Melbourne's eastern suburbs are shaping up as key battlegrounds in Victoria's state election. The Liberal party must win back several seats, including Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Ashwood, Ringwood and Bayswater, to govern in its own right. Labor holds all of them by narrow margins. Local voters raise concerns about small business costs, public safety and state debt. Some say they may back Labor despite criticism of its economic management.
Police have shut down two illegal casinos operating from suburban homes and arrested 29 people. The arrests followed months of raids across Melbourne's east and north. Officers seized five kilograms of ketamine, seven kilograms of methamphetamine, $600,000 in cash, weapons and illicit tobacco. Police allege the methamphetamine was being trafficked between Victoria and Western Australia. Investigators from Victoria Police, Taskforce VIPER and the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission led the probe, which began in July with arrests at a Bundoora home.
Plans for a six-storey apartment block on Mercer Road in Armadale have drawn strong objections from nearby residents. Under Labor's new deemed-to-comply planning rules, which took effect in April, developments that meet set standards can be approved without objections or appeals. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny says the existing system failed to deliver enough homes, while Stonnington Mayor Melina Sehr says councils have lost meaningful influence. The Coalition, led by Jess Wilson, has pledged to scrap the activity centres policy and return appeal rights to residents before the state election.
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Police have arrested 29 people after uncovering two illegal casinos in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, as part of an investigation into alleged drug manufacturing. Officers seized firearms, weapons, $600,000 in cash, illegal tobacco and vapes, and drugs including methylamphetamine and ketamine during search warrants. Police allege a 40-year-old South Melbourne woman was charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine. Detective Inspector Carlie Kohler said the arrests would help dismantle drug syndicates and get drugs and weapons off the streets.
A woman and a child have been found dead outside a 30-storey apartment tower in Box Hill, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Police found the woman's body on the footpath on Prospect Street at about 6.20pm on Thursday, with the child unresponsive nearby. Both could not be revived and died at the scene. Detectives are investigating the circumstances, and the area has been cordoned off. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. It is unclear whether the pair lived in the complex.
A woman and a primary school-aged child have died outside an apartment block in Box Hill, in Melbourne's east. Police were called to Prospect Street shortly before 6.20pm on Thursday after reports that a woman was unresponsive outside an apartment complex. Officers then found a child unresponsive nearby. Both could not be revived and died at the scene. Police say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. The area has been cordoned off while detectives investigate. Anyone who saw the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Detectives are investigating the deaths of a woman and a primary school-aged child in Box Hill, in Melbourne's east, on Thursday evening. Victoria Police were called to Prospect Street just before 6:20pm after a woman was found unresponsive outside an apartment block. A child was found nearby a short time later. Both could not be revived and died at the scene. Police say they are not looking for anyone else. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
The Hills Shire Council is calling on state and federal governments to fund a set of infrastructure priorities. Top of the list is a full upgrade of Windsor and Old Windsor Road, where drivers currently average about 20km/h in the morning peak. Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne says the council is meeting its housing targets and that governments must match the growth with funding for schools, roads, transport and sporting facilities. The priorities include securing the Outer Sydney Orbital corridor and extending the Sydney Metro. The council says the requests are essential basics for the region's growing population.
