SOUTH WEST LOCAL NEWS- WEDNESDAY APRIL 1ST-2026

This morning on south west local news

works to complete timor street roundabout speeding up

 expanded police operation over the easter weekend to ensure safe road use

a  single car rollover north of woolsthorpe with no major injurys

and in sport

denningtons william sapstead gains a racing career starting with forza horizon

For everything making and breaking news in South West Victoria.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

This morning on Southwest Local News. Works to complete Time Hall Street roundabout speeding up. Expanded police operation over the Easter weekend to ensure safe road use. A single car rollover north of Woolstorp with no major injuries. And in sport, Dennington's William Snapstead gains a racing career starting with Forza Horizon.

SPEAKER_06 0:28

Live from Silverball Studios in Warnerball. This is Southwest Local News with Donna Rogers.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. The race is on to have Timewall Street back opened by Good Friday. An army of workers are busily working on site at the roundabout of Timor and Gilley Street. The works to renew the roundabout began in the first week of March and have seen traffic blocked from much of Timewall Street for the past three weeks. Warnable City Council is holding a pop-up event on Thursday afternoon from 2.30 pm to make the completion of the project. Police are warning Southwest motorists they will be caught if they do the wrong thing on the roads over the Easter long weekend. Police will be undertaking Operation Nexus starting Thursday and coming to an end in the late hours of Monday. Police are promising more officers than ever on the roads enforcing the laws. Road Policing Acting Assistant Commissioner Justin Goldsmith said police would be throwing every available resource at this weekend's Easter Road safety blitz. The occupants of a car that crashed last night were able to get out of the vehicle without emergency services assistance. The Warnable SES unit, police, the CFA, and ambulance all attended the accident, which happened around 9 pm. The accident, a single car rollover, took place near Woolsorp. SES and CFA crews assisted with the recovery of the vehicle. The Hopkins River mouth in Warnable has been manually opened. The opening took place on Monday with the decision made by Warnable City Council and the Glenell Hopkins CMA. This comes after scientific testing that ensured no negative impact. The opening came as the Hopkins River reached a level of 1.54 metres. A new study has shown vaping could be as bad for your health as smoking cigarettes. A team from the University of New South Wales have found vapes containing nicotine are likely to cause cancers. The cancers most likely include oral and lung. The study was carried out over the past eight years, and while it acknowledged absolute proof of the link between cancer and vaping could take decades, it also said the time to crack down on vaping is now. In Australia, nicotine vapes are legal for those over the age of 18 to purchase at a pharmacy without a prescription. They are sold to help deal with nicotine addiction. A group lobbying for the return of the Port Ferry pool has blasted Moineshire Council for not including them on their priority wish list ahead of the state election this year. On its Facebook page, the pool community group Port Ferry questioned how the pool could be left off the list. It asked Council why its constituents should not be furious about its emission. Council's top five priorities include upgrades of Bartons Road in Nullawarry, a 33 kilometre Woolsaw Mortlake road link, the Port Ferry Footbridge, and the Croat Youth Space. Council is also calling for funding to create a community benefits policy for alternative energy projects. The fight back from the summer fires in the Krangamide Shire continues. The Shire was fire affected with places such as Skipton, Stretham, the Otways, Kennedy's Creek, and Simpson all affected in some way. During the fires, Krangamite Shire Council set up a recovery hub in Skipton, which was an important resource for the community. It continues to provide hands-on support through ways such as tank and dam refills and supplying multiple waste and scrap metal bins. The work of the Southwest-based Let's Talk Foundation has received a boost with a large funding allocation. The foundation has been awarded$20,000 from the Commonwealth Bank Community Fund. This money will be used to carry on the work the foundation does across the Southwest. Foundation community activation leader Kelly Marsden said funding like this was invaluable. The full firepower of Flagstouth Hill in Warnable will be on show this weekend. For the first time since 2015, both cannons will fire on Easter Sunday. The cannons, which are 80-pound rifle muzzle loader guns, will be fired at 2.30pm. Flagstaff Hill is the only place in the Southern Hemisphere that has two of these guns on location. Flagstaff Hill will be a hive of activity this weekend, with other activities including an Easter bunny trail scavenger hunt on Easter Saturday. Easter is a time of indulgence for those with their sweet tooth, but it can be a time for danger for the family pet. The RSPCA is reminding Southwest residents to keep toxic treats away from their pets. These treats include Easter icons such as chocolate and hot crust buns. The Easter lily, a popular gift given at Easter, is also on the no-go list for pets. Dr. Melissa Mean, Director of Veterinary Services at RSPCA Victoria, says Easter is a hazardous time for dogs and cats.

SPEAKER_02 5:40

Easter is a dangerous time for cats and dogs because we've got grapes and raisins hanging around in the form of hot cross buns, as well as just in their normal form. Chocolate is super dangerous to dogs in particular, cats as well. It has an ingredient in it called theobromine. It's also got caffeine. And given at a high enough dose, it can be fatal. If your pet is showing any signs of vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, being off their food, and you think they may have had access to raisins, grapes, sultanas, hot cross buns, chocolate, or Easter lilies, do not risk it. Call your vet straight away. If you are planning an Easter egg hunt, make sure that your dog is safe and sound, either on a lead or inside. And before you put out the eggs, count them and then count them when they've been collected to make sure everyone is accounted for. Easter lilies are extremely toxic. Please don't give this gift to people who have cats. Before you travel, talk to your local vet about possible parasite dangers in the location that you're going to. Make sure that your animal is up to date with parasite control and prevention. If you are thinking of gifting a pet at Easter time, perhaps a rabbit even, check with the person before you do so. A pet should never be a surprise gift. Rabbits are extremely complex species to look after. So if you are thinking of gifting one, check with the person before you do so.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

The coming together of family and a tough economy environment has Victoria Police worried about a spike in family violence during the Easter period. New crime statistics agency data shows assaults and breaches of intervention orders remain the most common family violence offences during the Easter period. Last year, police responded to 688 breaches of intervention orders and 361 assaults. Increased contact between estranged family members is seen as a major risk factor. Nominations are now being taken for the Glenelkshire Council's annual awards. Categories include Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, and Youth Citizen of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. There will be awards for diversity and inclusion, arts and culture, an outstanding achievement. The Community Group of the Year will receive recognition with an award. Nominations for the awards are open until April the 19th, with the awards to be presented during Volunteer Week from May the 18th to the 24th. First making news in sport. What started off as hot laps on Forza Horizon has since turned into a successful race career for Dennington's 18-year-old William Sapsteed. I spoke with Mr. Sapsteed earlier this week. An 18-year-old Dennington man has finished sixth in his rookie race and Winton Raceway, training all just from his bedroom. 35 cars, one debut. William Sapsteed lined up for his very first Hyundai XL series race.

SPEAKER_00 8:54

I started sim racing about two, three years ago with my mate, and we loved it on Forza. And I told Dad that I really wanted a sim, so he bought me a basic setup and then it just kept kind of progressed on from there, got this big thing, and now I've got a real race car which I could drive, which I'm really happy about.

SPEAKER_01 9:10

It was inside this house that William Sapsteed prepared for his racing debut and it's paid off.

SPEAKER_00 9:16

I wasn't expecting to be in the top ten, but you know, we pushed on and we got a got a top ten, so it was good.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Now, off the back of that six place finish, he's already locked in his next start at Calder Park.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

I adapted pretty well. I've always adapted pretty well to other things as well. Racing on that you get force feedback through the direct drive wheel, whether in real life you have G forces, which are missing that. So you've got to really listen to your body and listen to how the car feels under you.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

From a Dennington lounge room to a racing circuit, Shana Rogers, Southwest Local News. The 2026 Warner and District League season will kick off on Good Friday with a Twilight Encounter. Merivale will play host to old collegians in what has become an opening round tradition for the league. The Tigers will go into the day as favourites in both senior football and A-grade netball. In the football, the Warriors are coming off their first finals appearance for some time and have added some new recruits. Merivale will play its first game under new coach Scott Kelly. League President Larissa Barclay is excited about the season opener.

SPEAKER_05 10:22

Larissa with uh Good Friday, it was a initiative originally of the district league. You know, you guys were the pioneers in this, and now years later, it's still so strong. Um you're looking forward to that as again a showpiece start of the season.

SPEAKER_03 10:36

Yeah, we're really excited, and just where Easter's fallen this year, it's actually going to be our first game as such of the year and our first match, and uh I think the weather will hopefully put it on for us, and we've um changed things up a little bit this year, and we've got a Twilight match, so our seniors will be playing at Twilight. Uh, we're really excited, there's already already a lot of energy around. Um, I think we're expecting quite big numbers at that game. Um, we do know from a participation point of view, we've already started to see it now once the AFL is on TV. Um people start to get a little bit more interested and flocking to their clubs in particular. So I'm anticipating that it'll be quite a big um big day in terms of the participation numbers, and then obviously a very exciting game against old collegians and Merivale, um both through the football and the netball.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

An open grey grand final replay will start the 2026 league season on Good Friday. Reigning premiers Kroyt will come up against South Warnable, the team they defeated in the thrilling 2025 grand final. Both teams look stacked with talent again this year and share preseason premiership favouritism. In the football, South Warnable will host Kuroit. The teams last met in 2025 preliminary final with Karoit victorious. The Saints went on to lose the grand final to North Warnerville Eagles. Former Kroit Juniors Taylor Byrne and Finn O'Sullivan will be under the national football spotlight this week. The pair will line up in the Good Friday game at Marvel Stadium. Both will bring strong form, O'Sullivan, coming off a standout game against Essendon, and Byrne having kicked a goal on his debut against Melbourne. There is considerable pressure on both O'Sullivan's North Melbourne and Byrne's Carlton. The Roos are expected to keep improving this season while the Blues have underperformed to begin the season. After the Essendon game, O'Sullivan said he was happy with the win and was looking forward to the clash with Carlton.

SPEAKER_04 12:34

We've got Carlton on Good Friday next week in the super clash. How much you're looking forward to that. Yeah, I can't wait. It'll um be a big game for the club, um, as was this one. And um yeah, I think we're gonna put our best foot forward again. Um good having two wins early on the season, but yeah, hopefully we can make it three.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Southwest Anglers will be hoping for a big haul this Easter weekend. The Warnerballon District Angling Club will be hosting its annual Easter fishing classic. Beginning on Good Friday, the Classic will run through till lunchtime this Sunday. As part of the competition, fish are allowed to be caught in any river from Fitzroy to the Curdies. Presentations will take place on Sunday afternoon. Around the region it will be a cloudy day, mostly sunny, on Saturday. Now over to the forecast. In Port Ferry, light showers tomorrow with a top of 21 degrees, 17 and a cloudy day on Friday with light winds during the day and overnight temperatures dropping to 11. Saturday, a partly cloudy day with a top of 19 and strong winds throughout the day. In Malt Lake, tomorrow a partly cloudy day with a top of 24 degrees and no rain. Friday, a cloudy day with a top of 19 and winds coming in from the southeast. 21 on Saturday with a mostly sunny day and southeasterly winds. In the Kolak and Camberdown region, tomorrow 24 degrees with a partly cloudy day. Friday, partly cloudy as well with 19 degrees, and 19 again on Saturday with light winds for the day. Showers along the coast tomorrow with a top of 21 degrees in Port Campbell and southwesterly winds. Overnight temperatures will be dropping to 10. Friday, cloudy with a top of 17, 19 degrees and a cloudy on Saturday with temperatures falling to 6 overnight. In Warnable tomorrow, a shower or two with a top of 22 degrees and 1mm. Friday, a cloudy day with 18 degrees, partly cloudy day on Saturday with up to 20 degrees. That's it from your Southwest Local News team this morning, and thank you for tuning in. Remember, you can also watch this bulletin online at southwestlocalnews.com.au. Until Thursday morning next week with peace. Have a great day.