MONDAY 13th APRIL -South West Local News

this morning on south west local news

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a 13 year old missing from heywood, with police seeking information

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member for Western Victoria gale tierney announces she is stepping down

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new push for warrnambools surfclub upgrades with plans for a new facility in the west

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first round clashes in the district leauge take off, with scores from the starting round

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

This morning on Southwest Local News on a 13-year-old missing from Haywood with police seeking information. Member for Western Victoria Gail Tierney announces she's stepping down. A new push for Warnerball's surf club upgrades with plans for a new facility in the West. And first round clashes in the district league take off with scores from the starting round.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Live from Silverball Studios in Warnerball. This is Southwest Local News with Liam Fitzgerald.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. Police are appealing for assistance to help locate a missing girl, Annika. The 13-year-old was last seen on April 9 in Haywood, but maybe in the Ringwood, Lilydale, or Croydon areas. Annika is described as having a thin build and blonde hair, was last seen wearing black pants, black long sleeve shirt, and blue shoes with pink ASIC stripes. Police have concerns for her welfare due to her age and have released an image of Annika in the hope that someone recognises her and can provide information on her whereabouts. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact Portland Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1-800-333-0000. Let's hope Annika is found safe and well. Member for Western Victoria Gail Tierney has quit the Labor State Government. It comes before this year's state government election, which is set for November. Currently, the Minister for Regional Development and Skills and TAFE, Ms. Tierney, has been member for Western Victoria in the Legislative Council since 2006. In the past year, served as Minister for Agriculture, Higher Education and Corrections. Ms. Tierney's electorate office is in Geelong. She is one of three Labour ministers to announce today that they're stepping away. She's joined by Finance Minister Danny Pearson and Health Minister Marianne Thomas. A push for a new surf club building for Warnable has taken another step forward. In the latest plans, Warner Surf Lifesaving Club wishes to build a new facility just west of its current site. The planned new headquarters has a price tag of$16 million and is part of a revised master plan by the club. Warner City Council has given in principle support for the new site. The master plan has been sent to the state government. The push for new facilities has been going for a number of years, with the expanding club having outgrown its current home.

SPEAKER_05 2:39

And it really is a setting up a support that as land managers were giving in-principle support to the Surf Lifesaving Club. We know the facility is getting to end of life. And looking at the and looking at the club too and looking at what it's going to be moving forward, we really need that state and federal support. But from a federal perspective as well, because we need the funds there to be able to deliver that amazing project for Waterboard.

SPEAKER_02 3:06

It's certainly a vital facility, that's for sure. Southwest Motorists will have access to a new advertising campaign aimed at educating them on how to save fuel. The federal government has paid$20 million for the Every Little Bit Helps commercials. Some tips given in the campaign include asking people to drive their cars less, carry less weight in the car, drive smoother to avoid excessive fuel use, and find alternatives driving such as walking, cycling, or taking public transport. Removing roof racks to decrease aerodynamic drag is also recommended. Motorists continue to face high prices at the Bowser as the war in the Middle East shows little sign of slowing down. An upgrade of sporting facilities in Malt Lake will carry the name of a favourite daughter from the town. Maltlake Recreation Reserve Committee has announced a$890,000 upgrade at the DC Farnoval. The funding will be used to upgrade female changing facilities at the venue. Once complete, the new era will be named the George Wareham Women and Girls Facility. Wareham is a star player for the Australian women's cricket team and hails from Mortlake. The Committee of Management will contribute$140,000 to the project, the Moineshire Council$250,000, and the state government will chip in$500,000. Certainly a fitting tribute to a great athlete. The Iconic Mount New Rat will get a new addition. Telstra will install a mobile tower on the mountain to provide improved 4G, 5G mobile voice and data coverage. It comes after concerns from residents after an earlier plan for a lower tower would result in an inferior service. Telstra returned with the latest higher option. Telstra is working towards completion before the end of the 2026 financial year, subject to any unexpected delays. Five Southwest municipalities have had their fire restrictions period shortened. Warnable, Moyne, Carangamite, Southern Grampians, and Kolak will all have their fire restrictions removed from April 20. It comes after a timeframe of May 1 was originally listed for the lifting of restrictions. For the Glenalgshire restrictions, restrictions will remain in place until May the 1st. Burning off is prohibited during fire restriction periods. The Moyne Shire Council will has warned residents it is illegal to collect firewood by the roadside. In its warning, council said even trees that have fallen naturally are not allowed to be targeted for wood collection. Firewood can be collected from designated collection areas in the state forests during autumn and spring, although there are none of these areas in Moyne. The policy behind the Firewood Collection Act is a state government one, with Moyne enforcing it within its boundaries. The new officers would be recruited locally and in internationally, with countries such as Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand among those to be targeted. The Liberal Party believed this injection would allow more opening hours for stations, particularly in rural areas. A ten-week program is underway to ensure the worlds of trees and power lines in Portland don't collide. Glenelkshire last week commenced works around its electric line clearance management plan. Those works will continue for 10 weeks. The pruning of the trees is to keep branches from coming in contact with power lines. There was plenty of action at the Warnable Kite Day on Saturday. Held at Jetty Flat, the day drew a keen group of enthusiasts who braved the cold and rain to make the most of the winds. But the wind proved too much for one kite that flew out of control and into nearby Lake Bateau. The moment called for a hero, and Stephen Britton was up to the task. Mr. Britton swam through the waters of Lake Bateau to retrieve the kite for its grateful owners.

SPEAKER_04 7:23

That they flew out across Lake Bateau. Over the bushes and the reeds here and went down into the lake and had to be retrieved. So we did that. But he couldn't lose his kite because it cost him a lot of money. They were expensive kites, so it was worth the swim out there to get it. Because we saw where it was stranded on the reeds. But we're gonna need a drone and we're gonna need a canoe. So yeah, because there was no telling where it went, but we were lucky to have spotted it. But it was a it was quite a distance to swim around there. Very cold, very muddy. You're sinking a lot of mud. But yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:02

Is it deep?

SPEAKER_04 8:02

Particularly, it's like head deep around the back, there it is. Very heavy. It was very it was large kite, so it was had a lot of drag factor. And I did find myself struggling at times, but knew I'd get to shore.

SPEAKER_02 8:16

First making news in sport, it might only be April and round one of the Warnerbourne District Football and Apple League, but winter hit early and hard on Saturday. The grand final rematch between Niranda and Allensford was played in wet and heavy conditions at Niranda. And it was the visitors who handled the conditions better, defeating the reigning premiers by 35 points. The biggest winner of the round was Old Collegiance, who cruised to a 189-point victory over Dennington. An improved South Rovers had a good battle against Russell's Creek, with Creek pulling away in the second half to win by 33 points. Tim Boone Demons caused the upset of the round, defeating Merivale by 24 points, while Kalora Nuret was 26 point victors over Pam Newar.

SPEAKER_03 8:58

Mate, I'm joined by uh Allensford recruit Xavier Farley. Falls a great first up win.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

Yeah, no, it's good. Yeah, no, it's good.

SPEAKER_03 9:05

You've come across from South Warnable. You've had a knee injury. Yeah, yeah. Two goals from the midfield, you'd be pretty happy in yourself in that game. Oh, it's a rarity, so it's always nice.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Yeah, no, it's good.

SPEAKER_03 9:15

Now, obviously, son of a club legend. You've got a lower number than what your old man used to wear. Does that mean you're better than him?

SPEAKER_01 9:21

No, I just didn't want your weight down one number four.

SPEAKER_03 9:23

Well, that's been won by some pretty handy players.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Why did you wear the better for the water?

SPEAKER_03 9:27

Well, it looked like Jarvis was really good in the ruck there, slotted into this team quite nicely. Edgy across half back. What was the message there at three-quarter time? Because Naranda probably uh controlled that third quarter.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

Oh no, it was just pretty good, I thought. I thought just contest was Tim's main point, is just working hard and um making sure you're just doing your best. So they did that pretty well, I thought. Yeah, that was good.

SPEAKER_02 9:49

It was certainly a wet and wild day out at Naranda on Saturday, that is for sure. New recruit Matilda Fitzgerald starred as Naranda began the Warner and District A-grade netball season with a victory. A former Warnable player, Fitzgerald was best on court as the Blues defeated the Cats 53 goals to 25. After a good Friday loss, Merivale hit back strongly with a 34-goal victory over the Timbo Demons. South Rovers was too good for its neighbour Russell's Creek, winning by 12 goals. Kularinurett defeated Pernule by 12, while Old Collegians defeated Dedington 98-7. A new dress design brought with it winning form for Port Ferry in open grade Hamden League netball on Saturday. The Seagulls travelled to take on Portland in the opening round and won 47-28. Croyt's open grade netball was bounced back from their opening round loss in style. The Saints lost their Good Friday game to South by 27 goals, but in round one made an enormous statement. They hosted the Kangaroos and went on to win the game 102-27. Beck Hicks, in her first season with the Saints, shot an incredible 93 goals. It is unsure if both the team and the individual scores are Hamden open grade records. In other games, South defeated Cobden 39-21. Terrain Mortlake defeated Camperdown 42-40, and Warner defeated the North Warnable Eagles 41-26. Kroyders dodged a bullet in round one of the Hamden Football Netball League in senior footy. The Saints hosted the Hamilton Kangaroos on Saturday and looked like losing the game. But a free kick and goal after the siren to coach Sammy Dobson landed the Saints a come from behind win. In other games, South Warner was too good for Cobden. The North Warnable Eagles were convincing winners over Warnable. Portland defeated Port Ferry and Terrain Mortlake started the season with a win over Camperdown. It was a wet weekend and there seems to be plenty of rain on the way around the region this week. Let's take a look at the three-day forecast to see what we have in store. First in Port Ferry tomorrow, Tuesday, showers increasing a top of 19. A shower of two on Wednesday, 18. One to five mil of rain forecast for Thursday, a top of 20 degrees. Up to Mort Lake, a shower of two tomorrow, 20. Up to two millimetres of rain forecast for Wednesday, 19 degrees, and showers increasing on Thursday, a top of 22. Across to the Camperdan Colak area, a windy day tomorrow, partly cloudier, top of 20. Partly cloudy again on Wednesday, also expecting 20. And for Thursday, partly cloudier top of 21. Down to the coast of Port Campbell, showers tomorrow, a top of 19. Wednesday, a shower or two, a top of 18. And showers on Thursday, a top of 20 degrees. Back to the centre here in Warnerville. And tomorrow we can expect a top of 19, 18 on Wednesday with showers, and another wet day on Thursday, a top of 21 degrees. That's it from your local news team this morning. Thanks for tuning in. Remember, you can also watch this bulletin online at southwestlocalnews.com.au. Until Thursday morning, have a great day.