Local stories, community first — Melbourne and beyond.
Labor has pledged to recruit an additional 1,500 police officers and build a new training academy in Melbourne's south-west if it is re-elected to government in the November state election. The move aims to increase Victoria's police workforce to just over 17,000.
A world-first trial on Phillip Island has found that floating wetlands can cut greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater lagoons by about 30 per cent. The innovative technology, tested over two years, has shown promising results in reducing emissions and improving water quality.
A historic wedding venue in Melbourne's east has been ravaged by a fire, forcing a couple to find a new venue for their reception. The Wattle Park Chalet in Surrey Hills was scheduled to host the wedding tonight, but a fire destroyed part of the building.
Victoria Police conducted dozens of welfare checks after an Optus outage disrupted Triple Zero emergency calls in several states. The outage, which occurred on Thursday, affected customers in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory.
The New Zealand Warriors are holding a narrow lead over the Dolphins in a dramatic NRL qualifying final, with three players sent to the sin bin. The match has seen several key events, including tries from Herbie Farnworth and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred club, weeks after announcing his decision to head home to Victoria. The Bulldogs have confirmed Butters' desire to join the club and will work with Port Adelaide to facilitate a suitable outcome during the upcoming player movement period.
Fremantle Dockers have shown they have the steel to be the best in the AFL, overcoming a spirited Geelong side to claim a 14-point win and breathe life into their Premiership hopes. The Dockers got up, twice, to claim the win and silence doubts about their ability to handle pressure.
Grain farmers in rural areas are facing a surge in diesel prices as the harvest season approaches, putting pressure on their bottom lines. The rising costs are expected to have a ripple effect on the industry, with trucking business owners warning that higher fuel prices will eventually be passed on to consumers.
A new generation of bigger and more power-hungry AI data centres is set to escape looming federal government restrictions on energy and water use. The proposed rules, aimed at addressing community concerns about the environmental impact of these developments, are not expected to be retrospective.
High-end homes in Sydney and Melbourne are experiencing a significant downturn in value, with drops of over 10 per cent from peak levels. The housing market decline is now affecting a broader range of markets, including Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.
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