The City of Ballarat has partnering with Grampians Health, Grampians Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees and Zonta to launch the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign locally.

Launched in Ballarat last Friday November 24, it is a global campaign calling for the prevention and elimination of gender based violence.  

The 16 days officially began on 25 November – which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – and ends on 10 December, which is International Human Rights Day.  

City of Ballarat Youth Ambassadors are throwing their support behind the 16 Days of Activism campaign, seeking to promote awareness of the prevalence of domestic and family violence by creating tote bags, sharing appropriate support resources and stenciling around the CBD.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows 3.8 million Australian adults — 20 percent of the population — reported experiencing physical and/or sexual family and domestic violence since the age of 15. 

Additionally, one in six women — or 17 percent of women — have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at the hands of a current or previous cohabitating partner since the age of 15. The figure for men is one in 18, or 5.5 per cent.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said reducing the rates of family and gender-based violence would need to begin with respect.  

“Violence against women is driven by a culture that allows it to happen,” he said.  

“Challenging gender stereotypes is a simple way we can all contribute to the reduction of gender-based violence and family violence in our communities.”  

City of Ballarat Youth Ambassador Millie Collins said the Youth Ambassadors aspired to work towards a safer Ballarat for all, fostering hope to eliminate domestic violence. 

“After flagging domestic violence and gender based violence as a significant, impactful and prevalent subject within the lives of young people locally, Ballarat Youth Ambassadors made the active decision to join the call to prevent and educate young people within the spheres of domestic violence,” she said.  

“As young people, we deserve a promising future free from the fear of violence at the hands of a loved one.”  

 

Emergency services personnel have been reunited with the man whose life they saved during an incident near Ballarat earlier this year.

Avid bushwalker Michael Mai was walking when he collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest in Buninyong Reserve in January 2023. 

Paramedics managed to get to Michael but needed support to get him out of the reserve and into an ambulance. They contacted VICSES, CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria and Victoria Police. 

Buninyong-Mt Helen Fire Brigade Captain Gareth Smith was one of those called on. He said it was difficult to rescue Michael given the rough terrain and inaccessible nature of the area. 

Up to 20 emergency services personnel walked him out for an hour, with Ambulance Victoria giving him medical treatment the whole time. 

Gareth was thrilled to learn Michael wanted to reunite with those who helped him. 

“It wasn’t the outcome we expected. When we found out he wanted to meet us and thank us we were amazed. We were also happy to hear he’s doing so well,” he said. 

Gareth said the situation highlighted the importance of a multi-agency rescue, using the different skill sets from each agency for the best possible outcome.  

Michael has since made a full recovery and is grateful for the first responders who saved his life. 

“There were a lot of people involved, and I was grateful to see them to say thanks face-to-face,” Michael said. 

Preparations are well advanced to mark the 169th anniversary of one of the most significant events in Australian history, in Ballarat this weekend.

Each year on the 3 December, people gather to mark the anniversary of the attack by Victorian Colonial Military Forces on protesting miners at the 1854 Eureka Stockade uprising.    

Known as Eureka Day, this occasion has a long commemorative history, being remembered across Australia, and especially in Ballarat.  

Under the auspice of the City of Ballarat, a program of events will be presented at the Eureka Centre to mark the anniversary. To encourage community involvement, entry fees to the Eureka Centre will be removed from 1-3 December.  

The Eureka Day program begins with the Peter Tobin Oration, a ticketed evening event on Friday 1 December at 6pm. This year’s guest speaker is one of Australia’s most respected and best-known writers, Thomas Keneally AO. In his talk, Thomas will position the uprising at Eureka as the last of the great European revolutions of 1848, which, despite their failure, altered the future of humankind.  

On Sunday 3 December at 8am, a Eureka Day Commemorative Service will be held at the Eureka Centre’s auditorium to remember those who died at the Eureka Stockade. A complimentary breakfast will follow the service, with the Eureka Sunday Community Day beginning at 10am.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was vital that the Eureka Stockade was never forgotten.

“Eureka Sunday is an annual tradition which provides an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about and reflect on the Eureka legacy and come together as a community whose identity is forged by this great historical event,” he said.

“There will be family friendly activities on the day, including kid’s craft activities, facepainting, talks and live music.”

Academic researchers from the Australian National University and Federation University will reflect on new approaches to using art and museum objects in civic education in a panel discussion, ‘Difficult Objects: museums, cultural mediation and deliberative democracy’ at 11am.  

From 12.30pm the park will come alive with music featuring Ballarat’s own, Meraki Minds and award-winning songwriter Coda Chroma (aka Kate Lucas), performing in the Eureka Stockade Memorial Gardens.

The nearby Eureka Pool will also host its Eureka Sunday Pool Party to mark the start of the outdoor pool season, with free entry from 8am-7pm, pending capacity limits.

Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives, with the assistance of the Farm Crime Coordination Unit are investigating the theft of approximately 600 sheep at a Lexton property in two separate incidents.

In one incident, it’s believed that 585 12-month-old merino sheep of mixed sex were stolen from a farm on Sunraysia Highway, Lexton between 23 July and 19 September.

In a second incident, it’s believed another 16 merino rams were stolen from the same farm between 4 November and 6 November.

Police were notified as soon as the missing sheep were unaccounted for.

Police suspect a livestock truck or multiple movements with a stock trailer or similar may have been used to steal the sheep.

Anyone in the farming community who notices suspicious activity, no matter how small, is now being encouraged to contact their local police station immediately or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stppers official website.

Inspector Paul Hargreaves – Farm Crime Coordination Unit: “This theft is concerning and unique as it involves a significant quantity of sheep and breeding rams of stud quality.

“Farm crime strikes at the very heart of a farmer’s livelihood, resulting in hardships that extend far beyond monetary losses.

“Every piece of information matters greatly in solving crimes. So, whether you witness something, overhear something, possess knowledge, or even harbor suspicions related to sheep theft, please don’t hesitate to report it immediately.

“By promptly reporting anything unusual to the authorities, you could be the vital link in solving crime.”

The Lake Wendouree and Victoria Park Link Lighting project in Ballarat has been officially switched on in recent days.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson marked the completion of the lighting project by attending Lake Wendouree earlier this month to see the lights officially switched on.

The 225 green light poles around the lake and seven light poles along Morrison Street will now light a route around the Steve Moneghetti Track and from Lake Wendouree to nearby Victoria Park, creating a safer and more accessible environment for walkers, runners, rowers and the broader community.

Powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, the LED lighting will turn off at 10pm each night and turn on each morning at 5.30am. The lights will then turn off in the morning via a sensor in the light fitting that measures the level of natural light.

The $3,170,000 project is jointly funded by the State Government ($2,500,000) and the City of Ballarat ($670,000).  

Lake lighting was identified as the number one priority in the City of Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree Master Plan in 2017 following extensive community and local resident engagement.

The planning phase of the project considered a number of key aspects including a Heritage Impact Statement Assessment, an Arboriculture report, and a Biodiversity Impact Assessment.  

The City of Ballarat has worked with regional contractor DeAraugo and Lea Electrical, which utilised local sub-contractors and suppliers, to protect and maintain the health of trees and wildlife throughout the construction project.

The contractor’s works have complied with a Tree Management Plan and a Construction Management Plan, which also meets the Australian Standard 4970 Protection of Trees on Development Sites. The works were also guided by a project arborist.

The project also went through a consultation and approval process with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners with a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in place for the delivery of the works.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said it’s exciting to see the lake lighting project switched on.

“Lake lighting improves safety and encourages more people to get active year-round,” he said.

“Residents and visitors to Ballarat can now make use of our most popular recreational location for a few extra hours a day, particularly in the evenings and during the winter months.

“Thank you to the project team, including contractor DeAraugo and Lea Electrical for delivering the lake lighting project with the utmost care for the environment, wildlife, lake businesses and our community.”

Ballarat’s QHub service for LGBTIQA+ young people is now operational and accepting referrals.

An experienced team of professionals including a youth and family specialist, community engagement practitioner and peer support workers are available to support young LGBTIQA+ people, their families and carers.

The City of Ballarat Inclusion Plan indicates that 11,000 people in Ballarat identify as LGBTIQA+. This figure is approximately 10 per cent of the Ballarat population and almost double the Victorian average of 5.7 per cent highlighting the importance and need for specialised welcoming and inclusive support close to home.

Cafs (Child & Family Services, Ballarat) CEO Wendy Sturgess said: “Cafs is a strong ally with the LGBTIQA+ community across the Central Highlands region and we welcome this opportunity to continue to provide services in a safe space dedicated to young LGBTIQA+ people.”

QHub manager Jack Khouri, pictured above, said: “The Ballarat QHub team has been working diligently alongside community to ensure that the programs available are fulfilling the needs of prospective clients.

“We’re also looking at a range of special events and activities during school holidays that will offer young people opportunities to connect socially in a safe, supported environment.”

Anyone looking to access support through the Ballarat QHub is encouraged to email qhub@ds.org.au or phone intake on (03) 9663 6733.

Which is better – gas or induction? It’s a question an increasing number of householders looking to upgrade a tired old kitchen find themselves asking.

Tomorrow a special event being hosted by BREAZE (Ballarat Renewable Energy And Zero Emissions) in Ballarat aims to provide some answers.

Backed by funding from the City of Ballarat, the Smart Living Ballarat November session takes place tomorrow Wednesday November 22 from 12:30-1:30pm at Barkly Square kitchen, next to Tegan Crosbie’s Workshoppery at 25-39 Barkly St, Ballarat East.

“For years we’ve heard (from the gas industry!) that gas stovetops are the best option – quicker, cheaper, more precise. But are they?” a BREAZE spokeswoman says.

She says tomorrow’s demo aims to allow househlders to see and decide for themselves. Those who attend will get to hear about the dangers of cooking with gas, and to learn more about the reasons to consider switching to an induction cooktop.

Tomorrow’s session will be focused on renter and budget friendly, cheap and accessible plug-in induction cooktops. This is a free session, all welcome but due to capacity limits of the kitchen you must register for a free ticket here.

This session will complement Ballarat’s Green Drinks this month, where Sue Broadway and Ian Rossiter will be speaking about built-in induction cooktops and the science behind how induction works.

Smart Living Ballarat is a free monthly workshop, hosted by Ellen Burns and sponsored by the City of Ballarat and BREAZE.

The countdown is on until major redevelopment works at the Ballarat Library are complete.

In what will be a significant milestone for the $7.48 million project, it is expected that contractors H Troon will hand the facility over to the City of Ballarat in December 2023.  

Once this occurs, work will begin to start moving all necessary equipment and approximately 75,000 library resources back into the Doveton Street facility.

It is expected the central library will reopen to the public in March 2024.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was an exciting time for one of the city’s most eagerly awaited projects.

“In just a few months now we will be able to open the doors to the community and have people flooding back to the Ballarat Library,” he said.

“This is an incredibly exciting project, one at the heart of our commitment to delivering a better Ballarat, that will transform the old building into a contemporary library and community facility.

“You can really get a sense now of how everything is going to come together and what the finished product will be.”

The entirety of the structural work has now been complete at the library, with only the final additions remaining before the facility is handed back to the City of Ballarat.

The final remaining works to be carried out include minor flooring and painting.

The project is the library’s first major redevelopment and expansion since 1993.

The redevelopment includes refurbishing the second level of the building for library and community program use, a new entrance, purpose-built teaching areas, quiet areas, open space for socialisation, and specialised children’s and family areas.

One particular highlight will be the story dome in the children’s library. With tiered seating, this area will make story time a real event. A dedicated parents’ room adjoining the children’s library will make this a comfortable place for families and carers.

The upstairs maker space is a new addition to the library. Dedicated to learning through experimentation and play, the community will be able to use equipment including 3D printers, sewing machines and digitisation equipment – all designed to enhance learning for life.

A dedicated Youth and Community Space is also a new addition to the refurbished library. Located on the first floor, this includes a community kitchen for cookery and life skills classes, gaming consoles and plenty of flexible space for study and recreation.

The temporary Ballarat Library at Town Hall will continue to operate until the Doveton Street facility is opened to the public and continues to average approximately 1100 visits per week.

The City of Ballarat is contributing $6.98 million to the project, with the State Government contributing $500,000 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program. 

The City of Ballarat this week began grass slashing works as part of its annual fire hazard reduction program.

Conditions across the municipality have been monitored closely by the City of Ballarat’s Emergency Management team, who have determined the appropriate time to begin the program.

The fire hazard reduction program involves preparing the community by undertaking inspections of council and private land to mitigate the fire risk during the Fire Danger Period.  

The City of Ballarat’s fire prevention program includes reducing fire fuels such as long grass, supporting the community during emergencies and working with fire agencies and other emergency services to prepare for the fire season.  

It also includes education and supporting the community before, during and after an emergency event.

As part of the program, slashing on City of Ballarat-owned properties will begin on 14 November in the north-western area of the municipality, which traditionally dries out first.

Grassland curing information, which is available on the CFA website is used to determine the best time to begin slashing.

Timing grass slashing in the lead-up to summer is vital. Although fire safety and prevention are the number one priority, if grass is slashed too early it can grow back quickly and require repeated slashing throughout summer.

The City of Ballarat is also encouraging people to start preparing their own properties for summer and making them as fire safe as possible.

Pre-season advice letters have been sent to vacant landholders with advice relating to property preparation, with further inspections to be carried out.  

Properties that are considered hazardous may be issued with a Fire Prevention Notice, which requires fire risks to be removed. These notices are issued in accordance with the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and the Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said with a hot and dry summer expected, it was crucial people kept fire safety front of mind.

“Preparation is the key when it comes to fire prevention and as a community, we have a shared responsibility to keep ourselves and each other safe,” he said.

PROPERTY PREPARATION TIPS (Courtesy of CFA)

• Move your winter woodpile away from the house or sheds
• Prune tree branches so they are not overhanging the roof or touching walls
• Clear your gutters
• Keep grass shorter than 10cm
• Remove leaves and twigs from around your property
• Prune back plants and garden beds near doors and windows
• Test any systems that are part of your fire plan such as sprinklers, pumps and generators
• Check that your home and contents insurance is current and includes a level of cover in line with increased building standards and regulations in bushfire risk areas
• If you are burning off to remove green waste, check if a permit is required and register your burn-off via the Fire Permits Victoria online site.
• Make sure your household has a Bushfire Survival Plan

A historic rotunda in Ballarat’s Arch of Victory precinct has been expertly restored.

The Memorial Wall Rotunda at the Arch of Victory has undergone extensive conservation works in recent months, including cleaning, repairing render, applying waterproofing and repainting.

The works, which were approved by Heritage Victoria under a heritage permit exemption, were funded by a $20,000 contribution by the City of Ballarat and a further $20,000 from the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee Inc, generously supported by the Haymes Foundation.

The rotunda was officially rededicated by City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson on Saturday 11 November, as a prelude to this year’s recent Remembrance Day service at the site.

Cr Hudson said the project was a great example of the City of Ballarat partnering with a deserving community group to deliver something of significance.

“Monuments such as this are so important to Ballarat and it is vital that we continue to maintain them to ensure they last for many more generations to come,” he said.

This rotunda now contains a granite column that has an alphabetical listing of the names of the City of Ballarat World War I service personnel whose names are commemorated with a tree in the Avenue of Honour.  

It was originally located across the road on the northern side of the Avenue of Honour, immediately adjacent to the former Ballarat Golf Club building.

It was relocated to its current position in 1993 as part of the major redevelopment of the Arch of Victory precinct that took place at that time. The alphabetical listing was added with the generous donation from Irene Lillingston in memory of her late husband. Illumination was added later by Ballarat electrician WM McKnight & Sons.  

The dome of the rotunda was originally constructed by the same bricklayer that worked on the Arch of Victory, George Brookes, using bricks sourced from the Ballarat firm, Selkirk Bricks. When it was relocated in 1993, Ballarat building firm H Troon carried out that detailed task.

The recent refurbishment work was designed by Quadratum Architecture & Conservation and carried out by Ballarat builder and preservation heritage specialists, PFB Building. The work was completed in time for the recent annual Remembrance Day formalities that were held on Saturday November 11.

This year’s Remembrance Day service specifically remembered 20 Ballarat men who attended local schools and lost their lives in World War I with no known graves.

Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee President, Garry Snowden said honouring men and women by name was an important part of every service.

“While experiencing the grief of losing a loved one, the families of this year’s group were also denied the very small consolation of at least knowing that their son, husband, father or brother was buried under a headstone bearing their name,” he said.  

The City of Ballarat councillors have elected Cr Des Hudson as Mayor and Cr Peter Eddy Deputy Mayor for the 2023/24 term.  

It is the fourth and final year of the current term for the current Ballarat City Council, with the next local government council elections to take place in October 2024 across Victoria.

It will be Cr Hudson’s second consecutive year as Mayor of Ballarat.  

In his first term as a Councillor, Cr Peter Eddy was elected as the Deputy Mayor of Ballarat for the 2023/24 term.  

The election occurred at an unscheduled council meeting at Town Hall on Monday night.  

After the vote, the Mayor was presented to the Town Hall Chambers in the official Mayoral robes and chains, accompanied by the Sovereign Hill Red Coats.

Following the meeting the traditional ringing of the heritage Alfred Bells at Town Hall took place, along with a presentation from the Town Crier.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said he was honoured to serve the Ballarat community as mayor.

“As we commence this final term of Council, we still have considerable work to be done for our community now and into the future,” he said.

“We must maintain discipline to continue to complete the Council Plan, that we committed to in 2021.  

“I look forward to continuing to work with each and every one of this Councillor group, the CEO and his team to achieve great results for the City of Ballarat.”

Now in his sixth term, Cr Hudson is the longest serving councillor with the post-amalgamation City of Ballarat and served as Mayor in 2015/16 and as Deputy Mayor in 2007/08 and 2014/15.

Cr Peter Eddy is a North Ward Councillor, elected in 2020. He is a passionate community advocate and has been involved in several local and state not for profit community boards over the past 30 years.  

Many family and friends attended the council meeting in the public gallery, while the meeting was also streamed online.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson and Deputy Mayor Cr Peter Eddy will be presented to Ballarat in an official proceeding, with the Town Crier on the steps of Ballarat Town Hall at 8.30am on Tuesday 14 November 2023.  

The City of Ballarat’s outdoor pools will begin opening from this month for the new summer season.

The Environmental Health Team at the City of Ballarat undertake routine water quality testing at public accessible pools to ensure operators are providing a safe environment for all users.  

Whilst the team are busy testing all year round, once the weather starts to warm up, the importance of the testing does too.  

The team monitors the water quality of more than 67 aquatic facilities including City of Ballarat managed pools and splash parks and has begun testing of the city’s outdoor pools, ready for the influx of visitors when the sun returns for the Summer season.  

A team of eight Environmental Health Officers conduct regular water quality testing onsite at aquatic facilities providing independent, instant test results for operators.  

The team works with operators, discussing results and providing advice to ensure the water quality at the facility complies with the Regulations and the Water Quality Guidelines.

All public aquatic facilities must have a water quality risk management plan in place to help minimise potential public health risks which includes the requirement for daily water quality monitoring.

Public aquatic facilities are important for maintaining and promoting active lifestyles and providing health benefits. However, if aquatic facilities are not properly managed, the health of the community may be put at risk.

Unsafe water areas can become breeding grounds for germs that can impact large numbers of people quickly, hence why testing is so vital.  

City of Ballarat Director Growth and Development, Natalie Robertson said Ballarat is lucky to have many safe and clean aquatic facilities throughout the city.  

“The Environmental Health Team works hard behind the scenes to ensure our city’s aquatic facilities are safe and clean for the community to confidently use,” she said.  

The City of Ballarat says it is on track to meet almost all of its goals outlined in its 2019 Creative City Strategy.

Ballarat City Council at its recent Octber scheduled meeting endorsed the results of the 2022/23 Creative City Strategy Report Card, noting the progress that has been made towards achieving the seven targets outlined in the strategy.

The Strategy includes ambitious targets for the City of Ballarat’s Creative City unit to reach by 2030, which seeks to make Ballarat a city that nurtures the creative spark, builds sustainability within the creative industries, and actively grows the creative economy and practitioners.

Some of the targets designed to deliver positive effects for the sector have already been met and most are on track for completion well in advance of 2030.

The targets that are performing well are based around increasing community participation in creative programs, increasing the numbers of employed artists, tripling attendances at events, increasing cultural tourism and foot traffic in the creative precinct and attracting more qualified professionals to Ballarat’s labour force.

However, there was a downward trend in the target to achieve 3000 jobs in creative industries by 2030.

In line with a national downward trend in creative job losses, there has been a 15 per cent drop in full-time creative jobs, however more positively there has been an 18 per cent increase in self-employed creative jobs, bringing the overall total to 2427 creative jobs in Ballarat.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said there was incredible progress being made towards making Ballarat “the home of the sustainable practitioner”.  

“Every year we are seeing Ballarat become increasingly creative as the city establishes itself as a city with creativity at its heart,” he said.

“It’s extremely promising to see the goals that were set back in 2019 coming to fruition and while we acknowledge there is still plenty of work ahead of us, the positive signs are there.

“There are still a number of challenges facing the creative industry, including economic downturns, dramatic changes in audience behaviour, and continued recovery from the pandemic, but it is crucial the work we have started continues.”

A big summer of cricket awaits at Ballarat’s Victoria Park following the completion of a project to construct four cricket nets.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson and CEO Evan King were joined by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison in recent days to officially open the Victoria Park Community Cricket Nets project.

As part of the $5.8 million Victoria Park Sport and Community Facility, the project worth almost $500,000 will provide three new nets for the Lucas Cricket Club and another net for community use.

The City of Ballarat contributed $397,808 to the project, while the State Government contributed $100,000 via its 2022 Community Cricket Program – Community Facilities stream.

The project replaced existing cricket nets which were no longer fit for purpose.

The completion of the nets follows the recent opening of the adjacent pavilion on Military Drive and the completion of two soccer pitches that double as a cricket oval in summer.

Three of the nets will be dedicated for use by the Lucas Cricket Club, with the fourth being accessible to the entire community. The Ballarat Cricket Association will also hold female representative team trials and training sessions at the site.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the new nets were part of a suite of new facilities being rolled out in the municipality.

The City of Ballarat has also completed the Russell Square and Doug Dean Reserve cricket nets in the last 12 months and is currently constructing nets at Mt Clear Recreation Reserve.

“Seeing these projects come to life makes me incredibly proud because I know just how much benefit they will bring,” Cr Hudson said.

“The Lucas Cricket Club has more than 100 active players, but I’m sure those numbers will grow even further when people see facilities like this.

“The Victoria Park Community Cricket Nets project is another sign of our commitment to delivering a better Ballarat.”

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the project would benefit both the Lucas Cricket Club and the broader community.

“This is great news for the Lucas Cricket Club who now have a fantastic new facility to practice their batting and bowling and for the wider community who will benefit from access to the dedicated publicly accessible lane,” she said.

“I am proud that the Allan Labor Government’s Community Cricket Program – Community Facilities stream is supporting local cricket clubs and players in Ballarat.”

Lucas Cricket Club president Dave Horwood said the nets had already had a massive impact on the club.

“The new cricket nets at Victoria Park have given our club a massive boost of enthusiasm and morale,” he said.

“Player numbers are up, training participation numbers have doubled and junior participation has increased three-fold, including an increase in our girls cricket program.” 

Members from VIPER taskforce executed 16 warrants across regional Victoria, including Ballarat, last week as part of the ongoing Taskforce Lunar investigation into organised crime syndicates linked to illicit tobacco.

Members of the taskforce were joined at the warrants by police from the Shepparton, Seymour, Yarrawonga and Ballarat Crime Investigation Units, along with representatives from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and the Australian Border Force’s Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.

Police attended 16 stores in Ballarat (8), Shepparton (6) and Seymour, Yarrawonga last Thursday, 26 October.

As a result, the following was seized:

• 39,184 e-cigarettes (vapes) with a street value of over $1.1M;

• 611,833 cigarettes with duty excise evaded totalling over $760,000;

• 153kg of loose tobacco with duty excise evaded totalling over $280,000; and

• Over $16,000 cash, which police will allege to be the proceeds of crime.

An additional thirty six warrants had been executed on Wednesday (18 October) and Thursday (19 October) of last week at 34 retail outlets and two residential properties across Melbourne.

Six people were arrested over the two-day period, with a 40-year-old Northcote man charged in relation to drug trafficking offences.

The other five people were released pending further enquiries.

The combined seizures of the four day operation include;

• 92,331 e-cigarettes (vapes), with a street value of over $2.7M;

• 1,324,268 cigarettes with duty excise evaded totalling over $1.6M;

• Approximately 901kg loose-leaf tobacco – with duty excise evaded totalling $1.6M;

• 2kg of cannabis;

• 1kg of cocaine;

• $42,901 proceeds of crime;

• 2 x ASP batons; and

• industrial tobacco manufacturing equipment.

The warrants form part of the Taskforce Lunar investigation into organised crime syndicates believed to be heavily involved in the illicit tobacco trade and an ongoing dispute for profit.

These warrants were executed with the support of the Australian Border Force’s Illicit Tobacco Taskforce and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who has information about these incidents and who is responsible to come forward.

Anyone with information about these incidents or with further information about illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report via the Crime Stoppers website.