Sunbury will get more shade as the Victorian state government invests $3 million in 23 greening projects across two programs. The first program will plant more than 100,000 trees across 13 projects, with $1.5 million directed to suburbs with less tree cover and greater heat exposure. Planting will take place across Melbourne's west and south-east, including 15,000 trees along the Maribyrnong River. The second program will give 10 busy shopping strips and streets a green makeover, including St Albans, Sunshine West, Brunswick and Melbourne's CBD.
Courtney and Sev have drawn with Adam and Jolene for the win on The Block after a dispute over discounted wine racks. Jolene and Lisa believe the girls broke the rules, but Courtney and Sev say their rack was classed as art and exempt from the 50 per cent discount limit. Courtney and Sev then struggle with landscaper Troy Lovett, who refuses to help cut costs after an unexpected carpentry bill. The girls have $25,000 left for their front yard and say they may be disqualified if they cannot finish the week.
Comedian Anh Do is returning to Kyneton Town Hall due to popular demand. He will perform his personal stories, blending real-life anecdotes with comedy. The show is on Thursday 22 October at 7.30pm and is rated PGR 7+. Adult tickets cost $74.90, while children aged 7 to 17 and concession holders pay $69.90. Do promises a mix of heartfelt moments about life's triumphs and struggles.
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Labor has promised a $700,000 upgrade for the Gladstone Park Bowls Club if it is re-elected. The state government says the money would go towards all-weather facilities for bowlers. Sunbury MP Josh Bull said the funding would make a big difference for the club. The plan would involve working with the local council to build a dome that shelters a new bowling green. Community Sport Minister Ros Spence said the project would help local clubs bring people together.
Fawkner Highway Patrol have suspended the licence and impounded the vehicle of a driver allegedly caught 100km/h over the limit in Bulla. Police allege the Blue Ford Falcon was clocked at 186km/h in an 80km/h zone on Sunbury Road at about 6.50pm on Sunday 18 October. The vehicle was impounded at a cost of $1159. The driver received two fines totalling $2092. His licence was suspended immediately for a year.
Courtney and Sev and Jolene and Adam finished tied on The Block after a dispute over their wine cellars. Judges were impressed by both teams' joinery, but Jolene was angry that Courtney and Sev had secured a deeper discount on their wine rack. Sev said she classed the timber racks as artwork, where pricing is at the artist's discretion. Lisa and Rosco won the weekly budgeting prize of $10,000. Both tied teams won $5000 each.
The Beefsteak and Burgundy Club in Sunbury is inviting the public to a free information night on Thursday 22 October at 7pm. The event will be held at the Hume Global Learning Centre. The club has brought locals together for wine and food for more than 50 years. It was founded in Sunbury by four local businessmen and formally run by the national club from 1974.
Eight-year-old Issaiah Apap, from Sunbury, will play Young Fritz in The Nutcracker. The production opens at Melbourne's Ian Potter State Theatre on 24 October and runs until 31 October. Issaiah has danced since he was about one year old and trains at Flashdance Performing Arts. Rehearsals began on 13 October, and his family has rearranged school pick-ups and sport schedules to support him. The production follows Clara, a young ballet student, on a magical Christmas Eve adventure.
Sunbury will mark National Survivors’ Day with a morning tea and community gathering on Wednesday 28 October. Hosted by Just4Causes, the event from 11am to 3pm at the Hume Global Learning Centre will bring survivors, advocates, support organisations and community representatives together. Six guest speakers will address attendees, including National Survivors’ Foundation chief executive Clare Leaney and Sunbury local Paul Levey, who will share his experience of surviving abuse by a paedophile priest. Organiser Tracie M Oldham said sexual abuse remains a deeply taboo subject, particularly in regional communities.
Local MP John Pesutto has criticised the Victorian government's planning process after two historic Hawthorn properties were approved for demolition without a permit for their replacement. The Riversdale Residents Group fears the site may remain vacant for years, and the proposed seven-storey apartment complex exceeds local height regulations. The planning minister has 13 days to consider the complex proposal before the state election caretaker period begins.
Tempers flared on The Block when host Scotty Cam evicted Rosco and Adam's families from the share house. Chantel had complained that their presence made her uncomfortable. Adam vowed revenge by revoking Chantel and Wyatt's access through his property. At a group dinner, Courtney rejected Jolene's claim that Wyatt had stood over her. Jolene responded by saying Courtney had no right to tell her how to feel.
Buyers looking for a new detached house have 28 new projects to consider across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Options include shovel-ready homesites, house-and-land packages and newly completed turnkey homes. Sovereign Hills in New South Wales and Riverlea in South Australia are among the new releases this month. Listed on realestate.com.au over the past month, release status and availability may change, so buyers should confirm details with each project team.
Transport Victoria has confirmed the final design for intersection upgrades along Sunshine Avenue in Taylors Lakes. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. Two roundabouts at Melton Highway and Old Calder Highway will be replaced with signalised intersections, with additional lanes and new signalised pedestrian crossings. New walking and cycling paths and street lighting will also be built. A bus stop on the northern side of Melton Highway will move to the eastern side of Sunshine Avenue.
A 62-year-old man from Caroline Springs has been charged after an alleged incident in a change room at the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre on Sunday 25 October. Police allege he used a recording device to film several people in a change room cubicle around 11.10am. He faces charges of producing child abuse material and producing intimate images. Brimbank council says it has terminated his membership and banned him from all council leisure centres. He is bailed to appear before Sunshine Magistrates' Court on 23 March 2027.
Kindergartens in the Macedon Ranges have received bush kinder grants, with $900,000 in government funding supporting 150 Victorian kindergartens. Eighty-eight kindergartens, including Goodstart Early Learning Riddells Creek and Woodend, and Romsey Early Learning, will start new bush kinder programs with a $6000 grant each. The remaining 62 kindergartens will enhance existing nature-based programs, such as Daylesford Community Child Care. Bush kinder programs encourage outdoor learning and exploration in natural environments, promoting children's health, wellbeing, and development.
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Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has referred the controversial proposal to turn Clarkefield into a 2500-home township to an independent advisory committee. The committee will examine the amendment, permit application and public submissions before making recommendations. Minister Kilkenny had been expected to decide in August. Macedon Ranges council and developer APD have both welcomed the referral. Mayor Cassy Borthwick said the decision is not final but recognises community questions. APD director Brad Paddon said the company believes outstanding issues can be resolved.
Labor candidate Annette Death has promised almost $20 million for upgrades in Riddells Creek if the party is elected. The plan includes $16 million for modern facilities at Riddells Creek Primary School, which will replace ageing buildings. A further $3 million will fund planning to upgrade the Main Road, Sutherlands Road and Station Street intersection, which Ms Death described as congested and confusing. Another $700,000 would build a new netball court at the Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve.
The Rotary Club of Keilor is preparing its annual 100 Christmas Bags project for isolated patients in the Moonee Valley and Brimbank areas. Bolton Clarke community nurses will deliver the gift bags, which contain basic food, toiletries, personal care items and seasonal treats. The club says many recipients have no family, friends or wider community, and the bags aim to bring them comfort at Christmas. Recipient Anica said the gift brought her to tears, while Kent said he was looking forward to the day.
A new Australian play, Fall, will have its world premiere in Melbourne's west in December. Written by Michele Lee and directed by Beng Oh, it opens at The Bowery Theatre in St Albans on 5 December. The production then moves to Bluestone Church Arts Space in Footscray for four shows from 9 to 12 December. Set in northern Laos in 1975, the three-character play follows an Australian teacher and a former Hmong student facing the end of the Secret War. The 75-minute show is recommended for audiences aged 15 and over, and Wit Incorporated Theatre Company presents it.
The Municipal Association of Victoria has recognised long-serving councillors through its 2026 MAV Councillor Service Awards. MAV President Jennifer Anderson said recipients should be proud of their leadership and commitment to residents. She said the role is demanding and often done as a second job or alongside family care. Awards were presented at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30-year service levels, plus a Mayor Emeritus Award. The association said the recipients have left a lasting mark on communities across the state.
Stock Sense is holding a fencing workshop in Gisborne on Friday, November 20, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Participants will learn how to install new fences using the right tools, materials and techniques. The day also covers how to inspect, maintain and repair existing fences to extend their working life. Stock Sense will lead a discussion on biosecurity and best-practice measures for protecting farms. The exact venue will be sent to participants closer to the date.
WorkSafe inspectors will be able to issue on-the-spot fines from 31 March to reduce fatal falls at work. Employers can be fined for failing to control fall risks, keeping safety records unavailable, or starting high-risk construction work without a Safe Work Method Statement. Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Steve Dimopoulos said falls remain a leading cause of workplace deaths and serious injuries. WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said employers face no new obligations, but those breaking the law will face consequences sooner.
New nursing labs have opened at The Gordon's Geelong City Campus, giving 416 Diploma of Nursing students hands-on clinical training in simulated hospital wards. The Gordon chief executive Joe Ormeno said the facilities include assistive technology for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, wheelchair access, adjustable furniture and low-stimulation spaces. Deputy premier Gabrielle Williams said the labs are the first stage of The Gordon's TAFE Centre of Excellence in Disability Inclusion. Work on the remaining stages is underway, with the centre due for completion next year.
Victoria will add 11 AI-powered cameras to its bushfire detection network across the state's east and west. The $3.8 million project is jointly funded by the Victorian Government, Hancock Victorian Plantations and the Green Triangle Fire Alliance. The cameras use artificial intelligence to scan for smoke and fire around the clock, and the expanded network is expected to monitor more than 1.4 million hectares. The new cameras are scheduled to be in place by November 2027. Minister for Emergency Services Paul Edbrooke said early information would help emergency services respond more quickly.
