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12 AUGUST, 2025
Finals footy underway The sun was out just in time for the Essendon District Football League women’s finals to kick off. Among the winners was Burnside Heights, which showed some of its best football for the season to account for Westmeadows. For more of the action, turn to sport.
Sarah Poni takes a strong mark for Burnside Heights on Saturday. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 494545_16
Police hours plea By Sam Porter Locals are calling for the Caroline Springs police station counter to be extended to 24 hours a day to better combat increasing crime in Melton. A Victoria Parliament petition urging a review of the station’s counter hours and police resourcing in the region has received over 160 signatures. Local resident Sean Montalto said the petition isn’t just about extended operating hours. “It’s a catalyst for a comprehensive review of policing needs across the Melton
region. With rising concerns around youth crime, break ins and theft, it’s critical we assess whether local police are adequately resourced to respond swiftly and effectively,” Mr Monalto said. Numerous petitions calling for extended counter hours at the station have circulated since 2013. Mr Monalto said he was prompted to “re-open” the petition after seeing an increase of crime news coverage in the area. “I wouldn’t say I started [the parliamentary petition]. It has been wanted for a while, I just re-opened it with
a fresh perspective and worked with local government to sponsor it.” Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, who sponsored the petition, told Star Weekly she continued to advocate for the community’s push to see more police resources in the area. The petition comes after the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) revealed a 20.4 per cent increase in total offences in Melton in the 12 months to March this year. The CSA also revealed an 8.7 per cent increase in total offences for Brimbank during the same period. Decisions regarding counter hours
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at police stations are determined by Victoria Police, according to a Victorian government spokesperson. “Our record $4.5 billion investment in Victoria Police means they can hire more than 3600 new sworn police officers. This includes 144 new police officers allocated to the Brimbank division, which services Caroline Springs,” the spokesperson said. Even with the state government’s investment, local police continue to struggle with resources. Continued: Page 3.
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