Frankston Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives have charged a man with 17 historical sex offences.

It is alleged the offences against two female victims took place between 2001 and 2007 in the Mornington Peninsula area.

The 71-year-old Balnarring man was arrested in August 2022.

He’s been charged with 17 offences including threats to kill and is expected t appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 5 May 2023.

Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit have arrested a man and woman following a series of high-end designer goods thefts, including designer handbags and clothing.

Police will allege the pair targeted high-end department stores in South Yarra, Armadale, and Malvern East with the first reported incident occurring on 3 October 2022.

The male offender was allegedly observed entering a clothing store in Chadstone where he selected a number of clothing items, then fled on foot without making any payment.

During a routine patrol on Thursday March 2, an Operation Bird unit observed a wanted vehicle in Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne at about 12.30am.

Police tracked the owner of the vehicle to a nearby apartment complex where the pair were arrested, and a search warrant executed.

During the warrant police seized a small quantity of drugs believed to be heroin and allegedly stolen clothing, vehicle registration plates and identification documents.

As part of the investigation detectives executed additional search warrants in Wyndham Vale and Footscray where allegedly stolen clothing items, from several stores, was seized.

The pair, a 46-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman from Wyndham Vale, have been charged with:

• shop theft (x16)

• handle stolen goods (x2)

• negligently deal proceeds of crime

• possess heroin

• possess buprenorphine

• deal property suspected proceeds of crime

• contravene a court order

• fail to answer bail

• commit indictable offence whilst on bail (x21).

The 46-year-old man had been remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 3.

The woman has been bailed to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in May.

Investigation and Response Inspector Luke Holmes: “The financial and mental burden theft can inflict on shop owners and their staff is severe.

“Police will use all available intelligence, from CCTV to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, to identify suspect vehicles, track down their owners and hold offenders to account.”

A woman was found to be more than five times over the alcohol limit following a crash in Newcomb on Thursday March 2.

Police were called to the three-car crash in Watsons Road, following reports a car had struck two parked cars, about 3pm.

A 39-year-old woman was assessed by ambulance paramedics at the scene before she was taken to a police station for an evidentiary breath test.

The Charlemont woman’s licence was immediately suspended after she furnished a reading of .278.

It was expected the woman will be charged on summons in relation to drink driving and other traffic matters.

The Hepburn Shire Council has moved to remind residents they can take their tricky-to-recycle items, including e-waste, to their closest Hepburn Shire Customer Service hub for recycling.

In a move hoped to help ensure e-waste and other potentially toxic or environmentally hazardous items don’t slip through the recycling system and into landfill – or worse – the council has issued a public reminder, using its latest newsletter to reach residents.

It draws attention to the fact that some items like light globes and printer cartridges contain valuable materials that cannot be recovered and recycled through the yellow kerbside bin.

Other items, like electrical appliances and batteries, contain toxic heavy metals that pollute the environment and are therefore banned from residents’ red kerbside bins.

Items that can instead be taken to the shire’s customer service hubs for safe recycling include:

• Small electrical items (e-waste)
• Batteries (excluding car batteries)
• Plastic bottle lids
• Mobile phones
• Plastic bread tags
• Spectacles (no cases)
• Oral care products and packaging
• Light globes
• Printer cartridges.

Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash in Halls Gap on 2 March, where a child has since died.

It was understood a vehicle crashed into a tree on Grampians Road just before 9am.

The two-year-old passenger was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she sadly died on 3 March.

The 22-year-old female driver was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and will prepare a report for the coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online via the Crime Stoppers website.

Ballarat detectives discovered a treasure trove of tools and ther goods in Sebastopol last Thursday night.

Officers executed a warrant on Edwards Street, to find a large cache of stolen items about 7.30pm, Thursday March 2.

Inside, police found approximately $70,000 worth of stolen goods, including ovens, windows, dishwashers, power tools, white goods, building materials and a concrete polisher.

It is believed the items are linked to several burglaries in the area across Alfredton, Delacombe and Cardigan.

A 32-year-old Sebastopol man has been charged with five counts of robbery and seven counts of theft.

He was been remanded to face Ballarat Magistrates’ Court last Friday, March 3.

Two men have been arrested as part of an investigation into the alleged theft of more than $1.25 million worth of jewellery, during a burglary in the Eildon area in December.

The rare items – which include gold and diamonds – were stolen from a residential address in the Eildon area sometime between 5.30-8.30pm on Saturday 17 December.

Investigators have been told the victim returned home about 8.30pm to find the offenders had gained access via a side door to the house and made off with the expensive items.

Alexandra Crime Investigation Unit detectives with the assistance of Shepparton CIU, Mitchell CIU, Eastern Region Crime Squad, the Dog Squad and local uniform branch members have executed five search warrants across Eildon and Thornton and seized a firearm and a quantity of cannabis about 6.30am on Friday, 3 March.

A 26-year-old Thornton man was arrested and was assisting police with their enquiries.

A 32-year-old Eildon man was also arrested and has since been released pending further enquiries.

Investigations into the whereabouts of the stolen jewellery remain ongoing.

Hepburn Shire Council says repairs to the Creswick Town Hall are progressing well, with recent fine weather providing ideal conditions for masonry and render restoration to the building exterior, along with replacement of roofing and spouting sections. 

The decorative orbs and bases (poised on various points on the parapets) have been carefully removed for repairs and in some cases completely reproduced in the builder’s workshop. The cresting cast iron elements have been carefully disassembled, cleaned and repaired ready for paint and installation once new copper roofing has been installed on the top of the clock tower. Paint work will start soon, along with installation of new access ladders installed inside the tower.

This project has been funded with thanks to the Victorian State Government, the Australian Government and Council.

More heritage works… Conservation works have also begun at two historic buildings in Creswick – the Mechanics Institute and Gold Office. The focus is on improving stormwater management and reducing moisture in the fabric of these important heritage buildings. The project is funded by the Hepburn Shire ouncil and is expected to be completed by May.

Major Collision Investigation Unit and Professional Standards Command detectives are reviewing an investigation into a two-car collision in Kyneton in January that has now turned fatal.

Police were stationary in their vehicle when they observed a speeding car on Edgecombe Road just after 4pm on 14 January.

It’s alleged that vehicle fled from police at speed and has collided with another vehicle with two occupants a short distance away.

The driver of the car the offending vehicle struck was initially taken to hospital in a critical condition but sadly the 75-year-old Kyneton man has since died over the weekend of Satuday, March 4-Sunday, March 5.

The driver of the offending vehicle, a 38-year-old Heidelberg West man, has had his charges upgraded to dangerous driving causing death.

He was remanded to appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court yesterday, March 9.

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and will prepare a report for the coroner.

Building works have begun at Old Kyneton Primary School with the first stage of the site’s tranformation into a creative community hub now under way.

State Member for Macedon, Mary Anne Thomas joined the builders and project partners on site in recent days – Friday, March 3 – to mark the turning of the first sod, officially kicking off the project.

This first phase of works focuses on the iconic bluestone heritage building, the original school which dates back to the 1800s.

Work will be undertaken to restore the building, creating internal spaces for a new gallery and exhibition area, and a new food and beverage offering.

A new link building will also be constructed providing a main entry to welcome visitors to the site, as well as a space for future events. External landscaping works and new accessible carparking will improve the site’s accessibility so the Old Kyneton Primary School can host a range of outdoor community events, year-round.

Ageing assets on site will be replaced and critical repairs will also form part of this phase of works, smoothing the way for the site’s future operations.

Construction firm McCorkell, which specialises in complex cultural heritage sites, has been appointed to carry out the works.

Due for completion in early 2024, this first phase is expected to support up to 36 jobs throughout construction.

The state government is backing the Old Kyneton Primary School project with $12 million announced in the 2020-21 state budget.

Kingston Road intersection works are expected to have been completed by early this month with affected verges to be revegetated in late autumn.

The project involves stormwater upgrades, re-alignment of the approaching roads, new through lane on Kingston Road, the addition of a turning lane and the removal of a slip lane.

 The project was funded by the Federal Blackspot Program.

The Macedon Ranges Shire says its war on waste will continue full steam ahead as it celebrates the third year of its four-bin system.

Last month marked what the council has described as “a significant milestone for the Macedon Ranges community in celebrating the third anniversary of its highly successful four-bin system”.

As one of the first councils in Victoria to introduce four bins, the local counci lis reporting that its “made great strides in waste management”, with more than 43,000 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill since its implementation thanks to the tireless efforts of residents in properly sorting their waste.

This achievement boasts a significant emissions reduction – around 126,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide – equivalent to generating power for all the homes across the shire for a year.

Mayor Annette Death said the Macedon Ranges now boasts one of the highest diversion rates of waste from landfill in Victoria, at 74 per cent. This was achieved by diverting close to 29,000 tonnes of FOGO, around 5,500 tonnes of glass and around 8,500 tonnes of recycling.

“I’m proud of what ourcommunity is achieving in this priority area and its positive impacton the environment,” she said.

“It shows how passionate our residents are about reducing their carbon footprint and that every little bit counts when managing waste. I encourage everyone to keep up the great work.”

Moonee Valley Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for information after a woman was pushed to the ground and struck to the face during an attempted robbery in Avondale Heights in February.

Officers have been told the victim was walking along the Maribyrnong River Trail, near Canning Reserve, when an unknown offender approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground on Wednesday 8 February about midday.

As the woman looked up, it is believed the man struck the 33-year-old woman in the face with his fist, before he reached into her pockets.

The woman, who sustained minor injuries to her face and legs, screamed and pushed the man away.

He was last seen running along the river trail away from Canning Reserve.

The offender was unsuccessful in taking any items from the woman.

Investigators have released a computer-generated image (above ) of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquires.

He is described as having shaved legs and was wearing a grey hoodie and black shorts.

Anyone with information or any witnesses is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto the Crime Stoppers website online.

Glyn Roberts, current director of the Castlemaine State Festival has announced that the 2023 iteration of the premiere arts event will be his last in the director’s chair. After six years, he will be stepping down next month.
 
Known for his work across the Australian and international creative industries, Roberts joined CSF in 2017 and led the Castlemaine State Festival through two very successful editions of the biennial event.

The 2019 edition of the festival was the most attended festival in its history, and his third and final edition, set to open soon, in late March, is looking to be the biggest yet.

Also, to Roberts’ credit has been leading a highly successful multi-stage capital expenditure project through the development of the Castlemaine Goods Shed site as a multi-use arts and cultural space and HQ for the organisation.
 
His passion, drive, and commitment to supporting the many disciplines under the arts umbrella made his time at the Castlemaine State Festival one of growth. Under his guidance, the evergreen arts event became one of the first at-scale productions in early 2021 to successfully emerge from the challenges of Covid and associated restrictions.
 
“It has been a great privilege to lead the Castlemaine State Festival for these past six years. I feel very lucky to have been able to call Castlemaine my home and to have had the opportunity to work alongside the amazing team & board here at CSF, the artists, audiences, stakeholders, and community members,.” Roberts said.
 
“Since day one my task has been to ensure the renown of the Castlemaine State Festival as the leading arts festival of regional Victoria and Australia.  I am particularly proud of securing $6 million to invest in the future development of the Castlemaine Goods Shed and with the team leading the organisation through the pandemic crisis period. 
 
“The future is bright for the Castlemaine State Festival and I am thrilled for whoever fills the role of Festival Director and CEO next. I hope to see you all at the 2023 Castlemaine State Festival!”
 

The Glenlyon Cemetery Trust in the Hepburn Shire is getting a $2,880 state government grant which will be used to buy a purpose built trailer.

The financial assistance is part of the state government’s investing more than $600,000 in grants through its 2022-23 Cemetery Grants Program.

The Vaughan Cemetery trust in the Mount Alexander Shire, will also receive a $ 10,340 grant. This funding will be used for the design of a crossing over “Hit or Miss Gully”.

The Vaughan and Glenlyon Cemetery trusts are among 50 cemetery trusts across the state sharing in this round of grants.

The grants make an important contribution to the cost of cemetery infrastructure, amenities, maintenance, equipment and training.

The grants program provides financial support to help cemeteries – many of which are volunteer-run to continue to function as peaceful and welcoming places of remembrance for the whole community.

Grant rounds are awarded twice a year, with applications for the current round closing on 31 March.