SOUTH WEST LOCAL NEWS- WEDNESDAY APRIL 29th-2026

This morning on south west local news

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reliable trains set to be a key issue for the November election  

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a local high angle rescue sucess with a teenager retrieved for a hight

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First Peoples’ Assembly elects its first three representatives

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and in sport

merivale looks to take on panmure in district league clash this saturday

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

This morning on Southwest Local News, reliable train said to be a key issue for the November election. A local high-angle rescue success with a teenager retrieved from a height. First People's Assembly elects its first three representatives. And it's Port Merifell books to take on Pemure and District League Clash this Saturday.

SPEAKER_00 0:28

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

SPEAKER_04 0:36

Good morning and welcome to Southwest Local News. A public forum at the Warnable train station yesterday afternoon has heard an election promise from the Victorian Liberal Party. Member for Southwest Coast, Roma Britnall, Shadow Minister for Public Transport Matthew Guy, and member for Polworth Richard Reardon presented to concerned members of the public. The trio said that if elected in November, the Liberal Party would make the adjustments needed to ensure the Warnable to Melbourne train service would have six carriages instead of three.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

People that just don't feel safe organising their appointments, they're giving up going to visit their family, they're not going to the big events in Melbourne because they just don't believe they can get back on the train or that they're going to be stuck left standing and things like that. We heard very powerful stories today from the disability sector. Can't get your cart on, can't turn around, there's not proper storage, you can't get to the bathrooms. Really basic stuff. Now we can't solve all of that day one, but as Matthew made really clear, we have short, medium, and long term. The medium is to get the improvements done in Melbourne that free up more velocity carriages so that we can actually run more services. And then after that, the next lot of orders for velocity upgrades have to be purpose-built long-haul trains that have the catering cart, the better seats and more comfort, and better storage. And storage, one of the big costs that we've not been covering is uh here in in uh Warnable City, uh Moineshire and Kerangamite Shire, we've got uh we're trying to encourage tourism through cycling and outdoor adventure. We're we're stopping people getting on the train in Melbourne with their bikes and things because we don't have enough room for them. That's crazy stuff.

SPEAKER_06 2:55

Um and have you got a cost in on them uh initial steps?

SPEAKER_01 2:58

Well the the initial steps, the information the technology's there. Like the cost's not there, it's about reorganising what we've got. It's about speeding up the repairs and maintenance of the Ballarat Yards. Um, you know, anecdotally, we're hearing that there's um you know slow, we've got the go slows on repairs and maintenance. We've got the stock there. Let's face it, the train most of the time leaves Southern Cross with six carriages, and they leave three of them behind in July.

SPEAKER_04 3:21

A positive outcome to a high-angle rescue operation that took place in East Warnerball early on Tuesday afternoon. Four emergency services vehicles attended the scene at a playground in Wanstead Street near the Gateway Church of Christ. Police reported a teenage boy was stuck on a playground gazebo but was safely brought down. The three Southwest Victoria representatives for the Victoria's First People's Assembly have been elected. Uncle Michael Bell, Nathan Lovett Murray, and Tani Morris have been voted in. Results of the Assembly's election were announced on Friday by the Treaty Authority, with 17 new members elected from across the state. A further 12 reserve seats for traditional owner groups are elected through separate community processes. The elections came after the Assembly negotiated the country's first treaty with the Victorian government last year. Nine Victorian universities arrived to Warnable's Wannon Rooms to bring resources to young Indigenous community members descending on Warnable for the first time yesterday afternoon. The event brought together courage units from each participating university to connect directly with young people. Attendees were given the opportunity to speak with university representatives about available support pathways, resources, and how higher education can align with their personal and professional aspirations. The expo also featured additional stallholders' guest speakers activities offering cultural inclusive environment designed to lower barriers to further education. The Turong Menong series continues, reinforcing a broader push to improve Indigenous students' access to university guidance and community support networks.

SPEAKER_03 5:10

So making sure that students do have the right information for the right pathways to help them succeed through school, even if schooling is not what they're looking for.

SPEAKER_04 5:34

Yesterday, Wan and Water opened the gates to the Warnable sewerage treatment plant that cost$85 million. Here is the full report.

SPEAKER_06 5:43

The construction period took a long, long period of time, uh, but great for the Warnable community, uh, industry, but also growth. Growth for Warnable.

SPEAKER_04 5:52

Wanne Water has completed an$85 million upgrade to the Warnable Sewage Treatment Plant, the utility's largest ever single infrastructure project.

SPEAKER_06 6:01

The quality of the effluent uh heading out to the ocean is um it's meeting all EPA requirements. Um feels wonderful to reach the conclusion of such a big project. I think I'll put that down to uh one, our project team, uh, but two, also the CCB team working together really closely uh to achieve that outcome.

SPEAKER_04 6:33

At the unveiling, Helen Scarborough reflected on the history of the sewage plant in Waterball and how far it's come since its inception.

SPEAKER_02 6:42

It's nearly a hundred years since the city's first sewage system was constructed during the Great Depression. That project took three years, and it was large teams of men who were partly unemployed because of the Great Depression, and it was a part of a relief scheme, and they were desperate for work. It involved dangerous, backbreaking manual labour with tunnels dug by hand under the city streets and through the coastal cliffs. Rockfalls were common, and there were two fatalities and several serious injuries reported in the local newspaper. So it was dangerous and it was backbreaking manual labour. Sadly, um, you know, it's it's past that it's important for us to remember and to realise how come far we've come, particularly in terms of our zero harm and our respect for employees and workers, particularly on this site that was a larger project.

SPEAKER_04 7:44

The works included two new treatment tanks, a new inlet pump station, and an ultraviolet disinfection system, boosting storage capacity by around 50%. The facility currently services nearly 15,000 properties across the region. The upgrade is projected to support an additional$199 million in annual economic output and 1,512 new jobs by 2040. The plant is expected to service up to 25,000 properties over the next 50 years as the region continues to grow. Forward planning has already begun for the 2026 Victorian Seniors Festival. To be held in October, the theme of the festival is Connect, Create and Celebrate. Crankamideshire Council is encouraging community groups to be proactive and organise events as part of the festival. Council can assist groups with staging of events through promotion means. Council is taking expressions of interest to list events. Council is taking expressions of interest to list events. First making news in sport. Merivale will be hoping to snap a three-game losing streak this Saturday. It will be a tough task for the Tigers who will travel to take on Pamua. After winning their opening game of the season, the Tigers have since lost to Timber and Demons, South Rovers, and Russell's Creek. They are on four teams with just one win, although the Tigers have played an extra game due to their Good Friday clash. Other round four games this weekend are Allensford versus Timber and Demons, Kalura Nurat at home to Niranda, and South Rovers visiting Old Collegians and Russell's Creek taking on Dennington. The Blues cooled their heels last week when Dennington forfeited the game. Prior to that, the Blues had got off to a flying start, winning both of their games. After being beaten in last season's grand final, the Blues look keen to make amends under new coach Steph Townsend. On Saturday, they will play Klura Nurat with the Power coming off a competitive loss to Allensford last round. This run of wins has the Bloods on top of the ladder. On Sunday, the Bloods had a comfortable win over Cobden with Will Kane kicking four goals. This Saturday, the Bloods will host Port Ferry and will be hoping to make it four in a row. The Bloods have had a slow start in recent seasons and had to do some late season catch-up. In view of this, Terang Mortlake coach Lewis Taylor is thrilled with the strong start.

SPEAKER_05 12:46

It was a pretty big focus. Um obviously coming off the start we had last year. I reckon we might have one in the first three. So yeah, it was um it was a pretty big focus. The boys are pretty well, they've been motivated through the whole preseason to make sure we get a good start. We've been able to do that, so that's been amazing. And you seem to get a bit more dead this year. Yeah, definitely. I think um, you know, there's some very good young players that are playing, and I think we've just got a pretty good mix at the moment. Uh some of the guys in the 18s and reserves are are playing well, so yeah, it's been a good start. Uh trying to do everything they can to um put their best to support us.

SPEAKER_04 13:37

It will be time to shine for the rest of Hampton open grade competition this weekend. League powerhouses South Warnable and Karot will have the weekend off in lieu of their Good Friday game earlier in the season. North Warnerville Eagles will take momentum into the home game against Portland. Last week, the Eagles had their first win, a goal a one-goal victory over Camperdown. In other games this Saturday, Warnable played Camperdown, Port Ferry travelled to play Terrang, Mort Lake, and Hamilton will host Cobden. Around the state, 20 to 25 degrees in the region with warmer temperatures just on the other side of Hayward for the next three days. The wind is coming from inland and heading out to sea. From Portland to Port Campbell, those winds will be picking up to 40 kilometres per hour. Now to the forecast. In Port Ferry tomorrow, a partly cloudy day with a top of 25 degrees. 26 on Friday with a sunny day and 35 kilometre winds. Also 26 degrees on Saturday, but conditions are changing with showers and 40 kilometre winds. In Malt Lake tomorrow, northerly winds will be approaching with a top of 27 degrees. Cloud will be clearing for a sunny day on Friday, and that's due to change for Saturday with a high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. Northerly winds are approaching at 40 kilometres an hour. In the Kolak and Camperdown region, mid-20s for the next three days, with a top of 26 tomorrow, mostly sunny on 27 on Friday, and for Saturday, 25 degrees, 5mm to fall, and showers will be persisting through the rest of the weekend and into next week. Along the coast in Port Campbell, tomorrow partly cloudy with a top of 23, clearing up to start the weekend on Friday, and for Saturday, a shower or two with 5mm. Once again, those showers will be persisting through until next week. In Warnable, it will be a partly cloudy day tomorrow with a top of 26 degrees and northerly winds. On Friday, temperatures will be topping at 27 degrees, and Saturday, expecting showers with northeasterly winds coming in at 35 kilometres an hour. 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 at southwestlocalnews.com.au. Until Tuesday morning with peace, have a great day.