Page 6 - Laura Michell News Today

By Laura Michell A 30-bed acute mental health facility is expected to open in Epping in 2023 as part a state government plan to fix Victoria’s mental health system. The 2020-21 state budget included funding for the stand-alone facility at Northern Hospital, as part of the government’s $868.6 million spend on mental health services. Acting Premier and Minister for Mental Health James Merlino released designs for the new facility last week. The Epping facility is one of four being built acros...

A 19-year-old Epping man has been arrested in relation to suspected terrorism offences. A 20-year-old Epping man and a 16-year-old Pascoe Vale youth were also arrested following a Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) operation this morning. Officers from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and other agencies executed two warrants in Epping and Pascoe Vale. Police allege that the 19-year-old man attempted to engage in a terroris...

By Laura Michell Melbourne Airport has asked the state government to give it more power to intervene in developments which could impact aircraft operations or lead to noise complaints. Airport operators Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) has made a submission to the state government’s Melbourne Airport Environs Safeguarding Committee, which was set up to advise the planning minister on improvements to the planning provisions safeguarding the airport. In its submission, Melbourne Airport c...

By Laura Michell Two Roxburgh Park residents have been recognised for their contributions to the community, with the pair jointly named as Hume’s Citizens of the Year. Joseph Youhana and Emel Huseyin will receive the awards at the city’s Australia Day event today. Two other Hume residents were also recognised for their work in the community, with Meadow Height’s Berat Kaya named Young Citizen of the Year and Greenvale’s Charlie Grech named Senior Citizen of the Year. The Sunbury Blue Li...

The cause of a grassfire in Taylor Lakes yesterday is under investigation. Firefighters were called to Rowlandson Place just before 3.30pm following reports of a car fire in a paddock, which quickly spread into a fast moving grassfire. A watch and act message was issued for Taylors Lakes and nearby suburbs as fire crews battled to control the blaze near the Calder Freeway. Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) declared the fire as under control about 5pm. There were about 70 firefighters on the scene. Thi...

Work to remove two notorious level crossings in Brimbank will begin this year. The state government this afternoon announced it had awarded a $234 million contract to remove the much-maligned crossings at Fitzgerald Road in Ardeer and Deer Park’s Robinsons Road to an alliance of Fulton Hogan, Metro Trains Melbourne and the Level Crossing Removal Project. The removal of the crossings is being fast tracked, with work expected to be completed in 2023. According to the state government, the remov...