SOUTH WEST LOCAL NEWS- WEDNESDAY APRIL 15th-2026

this morning on south west local news

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mosswood implores state goverment for tougher animal crulty laws

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a single vehicle crash in illowa this morning with only minor injurys sustained

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warrnambool council signs new gender equliaty plan

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and in sport Old Collegians makes a flying start to its 2026 in netball

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

This morning on Southwest Local News, Mosswood implores state government for tougher animal cruelty laws. A single vehicle crashed in Illwah this morning with only minor injuries sustained. Warnerville Council signs a new gender equality plan. And its bought old collegiance makes a flying start to its 2026 in Nepal.

SPEAKER_00 0:28

Live from Silverball Studios in Warnerville. This is Southwest Local News with Jana Rogers.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. Local group Mosswood Wildlife is imploring the state government to bring in tough animal cruelty laws. The call comes as no charges are still to be laid relating to an incident when a koala was allegedly dragged behind a vehicle in the streets of Koroit and left to die on March the 25th. Mosswood Wildlife referenced this incident in a social media post that called for Premier Jacinta Allen to not let such crimes go unpunished. Mosswood is asking the Premier to introduce the Victorian Animal Care and Protection Bill. The introduction of this bill could make causing unreasonable harm, pain, or distress to an animal a high-level offence. This could then bring the punishment of such an act to up to five years in jail.

SPEAKER_03 2:23

And I think the strategy really does show council wants to be a leader in this space, and we want to make sure that the workspace and everyone that works in it feels safe and comfortable to be at work. And I think the gender equity plan really is a key part, a key pillar in showing what that actually looks like.

SPEAKER_02 2:42

Southwest Motorists were among hundreds of motorists who ran foul of the law during Operation Constellate last weekend. Operation Constellate was held in line with the AFL's gather round, with thousands on the road between Melbourne and Adelaide. Police were disappointed they were kept so busy across the operation, with 750 road offences recorded across the five-day operation. There included 444 speeding offences, 26 drug and 13 drink driving offences and 14 mobile phone offences. It was not only driver behaviour that was poor with the cars being driven falling below the required standard in many cases. Police issued 66 fines for unregistered vehicles. Road works on the Princess Highway at Pemua are yet to begin, despite having been advertised to start more than two weeks ago. The state government's Transport Victoria announced on its website the works would begin on March the 30th. The works did not begin on that date and have still yet to start. The notice of the March 30th starting time frame remained on the website until it was removed yesterday. The section of road in question is 980 metres of rehabilitation work from the Ellersley Pamure Road to Harris Street. Transport Victoria has still yet to provide answers to our questions on the works, although Moynshire has been told work will begin in September. Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Umakora deferred our questions to Transport Victoria. Southwest workers driving their vehicles for work may soon be getting a rise on their pay per kilometre rate. The Australian Council of Trade Unions has lodged an urgent case in the Fair Work Commission to have fuel allowances increased. Vehicle allowances require employers to pay employees a per kilometer amount to cover their fuel and maintenance costs, among others. Currently, the average vehicle allowance is set at 99 cents per kilometre, with about 40% of that designated to cover fuel prices. Unions are arguing the rate should be lifted by at least an extra 10 cents to compensate for higher fuel prices. Written-off cars might not be an asset to most, but for one community organization, they are sought after. The Camperdown SES is calling for people to donate any unwanted vehicles to them. The vehicles would be used to help members carry out important road rescue training. The only requirement is that they still roll and have windows. If you have a vehicle you would like to donate, contact the unit. Surfers, divers, and swimmers were advised to avoid the area. Habitat has been improved for two species that call the Mirai River at Woodford home. Pieces of habitat, 40 in all, were lowered into the water last week by the Glenelg-Hopkins CMA. Platypus and Southwest River Blackfish were two species being catered for. The installation came after removal of woody weeds on the banks of the river. Orchestra Victoria will perform a one-off show in Warnable this week. The orchestra will play the Lighthouse Theatre on Friday. Leading these works is Alice Farnum, who has conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra and singers. Global performer Matthew Levy will be the percussion section principal for the performance. New volunteers are being sought for a popular Warnable location. The call-out has come from the Warnable Toy Library, which has had trouble in recent times filling its roster. Training is being offered to anyone keen to volunteer with a working with children's check, the only requirement. The Warnable Toy Library has a long history, having begun in 1979 and offers toys for parents to borrow. It is located at 87 Henner Street. A survey has been constructed to gauge the experience of heading out in Warnerville after dark. The Warnable City Council is asking people to fill in the online survey which relates to activity in the CBD from 6 pm to dawn. The survey has a heavy focus on asking how safe people feel when they are out and about late at night. It asks, should there be better lighting, CCTV, and a stronger police presence? It also looks at the challenges associated with transport at night. If people are not driving, the survey asks, is public transport such as taxis and ride shares easily available? Warnable has an active nightlife with eating out a popular activity in the city. Nightclubs, the cinema, live shows, and shopping are also reasons many head out at night. First making news in sport, Oakalgians has made a flying start to its 2026 A-grade netball season. The Warriors are the only team with two wins, courtesy of their victory in the standalone Good Friday clash with Merivale. But they backed that up on Saturday with a win over Dennington that was notable for a number of reasons. The Warriors scored an incredible 98 goals while holding the dogs to just seven. This was a big turnaround from the last time the teams met, which was in 2025 elimination final. On that occasion, it was Dennington that won by four goals. Portland celebrated an important moment for its club on Saturday. The Tigers turned 150 and marked the occasion off the field with a club reunion. On the ground, the Tigers made sure it was a happy day defeating Port Ferry by 26 points. After playing finals last season, the Tigers are looking to go further than the elimination final in 2026. Coach Lockie Hupdis said the club was excited to mark the 150th celebration with a win and embracing the expectations on the team.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

It was really good. We we definitely uh wanted to go out there and do the day justice. So it was um good to get on the right side of the scoreboard. Well, I think we're embracing it. Obviously, it comes with with that pressure when when um you know the the league and and media and stuff start talking about uh and putting expectations on you, but um that that that's a good that's a good situation to be in, to be honest. We we want to be, I guess, um respected within the league and and I guess with that comes expect expectations, so um it's something we're not getting ahead of ourselves by any means, and and maybe maybe the expectations um and and uh from externally um they they've probably talked us up more than what we probably think we're at currently, and we know we've got work to do, but um yeah, we're we're we're happy just to be um in that conversation.

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Geelong's V of L team will have plenty of eyes on it during the 2026 season. Four of the Cats players have nominated Hampton League clubs as their community feeder clubs. These include Will White, Jay Rantell, and Marcus Herbert from South Warnable, and Jamison Ballantyne from Portland. White and Rantel played for the Roosters on the weekend due to the VFL bye, as did Ballantyne for the Tigers. Herbert was a part of the VFL squad. VFL players only need to play three Hamden League games to qualify for finals. The Cats have won their first two games, and their finals destiny may have a big say on what happens at the end of the season in the Hamden League. Around the Southwest, expecting strong winds over the next three days. Now further into the forecast. In Port Ferry, over the next three days, looking at temperatures sitting around 20, a partly cloudy day with a chance of thunderstorms in the late afternoon on Thursday, around 5mm to fall on Friday with 17 degrees and southwesterly winds. In Malt Lake tomorrow, they'll be copping six millimetres and temperatures sitting around 22, and that's the warmest it will get until next week. On Friday, a top of 16 degrees with only 1mm to fall. Topping at 18 on Saturday with a partly cloudy day. In the Kolak and Camperdown region tomorrow, a top of 21 degrees with up to 5mm to fall. Friday, a possible shower and a top of 16 degrees with only 1mm, and Saturday partly cloudy with a top of 18. On the coast in Port Campbell, we'll be receiving 5mm and Friday only 2mm to fall with a top of 15 degrees. On Saturday, a cloudy day topping at 15 degrees, also with the rain taking a break until the following week. In Warnerville tomorrow, a top of 21 degrees with 5mm to fall with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening. 16 degrees tomorrow and light showers to start off the weekend, a partly cloudy day, and a top of 17 degrees with light winds throughout the day. That's it from your Southwest Local News team this morning, and thank you for tuning in. Remember that you can also watch this bulletin online at SouthwestLocalnews.com.au. Until Saturday morning with peace. Have a great day.