The body of a woman has been found floating in water near a walking trail in Melbourne. The corpse was discovered near The Esplanade in Narre Warren South, south-east Melbourne, on Tuesday morning. Victoria Police have yet to formally identify the woman. The woman’s death is being investigated and police believe there was no foul play.  '(The death) is not believed to be suspicious at this stage,' a Victoria Police spokesman said. Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... Pub is forced to pay family £75,000 after wrongly accusing them of 'dine and dash' over £150... 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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}} The Narre Warren police station is currently undergoing upgrades as part of the State Government’s $78 million investment in Melbourne’s southeast corridor the refurbished station will include better public-facing areas Police workspaces will also be modernised with new energy-efficient amenities Anthony Carbines said that they are “delivering new and upgraded police stations across the state to ensure that police have the facilities they need to keep the community safe” Carbines also added that Arete Australia will be the head contractor of the Coventry Street site a company that was also responsible for the 2018 fit-out of the East Melbourne Police Station Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson applauded the investment adding that it’s more than a welcome boon for the local community “We are now one step closer to having a state-of-the-art police facility that will meet the needs of our growing community and I look forward to seeing the construction progress,” she said the Narre Warren Police Station counter will be closed to the public while the works are being completed Local police will still provide a 24/7 response to the community with residents still well-serviced by neighbouring stations at Endeavour Hills Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas said that “this is a major investment for our local police and the community will benefit greatly” This project is part of the State Government’s record investment of $4.5 billion to hire more than 3600 new sworn police officers having state-of-the-art intelligence systems and better infrastructure and new technology but the page you are looking for doesn't exist Email: admin@theaustraliatoday.com.au Phone: +61 (03) 8375 0295 © Designed with ❤ Media Clock This is probably not the page you’re looking for When asked what his targets are for the next State Election new opposition leader Brad Battin said Pakenham first followed by numerous South East seats and the upcoming Werribee by-election may prove how key this growth corridor will be in 2026 he was asked where he will win seats in the 2026 election The affluent inner east was not first to mind as Labor over the last several elections has chipped away at the Liberal Party’s traditional heartland the first words out of Battin’s mouth were ‘growth corridors’ they’re desperate for a change,” he said in the interview The inner city will still be crucial for Battin to both retain seats from Kew to Brighton as well as recapture seats like Box Hill and Bayswater But a significant offensive in growth corridors Labor’s hold of the South East has only increased with consistent swings toward red in the last three elections through Dandenong Labor picked up a further two seats with Jordan Crugnale taking Bass in 2018 and retaining it in 2022 while Emma Vulin became the first MP for the new seat of Pakenham in 2022 But there is one bulwark that has prevented a Labor wall stretching from Oakleigh to Pakenham Battin only narrowly won his then seat of Gembrook against Labor contender the Liberal Party’s overall vote still went down yet Battin not only held the line but gained a 4.17 margin in his new seat of Berwick Battin’s defense in 2022 may inform his general offensive to try and break Labor’s decade-long rule in Victoria Pakenham and Bass are certainly in the Liberal Party sights as both are held by Labor with less than half a percent of the two-party preferred vote in 2022 Narre Warren South and Cranbourne will be harder to breach all holding firm with an eight percent margin The next election may not be until November next year but the Werribee by-election on 8 February may prove influential in how hard the Liberal Party pushes in the South East Covering the growth areas of Werribee and Wyndham Vale in varying formations has retained Labor for almost 50 years and today holds a strong margin of 10 percent If the Liberal Party can make a decent dent in that margin it could make Battin’s neighbours on the other side of the city into big targets A Toyota Hilux which police investigators believe to have been stolen from a Narre Warren South property earlier this month between 6 and 7 September was involved in the ramming of a police vehicle Mornington Peninsula Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for public assistance to help identify the driver of the ute that rammed into a police car in Mount Martha The incident occurred near the intersection of Nepean Highway and Craigie Road around 1:30am on 13 September when officers attempted to intercept the stolen vehicle the ute turned around and intentionally rammed the side of the marked police car with the two officers inside sustaining minor injuries has 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/ has been met with strong-willed complaints from neighbouring and local residents visual distraction and traffic generation are on the table the lack of development on Shrives Road itself also plays a hand in the residents’ minds regarding the new proposal Goeff Warner says that not only is the proposal “out of place” they get what they want and we [residents] lose the whole way; there’s no wins in it for us “You’re not going to see neighbours here go and attend their church The application seeks for the granting of a permit for the use and development of a place of assembly on the designated address which was purchased by the Immanuel Mar Thoma Church in 2018; the estimated cost of development is $3 million this would see the construction of a place of worship roughly 10 metres tall (in addition of the cross) an automatic sliding gate and a two-metre by one-metre signboard The church’s capacity is capped at 200 people Fellow neighbours Mark Sowden and Pierre (Peter) Camilleri are of the same mind adding that they are both “concerned” with the proposition 60 cars is not enough for 200 people and these people are looking for a new space from Hampton Park because there’s a lot of them,” Mr Camilleri said “If they’re going to overflow and park in the nature strip here then we can’t get out; we already have trouble coming out sometimes with the kindergarten.” The total designated space for religious gatherings is 296 square metres the office space at 31 with a total of 327 square metres in floor area with parking set to be at the rear and access through the eastern side of the church; the lot size is approximately 4023 square metres This would also mean the demolition of the current the brick garage as well as the gi shed at the rear of the property you’re going to see it,” Mr Warner said my wife and I have to have complete silence and some of us here have sleeping disorders; we need to be able to have quiet.” An attached letter of concern to the City of Casey was also included in the planning document; received by the council on 24 August 2023 it details that the current community attending the church services at Hampton Park has 115-plus registered families with an average of four members totalling to 350-plus members It added that the plans would not be able to accommodate the volume of patrons considering that their current site at Holy Trinity Anglican Church “average 90-plus cars on Sundays” and “have been warned several times by CFA next door… due to fire hazard/ambulance hazard in blocking of the road” “We majority of members of Immanuel Mar Thoma Church feel that we are not being given the fair facility we are supposed to get from the so called church construction team,” the letter said The writer of the letter shared some similar concerns with the neighbouring residents saying that current planning capacity limits “will lead to serious traffic blocks as well as accidents fire hazards and ambulance hazards on Shrives Road” “Majority – more than 60 per cent – of the members in the church community is of the opinion that we need to plan ahead for at least five years and make a decision of acquiring a bigger land and building a bigger church in a commercial or multipurpose zoning,” the letter said the site at 67 Shrives Road has been designated as a Low Density Residential Zone According to the planning document in relation to the impact on neighbourhood character careful consideration for landscaping has been taken into account with the front and the rear setbacks open for planting canopy trees it also stated that the proposed building is “highly articulated with a variation of colours” which aims to minimise the appearance of visual bulk; furthermore it was also stated that if and when complete the development would enhance the streetscape and provide visual street appeal Mr Warner’s other concerns lay with Shrives Road’s current condition with traffic congestion extending from Webb Street and along Dee Wy Road through peak hours of the day with the speed limit still capped at 70km/h you’re going to be trying to make a right turn and even at the best of times it’s actually a danger,” he said the Traffic Impact Report detailed that Sunday peak hours would be 10am to 11am with volume at 585 vehicles eastbound and 452 westbound The document stated confidence in patrons utilising existing public transport but in the event that all visitors were to arrive by car – with 65 trips in and out expected – the traffic generated by the site is stated to be readily accommodated by the surrounding road network the church’s maximum capacity of 200 people with 58 car parking spaces poses a concern for the current traffic volume “Neighbours have been complaining here for around 10 years about the road if you’re coming from Fountain Gate you tend to go up quite quick and if there’s someone turning out of the driveway you’re not going to see them,” Mr Warner said the proposed use of the church would see 200 people between 9am and 11am on Sundays 85-100 people for Sunday school between 11am and 12pm and 50-60 people for regional language school on Sundays between 12pm to 1pm with choir practice on Saturdays accommodating 50-60 between 4:30pm to 6pm Prayer fellowships on Fridays between 6pm to 7pm would see 20-30 people and weekdays will have 5-6 visitors for counselling and or special meetings and must be attained through appointment Operating hours for the church would be as follows: Monday to Friday from 9am to 7:30pm Saturdays from 9am to 6pm and Sundays from 8:30am to 6pm The traffic report adds that Shrives Road “already carries higher levels of traffic during the AM and PM peak hours and operates at a good level” “The additional traffic generated by the site I negligible on a Sunday morning and considered to be very low – less than 50 vehicles per direction – impact on Shrives Road,” it said Lack of proper footpath access was another issue that Mr Warner had been concerned about with crossing to the opposite nature strip from 67 Shrives Road made difficult due to the lack of proper crossing amenities and traffic calming devices If improvements to Shrives Road were made beforehand Mr Warner believed that “it would lessen the concerns dramatically” “It would make it a lot safer to put in proper footpaths; it’s not just the traffic “They [the document] talk about using footpaths that are 300 metres away Touching on the access to the site through public transport the planning document states that the site is “not considered to be within the public transport network” but that there are buses operating within 350 metres of the site at Harold Keys Drive It also added that with the development of the area it is “recommended that council investigate” the provision of a footpath on the southern side of Shrives Road and a proper crossing to the north there is no direct way for pedestrians to access 67 Shrives Road Mr Warner and Mr Sowden met with Casey’s senior statutory officer expressing their concerns of the proposed development The City of Casey will not be deciding on the application before 29 July with a Facebook page titled ‘No Church here thank you’ reminding local members to submit their objections to council before the cut-off date The planning application is open to the public and can be viewed at the City of Casey’s website A pedestrian and a ute driver have died in Victoria after a horror two hours on the state's roads Two people were killed on Victorian roads on Wednesday afternoon following separate crashes within a two-hour period Victoria Police confirmed a driver died in Bowmans Forest in the state's north-east while a pedestrian was killed in Narre Warren North in Melbourne's south-east The fatal Bowmans Forest crash occurred on the Great Alpine Road at about 1pm but the exact circumstances surrounding the crash are still being investigated but they have not yet been formally identified The individual who was behind the wheel of the truck was not injured in the crash Both drivers were the only occupants of their respective vehicles at the time The Narre Warren North crash unfolded on the Belgrave-Hallam Road at about 2:45pm A dark grey Ford ute and a Mazda 3 reportedly collided with the ute then hitting a male pedestrian who died at the scene The male driver of the ute was conveyed to hospital under police guard His injuries are said to be non-life threatening The female Mazda driver was also taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries Police are calling for witnesses to come forward and are keen to obtain any footage which may assist crash investigators Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 A real estate agent who came up with a novel advertising campaign spruiking himself as the 'best-looking agent' has divided Aussies P&G Real Estate sales consultant Noah Rezaie, 27, from Narre Warren South has made headlines for his ad on the back of a bus that travels around south-east Melbourne which states: 'Voted #1 Best-Looking Agent in Narre Warren South*' clarifies the title at the bottom of the ad with his left hand in his pocket to strike a casual pose who has been a real estate agent for seven years told Daily Mail Australia the tongue-in-cheek ad was created to get attention 'My colleague Melissa and I were trying to come up with a new idea and not just the typical real estate agent ad,' he said 'People tend to hate real estate agents because they don't have the best reputation 'They think they lie to people and just care about money.' Mr Rezaie explained he wanted to reach people through humour and show the general public some agents are fun and care about helping people, which he also tries to express on TikTok. 'The ad is actually a competition. People are asked to take a photo of the ad on the back of the bus and post it to their stories,' he said.  'The prize is three lots of $200 vouchers. This is the second week, and it runs for a total of three weeks.' Locals have been posting pictures of the ad, which has been 'viewed in a positive way' and received favourable feedback on the agency's Instagram account. But once it was shared on Reddit, Mr Rezaie admitted the public comments were mixed, which he's taken in his stride. 'The general public hate real estate agents, so I understand,' he said. 'The ad hasn't attracted more clients yet but advertisements like this can take time. And it has only been up for just over a week.' The agent said although he hoped the humourous line of 'Voted by my mum' would ensure others knew the agency was joking, some locals have still taken the ad seriously. 'He looks like a cheaper version of James Franco,' one Reddit user said. 'Looks like the back end of a bus to me,' another said. 'If they hadn’t cropped the photo, it’d show his brown (faux) leather shoes, no socks,' another wrote. Some saw the cheeky ad as another reason to hate real estate agents.  'Well there you have it, I can actually think less of real estate agents,' one wrote. 'At least he admits he needs zero skills to do his job,' another said. Others could see the agent's creative and humorous slant on the business ad. 'This is going to be an unpopular opinion … but a real estate agent’s job is to get your house seen, talked about, and sold. You’re all talking about him … this guy knows his sh**,' one wrote. 'Ahh he got you, hook line and sinker! Next time, Just ignore these f***wits,' another wrote. Real estate agent's cheeky ad divides AussiesCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} The request URL is over the maximum size allowed Narre Warren South Scouts will soon enjoy new modern facilities thanks to $650,000 in funding from the State Government State Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas MP represented the Hon Ros Spence MP at the official sod turn to mark the start of construction of the new Narre Warren South Scout Hall The new hall will be built on the grounds of Oakgrove Community Centre and is the first time Narre Warren South Scouts Group will have a place to call their own The government has provided the $650,000 as part of its 2018 election commitment of $5.5 million over four years to build upgrade or refurbish scout halls across Victoria bringing the total investment to $11 million The City of Casey contributed $350,000 and the land Minister Maas was excited on the Scouts’ Group behalf “The Narre Warren South Scouts will soon have their own space to call home and it’s fantastic to see this funding take effect which will help the group’s growing numbers to continue their important work,” Minister Maas said “Giving young people a space in which they can expand and learn new skills is so important to their development and wellbeing.” permanent location will ensure the group can offer more activities to its members to learn and thrive as a community The construction of the new hall will help meet the demand from Narre Warren South Scouts’ growing numbers Scouts Victoria is one of the state’s biggest youth organisations and has a membership base of over 20,000 young people and 9,000 adult volunteers The number of young people involved in scouting has grown by 30 per cent in the last 10 years A family home in Narre Warren South has been destroyed after a fire engulfed the property over the weekend Firefighters from Narre Warren and Berwick CFA fire brigades said they were paged to a reported house fire in Narre Warren South on Saturday 1 October A fire appliance from Narre Warren Fire Brigade arrived within seven minutes and immediately launched an external attack on the fire On arrival the top level of the two-storey house was well alight and with the help from the Berwick Fire Brigade crew firefighters quickly stopped the fire from spreading and achieved a prompt knockdown Narre Warren Fire Brigade captain Travis Carter said Firefighters requested additional support of a ladder platform from Fire Rescue Victoria to assist with the second story fire The residents of the house had evacuated the property quickly however one man aged in his 20s suffered burns and was transported to hospital by Ambulance Victoria It took firefighters 17 minutes to bring the fire under control and nearly two hours to fully extinguish the fire with the support of the ladder platform crew The fire had extended to both levels of the property and extensive fire damage combined with water and smoke damage unfortunately means the home was destroyed The scene was attended by CFA Narre Warren City of Casey (Building Surveyors team) as well as electrical and gas agencies “The brigade would like to thank the local community who safely provided support in the initial response took photos and surrounded and cared for the family who lived at the property in their time of need,” Mr Carter said The cause of the fire is currently being investigated garaging for 10Nathan Mawby Fancy a New Orleans-themed bar at your home A Narre Warren South home with a New Orleans-themed bar and garage space for 10 cars is ready for a new owner looking to get on the beers With sheet music literally plastered all over the walls iconic neon signage and a chorus of instruments the bar named Canel Street has buyers’ interests piqued And the unexpected feature at 6-7 Carrington Court has an even more unlikely story behind it RELATED: Elaborate lifestyle property to become one of Narre Warren North’s priciest Sunbury dream home has huge six-car garage with wine room Award-winning builder adds $2m to Blairgowrie home in six years has never been to New Orleans and its famous Canal Street thoroughfare The name Canel Street is an homage to the bar run by their former brother-in law in Osaka Japan — who got the idea from a venue of the same name in the USA with Melbourne in lockdown for much of 2020 and home gatherings still capped at 30 the bar’s last hurrah was hosting just five people for the vendor’s son’s 30th birthday The bar opens to a pergola area that in turn steps down to the pool Bar staples including a pool table and jukebox could be included with the purchase they’re hoping another family will move in and enjoy the tennis court 15m long pool and multiple living zones on offer But O’Brien Narre Warren agent Joseph Fernand said he was expecting strong demand from automotive enthusiasts The house has garage parking that would accommodate up to 10 cars including a three-door one with tool shelving The workshop area in one of the home’s garages would suit an automotive worker But there’s plenty of other spaces to park a car “If someone wanted to run an automotive business it is set up perfectly for that,” Mr Fernand said The current arrangement offers a separate entry to the part of the home with the bar and its adjoining pergola area but could have the bar and pool room tweaked to add a kitchen and living zone While advertising signage and the instruments will go with the current owner the next owner could claim much of the furniture — including the jukebox The property includes a tennis court with lighting and a stone perimeter wall The home’s interiors now date back 30 years Mr Fernand added that low-interest rates and government stimulus for more affordable properties were being felt higher up the property ladder “That stimulus at the bottom of the market does filter up as people sell their first home and upgrade to bigger properties,” he said “I think the market will be strong this year people will feel like their house is their castle and focus on how they’re living at home.” When the mood isn’t right for a night in at your own bar you can head for the open fireplace in the home’s living room Stained-glass windows add character in the bathroom MORE: Landmark Ballarat residence finds buyer after being reborn after fire Dandenong central’s overhaul to add affordable apartments Nar Nar Goon cattle farmers to make $80m-plus in massive land sale 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 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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) Parents are ringing alarm bells over the cost of Year 12 graduation ceremonies A disgruntled parent reached out to Star News regarding their child’s Year 12 expenses specifically the $160 on valedictory dinner tickets expressed concern over the fact that it would cost a small fortune for a family of five to attend the valedictorian dinner at Nossal High School “Families who can’t afford this expensive meal are not allowed to attend only for the event,” they said The official Nossal High School valedictory graduation dinner announcement stated that ticket prices included a three-course meal soft drinks and would cover presentations and entertainment To be held at Pullman Melbourne Albert Park in November the event itself is optional and is not compulsory for graduation Ticket limits were set to a maximum of five per family The parent wanted to shine some light on the “lack of care by taxpayer-funded schools” adding that “this is a big day for all kids and families” Nossal school administration has also reached out to parents and families who expressed concern over the pricing giving them a platform to liaise the amount Looking at similar events for seniors this year Narre Warren South P-12 College’s upcoming Year 12 formal at Malvern Town Hall will be priced at $120 a head The rising cost-of-living is a central concern and is acknowledged not just by the parent but also by Lyndhurst Secondary College principal Eloise Haynes who said that a growing number of families were feeling the pressure of rising costs “We as a school see this with increasing requests for support for uniform students and families needing additional support with essentials such as food,” she said Nossal is one of only four academically selective high schools in the state According to School Informer and based on 2023 VCE results Nossal ranked 15 out of 170 schools in the state with a median VCE score of 36 and 27 per cent of their study scores being 40 or above the State Government will provide $400 per student to government-school families as part of its recently announced School Saving Bonus The funds can be utilised to offset the cost of uniforms and activities There is means-tested relief from the Government’s Camps Lyndhurst College kept parent payments “as low as possible” Upfront fees differ between government secondary school in Casey ranging from about $200 – $400 plus extras formals and graduation dinners – with VCE Outdoor Education fees possibly adding an extra $500 Narre Warren South P-12 also subsidised its Year 12 end-of-year celebration day and worked closely with providers to negotiate the best prices for venues for formals “we are still facilitating all the regular and important events but also looking at best values for families” “We ensure the when we ask families to contribute for excursions etc that these are all designed with strong educational purpose and value for students,” she said The Rugby Academy program is now Rugby Victoria's fifth government school academy, joining the likes of Melton Secondary College, Fountain Gate, The Grange and Hampton Park Secondary College. Assistant Principal Tori Mulligan revealed the program will offer students more than just a rugby education. "The Narre Warren P-12 Rugby Academy aims to provide our students with a positive pathway program that combines both academic and sporting effort and success," said Mulligan. "The program is not only a pathway to a potential rugby career, as the curriculum that underpins the program provides clear pathways to tertiary studies and future employment opportunities. "The motivation is to provide students with real opportunities to engage in both their sporting and academic talents. "The Academy will provide students with positive engagement opportunities and a pathway to further studies beyond schooling." Central to the Academy's launch at Narre Warren South was the involvement of Academy Movement Inc and it's founder Jimmy Orange. "Academy Movement Inc started working with Narre Warren South P-12 College to help them plan for a 2023 launch with rugby classes at Year, 7, 8, 9 and 10 which will expand to Year 11 and 12 in 2024 and 2025," stated Orange. "Classes are open to all male and females who go through the application process. "The focus is on student outcomes and engagement through the Academy Movement curriculum and high standards set by the school. Students will also gain a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation, First Aid, Level 1 World Rugby Officiating and Smart Rugby Coaching accreditations. "We've had great support from local MP Gary Maas and Endeavour Hills and Casey Crusaders local rugby clubs which many of the students will feed into. "We're excited to build one of the biggest rugby academies in Victoria with a positive rugby culture flowing all the way down to Prep. Rugby Victoria CEO Chris Evans was excited to see rugby's growing footprint within government schools. "The partnership aligns with Rugby Victoria's strategic approach to grow the game within the Government school sector," explained Evans. "Narre Warren South is strategically located in one of the Melbourne’s fastest growing population corridors and is located near Endeavour Hills Rugby Club and Casey Rugby Club. "In 2022, Rugby Victoria launched the Rebels Shield competition, a mid-week XV-a-side competition for Government Schools and we look forward to growing this competition and welcoming Narre Warren South SC into the competition over the coming years." Rugby Victoria Game Development manager Samantha Monaghan was quick to acknowledge the benefits beyond rugby that the academy will have for the program inductees. "It's fantastic that we can provide a pathway for young people in our community to have their education aligned with not only rugby, but also leadership, physical activity and team building opportunities," said Monaghan. A new scout hall could be built in Narre Warren South if the Labor Government is re-elected in the state election Scouts Victoria would manage and maintain the hall which will also be available for local activities and events such as dance classes Labor will provide $650,000 towards building a new hall for the Narre Warren South Scout Group with Scouts Victoria to match this funding with community partners Narre Warren South Scout Group has over 100 members who are set to benefit from a new permanent home “Building the new Narre Warren South Scout Hall is a win for the whole community,” Labor candidate for Narre Warren South Gary Maas said “It will not only help our young people other community groups will be able to use these halls for other activities and events.” With major construction complete on Narre Warren North Road’s newly built southbound lanes between Belgrave-Hallam and Fox roads crews have turned their attention to building the new center median This marks the beginning of the final stage of road widening works for the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade bollards were moved around the centre median and both carriageways were opened with 1 lane operating in each direction to allow crews to build the centre median install guard rail and the traffic lights at Memorial Drive as well as complete landscaping works Works on the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade have been under way this month to: The left turn into Memorial Drive also reopened in early-March Narre Warren North Road provides vital north-south connectivity in Melbourne’s growing south-eastern suburbs more than 18,000 road users travelled along Narre Warren North Road between Fox and Belgrave-Hallam roads Improving safety is a key project priority with the frequency of crashes on Narre Warren North Road between Fox Road and Belgrave-Hallam Road being twice the average of the entire outer south east metropolitan road network The project will also improve active transport options by upgrading existing and building new walking and cycling paths and providing better public transport connections Construction on the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade is expected to be completed ahead of schedule in mid-2023 Find out more about the Narre Warren North Road Upgrade Susan Serey is the nominated Liberal candidate for Narre Warren South in the lead up to the state election on Saturday 24 November Her campaign is local and is built on a lifetime commitment to the area and a proven record of representation for the Casey community has extensive involvement with the local community and business organisations and has been elected and re-elected to local government including having had the honour of serving as deputy mayor “My campaign to get better outcomes for our neglected Casey community is a life commitment to our local area and its future built,” Ms Serey said “From the many doors I have knocked on and calls I have made voters have reinforced the importance of having a genuine local representing them in State Parliament not just an occasional visitor to the electorate organisations and the community’s aspirations and would be honoured to continue getting the best outcome for our Berwick Narre Warren South and Hampton Park communities.” Ms Serey said she would be honoured to be the first local to represent the community “Its aspirations and needs in State Parliament for nearly three decades and end the neglect our community has suffered as a result,” she said “Not a day would be wasted to secure better outcomes for our local community to deal with the backlog of infrastructure accumulated over 16 years of previous Labor governments cut the cost of living and genuinely supporting family and community values.” Founder and chief executive of charity Bahktar Community Organisation has launched his campaign for the October election determined to be a voice for the community He will run for the Casuarina Ward which includes Narre Warren “I never thought about it to run for council I didn’t know that I was going to go ahead with this,” Bassir said “There is a lot of encouragement from friends I might be able to have the opportunity to advocate for a wider community “My advocacy can reach a larger scale than just a small community.” stronger and more transparent financial management of rates and paths are the fundamental pursuits Bassir will strive for His long-term involvement with the disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Casey and Greater Dandenong has brought him another perspective on the needs of the region: employment “I will also focus on increased business and local employment opportunities Local employment opportunities are very important there are over 6000 jobseekers from Afghan communities only Imagine the number for all the communities we have,” Bassir said “If we see the unemployment rate and the job seeker rate it is much higher in the area compared to any other places in Victoria.” Cranbourne had an estimated 7.8 per cent unemployment rate in the December quarter of 2023 almost doubling the average rate in Greater Melbourne Working tirelessly on the frontline to support local jobseekers Bassir is very aware of how hard it could be to secure a job “We are working with Wise Employment and other employment agencies We have put over 300 individuals into employment,” he said “We [Bahktar Community Organisation] have this partnership with businesses we know which business needs what type of workers We have a list of job seekers who are actively looking for jobs I’m always wondering where to get employment next.” As the former Casey Council was sacked following an anti-corruption probe Bassir said he had formed some strategies to make sure that would never happen again “I was on the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee from 2018 The committee was providing strategic advice to the council and the mayor in terms of infrastructure and other projects,” he said but I have a very clear vision that’s what we can do to achieve all the dot points that I mentioned before.” Bassir has played a versatile role in the community Speaking an impressive number of seven languages he kicked off as a part-time Dari language instructor at Dandenong High School then joined the SBS Dari program as a radio presenter and landed at Monash Health as an interpreter “Monash was one of the places that supported me to understand the community,” he recalled working with people and patients who suffered from mental health But I am dealing with all these scenarios that a doctor could deal with a patient delivering heartbreaking news to family members “That (the interpreter job) has helped me to understand the community and its needs.” Working with multiple languages directed Bassir to multicultural communities and eventually led to the establishment of the secular organisation Bahktar Community Organisation The charity organisation supports migrants and refugees with material aid and other resettlement services in the South East More than 6000 individuals have been impacted over the years He has also been working with the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Councils since 2021 “I was very much involved in different cultures and this has encouraged me to stay in this country and do something,” Bassir said “I see each culture and language as a colour Bassir is also working as a professional finance manager He is the 2020 Casey Citizen of the Year and 2022 Victorian Inclusive Volunteering Award winner The soccer pitch at Narre Warren South P-12 College was abuzz on Friday 22 July as it hosted annual charity match the Blue Ribbon Cup Victoria Police players competed against Melbourne City Football Club development players two teachers and several students to raise awareness for the Blue Ribbon Foundation which commemorates Victoria Police members who have died in the line of duty but this year the grounds of Narre Warren P-12 College were given the hosting honour the Melbourne City side came away with the win 6 – 5 much to the excitement of the hundreds of students that surrounded the college’s soccer oval There to congratulate the sides were Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards South East Metropolitan MP Lee Tarlamis and Melbourne City FC chief executive officer Brad Rowse College principal Peter Thatcher said the match was a great success “It’s been a wonderful opportunity to be asked to host the event in 2022 and we’ve certainly put up a good case to the Melbourne City Football Club and Victoria Police to host this fantastic event once again in 2023,” Mr Thatcher said students enjoyed a Victoria Police vehicle display as well as a chance to meet with Melbourne City players and the A-League Trophy The Versace-inspired mansion at 10 Hillcrest Ave A “palatial” Versace-inspired mansion in Narre Warren featuring mermaid wall sculptures and a pool with Italy-imported tiles is causing buyers to cry “bellissima” Influenced by the Palazzo Versace Gold Coast hotel, the opulent house at 10 Hillcrest Ave with a $1.4m-$1.54m asking range is set become one of the suburb’s priciest pads Julius Caesar would be impressed by the home’s Roman Provincial-look facade; boasting ornamental wrought iron flourishes wall-mounted lighting and a terracotta tiled duo-arc staircase leading to a portico RELATED: Narre Warren North: Resort-style house with ‘Slam Man’ court a budding basketball star’s dream Entertainer’s dream home has cinema, $50,000 French Alps cooker Victorian property market update: Who’s best on ground so far in 2022? the eyes feast upon high ceilings with decorative cornices brass ceiling roses and Roman-style features like an internal atrium a saltwater solar-heated pool with a spa features Versace tiles shipped from Italy rose gold ceiling cornice and chandelier combine to impress Owner Nada Radovanov said her late father Steve fell in love with the five-bedroom house and purchased it about two decades ago telling his daughter that he hoped it would help her find a husband – although she “never understood” his thinking behind this reasoning The sculptured mermaids on a feature wall near the entry way High fences promote privacy around the saltwater solar-heated pool which is adorned by a central spa and stacker stone feature wall with tiles from Italy Ms Radovanov has lived in mansion for 19 years and her mother moved in three years ago The house is now “completely different” to when Ms Radovanov first moved in Both she and the builder she engaged to upgrade the home shared an admiration of the Palazzo Versace hotel inspiring them to give the mansion its Romanesque makeover Ms Radovanov installed the pool and an 1200mm freestanding oven “This house is fantastic for parties,” Ms Radovanov said “I had Mum’s 60th birthday and we comfortably had 150 people in the home.” The home’s style was inspired by the Palazzo Versace Gold Coast a rumpus with a balcony looks out to Timbarra Reserve and the main bedroom has a A separate cupboard stores Ms Radovanov’s 130 pairs of shoes mostly heels – including some from Versace Ms Radovanov has “toned down” the house which previously had more colourful feature walls partially-gold mermaids framing a painting in the entry way The front of the property is a head turner for passers by because it has been painted white,” she said who is planning to move to the country with her mother said the home would suit a family due to its location opposite Timbarra P9 College and near Parkhill Plaza Shopping Centre The spacious kitchen has gloss timber cabinetry 40mm jet black stone counter tops and matching splashback a walk-in pantry and 1200mm freestanding oven Gr8 Est8 Agents director Liron Selimi described the mansion as “grand “The formal lounge as you enter is my favourite and the rose gold cornicing around the chandelier,” Mr Selimi said “This sort of property in Glen Waverley or Mount Waverley would cost three to four times more but Narre Warren is only a 15-minute drive away “I think it would cost at least $1m to $1.2m to replicate.” Mr Selimi said buyers were “amazed” by the mansion which is set on 746sq m of land The main bathroom includes a jet spa bathtub A handful of Narre Warren houses have sold for more than $1.4m with most located on blocks measuring 2000sq m or larger The suburb’s $1.8m record price was set by 40 Tinks Rd in 2018 in partnership with his son and fellow agent Chaz Mr Selimi said the 757sq property had become the most expensive in the suburb 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: Wheelers Hill homes with family appeal top reserves Beaconsfield Upper: businesswoman Gillian Franklin’s historic farm is hot property Architect Andre Piotrowski’s custom Beaumaris pad packed with hidden features Police are investigating a pair of collisions involving motorcyclists in Narre Warren South and Clyde North on Friday night one of which resulting in the death of a rider Emergency services were called to Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road just before 8.30pm after report of a collision between a car and a motorcycle near Casey Central Shopping Centre Earlier in the night a car had collided with a male motorcyclist on Berwick-Cranbourne Road in Clyde North The male motorcyclist was taken to hospital with critical injuries On both occasions the driver of the car stopped at the scene and spoke with police The exact circumstances surrounding the collisions are yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing In what was a horror 24 hours on the roads in separate incidents in Southbank and Mount Waverley while a male motorcyclist was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a collision in Hoppers Crossing on Friday evening Anyone who witnessed the collisions or with dashcam footage or further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au Drivers in the south east are a step closer to safer smoother and more reliable journeys as the next phase of a state-shaping road upgrade rolls out We will deliver the Narre Warren North Upgrade in partnership with Symal Group and the South Road Upgrade with Negri Contractors Both upgrades will create a total of about 600 jobs throughout construction while improving capacity and creating a better travel experience in Melbourne’s south-east The South Road Upgrade will improve five intersections between the Nepean Highway and Warrigal Road to deliver safer and more reliable travel times for 40,000 drivers each day five intersections will be improved between the Nepean Highway and Warrigal Road to deliver safer and more reliable travel times for 40,000 drivers each day A new citybound right turn lane will be built to improve access to Nepean Highway along with a new right turning lane at the East Boundary Road intersection to relive bottlenecks and reduce congestion The Narre Warren North Road Upgrade will improve capacity and create a better travel experience on this key north-south link in Melbourne’s south east The duplication works will increase Narre Warren North Road from two lanes four between Fox and Belgrave-Hallam roads and will be supported by upgrades to the Heatherton Road Ernst Wanke Road and Memorial Drive intersections the Narre Warren North Upgrade will improve safety and improve traffic flow at key intersections Major works on both projects are expected to start in November 2021 Designs for the new Narrre Warren Police Station have been revealed following the release of the Clyde North Police Station designs in March the state-of-the-art stations are part of a $78 million investment in Melbourne’s growing south-east corridor and will provide modern facilities and law enforcement infrastructure for Victoria Police Narre Warren Police Station will receive a major upgrade while Clyde North will receive a brand-new station “Our record investments are about making sure Victoria Police has all the resources they need to keep the community safe,” Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said “We’re delivering modern police stations equipped with future-proofed design features so our police have the facilities they need now and into the future.” Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas MP also noted that the upgrade to Narre Warren’s current station will go a long way in upholding community safety “Victoria Police keep our community safe and I am looking forward to the next phases of delivering this important police station major upgrade for Narre Warren and surrounding suburbs,” he said “The officers and staff at Narre Warren Police Station do so much for our community and I know they are looking forward to the upgrade of their facility “The Allan Labor Government is backing our police with contemporary and innovatively designed police stations that will help them uphold the law and promote a safe Tenders for construction will be released in the coming months inviting builders to enter a formal submission to build the stations A sprawling lifestyle estate that offers country living near the city could soon become one of Narre Warren North’s most expensive homes Buyers can roam the grounds of 7 Horswood Road which has been put up for sale with a $4.55-$5m price guide Peake Real Estate director Andrew Brown said such expensive homes were rare in the outer southeastern suburb but the impressive features on the 6ha property made it worth big bucks RELATED: City of Melton multimillion-dollar mansion poised for benchmark Melbourne lockdown: virtual sales done in Narre Warren South, Mount Martha FONTAINEBLEAU: Elwood beachfront mansion to smash suburb house price record Soak in this incredible Narre Warren North home The living room sparkles under an impressive chandelier “The biggest benefit of this property is the space on offer which includes the substantial size of the home and large amounts of shedding,” Mr Brown said “It’s a semirural setting but very close to services and along a sealed road That’s a real benefit because a lot of the lifestyle homes around here are 3km down a gravel road.” and an infinity pool and spa perfectly complemented the four-bedroom designer home The lifestyle home has a $4.55-$5m price guide An infinity pool and spa looks over the rolling hills Soak in views of the valley from a central living room with soaring high ceilings and the expansive main suite that’s set in an exclusive wing an office and second living room add extra appeal There’s also room for 10 cars on the property A large modern kitchen has ample benchspace CoreLogic shows the house previously changed hands for $2.4m in 2012 It also shows the property would become Narre Warren North’s second most expensive home falling behind a whopping $8.3m sale at 291-297 Harkaway Road Mr Brown said he expected the package to appeal to buyers seeking a tree change as well as those already living in regional Victoria READ MORE: Melbourne summer market heating up, Australia Day auctions ready Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and NBA champ David Lee selling $22.7 million island Carl Cox, Richie McNeill: DJ, music promoter list incredible Myrtleford property a drug trafficker has been jailed for shooting another man through a car window in Narre Warren South was found guilty by a Victorian Supreme Court jury of attempted murder of the 25-year-old victim He was also charged with being a prohibited person with a firearm driving disqualified and trafficking methamphetamine in a commercial quantity on the same day sentencing judge Lex Lasry stated a “highly agitated” Constantinou approached his girlfriend and the victim Kevin Passanise sitting in the victim’s white Audi in Shrives Road late at night Constantinou had expressed hatred for another man who he suspected his girlfriend was seeing The woman told Constantinou that Mr Passanise was not “Ricky” but “my mate from New South Wales” as Constantinou demanded they “turn the light on” He then fired a .22 calibre gun through the car window The bullet hit the middle of the 25-year-old victim’s brow line and lodged in the back of his head The woman and Constantinou fled the scene without assisting the victim A critically-injured Mr Passanise underwent surgery and was in a coma for several weeks then onto rehab for physical and psychological treatment “The injuries that he has suffered as a result of your actions have imposed a terrible price on his life,” Justice Lasry said The victim required family assistance and treatment for a very long time Constantinou pleaded guilty to a suite of driving drug and weapon charges but not guilty to attempted murder The jury rejected Constantinou’s claim that the gun fired accidentally when tapped on the window “I regard this as a moment of gratuitous violence on your part which showed indifference to what you were being told by (the girlfriend) even if it had have been (‘Ricky’) in the car there would be no justification of any kind for your actions “This a man you did not know but you simply cursed him and then fired Constantinou was arrested in a stolen Audi with bags of meth and drug-dealing paraphernalia as well as ammunition an anabolic steroid and more than $2900 cash he’d left a commercial quantity of ‘ice’ at his girlfriend’s home police spotted him driving a car with stolen number plates The “thread of high level drug trafficking and firearms” was serious Constantinou had spent seven years in custody His previous convictions include drug trafficking firearm and intentionally causing serious injury He’d used meth and ecstasy for a long time as well as occasionally GHB and buprenorphine He’d been “apparently” diagnosed with PTSD as a response to being shot in 2013 and stabbed in 2014 His symptoms were amplified by his drug problem “That in turn is why you say you carried firearms and used illicit substances “Your prospects of rehabilitation may be reasonable but will require you to avoid drugs altogether.” Constantinou was jailed for up to 18 years His term includes 907 days of pre-sentence detention Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Narre Warren South P-12 College was not the school it is today It had failed to meet basic standards of learning and student wellbeing As it wrestled with the challenges of teaching in one of the most disadvantaged areas in the state it faced a priority review by the education department Principal Rob Duncan with a group of Year Five students whose results have markedly improved.Credit: Eddie Jim Rob Duncan became principal in 2015 knowing things had to change He and his staff set out on a makeover mission that has now been so successful the south-eastern college has recently won awards and been classified by the department as a "school of influence" With 2200 students across prep to year 12 from 60 different cultural backgrounds and more than 200 teaching and support staff "It was a lot of hard work and we undertook a fair degree of self reflection," Mr Duncan said "If we can do it there's no excuse for other schools not to." The key starting points for the transformation were ensuring all staff were teaching in the same way so as to give students stability and help kids whose behaviour was disruptive Making school a refuge for children living in a low-socioeconomic area with high levels of domestic violence was also vital "We needed a really integrated approach," Mr Duncan said "For a lot of these kids this is a safe place for them where they come and there's an advocate for them." "These kids should not be defined by their postcode "We're about an orderly learning environment where kids genuinely feel safe where there are consequences for disruptive behaviour." More and more families are flocking to the school.Credit: Eddie Jim To take this holistic approach to student welfare the school built a $250,000 wellbeing centre which employs a psychologist Mr Duncan said the centre is to thank for a recorded upswing in students' improved attitude and feelings of connection to the school The college receives $3.5 million in equity funding for social disadvantage from the state government each year with many of its students coming from refugee and migrant backgrounds 60 per cent of kids speak a language other than English at home three years after the rescue mission began enrolments are up and zone boundaries are being enforced for the first time The school even took out two Victorian Education Excellence awards last week "The school hasn't always had a great reputation and it was difficult in the early days," Mr Duncan said Principal Rob Duncan and his staff had their work cut out for them "I feel an overwhelming sense of pride for the families and staff that have stuck by the place." Changing a school's fortunes in such a significant way requires "relentless effort" says educational consultant Pamela Macklin "It was quite a big ship to turn around," she said "It required a lot of hard work from a lot of people." "Where schools and teachers can make mistakes is focusing on teaching before an orderly learning environment "We worked together to focus on improving the classroom so the kids could pay attention and the teachers could feel confident they could manage "Anybody can do it if they stick to establishing pre-conditions for improvement first She praised Mr Duncan's highly visible presence at the school and in the wider community as crucial to making a lasting difference he's very in touch with the reality of the school environment." "Any principal hoping to make a change needs to show strong leadership." Continue the conversation on our Age Education Facebook page He and his staff set out on a makeover mission that has now been so successful the south-eastern college has recently won awards and been classified\\u00A0by the department as a \\\"school of influence\\\" \\\"It was a lot of hard work and we undertook a fair degree of self reflection,\\\" Mr Duncan said \\\"If we can do it there's no excuse for other schools not to.\\\" \\\"We needed a really integrated approach,\\\" Mr Duncan said.\\u00A0\\\"For a lot of these kids this is a safe place for them where they come and there's an advocate for them.\\\" \\\"These kids should not be defined by their postcode \\\"We're about an orderly learning environment where kids genuinely feel safe where there are consequences for disruptive behaviour.\\\" the school built a\\u00A0$250,000 wellbeing centre which employs a psychologist Mr Duncan said the centre is to thank for a recorded upswing in students' improved attitude and feelings of connection to the school \\\"The school hasn't always had a great reputation and it was difficult in the early days,\\\" Mr Duncan said \\\"I feel an overwhelming sense of pride for the families and staff that have stuck by the place.\\\" Changing a school's fortunes in such a significant way requires \\\"relentless effort\\\" \\\"It was quite a big ship to turn around,\\\" she said \\\"It required a lot of hard work from a lot of people.\\\" \\\"Where schools and teachers can make mistakes is focusing on teaching before an orderly learning environment \\\"We worked together to focus on improving the classroom \\\"Anybody can do it if they stick to establishing pre-conditions for improvement first She praised Mr Duncan's highly visible presence at the school and in the wider community as crucial to making a lasting difference he's very in touch with the reality of the school environment.\\\" \\\"Any principal hoping to make a change needs to show strong leadership.\\\" Continue the conversation on our\\u00A0 Facebook page.\\u00A0 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 Police have arrested a man in Narre Warren South after surrounding a house on Pendle Close in Narre Warren They attended the property to conduct a welfare check “The man was located by Police in Berwick Springs Promenade and was arrested about 3.40pm,” Tom Elliott said detectives and multiple police arrived at the property around 1pm “My partner went out the front before and they told her to go back inside,” he told Tom Elliott The man was taken to hospital and remains under police guard.