still -5.1% below their previous peak in March 2022 the fact that the Melbourne housing market has not performed as strongly as some other capitals over the last 2 years creates a window of opportunity for strategic property investors looking for significant upside potential But the city will have to limp through the rest of the financial year with virtually no growth expected before June 2025 While CPI dipping below 3% had been tipped to preclude an interest-rate cut, the firm’s senior economist Maree Kilroy has warned she doesn’t believe the first reduction in home loans will be made until June next year she said Melbourne’s units and houses were likely to rise in value by 7% in the 2026 financial year The 7% uptick would add about $59,688 and take the city’s typical residence cost to $852,700 Again, this creates a window of opportunity to get into the property market before the Melbourne market picks up again As Melbourne moves through its fragmented recovery phase a clear flight to quality properties continues to occur A-grade homes and "investment grade" properties are still in short supply thanks to prevailing strong demand while B-grade properties are taking longer to sell and informed buyers are avoiding C-grade properties altogether Auction clearance rates also give a great "in time" indication of the mood of Melbourne property buyers and sellers and Melbourne's auction market data show that the market has recovered its "mojo." Melbourne’s clearance rates held up well throughout 2023 and have been stable throughout 2024 the question I hear many property investors ask is: What is going to cause property values to increase moving forward I believe demographics (such as population growth and where we want to live) as well as the wealth of the nation will be the main long-term drivers of our property market and will be much more important than the short-term fluctuations created by interest-rate rises The rising tide that lifted all ships in the last boom has now gone as has the period of rising household incomes and low interest rates that we enjoyed over the last decade That means our property markets will be much more fragmented moving forward and capital growth will be dependent on local factors and wage growth of the people in these locations I’ve broken down what I see as the best suburbs to watch in Melbourne with help from data from domain.com.au and realestate.com.au Here are the full details of all the suburbs to watch in Melbourne Bentleigh is a high-demand market with good transport links While the suburb mainly consists of established couples and families it is a gentrifying suburb with many young families moving into the older houses or into the many new townhouses being built in Bentleigh and proximity to both Southland and Chadstone shopping centres Located around 17km east from Melbourne’s CBD Blackburn is a leafy suburb which offers a wealth of amenities The area has long been sought-after for those families looking for the suburban dream in close proximity to the city and continually experiencing strong owner-occupier demand Just 8km from Melbourne’s centre is Essendon a popular western Victorian suburb among families and professionals who want to be close to the CBD reputable schools and ample lifestyle amenities Home to one of Australia's most well-known football clubs Essendon is known as an up-market western suburb with wide property in the area still fetches impressive price tags and decent price growth Glen Waverley is orientated around young families and professionals The area has a low crime rate and sits in the catchment for some of the best schools in the city The suburb sits just 19km southeast of the CBD and is residential in nature with substantial areas of commerce centred around the Glen Waverley Railway Station A little closer to the city and offers access to The Glen Shopping Centre McKinnon has easy access to public transport and is within a short distance of the city and many other facilities within arm’s reach Like the surrounding suburbs of Bentleigh and Ormond McKinnon is gentrifying with many new homes and townhouses being built is a great drawcard for both home buyers and tenants Mitcham is located in the middle ring of eastern suburbs in Melbourne where gentrification and infrastructure upgrades are plentiful but property prices are still affordable The combination means the suburb is experiencing strong owner-occupier demand which will only continue to push up property prices and rental demand in the area known for its historic mansions and expansive parklands is also popular among families and professionals alike thanks to its easy access to the CBD reputable schools and simple lifestyle amenities Mount Waverley is another very family-friendly area where locals are mainly older couples and families with some younger single people The area has a relaxed lifestyle with lots of parks Preston is located around 9 km north-east of Melbourne's CBD within the City of Darebin and is known for many things Preston is a particularly great location to buy a townhouse Reservoir is another gentrifying middle-ring suburb which offers great opportunities to buyers looking for a townhouse Not only is it one of Melbourne's most affordable suburbs making it a popular choice for a variety of household types Ringwood is another suburb located in the middle ring of eastern suburbs in Melbourne There might be a lot of talk about certain property ‘hotspots’ which are said to guarantee investment return But I don’t believe in hotspots or investing in an area just because it is expected to be the “next best thing” this year’s “hotspots” tend to be next year’s “not-spots” and as a long-term investor My approach to this list of top Melbourne suburbs for 2024 is to highlight strong and stable suburbs that have shown both consistent historical growth and also have the right demographics to suggest future long-term growth And let’s not forget one of the most vital things to remember…  Note: Neighbourhood is now more important than ever and play all within 20-minutes-reach home is the new gold standard desirable lifestyle If social distancing and the pandemic taught us anything it’s the importance of the neighbourhood we live in If you can leave your home and be within walking distance of the recently implemented coronavirus restrictions might seem a little more palatable than if you had none of that on your doorstep the rise of the 20-minute neighbourhood started long before Covid-19 You will find these are often in the gentrifying aspirational lifestyle suburbs of our capital cities and people will pay a premium to either own or rent a property in these locations And many of Melbourne’s inner suburbs and middle ring suburbs already meet the 20-minute neighbourhood test thanks to ample supermarkets and other things which make the area considerably more appealing Unlike the outer suburbs which are set away from city transport links and with minimal access to supermarkets or clothes shops… there definitely aren’t any gastro breweries or art galleries As the size of our accommodation gets smaller demand for options in a great neighbourhood will rise and people will be prepared to pay a premium to live or rent in this type of location Understanding these factors forms part of the research data we use at Metropole to help our clients find investment-grade properties or A-grade homes for owner occupation moving forward the various suburbs in our cities will show a dramatic range in performance there's no doubt that proximity to lifestyle locations will remain a big drawcard As well as access to popular education catchments This is true of both primary and secondary school catchment zones which have in general outperformed the market and are likely to continue to do so Education is a long-term consideration and or are an investor looking to attract long-term it may be beneficial to consider school catchment zones when you are determining suburbs of interest According to leading demographer Bernard Salt the pandemic changed the Australian workforce not just by prompting adaptation to new technology like Zoom calls and triggering a work-from-home movement but also by rigidly dividing the nation according to skill sets The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies every job according to one of five skill levels with Skill Level 1 being the most skilled It is well recognised that the rich – such as people with a Skill Level 1 job - are getting richer which require little or no previous work experience (like general sales assistant kitchen hand) are experiencing no wages growth A Skill Level 1 job requires a bachelor’s degree or higher or the equivalent of at least 5 years of training People with these types of jobs will earn more income and be able to afford to pay more for their properties The pandemic demands skills in finance (accounting) the story of the balance of the workforce has been quite different you're probably wondering what's the right thing to do at present You can trust the team at Metropole to provide you with direction Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, at times like we are currently experiencing you need an advisor who takes a holistic approach to your wealth creation and that’s exactly what you get from the multi-award-winning team at Metropole protect and pass on their wealth through a range of services including: Lower Rates Drive Home Prices Higher Over April | Latest Housing Market Stats Dr Everything you need to know about the state of Australia’s property markets in 20 charts – April 2025 Brisbane Property Market Forecast [2025] – What’s Ahead & Where to Invest Melbourne property market forecast for 2025 | Is it a good time to invest in Melbourne Mentone (between the water and Mentone Village) is the meat in a Beaumaris and Parkdale sandwich good homes and units - do you consider this part of Mentone as a good place to invest Did you have any recommendations for people with a budget of less than 1M without compromising on those skill level 1 and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" good homes and units – do you consider this part of Mentone as a good place to invest but the investment property you eventually buy should be the physical manifestation of a whole lot of decisions that should be made in the right order so staring by asking abut a suburb or a location is the wrong way around Villa units or townhouses make great investments in the suburbs also We’re not looking for hot spots or the next new things we’re looking for locations that have “always worked well.” Thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts Yet all the suburbs you recommended prices tanked and will underperformed in short medium term Prices corrected – but didn’t “tank” and investing is about the long term not the short term – that’s specualtion am looking at Melbourne outer ring new suburbs because they are very low cost – 4/2/2 fir $530K new home – by example Sydney new H&L packages have gone up by 50% in the last two years because of HomeBuikder grant land prices rising and build costs starting to skyrocket I see Melbourne’s new suburbs following suit and appreciating quite quickly from where they are now – any thoughts While some of the outer suburbs of Melbourne have performed strongly over the last year due to affordability and the homebuilder grant I believe buying a property in the outer suburbs will be a poor investment as these are areas where property prices are now unaffordable to many – there’s no way the locals can afford to pay more and push-up values as they’re not getting more money in there pay packets would you see any growth with suburbs around Broadmeadows Would you say it’s a bad or good investment Giving that the hospital metro straight to city etc those areas are definitely not on my radar as areas that will outperforming the long-term Commercial Property — A Property Investor’s Guide 9 Steps to Getting Started in Property Investment House prices vs Inflation in Australia 2024 How to get into property development in Australia Top 15 Tax Deductions for Investment Properties in Australia Reki Reinantha’s vision for Andzero was to create a local meeting spot that stood apart from the typical Melbourne cafe “I wanted to offer the community something different,” the co-owner and chef tells Broadsheet “There won’t be any avo toast or poached eggs on our menu.” a casual pop-up specialising in chirashi bowls and nigiri sushi and have now turned their talents to this charming neigbourhood cafe in suburban Glen Waverley with options including crisp chicken katsu each served on fluffy white rolls and available all day until sold out an onsen egg and soba noodles served alongside your choice of protein (its most popular sets include the chicken karaage with curry aioli and the unagi and dashi scrambled egg set) You’ll also find three different types of homemade onigiri travel spots and more – curated by those who know Andzero is doing a set menu dinner service from Thursday to Saturday – but be sure to arrive early The specialty coffee program by Five Senses is overseen by head barista Belle Lee (formerly of Ondo), and includes Five Senses’ take on viral drinks such as the Mont Blanc and strawberry matcha. Pastries are another drawcard, with a mix of in-house creations and viennoiserie from Yarraville’s Cobb Lane Bakery The house cream cheese garlic bread made from brioche dough has been an instant hit The atmosphere inside the 22-seat venue is modern yet homey Reinantha and his team completed the fit-out themselves terrazzo surfaces and a palette of white and peach creating a warm Reinantha is already planning his next move with plans to relocate Sachi into a new home in the CBD 696 High St Road, Glen Waverley @andzero.melb Bakeries and Restaurants That Opened or Closed in April 32 of the Hottest Dishes and Drinks in Melbourne Right Now Menu Reveal: Five Things To Order at Junda Khoo’s Ho Liao First Look: Filipino Pop-Up Palay Moves to Fitzroy for Good A temporary error has occurred. If the problem persists, please visit my.wpengine.com or check our status blog for updates. From early days in 1967 as a simple shopping strip with a supermarket and 30 stores central Glen Waverley has boomed into a large and vibrant retail and entertainment centre cafes and groceries line the bustling Kingsway The Glen shopping centre now boasts hundreds of stores and dining options and the refurbished Century City Walk has a cinema multiplex and bowling alley to keep you entertained Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East will deliver a brand new underground station in the heart of Glen Waverley connecting even more people to this community so let’s take a look at this ever-evolving suburb and its bright future Glen Waverley 3150 website Glen Waverley is set to boom when SRL East opens in 2035 SRL will slash travel times and provide faster and more convenient access to The Glen Shopping Centre employment areas and hospitals to the north and south Glen Waverley will have trains running in 3 directions: south to Monash University Clayton and Cheltenham; north to Deakin University and Box Hill; and to the city on the existing metro line SRL trains will initially run every 6 minutes A journey from Glen Waverley to Monash University for lectures will take just 3 minutes with SRL; to Deakin University for classes A journey between Glen Waverley and Cheltenham will take just 15 minutes meaning locals will save up to 2 hours on a public transport return journey from Glen Waverley to Southland Shopping Centre A new station plaza will be built next to Coleman Parade including laneways and paved areas around the station entrance There will be a seamless connection to the existing Glen Waverley station forecourt The SRL station will have 600 bicycle parking spaces making it easier and more convenient for people to ride to and from the station community facilities and walking and cycling links will make Glen Waverley an even more attractive and vibrant place to live The new station will attract clusters of new businesses with local employment opportunities expected to more than double to around 25,000 when SRL is fully delivered Suburban Rail Loop will attract more customers and more visitors.' 'It will be easier and more convenient for them to come to our shop.' 'We'll be creating foot traffic for the shopping centre.' and diverse offerings of food as far as our hospitality industry is concerned.' 'I think the Suburban Rail Loop is going to bring a lot more people to our area It’s a diverse community and it will just enhance that and give us greater exposure.' We have a very diverse community here of customers that come in.' 'Suburban Rail Loop will just bring a lot more people into the area Having more public transport makes it easier for them to come across and enjoy the experience here at The Glen.' View the Glen Waverley page A structural engineer and his company have been convicted and fined a combined $480,000 for work failings that contributed to a dangerous land collapse at a Mount Waverley building site The 15-metre deep hole on Mount Waverley's Highbury Road being dug for a medical and childcare centre with a double-storey basement car park Townhouses on the edge of the excavation collapse in Mount Waverley Residents in neighbouring townhouses were told to get out amid fears the rock and earth at the edge of the building site would collapse further Engineer Aldo DiTonto was fined $100,000 on Friday over the collapse was also penalised $380,000 for breaches of work safety laws in relation to the cave-in County Court judge Julie Condon found DiTonto favoured the cheaper option in not planning for an excavating crew to bore supports into the ground to instal anchors into the rock and to spray concrete as the diggings continued Judge Condon found the failings were a "very significant departure” from acceptable safety standards that posed major risks to the safety of the public and workers on the site The Highbury Road site in Mount Waverley after the collapse "It is clear that your conduct bore potentially fatal consequences for those working at the site or for those in the immediate vicinity," she said But DiTonto's instructions that diggers excavate at angles and spray concrete onto the rock were not followed during the excavations DiTonto and his company each pleaded guilty to one count of failing to ensure persons other than employees were not exposed to risks to health and safety The engineer and his company were among those charged by Worksafe investigators in 2016 over the land collapse The directors of a building company and an engineering firm are planning on fighting their charges at trial Judge Condon said as a structural engineer DiTonto "ought to have been aware both of the risk and the safety measures that could be adopted to eliminate or reduce the risk" The judge acknowledged the engineer's acceptance of responsibility and remorse and said his guilty plea had spared the community a long and complex trial Character references portrayed him as a man of "exemplary character" who was usually a person of high professional standards and put a high value on workplace safety The collapse required a massive backfill of 1700 truckloads - or 16,000 cubic metres - of dirt to be dumped on the site to secure it from further problems The 15-metre deep hole on Mount Waverley's Highbury Road being dug for a\\u00A0medical and childcare centre with a double-storey basement car park Judge Condon found the failings were a \\\"very significant departure\\u201D from acceptable safety standards that posed major risks to the safety of the public and workers on the site \\\"It is clear that your conduct bore potentially fatal consequences for those working at the site or for those in the immediate\\u00A0vicinity,\\\" she said But DiTonto's instructions that diggers excavate at angles and spray concrete onto the rock were not followed during the excavations DiTonto \\\"ought to have been aware both of the risk and the safety measures that could be adopted to eliminate or reduce the risk\\\" The judge acknowledged the engineer's acceptance of responsibility and remorse Character references portrayed him as a man of \\\"exemplary character\\\" who was usually a person of high professional standards and put a high value on workplace safety The collapse required a massive backfill of 1700 truckloads - or 16,000 cubic metres - of dirt to be dumped on the site to secure it from further problems.\\u00A0The land remains vacant This is probably not the page you’re looking for I didn’t appreciate Mount Waverley’s charms its zone 2 status made it feel a world away from where I (believed I) belonged I imagined myself as a suburban Sofia Coppola protagonist or Bill Henson muse Filtered through my aptitude for teenage dramatics flocks of grandparents and quality amenities took on a caustic light I’d lie in bed and listen to the murmur of the Monash Freeway a Mount Waverley classic barely standing decades on from the 1950s development boom there weren’t many competing sounds to drown it out Often I’d try to find some cultural relevance to anchor my blooming identity When Adam Elliot won the 2003 Best Animated Short Film Oscar my mum pointed out he grew up nearby and went to my primary school the only thing that felt older than the residents was the gossip Rumour had it we harboured a serial killer some 70 years before Although by the millennium true crime drama was limited to the time we went to the cop shop to report my brother’s bike stolen It was later found left outside the station cutting short any real mystery while totally encapsulating the polite spirit of the area I’d brave the endless (32 minute) train ride to the city for a bit of action and wonder if anything of interest would ever happen in my lifetime where cultural events extended beyond Carols by Candlelight at Jells Park and the annual bushwahzee dance That indignation continued until I made it out of Mount Waverley and moved to the inner north I might have cast myself as a heroine adrift in a sea of asphalt and quality public transport links but the suburb was as easy to escape as any nurturing embrace do my laundry and retreat to the life I’d imagined all those years before noisy and only a mere 32 minutes (by tram) from the action Then I hit my 30s and began thinking about buying a home and entombing my own child in the comfortable silence of suburbia I began to reconsider my hometown and wonder if I’d misunderstood its gentle appeal my best friend and I would ride our bikes along Scotchmans Creek and wonder what it would be like to hear a subway I’d wander that same path with my baby asleep in a carrier and appreciate how no racket woke her up danger and a collection of local floppy-haired boys who had opinions on the Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen versions of “Hallelujah” shops within walking distance and a train line that was safe after dark Mount Waverley was having its own coming of age moment Fine dining used to be a baked potato at the Sunny Room roast chook from Chickie Babes or maybe (on special occasions) a “pan-fried” (not toasted) sandwich at The Talking Point an influx of new international residents mean culinary options span China You can still get a lamington or vanilla slice from one of the bakeries but you can also pop next door for a Bánh mì and find decent coffee I don’t know if that next generation will feel differently to me If they’ll have more to do on the weekend than picnic in Valley Reserve eat Paddlepops at the local pool or see a cheap movie two months late at Waverley Cinema If it takes them 20 years to understand what they’ve got they’ll probably also be too late to claim it Because while I might have come to my senses and finally recognised Mount Waverley’s charms with median house prices breaching $1.5 million This piece is part of The Age’s Life in the ’Burbs series I didn\\u2019t appreciate Mount Waverley\\u2019s charms I\\u2019d lie in bed and listen to the murmur of the Monash Freeway there weren\\u2019t many competing sounds to drown it out Often I\\u2019d try to find some cultural relevance to anchor my blooming identity Although by the millennium true crime drama was limited to the time we went to the cop shop to report my brother\\u2019s bike stolen I\\u2019d brave the endless (32 minute) train ride to the city for a bit of action Each week I\\u2019d return to see my parents do my laundry and retreat to the life I\\u2019d imagined all those years before I began to reconsider my hometown and wonder if I\\u2019d misunderstood its gentle appeal I\\u2019d wander that same path with my baby asleep in a carrier and appreciate how no racket woke her up danger and a collection of local floppy-haired boys who had opinions on the Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen versions of \\u201CHallelujah\\u201D I wasn\\u2019t the only one who\\u2019d changed roast chook from Chickie Babes or maybe (on special occasions) a \\u201Cpan-fried\\u201D (not toasted) sandwich at The Talking Point but you can also pop next door for a B\\u00E1nh m\\u00EC and find decent coffee I don\\u2019t know if that next generation will feel differently to me If they\\u2019ll have more to do on the weekend than picnic in Valley Reserve If it takes them 20 years to understand what they\\u2019ve got they\\u2019ll probably also be too late to claim it Because while I might have come to my senses and finally recognised Mount Waverley\\u2019s charms Over the past 25 years the Sienna estate has transformed a former brick quarry into a wide selection of lakefront homes A Mount Waverley estate started 25 years ago will soon be finished by its original backers’ grandchildren Founded by the Chain Group’s Harry Chrapot who swapped developing milk bars for housing Sienna has almost completely replaced a 7.3ha former brick quarry And after a period of exceptional advancement in Melbourne’s property market the seven addresses in the 118-home estate’s final release have come a long way from those built at the start RELATED: Al-Taqwa College: Islamic school collects $58m in Truganina land deal Melbourne land prices poised for $30,000 lift: Research4 Hong Kong buyers win Mount Waverley auction sight-unseen And the estate’s average home has swapped laminate benchtops for marble It has been dubbed Azure for the lake opposite the homes it was traditional red and brown-brick double-storey homes,” Mr Lewis said “But as land values have risen and people are demanding more contemporary homes with architectural design … there has been a big evolution.” The estate’s final homes will boast curving facades and marble surfaces not even considered when the first homes were built Open-plan design and suspended lighting has replaced things such as laminate surfaces in the kitchens He said the first houses on the site had cost about $100,000 to build Contemporary designs by ADDARC architects now feature flat rooflines European appliances and aesthetically curved facades are joining the traditional square or angular home frontages Houses will include 230-242.5sq m of interior space a bathroom on each level and a double garage The final homes are part of the Azure release Owners won’t have to worry about construction in their view with building work slated to finish within a few months Each will also have a water view from an outdoor terrace An expressions of interest for two completed four-bedroom houses at the estate ends on May 26 The rest will be sold in the following months They are expected to sell in the vicinity of $1.5m-$1.6m each MORE: Assemble Brunswick project gives tenants chance to own apartment REA report reveals signs that Australia’s housing market is off the boil Federal Budget 2021: Family Home Guarantee won’t help single parents in Melbourne This story was updated on Tuesday 14 March Police are seeking witnesses and information regarding a collision on 8 March that resulted in the death of a bike rider Emergency services were called to the intersection of Waverley Road and Stephensons Road about 6.40am after reports of a collision between a truck and a rider Ambulance crews treated a male cyclist at the scene but unfortunately he could not be revived a student from Bangladesh studying physiotherapy at Monash University The driver of the truck stopped at the scene and is currently speaking with police Anyone who witnessed the crash or with dashcam footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Find out more about Bicycle Network and support us in making it easier for people to ride bikes erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry.