Police are investigating after a traffic camera vehicle was damaged in Coburg earlier this month.

The vehicle was operating on Nicholson Street when it was attacked by a group of men on January 5 about 12.30am.

Five offenders jumped on the car and threw rocks and a rubbish bin at the windows, causing several windows to break, before fleeing on foot.

The 36-year-old male driver (of the traffic camera vehicle), from St Albans, managed to drive away from the scene and seek help. He was treated for minor cuts.

Investigators have released images (above) and CCTV of men they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Any witnesses, anyone with vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website.

Lorne holiday goers have been enjoying some extra safety protections over the summer holidays with additional CFA volunteers helping man the local fire station.

Lorne’s population swells from 1,400 to about 20,000 during summer and in 2016 the Lorne Summer Crew was introduced to bolster the brigade and continue keeping locals and tourists safe.  

The crew consists of a rotating group of four volunteers and an additional truck supporting the brigade during big events like the annual Pier to Pub and allows local members to work in their businesses during the busiest times.  

The crews arrived at Lorne on Boxing Day and have stayed until today, 15 January, which is the conclusion of the busy Pier to Pub event weekend.  

CFA Commander Wayne Aylmer said up to 30 members from brigades around Victoria chose to volunteer at different times over the summer.   

“We sell the message have a day out, go for a walk, bring a family member, do what you like but just be available on the truck when it’s needed,” he said. 

Wayne said the extra crew also gave the brigade “viability”.  

“The brigade members say we can run the brigade for 50 weeks of the year but during the other two we need extra volunteers to help out,” he said.  

“For some Lorne volunteers the two weeks over the holiday period is the bulk of their income, so being able to continue working in their business is vital. 

“The extra volunteers are invaluable.”  

Wayne said the program also allowed members from different brigades to work together.  

 “You could have a member from Bannockburn working with someone from Highton. They probably wouldn’t cross paths all that often in the district,” he said. 

The extra volunteers are primarily committed to urban response and day-to-day incidents such as children locked in cars, motor vehicle collisions, campfires or barbecue incidents.  

Members from the local brigade will continue responding, however the CFA says the arrangement has provided them with much-needed support to deal with the increase in demand. 

A one-day workshop being offered at the Sebastopol Community Centre this month aims to equip aspiring artists with the basic knowledge to draw faces with confidence in charcoal.

Set for Saturday January 20 the day-long event is being offered by Lisa Nolan Art and is a costed workshop.

Working with a life model and expert guidance, participants will learn the proportions, and features of the human head, and techniques to achieve a likeness.

Booking is essential as there are limited spaces with further information available via the City of Ballarat In The Know web page listing of local events taking place this summer.

Police have arrested a man in recent days following a series of alleged thefts from retail stores across Melbourne.

Investigators from Box Hill Divisional Response Unit will allege the man targeted stores in more than 20 suburbs across Melbourne between August and December 2023.

It’s believed the man predominantly stole top shelf alcohol from stores, totalling $51,700.

During a routine patrol, the man was located by police and arrested in Springvale on January 4.

A 38-year-old man of no fixed address was charged with 35 counts of theft, possess cannabis, and possess controlled weapon without lawful excuse. He was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court at a later date.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Audley – Box Hill Divisional Response Unit: “The financial and mental burden theft can inflict on shop owners and their staff is severe.

“We take any kind of theft seriously and we will work tirelessly to hold those to account.

“We encourage anyone who may have information to this incident or similar incidents to contact crime stoppers so we can investigate.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report via the Crime Stoppers website.

The CFA is calling on Victorians to become ‘citizen scientists’ to help contribute critical information about the state’s fire risk.

The 2023-24 fire season is expected to be hotter and drier than recent years and grassland curing observers play a vital role in collecting ground information.

The ground observations are combined with satellite imagery to produce maps that show how dry the grass is across Victoria.

CFA Remote Sensing Analyst, Dr Danielle Wright said CFA needs more observers trained to provide readings of grass curing.

“There are parts of the state where we really need more eyes on the ground like the North-East, the North-West and South-West where we have fewer observers participating.

“Our volunteer grassland observers are an incredibly valuable resource that helps to inform a lot of our decision-making over the fire season.

“We can’t rely on satellite imagery alone. It is the best performing model available to us, but it can overestimate and underestimate the curing levels.

“Across bare sand and soil, the model over-estimates curing. In areas of new growth from rainfall, the satellite sensor can pick up the green growth and underestimate curing.

“Observers can adjust the satellite readings which means we can provide more accurate information to inform decision making when it comes to fire risk over summer.”

Melissa Hughes is a volunteer with Wattle Glen Fire Brigade and is a grassland observer. She said the online training module took about 30 minutes to complete and it gave her everything she needed to become a citizen scientist.

“I love the data and the science that goes into this grassland observation. The course was so easy and CFA gives you great tools to support the role.”

“This really is citizen science at its best, the information we observers gather has an immediate benefit to the community.

“I don’t just see grass anymore when I am out on the road, I see so much more detail. It might be dry at the top but still green at the bottom, and I know exactly where it is in the curing process no matter where I am.”

Danielle said it’s a great way to contribute to CFA and Victoria’s understanding of the landscape for this summer and beyond.

“Anyone who is interested in the role can participate, not just CFA volunteers. The readings from the observers will better help our fire behaviour models for this coming summer,” Danielle said.

Southern Metro Crime Squad detectives and Youth Gang Team members have arrested two teens after an attempted carjacking and a police car was rammed last week.

Officers spotted the stolen Toyota Hilux driving erratically on the Moorooduc Highway in Frankston South about 12.30pm last Thursday January 4.

After tyre deflation devices were successfully deployed on the Toyota, a male passenger ran from the vehicle.

The teen, wielding a hammer, attempted to carjack another vehicle before police intervened and quickly arrested him.

The driver of the stolen Toyota remained in the car and drove at police ramming the police car.

He ran from the scene with police not far behind and was arrested.

The 19-year-old Narre Warren North man and a 15-year-old Hastings boy have been assisting police with enquiries.

Police believe the Toyota had been stolen from Frankston overnight.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam/CCTV footage was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at the Crime Stoppers website.

CFA firefighters who have recently been deployed in Queensland to support the flood and storm clean-up have spoken about the devastation to affected communities.

More than 40 CFA volunteers were deployed to south-east Queensland on 30 December alongside 70 other emergency management personnel. 

Devastating and dangerous floods and storms impacted the area on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.   

Victorian CFA crews travelled to Helensvale near the Gold Coast to undertake tree removal and temporary roof repairs, with members specialising in chainsaw operations and working at heights.  

Bayswater CFA Captain Jamie McFarlane, who was one of the members deployed, said there was a huge amount of damage to houses. 

“A lot of locals are working together to fix some of it but the ongoing work is going to take months to clean up,” he said. 

Crews from VICSES and CFA alongside NSW SES have teamed up to help, with ongoing storms making the clean-up harder.  

“It’s still a dynamic situation and the weather is still impacting the area, at times we have to move to safety to allow the storms to pass,” Jamie said. 

“It’s devastating for the towns and local communities affected but we will continue to do as much as we can while we’re here.”

CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said his thoughts were with those affected communities. 

“Ongoing conditions are challenging in Queensland but I’m glad our crews are able to lend a hand,” he said. 

“Our crews are working as a contingent with VICSES which has been seamless. The two agencies have common training at working with heights, which has been invaluable for this deployment. 

“Thank you to everyone involved in the deployments, as well as those who remain behind to continue to protect our communities.” 

This taskforce arrived back on New Years Day and another deployment took off on January 2.

Ballarat’s Hop Temple is hosting Blues, Brews and Barbeque every Sunday with all invited to rock up for the free entertainment on offer.

Each week a blues muso will take the stage while the venue’s management is als hoping those who get along for the live music will also enjoy a few beers from its range of 200 plus craft beers.

They say their kitchen team will be “smoking up a storm of all your favourite meat cuts from brisket to wings”.

The free live entertainment is a current inclusion on the City of Ballarat’s In The Know web page listing of events happening in the city throughout summer.

Divisional Response Unit (DRU) members from Victoria Police’s Southern Metro Region have seized firearms and drugs from a rural property on French Island in recent days.

Detectives attended the Mosquito Creek Road property on Thursday 4 January about 8.30am, as part of an investigation into the illegal possession and use of firearms.

A 36-year-old man was arrested before warrants were executed by detectives with support from the Dog Squad and Water Police.

An extensive search of the property uncovered eleven firearms, a large quantity of ammunition and alleged methylamphetamine and cannabis.

The French Island man has been charged with various offences including:

• unlicensed person possess unregistered firearm

• unlicensed person possess registered firearm

• fail to store firearms in a secure manner

• possess ammunition, and

• possess cannabis.

He has been bailed to appear before Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 9 February 2024.

A 39-year-old woman also spoken to at the property was expected to be processed in relation to drug related offences.

Time is fast running out to catch the Ballarat Belles exhibition now showing at Art Space Ballarat, 14 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central.

The Ballarat Belles are twelve artists that have created new artworks highlighting the treasures you can find in the details of the everyday.

Art works are created using a range of mediums and techniques and the artists are sitting the exhibition for those would like to learn more about their practice.

All artworks are for sale but you’d best be quick if you want to catch it before it wraps up with the final showing day taking place tomorrow Sunday January 14. The exhibition is also open today from 10am-4pm at Art Space Ballarat.

Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives have seized a commercial quantity of drugs and a substantial amount of cash from a hotel in Melbourne East in recent days.

Detectives, with assistance from the Special Operations Group and members from Fugitive Squad, attended the Parliament Place property on Thursday 4 January about 1.45pm, as part of an investigation into an alleged extortion.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the property and a warrant executed before a search of the premises uncovered a large quantity of alleged ketamine, butane, suspected methylamphetamine, heroin and other substances yet to be determined as well as over $50,000 in cash.

The man of no fixed place of abode has been charged with various offences including:

• extortion

• threat to kill, injure or endanger life

• assault with a weapon

• prohibited person possess firearm

• traffick and possess methylamphetamine

• possess drug of dependence

• knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and

• fail to comply with direction to assist.

He had been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Friday January 5.

An anatomy for artists workshop is taking place in the Sebastopol Community Centre tomorrow, Saturday January 13.

The costed one-day workshop will aim to give artists the basic knowledge to draw the human body with confidence.

Working with a life model and expert guidance from Lisa Nolan Art, the day-long workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the body, its proportions, skeletal structure and musculature.

There are limited spaces and bookings are essential with further information available via the City of Ballarat’s In The Know web listings page online.

The City of Ballarat is inviting all residents and visitors to view Fireworks display at Lake Wendouree on Sunday January 14.

When the music ends at Summer Sundays, the fun begins at Lake Wendouree, with 15-minutes of fireworks launching from 9:30pm.

Residents are encouraged to take care of their pets during the fireworks display and keep them indoors if they are likely to be spooked by loud noise.

There will be no parking restrictions around Lake Wendouree, however, the city is urging those planning to catch the fireworks to take care with the anticipated increased volume of traffic in the precinct.

The free event is being hosted by the City of Ballarat.

Detectives from Taskforce Lunar are investigating following a suspicious fire in Williamstown early last Friday morning.

The incident occurred at an ice-cream store on Nelson Place about 3.45am on Friday, 5 January.

It’s believed offenders damaged the front of the business before setting it alight.

The store and apartment above sustained significant damage.

Investigators are treating the fire as a targeted attack and will look at any possible links to other recent fires.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the fire or who may have CCTV or dash-cam footage.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website online.

Ballarat is looking like a pet-loving city, with more than 19,000 dogs and almost 8,500 cats registered in the city.  

With more than 60 dogs in the shelter in December 2023, the shelter commenced a dog adoption drive, which saw 23 dogs finding their new homes just in time for Christmas.  

Despite December being focused on getting dogs adopted, the month also saw 41 cats and kittens finding their new families in time for the holiday season.  

The year concluded with 1,154 animals being adopted from the Ballarat Animal Shelter, including 856 cats and kittens, 293 dogs and puppies and 5 rabbits and guinea pigs.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said it’s incredible to see people choosing to adopt their new family members from the Ballarat Animal Shelter.  

“The wonderful staff at the shelter are available to ensure you pick the right pet for your lifestyle, and personality,” he said.

“Pets can add so much value to our lives, so it is very much worth considering adding one to your family.”

“We also saw the outpouring of generosity from the Ballarat community during the recent donation drive at the shelter,” Cr Hudson said.

“The drive has been running for seven years and each year it seems to get bigger and bigger! This year staff had to relocate the donations from under the Christmas tree, sometimes daily.  

“The shelter ran out of space to store some of the bigger supplies in mid-December and the entire storeroom was full as of early January.

“The animals at the shelter were able to choose their own toys from the piles donated, which was a joy to watch!”