7 - 2026 - The Local Paper

Council News

MURRINDINDI: New Standard-Chronicle owners upset Council

Saturday, July 18, 2026

The new owners of the merged Alexandra Standard-Yea Chronicle newspaper have upset Murrindindi Council by publishing an anonymous criticism of the Shire’s choice of bushfire recovery contractors.In the stinging ‘Thumbs Down’ column criticism, the Standard-Chronicle piece slams the Council for “not using local Murrindindi businesses for tree clearing” after the Longwood summer fires.Murrindindi Council went…

Community News

MANSFIELD: Major upgrades to swimming pool

The Mansfield Swimming Pool is currently undergoing major upgrades that will breathe new life into the aquatic centre by providing better accessibility and comfort.“The project includes the construction of a new weather-proof enclosure over the learners pool, upgraded change facilities and a solar power system,” said a Mansfield Council representative.“These upgrades mean all members of…

Schools

MOONEE VALLEY: New specialist school at Niddrie

Friday, July 17, 2026

The State Government says that it is delivering a new specialist campus for students with autism in Melbourne’s north-west.Niddrie MLA Ben Carroll announced a new Niddrie Autistic School campus will open in Term 4 this year.The new campus will accommodate 32 Year 4 students.Current Year 3 students will begin transitioning to the site later this…

Police News

HUME: 5 arrests over carjackings

Police have arrested five people as part of an investigation into a series of carjackings in Melbourne’s north-west.Three of the five were arrested on Saturday, July 11, following reports several youths, some armed with weapons, were seen fighting near Southbank Promenade about 1.50am.Police responded and moved in on the trio after the allegedly stolen Hyundai…

Police News

BRIMBANK: Drugs discovery in stolen car

Melton’s Divisional Crime Tasking Team seized a traffickable quantity of drugs along with a rifle following the arrest of two men in an allegedly stolen car in Melton on Monday, July 13.The pair, a 36-year-old from Melton South and 37-year-old from Footscray, have since been charged with theft of motor vehicle and possess both cannabis…

Police News

MOONEE VALLEY: Essendon man, 20, linked to crime wave

Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad have charged a man allegedly tasking offenders with a number of incidents linked to the targeting of hospitality venues.With assistance from Operation Eclipse detectives, a search warrant was executed at a residential address in Essendon around 8.30am last Tuesday (July 14).A 20-year-old Essendon man has since been charged with…

Police News

MELBOURNE: Investigation into serious CBD assault

Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an assault in St Kilda which left a man in hospital with serious skull injuries.A man was ordering food from inside a fast-food restaurant on St Kilda Rd about 1.30am on Saturday, September 6 last year.A male offender approached and assaulted the victim resulting in the altercation spilling…

Police News

WYNDHAM: Weapons located at Hoppers Crossing

Police have charged a man after weapons were located in a vehicle in Hoppers Crossing on Tuesday evening, July 14.Police will allege there was an altercation between a group of people at a shopping centre on Heaths Rd about 4.45pm.Officers responded to reports of a man with a knife and arrested a 20-year-old Wyndham Vale…

Police News

HUME: Shots fired at Gladstone Park

Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad are investigating after shots were fired into a residential address in Gladstone Park.It is understood multiple shots were fired from a vehicle towards a Payne St house just before 11.15pm on Tuesday (July 14).The property is currently unoccupied and nobody was inside at the time.Police believe the incident was…

Police News

STONNINGTON: Sexual assault attempt at Kooyong

Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team are appealing for witnesses following an attempted sexual assault in Kooyong on July 14.Investigators have been told the two, a 67-year-old Toorak woman and a 39-year-old Glen Iris woman, were walking along Gardiners Creek with dogs near a reserve off Glenferrie Rd around 11.30am.An unknown male jumped…