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Latrobe Crime Watch News Letter Latrobe Police Service Area September 2013Hot Spots, Eyewatch, Crime Prevention, Illegal Rubbish Dumping, NHW/Safer Communities Crime Reports, Road Deaths Caused by Speeding. By Malcolm Lawrence - 22nd September 2013 - Back to News Latrobe Crime Watch News
Latrobe Police Service Area
Neighbourhood Watch Creating Safer Communities
September 2013
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Emergency 000, Mobiles 112, State the service you want – Police, Ambulance or Fire.
Police: Boolarra 5169 6222, Churchill 5122 1790, Moe 5127 2222, Morwell 5131 5000
Traralgon 5174 0900
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000
Neighbourhood Watch & Safer Communities
Unit – Latrobe PSA, L/S/C Brett Godden, 5131 5085, 0400 050 749.
brett.godden@police.vic.gov.au
Facebook: Senior Constable Brett
Child Protection 13 12 78, Consumer Affairs 5116 5701, Dept Primary Industry 136186.
Dispute Settlement Centre 1800 658 528, Latrobe City 1300 367 700.
Nurse on Call 1300 606 024, Poisons Information 13 11 26,
VicRoads 131170
COMING EVENTS: OPEN INVITATION TO ALL LATROBE VALLEY RESIDENTS
Wed 28th August - Churchill District and Community Assoc Meeting - Churchill Community Hall - 7 pm
Monday 7th October - Moe/Newborough Town Meeting - Moe RSL – Albert Street, Moe – 7pm
Tuesday 1st October - Traralgon Town Meeting - Traralgon Police Station, Kay St, Traralgon – 7pm
Wednesday 2nd October - Morwell Town Meeting – Morwell RSL – Elgin Street, Morwell – 7pm
Wednesday 9th October - Yallourn North Town Meeting - Yallourn North Bowling Club–7 pm
HOT SPOTS – POLICE NEED THE PUBLIC’S HELP
IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND START SAVING LIVES
A MESSAGE FROM ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ROBERT HILL
ROAD POLICING COMMAND.
What we seem to ignore and not speak about is those that have been seriously injured as a result of road trauma.
Every week there are around 100 people who are seriously injured as a result of a motor vehicle collision. These injuries include serious brain trauma, quadriplegia and paraplegia. Continued page three
Death is a high price to pay for speeding, but it’s the hidden cost of road trauma we seem to forget. Every year around 280 people die on Victorian roads - these figures and collisions are widely reported on and spoken about. Each time we notify the public of a fatality on our roads it generates debate and engenders sympathy for loved ones that have been lost and the families they have left behind.
What we seem to ignore and not speak about is those that have been seriously injured as a result of road trauma. Every week there are around 100 people who are seriously injured as a result of a motor vehicle collision. These injuries include serious brain trauma, quadriplegia and paraplegia.
Whilst we have managed to significantly reduce the road toll over the past 40 years, we have not been able to reduce serious injury collisions to the same extent. Around 5500 people are seriously injured each year, with approximately 600 requiring long-term rehabilitation. The emotional and physical impact this has on families, friends and the injured is immeasurable. The ripple affect one serious injury collision or fatality has on a community cannot be truly understood, it’s something known only to those who have been through it. On 23 August Victoria Police will launch the 2013-2018 Road Safety Strategy ‘Road to Zero’. The State Government and Victoria Police, along with their road safety partners, have made a commitment to reduce the fatal and the serious injury road tolls by more than 30 per cent by 2022. This would mean fewer than 200 deaths on our roads and 3830 serious injury collisions. To achieve our targets we know that we need the help of all road users. This includes our police officers, mums and dads, young drivers, old drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and anyone else travelling on the roads. We know it can be done, over the last decade we have seen a significant shift in the community attitude when it comes to drink driving. People take the car keys from friends if they are considering driving, young drivers hand their keys to their parents when they know they are going to have a few drinks and they do this because drink driving is just not acceptable. Unfortunately we have not seen the same change in community attitude when it comes to driver behaviour and in particular speeding. How many of us get in a car with a friend and ask them to slow down or keep to the speed limit? How many of us remind the driver to take a bit more care due to the weather or road conditions? We need everyone to step up and say "enough" when it comes to any form of speeding. Speed is a major factor in thirty per cent of all road trauma recorded in Victoria. Road users need to think about what is important in their lives and the impact an injury or death would have on them. We are asking the community to do their bit. If all drivers dropped between 1-5km/h off their average speed we could see up to 85 lives across the state saved and up to 1300 serious injuries avoided. Drivers need to vary their speeds according to the weather conditions, road surface, driving experience and the type of vehicle being driven. Speed limits are set as the maximum legal speed a driver is permitted to travel at, however this may not always be the right speed. The right speed is the safest speed driving within the limits and conditions. Enough is enough. Speeding is not okay and won’t be tolerated. Police will be out there enforcing the speed limits. It is time to change the culture and start saving lives on our roads. Our target is less than 200 deaths and 3850 serious injuries on our roads by 2022. Our vision is zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads. I want all Victorians to join Victoria Police along the ‘Road to Zero’. A copy of the Victoria Police Road Safety Strategy and Action plan can be found at www.police.vic.gov.au.
Reproduced from Victoria Police Media at http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/news/1220-it-s-time-to-change-the-culture-and-start-saving-lives.html
SUCCESS FOR JOINT VIRTUAL EYEWATCH/PHYSICAL NHW MEETINGS
Victoria Police's Latrobe Community Liaison Officer and Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, Leading Senior Constable Brett Godden, is enthusiastic about the Latrobe Valley public's participation in the first three joint virtual Eyewatch/physical Neighbourhood Watch meetings.
Held over three consecutive nights during the first week of the month at the Moe, Traralgon and Morwell physical Neighbourhood Watch meetings, the Eyewatch community was invited to participate and raise its town issues.
"Our meeting numbers sky-rocketed," LSC Godden said, "We had 2,994 Eyewatchers following the Moe meeting, 3,126 following Traralgon's and 2,962 following Morwell's."
The issues raised in the different towns varied. Moe was concerned about speeding and safety at the Elizabeth Street shops, for Traralgon it was the use of fog lights, CBD safety and CCTV cameras, illegal fireworks and pedestrian safety whilst for Morwell the biggest concern was hoon drivers of all types, those in vehicles, on motor bikes and even the riders of motorised mobility devices.
LSC Godden said the meetings were very well received and he will be continuing with the format. "The joint meetings were an experiment," he said, "a very successful experiment. There is no doubt the community supports the idea. It gives everyone the opportunity to let the police know what is of concern to them and we welcome the input."
The joint online/physical meetings will be held at 7 pm on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month, with the exception of December and January when Neighbourhood Watch goes into recess for the summer holidays. The public can attend in person at the meetings as listed in the Coming Events section of this newsletter or participate in the virtual world through the Eyewatch – Latrobe Police Service Area Facebook page found at https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchlatrobepsa
AUGUST NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH/SAFER COMMUNITIES GROUP REPORTS
BOOLARRA/YINNAR DISTRICT CRIME REPORT
ASSAULTS - Nil for August (1 July)
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 1 for August (Nil July) - Overnight 7th August a vehicle parked in Tarwin St, Boolarra had rocks thrown at the window.
BURGLARY - 1 for August (Nil July) - Between 21st and 23rd August unknown offenders stole a chainsaw from an unlocked shed on a property in Walshs Rd, Yinnar.
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 7 for August (Nil July) - The thefts from motor vehicle committed in Yinnar during August consist of three attempts to enter vehicles and four thefts which occurred in Hammond St, Rieniets Way, Quigley Sty, St James Dr and Bennett St (3). All vehicles entered were unlocked.
CHURCHILL and DISTRICT MEETING and CRIME REPORT (INCLUDES JEERALANG)
ASSAULTS - 4 for August (3 July) - In all four incidents an offender has been charged with assault related offences.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 6 for August (5 July) - Two offenders charged. Overnight 17th August unknown offenders have tagged jumps at the skate park as well as walls of businesses in the shopping centre. Photos of the graffiti can be viewed at Eyewatch Latrobe Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchlatrobepsa posted 27th August, 2013.)
BURGLARY - 4 for August (1 July) - One offender charged. The keys for a motor vehicle were stolen from a second vehicle in a residential garage in Winchester Way on 3rd August. The vehicle was stolen but later recovered in Warragul.
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 8 for August (11 July) - Overnight 21st August three vehicles in Winchester Way were entered with a GPS unit and coins stolen from one vehicle and various other items stolen from the other two vehicles. In the second theft a large amount of the property was recovered. Six of the vehicles were unlocked in driveways.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 1 for August (1 July) - The only vehicle stolen during August was recovered.
THEFT - 3 for August (2 July) - One offender charged. Overnight 9th August five standard roses were stolen from a garden in Heesom Cres.
MOE/NEWBOROUGH MEETING and CRIME REPORT
ASSAULT - 12 for August (24 July) - In all except one of the incidents an offender has been charged. In the only incident where an offender is yet to be charged police are following up an identified suspect.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 17 for August (25 July) - Four offenders charged with one facing two counts of graffiti damage. Two youths were spoken to about damage caused at the Newborough Primary School and Newborough Hall.
BURGLARY - 7 for August (13 July) - One offender charged. For the second time in recent times a trailer manufacturer in Walhalla Rd had tools stolen from it overnight 8th August.
THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 12 for August (7 July) - Overnight 14th August four vehicles were entered in Morgan Crt, Monte Cres (2) and Mervyn St with sunglasses, a GPS unit and coins stolen. All four vehicles were in residential driveways and unlocked. Two sets of registration plates were stolen from Keith Ave and Dinwoodie Dr.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for August (3 July)
THEFT (OTHER) - 17 for August (14 July) - Four offenders charged with two being charged as a direct result of information received via Eyewatch Latrobe Facebook page. On 11th August a purse was stolen from the trolley of the victim whilst in a supermarket in Albert St. A photo of a female who can assist police is on Eyewatch Latrobe (Moe Theft 14th August, 2013 - https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchlatrobepsa.)
ISSUES RAISED AT THE JOINT EYEWATCH VIRTUAL/PHYSICAL NHW MEETING: Speeding in 40 km/h zones in Lloyd and Elizabeth Streets – concerns passed to Latrobe Highway Patrol, Traffic Safety around the Elizabeth Street shops - concerns passed to Latrobe Highway Patrol, Speeding on Monash Road and Coach Road - concerns passed to Latrobe Highway Patrol, Drugs in Moe – concerns passed to Latrobe Information Unit.
YALLOURN NORTH MEETING and CRIME REPORT
The next Yallourn North Neighbourhood Watch Town Meeting will be on Wednesday 9th October at the Yallourn North Bowling Club in Reserve Street, Yallourn North, commencing at 7pm. All members of the public are invited.
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 1 for August (1 July) - On 1st August a concrete pot on the front veranda of a residence in North Rd was smashed by unknown offenders.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - 2 for August (Nil July) - Both vehicles stolen during August have been recovered.
THEFT (OTHER) - Nil for August (1 July)
MORWELL MEETING and CRIME REPORT(INCLUDES TYERS)
ROBBERY - 2 for August (2 July) - One offender charged with armed robbery and attempted armed robbery whilst another will face one count of attempted armed robbery.
ASSAULT - 22 for August (22 July) - In all incidents an offender has been charged with assault related offences.
ARSON - Nil for August (2 July)
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 25 for August (11 July) - Six offenders charged whilst police are following up an identified suspect in relation to another. Overnight 23rd August vehicles in Skeldale Wynd and Manor Rise were targeted with three having gold paint sprayed on them and a window smashed on another.
BURGLARY - 5 for August (15 July) - All except two of the burglaries were committed on residential sheds or garages. A burglary was committed at an optometrist in Mid Valley on 17th August. A photo in relation to this can be viewed at Eyewatch Latrobe Facebook page (22nd August, 2013)
THEFT FROM MOTOR CAR - 11 for August (14 July) - Four offenders charged with theft from motor vehicle. Folks, leaving items in unlocked vehicles is still an issue especially when parked in car parks.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for August (2 July)
THEFT - 11 for August (10 July) - Between 10th - 16th August unknown offenders scaled a fence into a commercial yard in Tramway Rd and stole an amount of copper. Two males stole six pairs of sunglasses from an optometrist at Mid Valley on 5th August.
ISSUES RAISED AT THE JOINT EYEWATCH VIRTUAL/PHYSICAL NHW MEETING: Hooning on Morwell Streets – multiple locations passed onto the Latrobe Highway Patrol; Speeding on English Street – passed to the Highway Patrol; Traffic lights at McDonald Street – referred to VicRoads; Dirt bikes at Waterhole Creek - concerns passed to Latrobe Highway Patrol. School crossing supervision –Pedestrian Safety Around Schools fact sheet found at http://www.nhw.com.au/Eastern-Region/Latrobe/Fact-Sheet Cars parked on the road way in narrow streets – other drivers must exercise due care and give way when necessary. Speeding riders of motorised mobility devices and misuse of MMD – riders of MMD's are pedestrians and must behave as such, fact sheet found at http://www.nhw.com.au/Eastern-Region/Latrobe/Fact-Sheet and interview given on ABC radio.
TRARALGON MEETING and CRIME REPORT
(INCLUDES GLENGARRY, TOONGABBIE, HAZELWOOD NORTH, TRARALGON SOUTH)
ROBBERY - 1 for August (3 July) - Two offenders charged.
ASSAULT - 23 for August (32 July) - In all except one incident an offender or offenders have been charged with some facing multiple charges from the one incident. In the only incident where an offender is yet to be charged police are following up an identified suspect.
ARSON - 1 for August (1 July) - On 9th August unknown offenders set fire to paper in the toilet block in Apex Park, Gilmour St. This incident is mentioned on Eyewatch Latrobe Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchlatrobepsa (Posted 30th August, 2013.)
PROPERTY DAMAGE - 39 for August (29 July) - Nine offenders charged. A large number of the damages relate to rocks/stones being thrown at windows of businesses or residences with no apparent attempt to gain entry. A number of vehicles in the car park off Grey St were keyed.
BURGLARY - 13 for August (13 July) - Three offenders charged. Overnight 11th August unknown offenders broke into the Eye Care business in Kay St stealing approximately sixty pairs of sunglasses. Overnight 29th August two premises were broken into in Hazelwood Rd with jewellery, cash, a camera and games console stolen.
THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE - 23 for August (22 July) - Nearly all the thefts were committed in residential areas of Traralgon with a large number of unlocked vehicles entered with handbags, purses, wallets and loose items taken. A Maton guitar was stolen from a vehicle in the driveway of a premises in Charles St overnight 25th August. A picture of the guitar is featured on Eyewatch Latrobe (https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchlatrobepsa) posting on 28th August.
THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE - Nil for August (3 July)
THEFT - 15 for August (7 July) - Three offenders charged whilst police are following up an identified suspect in relation to a theft in Seymour St on 15th August. A KFC Krush Bar sign was stolen from the KFC restaurant on 24th August. The sign is approximately 2 metres wide and 1 metre high.
ISSUES RAISED AT THE JOINT EYEWATCH VIRTUAL/PHYSICAL NHW MEETING: Driving whilst using fog lights – for rules visit http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/SaferVehicles/VehicleDesignStandardsAndAccessories/FogAndDrivingLights.htm CBD Safety and CBD CCTV camera – Q&A session; Noise complaints and times noise can go until – Posted the EPA Prohibited Noise Schedule found at http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/your-environment/noise/residential-noise/prohibited-times-for-residential-noise ; Speeding on the highway between Morwell and Traralgon – routinely patrolled by the highway patrol; Fireworks – illegal or otherwise – events usually registered with Latrobe City, anything else is illegal so report to police; Cars not stopping at the pedestrian crossing on Franklin Street - concerns passed to Latrobe Highway Patrol.
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS – WORKPLACE SECURITY
Your workplace is where you have a right to be and where you also have a right to feel secure and safe. Unfortunately, some people who visit your workplace, and occasionally some who work with you, will seek to take advantage of a lack of security.
To maintain security in your workplace, if you see someone you don't know or someone is in a part of the building or in an office where they should not normally be, verify the identity of that person. If they do have a right to be there they will not be offended if you ask for some ID. Similarly, be careful that someone does not simply follow you through a security door.
Make sure you wear your work ID at all time and question those who do not wear their own. Do not leave your valuables unsecured, such as in an unlocked drawer or cupboard, particularly if you work alone. It can be easy for one person to distract you and maintain your attention whilst an accomplice enters an office area to rummage through unlocked drawers.
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS – PROTECT YOUR P.I.N NUMBER
Your Personal Identification Number, commonly known as your P.I.N is your SECRET numeric password used to access your bank funds when you use an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). Your P.I.N is used to authenticate your right to use your bank’s computer system. Your CONFIDENTIAL P.I.N gains you access to your banking system only when the number entered matches with the number stored in the system. Your P.I.N does not identify you personally. It is therefore vital for you to protect your PIN number.
Never disclose your P.I.N to another person;
Memorize your P.I.N and remember it is your electronic signature. If you think someone knows your P.I.N, contact your financial institution immediately to cancel the card or change your P.I.N.
Never write your P.I.N down and then keep it in your purse or wallet. If your purse or wallet is stolen and your P.I.N is written down, the thief has easy access to your bank accounts.
If you feel you need to keep a written record of your P.I.N, keep it in a place separate from your Access Card. Never keep them together.
When withdrawing money at an ATM or at point of sale, use your hand to screen the key pad to protect the security of your P.I.N. (Personal Identification Number).
OFFENDER TRACKED DOWN FOR JEERALANG JUNCTION RUBBISH DUMPING
ALERT WITNESS HELPS POLICE
In mid-August Churchill Police were alerted to the dumping of approximately 20 black garbage bags of rubbish on Junction Road at Jeeralang Junction.
An alert citizen witnessed the dumping of the rubbish, was quick to note down the registration number and description of the vehicle involved and duly reported his observations to police.
Police then commenced the task of tracking down the vehicle and as often happens, the vehicle was no longer garaged at the address where it was registered.
Unfortunately for the offender, the alert witness observed the vehicle a second time and this time was able to provide the police with an address where the vehicle was sighted.
Further investigation by the police subsequently lead to the identification and charging of the rubbish dumper with offences under the Environmental Protection Act.
Importantly, the offender was made to clean up his mess and dispose of the rubbish legally.
Rubbish dumping in the Latrobe Valley is becoming a major and topical issue and is a blight on the landscape, particularly in rural areas. Rubbish dumpers should not make the mistake of thinking council will simply be sent out to collect and dispose of the rubbish.
Police and council Local Laws Officers will investigate illegally dumped rubbish and offenders will be pursued.
Rubbish dumped in the bush is not just an eyesore, it can also be used as an ignition point for arsonists. We really need to catch the people responsible for dumping rubbish before a simple litter offence turns into a possible tragic and catastrophic event.
The public is urged to download NHW's Suspicious Incident Report and keep it on hand in the lead-up to the bushfire season.
Copies of the Neighbourhood Watch Suspicious Incident Report may be downloaded at the Neighbourhood Watch Victoria Website at http://www.nhw.com.au/Eastern-Region/Latrobe/Forms
CRIME SCENE EXAMINATION – WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
A MESSAGE FROM SERGEANT GAVIN PURCELL
OFFICER IN CHARGE OF MORWELL CRIME SCENE SERVICES
The Latrobe Crime Scene Services is asking for your help. This small unit of dedicated Crime Scene Officers are tasked with examining crime scenes such as house and business burglaries or cars that have been stolen and recovered or have had items stolen from them.
From DNA to fingerprints and photography, this team will examine your scene for vital clues to help identify the offenders, but we need your help.
What we are asking is that if you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a crime such as burglary, theft of a car or theft from a car, we ask you to, where possible, leave it alone until the Crime Scene Officers have examined it.
Don't touch it, don't walk through it and don't clean it up. This will give us the best chance of finding evidence and hopefully linking those clues to the offenders.
SUCCESS FOR EYEWATCH
LIKE US ON FACE BOOK
EYEWATCH - LATROBE POLICE SERVICE AREA
After its launch on 24 April, local police are delighted with the great public support and early success for its eyewatch - Latrobe Police Service Area Facebook page.
The page now has over 4,200 ‘likes’ as the Latrobe Valley embraces this new way the police are using to communicate with the general public.
The eyewatch page seeks the assistance of the public to solve crimes and identify offenders and is instrumental in advising the community of security information and for providing links for updates during weather events.
Police Community Liaison Officer, Leading Senior Constable Brett Godden said "As a direct result from information received via eyewatch twelve offenders have now been charged with offences of theft, burglary, criminal damage and sexual assaults; hundreds of other pieces of information has been forwarded to investigators for follow up and a missing person has been located. We have an average weekly reach of approximately 30,000 people. This is phenomenal."
The latest success for the eyewatch - Latrobe Police Service Area page came on the 17th of September when Detective Senior Constable Brett Sniegowski from Sexual Crimes Unit thanked the community for its assistance in the investigation of a serious sexual assault in Traralgon on the 18th August, 2013.
A 30 year old male was arrested and is assisting police with their enquiries as a direct result of information that was on the eyewatch page.
"The clean-up rates we are getting through the eyewatch page are great," says LSC Godden. "We are no longer an experimental investigative tool. When investigators reach a dead end eyewatch now provides them with another avenue of investigation."
The new joint eyewatch online/physical Neighbourhood Watch meetings for the towns of Moe, Traralgon and Morwell, held at 7 pm on the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month respectively, will further encourage the public's involvement with the page. The public can participate in the virtual world bringing its issues direct to a police officer at the other end of the computer, iPad or mobile phone.
The police-community partnership through the eyewatch page and its effectiveness can only be increased as the number of 'Likes' grow. Encourage your friends and family to like the page and become a part of the Latrobe Valley community's newest crime solving tool.
You can 'Like' the eyewatch - Latrobe Police Service Area Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/eyewatchlatrobepsa
Eyewatch is aiming for 5000 likes
Thank You For Your Support In Creating Safer Communities
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: malcolml@dcsi.net.au
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Darren Chester welcomed the $6.2 million Traralgon Recreation Reserve redevelopment, providing modern changerooms and upgraded facilities through joint funding to support Latrobe Valley sports and long-term community participation. - Martin Cameron says new emergency services tax replaces fire levy, adding enormous pressure to struggling small businesses
Latrobe Valley small businesses face soaring costs as Labor's new Emergency Services Tax replaces the Fire Services Levy, with Nationals warning it punishes regional communities and fuels insolvencies amid financial mismanagement. - Martin Cameron slams Energy Minister D'Ambrosio's false claims on power prices and jobs in Latrobe Valley
Nationals MP Martin Cameron condemned Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio's claims of delivering for Latrobe Valley, citing soaring power prices, weak jobs growth, and neglect of residents during Victoria's energy transition. - Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's police station maintenance cuts despite backflip restoring partial funding for grounds upkeep
Danny O'Brien has criticised Labor's partial backflip on police station maintenance cuts, saying Gippsland officers deserve safe, clean workplaces and stronger government support amid rising regional crime rates. - Tim Bull slammed labor for $13M machete amnesty waste, penalising Gippslanders while failing to target urban crime effectively
Gippsland East MP Tim Bull criticized Labor's $13 million machete amnesty, calling it wasteful, ineffective, and unfairly punishing rural Victorians while targeting areas with no machete problem. - Gippsland’s top picnic spots: Gardens, wineries, hot springs, and historic settings for relaxing outdoor feasts
Discover Gippsland’s magical picnic spots: Broughton Hall gardens, Metung Hot Springs, The Gurdies Winery, and Old Gippstown - each offering stunning views, serene settings, and unique outdoor dining experiences. - Martin Cameron condemns Labor for blocking Jack’s Law, pledges action to combat knife crime
Martin Cameron condemned the Allan Labor government for blocking Jack’s Law, pledging to introduce it if elected, giving police powers to combat knife crime, following its success in other Australian states. - Mayor Rochelle Halstead honoured with MAV 10-year Service Award for her dedication to local government
Bass Coast Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead has received the MAV 10-Year Service Award, recognising her decade of dedicated leadership, advocacy, and commitment to strengthening local government and the Bass Coast community. - Darren Chester joins East Gippsland community to honour fallen Victoria police officers on Remembrance Day
Darren Chester joined the East Gippsland community for National Police Remembrance Day in Bairnsdale, honouring Victoria Police officers who lost their lives and recognising those who continue to serve. - Baw Baw Shire Council meeting snapshot - Wednesday 24 September 2025
Baw Baw Shire Council appointed Tilla Buden as CEO, adopted the Domestic Animal Management Plan, awarded Drouin streetscape contract, deferred Alex Goudie Park Master Plan, and endorsed updated delegation guidelines at its 24 September meeting. - Baw Baw Shire Council meeting snapshot - Wednesday 24 September 2025
Baw Baw Shire Council appointed Tilla Buden as CEO, adopted the Domestic Animal Management Plan, awarded Drouin streetscape contract, deferred Alex Goudie Park Master Plan, and endorsed updated delegation guidelines at its 24 September meeting. - Gippsland Water completes Baw Baw Leak Detection Program, repairing hidden leaks to improve service reliability and reduce water loss
Gippsland Water's Baw Baw leak detection program surveyed 425 km of mains, uncovering 128 leaks. Repairs improve service reliability, reduce water loss, and support proactive network maintenance across the region.
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