Council’s push for road safety improvements to the intersection of High Street Road and Mowbray Drive in Wantirna South has been successful with $10 million federal funding announced in partnership with the Victorian Government has allocated funding to plan for upgrades at this intersection to ease congestion and reduce travel times as the area grows Knox mayor Lisa Cooper said Council had long advocated for traffic lights at this intersection to improve the safety of motorists turning into High Street and pedestrians and cyclists using the crossing “The Mowbray intersection is well used by residents in the Wantirna South and Scoresby housing estates,” she said “There have been multiple collisions at this intersection involving vehicles entering and exiting Mowbray Drive “Providing a signalised intersection here will improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and access between the northern and southern estates and connect with the greater Wantirna cycling link “Provision of a jump queue for buses at this intersection would also help prioritise public transport.” Having advocated for intersection improvement since 2021 Council is now calling on the Australian Government to fund a broader range of road and transport projects trackless tram between Caulfield and Rowville and Route 75 tram extension along Burwood Highway who was days away from her 16th birthday at the time Cherie was dropped off at Knox Dental Group at about 12pm for a dentist appointment Cherie attended the dentist and left the practice at around 12.30pm Cherie telephoned home from a public telephone box situated on the corner of Selkirk Avenue and Wantirna Road approximately five kilometres from the dentist Cherie spoke to a family member to let them know she intended to catch a train home to Ringwood That was the last known contact anyone had with her tried to make a police report immediately but was told a biological family member was required for that to occur the missing persons report was not filed until six days later however any trace of Cherie was unable to be located with the coroner finding that Cherie has most likely died Police are of the belief that Cherie most likely met with foul play Police have spoken to and been assisted by several witnesses over the past 22 years and investigators continue to pursue new information If you have any information that may assist police to locate Cherie, please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an online report (under the category 'suspicious activity or other crime') Return to our missing persons list to see if you recognise a name or a face. 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) Three further projects as part of the Victorian and federal governments’ $1.2 billion road ‘blitz’ have been announced with a focus placed on fixing some of the most notorious roads in the city’s south-eastern suburbs $38.5 million has been allocated to early works regarding three key sites in Warrandyte South $25 million has been allocated to the planning and development of fixing the ‘five-ways’ intersection at Ringwood-Warrandyte Road Five crashes were reported in the area between 2020 and 2024 with 8000 vehicles driving through the intersection every day $10 million will go towards planning for upgrades to the High Street Road and Mowbray Drive intersection in Wantirna South to identify ways to ease congestion Funding will go towards the early development of a new signalised t-intersection to enhance safety of all road users $3.5 million will be used to develop a business case to improve the intersection of Maroondah Highway and Yarra Road which suffers from severe congestion around school pick-up and drop-off time Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King says the works will help fix chokepoints ahead of the expected growth of the regions “We’re fixing these notorious choke points and planning future road improvements to cater for our growing suburbs,” King says “We’re fixing roads right across the state; we’ve doubled our road maintenance funding to local councils reinstated road maintenance indexation that was scrapped under the former government and are investing heavily in our regions and cities.” “As Melbourne’s population continues to grow we are investing in critical projects that will create better journeys for motorists,” Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams says “We are getting on delivering vital road upgrades across wider Melbourne that will provide safer and faster journeys for motorists.” Australasian Transport News (ATN) and its digital platform Fully Loaded have been the leading source of intelligence for owners and managers of medium to large transport businesses Police have charged a man following reports of two fires in Wantirna South bushland last night.​ Monday 14 April saw the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria crew stamp out a grass and scrub fire allegedly started by a 32 year old man With the fire danger period still in place for Knox emergency services quickly responded to two grass fires in the area of Pumps Lane and Axford Road in Wantirna South A CFA spokesperson said CFA responded to reports of a grass and scrub fire at around 8:37pm “Eight CFA units from multiple local brigades attended the scene alongside FRV and Victoria Police,” they said CFA Crews arrived to an active grass and scrub fire and got to work straight away suppressing the blaze Police responded quickly to the emergency and on their arrival to the scene officers allegedly caught sight of a man trying to put one of the fires out with his shirt It was reported by police media that an attempt was made to arrest the man who allegedly refused to follow police directions resulting in two officers sustaining minor injuries “A 32-year-old man of no fixed abode was charged with light bushfire during a fire danger period,” said a spokesperson from police media CFA and FRV continued to suppress the blaze “The incident was deemed under control at 9:33 pm,” said the CFA spokesperson The Fire Investigation Unit was called in to investigate the cause of the fire and investigators at the sight of the incident have alleged that one of the fires was more than 100 square meters in size The man arrested was then remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later on 15 April The Fire Danger Period (FDP) is a designated time in each Victorian municipality when fire restrictions apply due to increased fire risk a written permit is required to burn off for farming practices This is probably not the page you’re looking for Knox City Council is hosting free evening celebrating local women in business as they share their inspiring stories of resilience The event is a opportunity for people to connect with like-minded women and expand their networks while enjoying complimentary refreshments Three guest speakers will be present for the evening and they include Lillie Giang the owner of The Food Affectionist and President of Feed One Feed All a collection of bespoke Australian-made products a leading local manufacturer and Christy Roberts and global trainer of Self-Directed Healing practitioners Ms Giang is a community champion dedicated to food security offering nutritious home-cooked meals to those in need She is also a former Multicultural Ambassador for the Mental Health Foundation while Ms Cubitt was named the 2024 Victorian Female Manufacturer of the Year and is a strong advocate for gender diversity in manufacturing and Ms Roberts was recently honored with the 2023 Alternative Therapy Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Award The event is set to take place on 5 March at the Knox City Council contact Roshika Kumar at roshika.kumar@knox.vic.gov.au or call 03 9298 8000 Residents can contact Knox City Council to book their free ticket to the evening Nine people from the outer east were arrested after being located at a factory allegedly containing a bounty of stolen goods Police officers from Knox and Rowville were patrolling the area when reports of suspicious activity at a factory on Lewis Road in Wantirna South on 10 January were made An allegedly stolen Renault van was driven through a boundary fence before being located abandoned in Ringwood East Seven people inside the factory were swiftly arrested Police including detectives from Knox Crime Investigation Unit located over 150 allegedly stolen items and other items including a VF Commodore sedan An eighth suspect was arrested after turning up to the factory while officers were on-site a 28-year-old Badger Creek man and a 23-year-old Mooroolbark woman and a 20-year-old Rowville woman were interviewed and released from custody pending further enquiries The driver of the allegedly stolen Renault van was arrested on 14 January by Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives A 23-year-old Clayton man was charged with reckless exposure of police officer to risk by driving criminal damage and driving whilst disqualified He was remanded in custody to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 21 January eager to lead his former club into the future as the new senior coach Jason Heffernan was appointed the new senior coach of the Wantirna South Football Club last September A two-time best and fairest winner at Wantirna South Heffernan captained the Devils to its 2002 premiership With connections to people still at the club it was a perfect fit for both Heffernan and the Devils you go I’d like to go back to where you’d play,” Heffernan said it wasn’t based on being a past player and aspiring to coach there it was the people running the club because I trusted them.” Heffernan has been rapt with what he’s seen so far over the pre-season driven by the numbers of their Under 19’s program “I couldn’t be more impressed by the attendance of not just the senior group but the Under 19’s as well they’ve got two teams this year which is awesome,” “You rock up and there’s 80 blokes there wearing a Wantirna south singlet After a strong 2022 season that saw the senior group make an Elimination Final the Devils took a couple of steps backwards last year In the hunt for the double chance at the mid-way point of the season Wantirna South went on to lose seven of their last nine games of the year finishing in seventh position on the Division One ladder and the depth at the club is highlighted by their back-to-back reserves’ premierships Heffernan believes that a lot of the improvement will arise from internal growth “It’s (Improvement) really going to come from within there’s some guys who really want to push their case for senior selection and some guys who played out of 19’s “Guys who played in the reserves premiership who think they’ve got a fair more bit to give,” “And a core senior group who whenever they don’t have the year they’re hoping for The club have also added a couple of key recruits Noble Park’s Sam Pascuzzi and Warrandyte’s Quinn Clark Pascuzzi is set to be a great inclusion to the Devils midfield coming off the back of a league Best and Fairest in the Under 19.5’s Premier Division Key forward Quinn Clark also joins the Devils finishing in the top two of the club’s best and fairest over the last two seasons He’s certainly set to have a big impact on the side and the forward line set-up “We can really work on what it is that he brings to the table… and that is a forward that has an immense amount of talent,” Heffernan said Heffernan has also been impressed with the way the leadership group led by Jake Denes has worked with the younger group he’ll celebrate a ten-year premiership reunion this year the guy’s just been leading from the front he’s driving some of these younger guys to set up,” we really need them to be capable at senior level to even push towards knocking a team out of the five.” In one of the most even divisions in the competition Premier Division clubs Park Orchards and Doncaster have both entered the division Jason Heffernan is excited for the opportunity to test themselves in a highly competitive division there’s been a clear focus on setting the standards high on and off the field to set the club up for the future “Our conversations at the moment around us is that we’ve just got to operate with high standards and really good behaviours and have our expectations attached to those,” Heffernan said “Most clubs will be the same – they’ll recruit we’ll be fit so what’s going to be our point of difference – let’s just operate on high standards,” it’s just about having a really strong commitment to the level of football that we’re playing.” The Devils season begins on April 6th as they head to Holm Park Reserve to take on Beaconsfield the club will also feature a Senior Women’s team in the league Michael Vozzo has signed on as the team’s senior coach thrilled with the way the team has come together over the last twelve months “To come away with at least one win and be competitive almost every game was a big tick for our program,” Vozzo said Their first senior win came in the second last round of the Home and Away season against Boronia Keeley Bristowe starred with four goals for the Devils in their come-from-behind victory over the Hawks “Probably the best thing about that win was that we had to come a fair way from behind to win,” “What it taught the girls was what it takes to win The addition of the senior program last season has helped improve the pathway for the junior girls at the club Last season’s Wantirna South Under 18 girls team have been able to transition into the senior club this pre-season It’s been a huge success for the Devils who are now able to retain those numbers and keep the girls at the club “We’ve had a lot of our under 18 girls have now come through and that’s what we wanted,” Vozzo said “That’s the whole point of us starting it last year We’ve had a lot of joint sessions with our under-18 girls so it gives all the girls a real pathway.” A senior pathway has also had an impact on some of the younger age groups as well setting the club up for the long-term future “We’ve spoken to a few of the younger girls 16-year-old girls and now their dream is to play senior footy at Wantirna South,” so the pathway is absolutely vital for our girls and gives them something to aim for.” The younger crew that are making the transition into senior football are set to improve the side going into 2024 adding plenty of skill and speed to the playing group “These girls aren’t just footballers; they are very good footballers so their inclusion on our list should help us a hell of a lot.” Leg speed has been one of the trademarks of the Devils outfit A focus on fitness has been once again key over the pre-season as the club prepares for the opening round of the season we’ve been working on a couple of little things around our fitness to increase that this year,” Vozzo said “We got a lot of opposition saying we were quite quick last year especially with our under-18s on our list,” “We are looking forward to hopefully being a bit bigger Match Footage EFNL Board Staff Junior Committee Senior Clubs Junior Clubs Safeguarding Children & Young People Annual Reports (VIEW MAP) Email: enquiries@efnl.org.au Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  charged with 15 assaults allegedly committed during 35km ride from city to Wantirna South A taxi driver has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman throughout a 45-minute trip taken last week from Melbourne’s central business district The alleged attack took place after a 30-year-old woman got into a cab on Collins Street about 3.30am on 27 June Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Victoria police allege the 28-year-old driver sexually assaulted the woman for the duration of the 35km ride to Wantirna South in Melbourne’s east The man also allegedly stole the woman’s engagement ring from her finger during the trip A Thomastown man was arrested at Melbourne international airport about 2.30pm on Saturday He has been charged with 15 counts of sexual assault and one count of theft and was remanded to appear at the Melbourne magistrates court on Thursday Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Free daily newsletterOur Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters Wantirna South nursery for sale as development opportunityMing Haw Lim 530-532 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South is the latest in a series of prime sites being sold for development Long-time Wantirna South nursery owners are being driven out by rising taxes and rates and are seeking a windfall for their prime location The 1.83ha Banksia Nursery site at 530-532 Burwood Highway comes with price hopes of more than $25 million and is expected to draw plenty of developer interest It is suited for high-rise commercial or residential development or as a medical centre Dutch migrants Dirk and Gus van Diggele bought the plot “Land taxes and council rates keep going up and have made it very difficult to run the business and has led to a decision to sell,” Michelle Kelly said “My father who is 91 still works here and we would love to continue running the nursery but we cannot anymore.” The family business grew and turned into a local landmark and popular garden centre A prime spot on the corner of High Street Rd and Burwood Highway “We have customers who were brought here as children and who are now bringing their own children here,” Ms Kelly said “Mum and Dad started with selling six photinia plants and me and my brother helped as well.” garden supply business and a number of buildings and facilities and also could be a hospital,” Schroeder & Wallis director Billy Schroeder said “It is a significant site with priority development status and can accommodate projects of up to eight or nine storeys.” A sale sign at the site describes it as “a landmark corner block” A popular cafe operates on the site and previous businesses there have included a pool shop glass house centre and a drive-through coffee shop The block with dual access has high-profile exposure at the intersection with High St Rd and is near Westfield Knox The listing had already attracted strong local and overseas inquiries The sale is by expressions of interest ending July 31 third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor 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By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. 1201-1211 High Street Rd, Wantirna South, attracted plenty of local and overseas interest A CHINESE developer has squeezed out the competition with a mega deal close to $100 million for a former apple orchard in Wantirna South The family owned Jenkins Orchards site at 1201-1211 High Street Rd attracted huge interest from local and overseas developers when it hit the market in June Purchaser Nan Xin Investment closed the massive deal for the almost 15ha site in late July after weeks of negotiations The site has sought-after Commercial 1 zoning and is ripe for commercial and residential development The commercial and residential zoning breakdown at the Jenkins Orchards site The landmark sale will have a major impact on Wantirna South with the project zoned for high-density residential projects of up to five levels according to Savills Melbourne agent Jesse Radisich The agency ran a four-week campaign with a price guide above $90 million It today declined to disclose the sale price or the buyer’s details RELATED: Homes sold in a day Wantirna remembered for fruit orchards and dirt roads Nan Xin Investment is understood to have outbid several local and overseas developers to secure the site The company has placed a caveat on the title and is understood to be preparing to lodge a development application with planning authorities The property was purchased in 1922 by the Jenkins family produced apple cider and had a fruit and vegetable shop at the site has a wide frontage to High Street Rd and adjoins EastLink It can be developed with several hundred residential homes It is a short drive from Westfield Knox City and The Glen shopping centres Nan Xin Investment is involved in several projects in Victoria and interstate including a luxury apartment and mixed-use project called Galleria in Glen Waverley That project’s 100 apartments sold out within two hours of its 2015 launch A palatial pad has been crowned Wantirna South’s most expensive house after changing hands earlier than expected The luxury entertainer at 8 Miriam Close sold for $2.908 million before its expressions of interest date ended CoreLogic shows it narrowly beat the previous record held by 11 Jessica Close by just $3000 8 Miriam Close set a new residential price record for Wantirna South Jellis Craig Mt Waverley’s Ellie Gong said the standout property sold to a Chinese family from Melbourne and the vendors decided they were happy to sell ahead of schedule to the highest one,” Ms Gong said the reserve behind the house and the tennis court in the backyard.” The 13-year-old home was sold for the first time in its history nine days before expressions of interest closed on December 18 after purchasing the 1375sq m block for $198,500 in 2001 The house sold nearly two weeks before expressions of interest were due to close Ms Gong said the home was a luxury landmark deserving of the top-end price “It has a full-sized tennis court and a pool plus it’s quietly set in a peaceful cul-de-sac that backs onto a reserve,” she said “It has a really unique design and an incredible main bedroom that offers a little retreat area that overlooks both the front and back of the house.” She added it was hard to estimate a final price for the home which had a price guide of $2.8-$3.08 million It had a price guide of $2.8-$3.08 million six-bedroom home boasts views of the Dandenong Ranges from three balconies Other features include crystal chandeliers set a new suburb house price record on Saturday A European villa-style mansion set a new $2.601m record price for Wantirna on Saturday blowing the suburb’s previous benchmark away by more than $400,000 The former $2.2m record was set by 84 Amersham Drive in 2019 Harcourts Judd White area manager Julie Wells said eight to 10 bidders competed for the keys to the five-bedroom house at 41 Alderford Drive, at an “absolutely crazy” auction RELATED: Wantirna South: auction of 51-year-old home sees first-home buyer succeed Balwyn house price record: 30-bedroom mansion with ballroom sells between $13m-$14m Victoria’s most overvalued property markets revealed: Mornington Peninsula, Toorak “I reckon we had about 500 watching in the street,” Ms Wells said The house features decorative gold screens throughout She said the property’s owner was “very happy” the house exceeded its $2.2m reserve “It was purchased by a family with one child,” Ms Wells said Harcourts Judd White chief executive Dexter Prack said three bidders remained in contention after the $2.55m mark “It was the biggest crowd I have ever seen at an auction,” Mr Prack added He also auctioned another house at 36 Campbell St, Glen Waverley. “It sold for a massive $2.0055m and was on the market at $1.7m,” Mr Prack said Ms Wells said a young couple bought the four-bedroom house The pad has a French Provincial-style kitchen music studio and a loft above the garage with its own kitchenette and bathroom “It was all families who were interested,” Ms Wells said “The property has been kept very well and decorated very tastefully and people were forming an emotional connection to the home at inspections.” The state recorded a preliminary 66.2 per cent clearance rate this week from 204 early results Another of Saturday’s top results was a Templestowe mansion which fetched $4.03m a figure about $700,000 above expectations Set on 4833sq m of landscaped gardens, the five-bedroom house at 38 O’Briens Lane features a swimming pool Templestowe is set among park-style gardens The granite-fitted kitchen boasts an island bench AEG 900mm gas cooktop and AEG twin wall ovens Jellis Craig’s George Pangalos said the result was “a huge huge price” after the property was listed with a $3m-$3.3m guide “There were four bidders who fought it out it started out nice and low at $3.05m,” Mr Pangalos said Although one buyer flew in from Singapore to take part in the auction Barry Plant chief executive Mike McCarthy said low stock levels were “leading to good results and driving competition” “What I’m hearing is that buyers have adjusted their budgets to the new interest rates,” Mr McCarthy said He said one of the agency’s best results for Saturday a three-bedroom house at 18 Tanti St, Cheltenham, which sold for $1.05m Barry Plant’s Jessejames Mariñas had the listing In the northern suburbs, six bidders went after a two-bedroom villa at 4/48 The Grove, Coburg. Ray White Coburg’s Yash Akpinar said apart from the tree-lined location and potential for renovation the home’s 1960s-1970s vintage style was popular with buyers “People love how retro it is,” Mr Akpinar said they grew up around the Northcote/Thornbury area “They bought this one as an investment property with plans to renovate the home and move into it down the track,” Mr Akpinar said PropTrack is expecting 897 auctions in Victoria next week 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: Melbourne’s top 50 highest-selling real estate agents revealed Traralgon: Property with own footy field, basketball court could sell for record price Where to find Melbourne’s most liveable suburbs that are still affordable right now This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Burwood Highway property has fetched a price above $11 million A WANTIRNA South property once home to an all-you-can-eat restaurant has become the second priciest piece of real estate ever sold in the suburb A developer dished out an eye-watering figure between $11 million and $12 million for the 5568sq m site at 500 Burwood Highway according to Hocking Stuart Balwyn director Maurice DiMarzio The one-time home to the Food Star buffet restaurant was bought by an out-of-area buyer who will pursue plans for an eight-storey apartment complex and 29 luxury townhouses submitted to council for approval The former restaurant site is to be developed into high-rise apartments and townhouses had been looking for a sale price of at least $10 million if the property went to auction The eight-figured early offer was enough to sate their appetite And a second potential buyer also offered a figure above $10 million for the sought-after site directly opposite Knox shopping centre The highest sale in the suburb to date was the $12.98 million paid for 480 Boronia Rd That property is on a 1.31ha site and currently occupied by the Knox Club It also has a Residential Growth Zone 1 classification for high-density development 500 Burwood Highway was long used as a 300-seat buffet restaurant with 112 parking spaces The Burwood Highway stretch has seen strong developer interest in recent years and several high-rise apartment projects have been launched A change in zoning in the area has lead to some homeowners pocketing substantial sums for properties on the main road that will be turned into units SUBURB PROFILE WANTIRNA SOUTH all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap By: Daniel Cencic INCOMING Wantirna South senior coach Steve Cochrane believes improved fitness is the key in the club’s bid to return to finals in 2019 An inconsistent 2018 saw the Devils finish 11th on the Division 2 ladder ending their campaign with three defeats by a combined total of just 12 points The club last played finals in 2016 and was unable to string more than three wins together in a row last year – which it did from rounds 2-4 – and will compete in Division 1 this season under the EFL’s competition restructure Consistency has been Cochrane’s main focus in his first pre-season at the helm “Consistency is everything in footy and to be consistent you’ve got to be fit and you’ve got to put the work in,” Cochrane said “That’s what will be our main focus this year is putting the work in and getting the miles in the legs over the last few months – I’ve been driving the guys pretty hard.” Headlining the recruits at Walker Reserve this off-season is South Croydon premiership midfielder David Del Papa ex-Vermont defender Jacob Castricum and 2014 premiership key defender Jackson Freeman who returns to the Devils after a season at Donvale Midfielder David Del Papa in his new colours Del Papa played just six senior games for the Dogs last season after playing in the 2017 Division 1 premiership while Castricum was a regular feature in Emerald’s senior team in 2018 Freeman is expected to miss a significant chunk of the season through injury “He (Freeman) has had some injuries and hasn’t been able to train he’s got some knee problems so I don’t think we’ll see much of him in the first half of the year but certainly Del Papa and Castricum have hit the ground running and going really well,” Cochrane said The Devils have also added to their younger playing stocks Matt Brown and Fergus Ward crossing over from Vermont after featuring in Division 1 reserve-grade and under-19 flags at the Eagles in recent seasons Dual premiership player Andrew Teakel has departed and will play at Seaford this season 2018 best and fairest Will Edwards has signed at Caulfield Grammarians in the VAFA Ben Carboni has retired while Jack Hare has transferred to Boronia who was announced as the Devils’ coach in October had his desire for senior coaching re-ignited last year when he led the EFL’s senior representative side to the number-one state ranking in the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships The former Vermont and Blackburn mentor grew up in the Wantirna South area and is looking forward to giving back to his local club “It (coaching senior interleague) certainly gave me the taste again to get back involved in coaching and then when the opportunity came up with (Wantirna) South I’ve got a bit of a history with them,” he said “We always ask a lot of players to come back to their local club and I really admire what (Upper Ferntree Gully senior coach) Joel Perry did going back to his local club and I’m sure there’s a few other guys that have done that and come back as coach so I thought it would be a good opportunity to go back to my club as well.” Cochrane will be aided by senior assistant coach Sam Bates – who will also take charge of the midfield – Michael Jamieson (forwards) Paul Rees (defence) and new reserves coach who returns to the Devils after last playing at the club in 2016 PHOTO: Wantirna South Senior Football Club Facebook page “He (Andrew) is great with the boys and has a great relationship with those guys he’s a young coach who’s coming in and learning the ropes and he’s keen and committed,” Cochrane said the club recently completed a pre-season camp to Portsea with its captain set to be named shortly “We’ve got a leadership group that was nominated by the boys over camp and we’re working with them through a cultural program,” Cochrane said “Our captain and our on-field leaders will come out of that over the coming weeks.” Wantirna South hosts Knox at Walker Reserve in Round 1 on Saturday The former Peking Duck restaurant at 438 Stud Rd Wantirna South is ready for a new owner to pluck from the market A controversial Wantirna South development is being offloaded a year after the four-storey apartment complex got the green light And it could be good news for the dozens of locals who objected with a chance it will instead be turned into a restaurant The more than 2000sq m site at 438 Stud Rd, Wantirna South, formerly home to the Peking Duck restaurant is being sold with plans and permits for 26 units approved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last year RELATED: Million-dollar sales fall in Wantirna South Outcry as wrecking ball ploughs into Armadale mansion Knoxia in Wantirna South combines lifestyle and location CVA Property Consultants senior property executive Stan Dawidowski said investors and developers could yet forego the approved plans The large property is flanked by earlier developments “There’s still a hunger for development sites But it could be that it stacks up better as a restaurant or a medical centre Pricing the property was difficult as “there could be a large difference between what it’s worth to certain groups” A prominent location near Swinburne University and Westfield Knox adds to the appeal Childcare and aged-care operators are also expected to take an interest in the property with developer interest expected to be driven by how the city responds to last month’s federal election While the weeks leading up to the election were “pretty quiet” there now seemed to be a “bit of confidence out there in the overall market” “There’s been some initial hurt in the residential market but I don’t think it will last for a long time — and it’s not a suburb that has copped as heavy a downturn as others.” will be marketed locally and internationally Residents are concerned about development on the site of the Peking Duck restaurant at 438 Stud Rd There were 37 objections to the development’s initial plans from developer On & On Pty Ltd when they first emerged in 2017 Locals raised concerns extra traffic would cause congestion and potential safety issues as it joined neighbouring apartment developments to either side on Stud Rd Knox City councillors rejected the plans in 2017 but they were approved by VCAT last year with a requirement for tweaks to landscaping MORE: Dead end for Melbourne’s longest running indoor bowls club First-home buyer surge set to fast-track Melbourne market recovery Melbourne apartment prices rising amid downturn, Hotspotting finds 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 A house has been damaged by fire at Wantirna South 3AW was alerted to the blaze by Peter on Monday Several fire trucks quickly arrived at the scene It’s since been brought under control Further details about the blaze remain unclear Wantirna South block with subdivision potential for saleMing Haw Lim 500 Stud Rd, Wantirna South is a vacant block in a built-up housing estate Multiple mega offers have come in for a long-held patch of dirt in Wantirna South The 500 Stud Rd block on nearly 7400sq m comes with price hopes of $7-$7.7 million which would make it the suburb’s top sale since 2017 if it changes hands The vendors have held it since 1954 and used it to store heavy machinery; an office on the block has been removed The block is one of the few remaining large blocks ripe for development “We have had strong interest from Melbourne developers for the block and several offers which the vendors are considering,” Barry Plant Wantirna director Brett Smith said The block is zoned for higher-density development with potential to build 29 units or 20 houses It could be subdivided into 20 housing lots of around 350sq m each Resale of similar blocks in nearby Harcrest Estate can fetch $600,000 while new townhouses in the area can easily fetch $700,000-$750,000 Wantirna South is the suburb’s top sale so far this year with easy access to major shopping centres It offers a wide 45m frontage with potential three entry and exit roads and would also suit a medical or childcare centre A dated three-bedroom house used as an office has been demolished and the block cleared of construction equipment and heavy machinery A nearby property at 720-722 Stud Rd, Scoresby sold recently within its price guide of $2.5-$2.6 million The resort-style outdoors at 53 Jenola Pde It has large living spaces and six bedrooms a Wantirna South house that passed in last year has now sold in excess of $1.8 million making it the suburb’s top sale so far in 2020 The 53 Jenola Pde house with six bedrooms and parking for eight cars on a 1368sq m block went to a buyer from Vermont South “There were two other offers and our sellers are getting between three and five offers each which shows there are serious buyers in a market with less supply,” Mr Smith said A surging suburban auction that smashed its reserve by an incredible $385,000 has market experts saying homebuyers no longer fear interest rate rises Multiple homes sold hundreds of thousands of dollars above reserve yesterday as Victoria’s auction market recorded an 66 per cent clearance rate from 476 reported results according to preliminary PropTrack figures A Wantirna South house was arguable the day’s most impressive result sold for $1.74m and earning its owners an incredible $385,000 premium above their reserve RELATED: Auction replays and rolling updates from the auction market Keilor 80-year-old musing about a Porsche after making $110k in 10 minutes St Kilda legend Fraser Gehrig boots Beaumaris pad for $4m+ EYS auctioneer Fabian Sanelli said while the 9 Tinarra Court home had a $1.355m reserve the bidding had jumped $200,000 in the time an agent went inside to confirm the figure and he only got a chance to call it on the market at $1.55m “If this auction was happening three months ago it probably wouldn’t have gone as well,” Mr Sanelli said “But I don’t think the rates are having an impact right now.” Vaulted ceilings in the main living zone add character to the home Harcourts listing agent Jarrod Robinson said there had been 20 buyers registered to bid for the home The buyer was a local family from a nearby suburb Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia president Cate Bakos was among those outpaced by the “standout result” and said for larger homes that didn’t need any work done on them “There were no cautious bids,” Ms Bakos said “People have got their heads around interest rates Ultimately people want a home and if paying a little premium lets them settle into one The home’s renovated interiors left buyers with nothing to do Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Richard Simpson the day’s clearance rate reflected a “good result” for the current market and homes selling far above reserve were a healthy sign heading into spring Mr Simpson said the market wasn’t yet turning back up but was confident interest rate rises across the rest of the year would have less and less of an impact on sales “This is what I’ve been saying all along: the confidence is still there because employment is still strong,” he said Confidence is also high at the top end of the market After a Toorak house sold for more than $80m during the week a retro Black Rock house that featured in the Olivia Newton-John biopic yesterday sold for $4.6m under the hammer Marshall White’s Oliver Bruce said bidding for 344 Beach Rd started at $3.9m but rose in increments as high as $100,000 until it sold for $4.6m — about $200,000 after it was called on the market It was also $1.9m more than the vendors paid for the property in 2014 Mr Bruce said the property was quite unique given its viewlines sold strongly at auction for $1.66 million STRONG bidding from four international buyers pushed the price of 3 Kirrum Close, Wantirna South $380,000 above reserve to a $1.66 million sale A local buyer also bid for the four-bedroom home that attracted keen interest from the four other bidders from China The property had a reserve of $1.28 million Holding the sale on a slow auction weekend on February 11 helped ensure there wasn’t much competition from other properties The covered outdoor entertaining zone beside the pool “It was the only auction in the suburb that day and helped bring in the buyers There was strong interest because there were not many listings in early February,” she noted with five putting up a hand for the property set on a 900sq m block All five were seeking a home to move into and the house went to a family from China International buyers planning to migrate here need approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board to buy an established home The owners had lived in the house for 16 years and decided to downsize and sell up after a cold call from the agent last December Buyers liked the property’s spacious living zones “We advised the owners that to get a million-dollar result they had to stage the home like a million-dollar home The house was in a good condition and appealed to many Asian buyers because it looked grand and had large living spaces,” Ms Loh said “The vendors were very surprised by the result It just shows the market is still bullish in Wantirna South and many buyers are making off-market offers in a bid to secure properties.” More than 130 groups came through the house during the campaign The agency also had an ice-cream truck on hand to help the crowd keep cool on a hot day The house has views to the Dandenongs from a balcony an undercover outdoor entertaining area beside the pool and landscaped gardens minghaw.lim@news.com.au 11 Jessica Close, Wantirna South fetched a then-record price of $2.905 million in 2017 A resort-style home is aiming to break the $3 million price barrier in Wantirna South Only two homes have sold for above $2.9 million in the suburb, but 11 Jessica Close has been listed with $3.1 million for the top of its price range The deluxe home with 743sq m of living has a pool conservatory and lavish bedrooms and ensuites 11 Jessica Close had an imposing frontage and stands tall over the street It set the residential price record for the suburb of $2.905 million when it sold in 2017 However, a nearby six-bedroom, seven-bathroom property at 8 Miriam Close fetched $2.908 million in late 2018 That house was sold by Jellis Craig Mt Waverley director Jared Wei who has also now listed 11 Jessica Close with $2.88-$3.1 million price hopes Both homes are positioned in an area known as the Knox College estate The ornate staircase leads to four large bedrooms The double-storey Jessica Close on 942sq m is designed for an indoor-outdoor lifestyle with the interior spaces grand with high ceilings and prestige appointments and with 80 squares (about 743sq m) probably one of the largest in the area,” Mr Wei said The floorplan promoted multi-generational living with a downstairs bedroom with ensuite an important feature for some buyers 8 Miriam Close is on a large 1375sq m block pool and cabana are among the outdoor features at 8 Miriam Close The layout has a central dining and living zone and more family living areas towards the rear which converge on a large courtyard with a swimming pool and covered swim spa Apart from formal and casual lounge areas plus a large kitchen and dining zone while an ornate staircase leads to four large bedrooms The suburb median price was $897,100 in the 12 months to July The median price fell 11.2 per cent over the period the Wantirna South median house price was $1.015 million An artist’s impression of the proposed development at 390 Burwood Highway A prime Wantirna South corner site has been relisted with planning permits for a high-rise residential and commercial development The 7610sq m block at 390 Burwood Highway has been priced at more than $2000 per square metre landing it with an eye-watering $14.5-$15.95 million price tag according to CVA listing agent Daniel Philip The property was on the market for $14 million last year with another agency but failed to snag a buyer despite strong investor and developer interest A Chinese developer paid $10.15 million for the site in 2017 Mr Philip said recent zoning changes made the land more attractive and valuable as it could now be developed for high-rise living He said the site was being offered with a planning permit for apartments The block has a combined 156m frontage to Burwood Highway and Stud Rd and sits across from other high-rise apartment blocks and Westfield Knox shopping centre “We have also had strong inquiries from local and overseas buyers including several syndicates and larger institutions,” Mr Philip said The corner block offers a very wide street frontage These apartment blocks are opposite the large site up for grabs The proposed development designed by COX Architecture includes offices residential apartments including student accommodation private and public schools and Knox Private Hospital The site currently houses an Allison Monkhouse funeral home on 623sq m The expressions of interest campaign for the property was set to close on April 2 The current longstanding tenants on the site The former Food Star restaurant site nearby fetched more than $11 million Houses along Stud Rd rezoned for high-density living have sold well in recent years and been transformed into apartments and townhouses fetched almost $100 million after being rezoned a 5568sq m site at 500 Burwood Highway fetched between $11-$12 million and offered potential for an eight-storey apartment complex and 29 luxury townhouses AN eagerly awaited apartment and townhouse project is starting to take shape in the up-and-coming outer eastern suburb of Wantirna South The Knoxia development will see 87 apartments and seven luxury townhouses built on the Burwood Highway site opposite Westfield Knox shopping centre which itself is earmarked for a $450 million makeover Castran Gilbert sales agent Michael Lang said Knoxia was a hit with local owner occupiers who saw the quality in the development and its location “About 80 per cent of buyers have been owner occupiers The townhouses at Knoxia in Wantirna South across the road provided inner city-like amenity generous balconies and quality fittings and fixtures set the development’s design apart Melbourne’s second largest after Chadstone and popularity of local schools strengthened the argument to extend the No “I can see that in time going all the way down to Knox shopping centre there’s significant demand to justify that,” Mr Lang said Knoxia residents will be across the road from one of the most significant shopping centres in the southern hemisphere and have trams right out the front door The landscaping is by renowned garden designer Jack Merlo Building recently started on the site at 456 Burwood Highway with about 70 per cent of the apartments and townhouses now sold by Centric Capital Group and with landscaping by renowned garden designer Jack Merlo two- and three-bedroom apartments across six levels living and dining zone will be at the hub of each apartment with the choice of a light or dark interior colour scheme throughout The seven townhouses have three bedrooms and two car spaces two-bathroom apartments available from $475,000-$585,000 one-bathroom apartments from $375,000-$450,000 The project is expected to be finished early in 2019 For more information, call Michael Lang at Castran Gilbert on 0407 766 771 or see knoxia.com.au Savills director and selling agent Benson Zhou thinks this is good value the precinct has been gazetted to allow for 10-storey buildings is being offered with a residential redevelopment scheme student accommodation and commercial space which could be utilised by a school An internal street forms part of the redevelopment which contains structures rising up to 14 floors Apartment buildings of eight storeys are across the road from 390 Burwood Highway as is the Knox Shopping Centre which is earmarked for a $450 million redevelopment with retail Swinburne University’s Wantirna campus is 300 metres away said Wantirna South reminds him of Box Hill 10 years ago – particularly in regard to rising land values we reported about a residential development site sale in central Box Hill valuing land at $6841 per sqm The Wantirna South site is also being marketed to investors – with a short term lease in place to Allison Monkhouse Owner occupiers which may utilise existing structures at 390 Burwood Highway Wantirna and Wantirna South development site sale activity Some noteworthy development site sales have taken place over the past 12 months in Wantirna South, about 26 kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD, and Wantirna which is about two kilometres closer to town The largest was a year ago when the Jenkins family sold an apple orchard on 14.96 hectares at 1201-1211 High Street Road In June, we reported that Mirvac would team with Boral to build 1700 dwellings on a 171 hectare quarry spreading across two suburbs (Wantirna South and Scoresby) Last week we reported that Longriver was selling the former Wantirna Park caravan park at 203 Mountain Highway A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login Riders now have a great new reliable connection to the EastLink Trail through Wantirna South A new off-road link adjacent to the Burwood Highway from Morack Road has opened and as a result riders no longer need to use the slippery—often closed—boardwalk through the wetlands The 800 metre section required a new 45-metre-long bridge over the Dandenong Creek The 3m wide concrete path provides a safer connection to the popular Eastlink and Dandenong Creek Trails and links to the existing shared-use path along Burwood Highway towards Knox Shopping Centre It connects directly to the existing shared use path along Burwood Highway towards Westfield Knox and is a major link for other Melbourne cycling corridors including the off-road Carrum to Warburton Trail The project is part of the Government's $100 million Safer Cycling and Pedestrian Program which aims to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians and encourage more active modes of transport The Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said: "We are making it safer and more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians to travel between Vermont South and Wantirna South with this new path offering a better connection to popular trails and local amenities.” "The delivery of this shared user path comes in time for the warmer months and is an important link for the community.” While 12 trees had to be removed to build the trail 57 new trees and more than 4000 groundcover plants were planted as part of the project Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work Find out more about Bicycle Network and support us in making it easier for people to ride bikes 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 Some 200 workers have managed to safely escape a massive factory fire at Wantirna South 3AW Drive was alerted to the blaze at the High Street building on Tuesday afternoon Press PLAY below to hear Brad’s call to 3AW 9 News reporter Eliza Rugg told Tom Elliott the factory had been completely destroyed by the blaze Press PLAY below to hear the latest update Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time One of the teenagers charged over a hit-and-run crash that killed a married couple posted footage from inside the stolen Lexus on social media The footage offers a chilling glimpse of the joyride around suburban Melbourne that the pair allegedly took before they smashed The footage, believed to have been posted by the 15-year-old to her Instagram account on Friday, was allegedly shot from inside the stolen $170,000 four-wheel-drive, which police believe was involved in the crash that killed Matt Goland and Bita Zaeim As RnB music blares from speakers inside the car a short video taken from the front passenger seat sways and shows a dark interior with a large display monitor blaring blurred white text has told how she spotted her stolen car on Friday and has since watched the Instagram footage ''Yes it is my car,'' Lexus owner Ms Mostafa told Fairfax Media ''I’ve played it in slow motion." Ms Mostafa has watched the news in horror this week learning how her stolen Lexus was allegedly linked to the fatal accident She has pieced together that she had sighted the car before the crash - spotting it on a trip to visit her parents - but police were unable to nab the offenders Ms Mostafa saw her car about 9am when she was visiting her parents in Rowville and called the police ''I was in disbelief when I saw my car driving past my parents' home in Rowville where I was parked,'' she recalled Police sighted the car and a supervising sergeant in the area was called for help Police even considered gathering a dog squad for a pursuit but there was not one available But before the car could be safely intercepted or even pursued peak-hour traffic in suburban Knox allowed the stolen car to slip away Police patrolled the area afterwards but did not spot the Lexus again was allegedly behind the wheel of the Lexus when it crashed He and his young passenger - a 15-year-old girl who cannot be named - allegedly ran from the scene They were arrested at a home in Belgrave about 12 hours later one of two teenagers who have been charged after they allegedly fled the scene of a fatal car crash It is alleged the pair stole the grey Lexus on Wednesday or Thursday last week faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday charged with two counts of culpable driving and one count of theft of a motor vehicle Police allege Mr Victorsen drove the car at high speed and ran a red light before crashing into the Holden Commodore The 15-year-old girl faced court on Monday accused of trying to help Mr Victorsen evade police believed to have been posted by the 15-year-old to her Instagram account on Friday was allegedly shot from inside the stolen $170,000 four-wheel-drive which police believe was involved in the crash that killed ''Yes it is my car,'' Lexus owner Ms Mostafa told Fairfax Media ''I\\u2019ve played it in slow motion.\\\" ''I was in disbelief when I saw my car driving past my parents' home in Rowville where I was parked,'' she recalled The Mirvac Group has another reason for optimism amid the property market gloom after a deal with Boral to develop a 1700-lot estate in Melbourne’s southeast The property group last month capitalised on improved equity market conditions by undertaking a $750 million raising and at the time said it had lined up about $6 billion of new opportunities These included a major build-to-rent project in Melbourne near the Queen Victoria Market where it is working with local private developer PDG on a $333.5m complex ommercial Insights: Subscribe to receive the latest news and updates Mirvac has now agreed with Boral to develop a 171ha quarry site at Wantirna South in the Dandenong Valley parkland corridor Mirvac head of residential Stuart Penklis says the site is a unique opportunity for the group to create a new community with surrounding parkland Subject to rezoning and planning approvals Mirvac proposes about 1700 residential lots including a mix of house and land packages This market has been under pressure with rising sentiment in the sector yet to translate to a sustained boost in sales for some players But developers are confident that interest rate cuts first homebuyer assistance and greater access to credit will translate into sales Mirvac will also deliver 11ha of public open space in the development and a neighbourhood centre comprising retail The deal extends Mirvac’s existing relationship with Boral following their initial venture at the Olivine estate in Donnybrook This article originally appeared on www.theaustralian.com.au/property. realcommercial.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. ommercial Insights: Subscribe to receive the latest news and updates This article originally appeared on www.theaustralian.com.au/property Eastern Region Crime Squad detectives arrested and charged a man following an aggravated home invasion in Wantirna South last year It’s alleged five offenders gained entry to a Wantirna South home after smashing through a door at 3.30am on 22 November 2023 A male resident received serious injuries after the offenders allegedly assaulted him with multiple weapons it’s alleged the offenders stole property including a motor vehicle detectives arrested a 22-year-old Pakenham man He was charged with aggravated home invasion and assault using an offensive weapon aggravated home invasion and steal using an offensive weapon He was remanded and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court 0n 3 May The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au The next phase of Melbourne Water’s project to re-naturalise Blind Creek in Wantirna South includes  works to renew concrete paths through the precinct From Monday 8 May the trail will be temporarily closed to allow works on the paths Signed detours through local streets will take bike riders around the work zone The works are expected to be complete by the end of June which formerly flowed underground through huge pipes now flows above ground through sections of Lewis Park In future years bike riders and walkers will again experience the full pleasure of the  the creek's natural environment The Reimagining Blind Creek project included improvements to the creek between Manuka Drive and Scoresby Road in 2020 A total of 6.3 km of new shared paths—some concrete and some gravel—are being laid and boardwalks and viewing platforms will be installed through the new wetlands system About 1.65 kms of Blind Creek is being naturalised This includes planting of 1700 trees for improved shade and cooling and 676,941 plants for biodiversity and habitat The main construction works are expected to be complete in mid-2024 with minor activities including reinstatement to be completed in 2025 erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry.