Community

A woman warned over 50 drivers of a large pothole on the Princes Highway in Gippsland, which took out her tyre and damaged at least five other cars. The incident highlights growing community anger over the state of Victorian roads, with the issue likely to be front of mind for voters in the upcoming election.

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Leongatha, south-east of Melbourne, in the early hours of the morning. The quake was felt by over 16,000 people, but there have been no reports of injuries or damage.

Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Michael Zheng and Angela Wang, two Chinese nationals who died in a crash in Victoria's west that claimed three lives. The couple, who had been living in Horsham, were remembered as "wonderful people" with "so much hope for their future in Australia".

A Melbourne gym owner and former professional boxer has been charged with drug trafficking offences and will have over 70,000 pages of phone data analysed as part of the investigation. Ray "Razor" Dimachki's gym was gutted by a series of suspicious fires earlier this year.

Learn how to protect your garden from possums while living in harmony with these native animals. Experts share their tips on wildlife-friendly methods to deter possums from your garden.

Warrnambool is set for a population boost of almost 50 per cent with the approval of a new residential precinct. The development will add 4,500 new homes, schools, and a town centre over the next two decades.

Victoria is bracing for a wet weekend as soaking rain continues to fall across parts of the state, causing widespread disruptions and damage. The rain is expected to bring relief to farmers in some areas, but also poses a risk of flash flooding and power outages.

Two miniature goats, Blackberry and Thorn, have gone missing from St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Baranduda, Victoria. The school community is devastated and is appealing for help to find the beloved pets.

Almost 60 birds have been found dead at Lake Weeroona in Bendigo, sparking fears of H5N1 bird flu. Wildlife rescuers are working to determine the cause of the deaths, with preliminary testing returning negative results for the virus.

The Victorian government has finalised a new management plan for access and rock climbing at Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park, near Horsham in Victoria's west. About 80 climbs are now closed off to climbers, effective immediately, while 46 others have been rerouted.

Parents at two central Victorian schools are outraged after trees in school grounds were cut down by state government contractors with little or no notice, sparking concerns about the impact on the schools' natural environments and student safety. The tree removals have been halted at one school as authorities agree to consult with the community.

A redevelopment plan for Preston Market proposes to preserve 81 per cent of the market's footprint while adding hundreds of apartments and commercial space. The plan has sparked mixed reactions, with some calling for greater community consultation.

Cast your vote for the 2026 Australian Insect of the Year until the end of October. The winner will be announced on November 9, coinciding with the start of Australian Pollinator Week.

A former CFMEU delegate with alleged links to criminal bikie gangs has had a blackmail charge dropped against him, and will instead pay a $2,000 fine. Joel Leavitt was charged with blackmailing a business owner for $663,000 in January.

A County Court judge has set aside a civil personal safety intervention order made against the head of a Victorian ratepayer advocacy group. Council Watch president Dean Hurlston successfully appealed a magistrate's earlier ruling.

A Bendigo couple, once lauded as foster carers, have been charged with child sexual abuse offences. The charges against Andrew Clifford Grey and Daniel James Grey include allegations of sexual assault and possession of child abuse material.

The sudden closure of three Catholic schools in Melbourne has left parents and staff stunned, with families now scrambling to find new schools for their children. The schools, which will close at the end of the 2026 school year, include St Philip's School in Blackburn North, Ss Peter and Paul's School in Doncaster East, and St Pius X School in Heidelberg West.

Researchers fear the northern quoll species may be extinct in Litchfield National Park due to threats from cane toads and feral cats. A University of Melbourne PhD student and a Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife ranger are leading the search for the endangered marsupial.

A new scam targeting Mandarin-speaking residents has emerged, where fraudsters use artificial intelligence to impersonate doctors and medical professionals over the phone, resulting in multiple victims losing tens of thousands of dollars. Police are urging the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious phone calls.

Three males have been charged in connection with a string of bag snatches and other offences in Melbourne's south-east, targeting mostly lone women. The accused will face court on several charges, but detectives are continuing to investigate the robberies.

A free Victorian service helping homeowners facing mortgage stress has temporarily closed its books due to overwhelming demand, with calls for assistance doubling between January and August this financial year. The trend is expected to continue after interest rates rose to a 15-year high.

A 65-year-old man who was taken hostage at gunpoint in a regional New South Wales bank in 1997 has spoken about the moment he came face-to-face with his captor in court. Alexander Robert Macdonald was sentenced to a further eight years in jail for the 1996 and 1997 armed robberies.

A 29-year-old Ballarat man has been found not guilty of culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death in relation to a fatal crash at a burnout event in western Victoria in 2023. The incident occurred when the defendant's vehicle experienced a "spontaneous mechanical issue" and struck a spectator, Trent DeZoete, 18.

Police are searching for a group of offenders who broke into an urban farm in Melbourne's north earlier this month, using a stolen tractor to ram into the front doors of the Bundoora Park Farm's cafe. Anyone who was in the area at the time is urged to contact police.

A decade after Ford closed its manufacturing plants in Geelong and Broadmeadows, local economies are recovering, but former employees still feel the impact. The regions have diversified, with new industries emerging, but there are concerns about the future of the areas.

Police officers have marched through Canberra to honour those who have died in the line of duty at a moving National Police Remembrance Day service. Four new names were enshrined on the National Police Memorial during the ceremony.

A 14-year-old girl from Sale has been killed in a horror crash in western Victoria that claimed three lives. The volleyball community is rallying around her family and teammates, with a GoFundMe set up to support them.

Aboriginal elder Robbie Thorpe's bid to prosecute King Charles III for alleged genocide has been rejected by Victoria's Court of Appeal, marking his third legal defeat since launching the case in 2023. Thorpe plans to take his allegations to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.

A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death after a collision outside a major pop culture convention in Melbourne. The incident occurred in April and resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man from Keysborough.

A woman's journey with infertility took an unexpected turn when a stranger offered to be a surrogate, giving her a newfound sense of freedom and perspective on life. The surrogate's offer came after the woman shared her struggles with fertility, and ultimately led to a greater understanding of herself and her situation.

A unique land formation in central Victoria, the Pink Cliffs at Heathcote, is facing damage from tourists seeking the perfect photo opportunity on social media. Despite warnings, visitors are ignoring signs and barriers, prompting concerns about the site's fragile geology.

It is understood unknown offenders gained access to the business on Ballarat Road just before 11pm,

Foster care experts are calling for more support for families reuniting with their biological children, following the tragic death of an 8-month-old girl just days after being returned to her parents. The issue has sparked concerns about the current system, with some experts arguing that the process of reunification can be traumatic for children.

Glen Eira City Council has become the first Victorian council to endorse an antisemitism strategy, amid a growing number of threatening incidents in the area. The council's plan includes annual antisemitism training for councillors and improved security measures for high-risk sites.

A 45-year-old man has gone on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court for allegedly murdering his friend with a machete in Melbourne's west. Christopher Reyes Gonzaga is accused of hacking Gregory Tan to death in an empty home in Deer Park in 2024.

Victoria Police has admitted that the care provided to a dying man in a suburban holding cell fell short of standards, and has apologized for the failures that led to his death. John Makai, 58, died from a brain injury after spending hours unconscious in a holding cell at Broadmeadows Police Station.

A 53-year-old man from Longwarry has been jailed for messaging teenage boys online and offering them money and vapes in exchange for child sex abuse material. Dean Jason Milley, who has a criminal history dating back to 1994, was sentenced on Commonwealth and Victorian charges in the Latrobe Valley County Court.

The Morwell community came together to remember those lost to violence, including Kaiden Morgan-Johnston, who was allegedly murdered 12 months ago. The rally, organised by Kaiden's mother Sascha Johnston, drew a crowd of around 300 people.

A multi-vehicle crash on the Western Highway at Ledcourt, Victoria has claimed the lives of three people, with a 14-year-old girl dying in hospital after two others died at the scene. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, which involved two cars and a truck.

NDIS participants are criticizing the response time of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to complaints, citing lengthy delays that have left them vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and fraud. The commission has a significant backlog of complaints, with over 13,000 open cases.