Tuesday, 4 November, 2025
Historic Warburton building damaged amid laneway dispute
Young cricketer mourned after shock passing
Rhythms combine with culture at ECOSS
See Real Estate Liftout Inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Ridgefield open day Coldstream’s Ridgefield will be one of two gardens to open its gates to the community over the weekend of 8 and 9 November, providing an insight into acclaimed landscape designer Robert Boyle, who designed the property 25 years ago. Now owners Joanne Painter and Chris Dodds, who purchased the threeacre property in 2023, see themselves as custodians of this spectacular garden. From the formal areas, to the orchard and now perfumery, Ridgefield has so much to offer a curious visitor, making for the perfect day out. And just around the corner in Gruyere, Bentwood will open for the same weekend, showcasing a couple’s labour of love and desire to replenish the soil for a climate resilient garden. These gardens will open with thanks to Open Gardens Victoria. See page 18 for more
Ridgefield owner and custodian Joanne Painter stands under the rose arbour. (Stewart Chambers: 513567)
Crossing concern By Oliver Winn Andrea Newstead’s life flashed before her eyes in late October. The horse rider was helping her equestrian group cross the busy four lane Warburton Highway when a car came careening past the banked up traffic, barely missing her. This had only happened due to a faulty horse crossing signal at the intersection of Quayle Road and Wallace Road on Warburton Highway.
Now, Ms Newstead is fighting for change - before someone gets seriously hurt. “The traffic was backed up, someone didn’t want to wait. They ended up going around the traffic, and they almost hit me, I felt it brush past my knees. I was that close,” Ms Newstead said. Ms Newstead said horse riders have been forced to put their lives on the line to help the high number of horse riders cross the road as they travel to major equestrian facilities in Wandin North and Seville.
The crossing has been out of order since around February 2024 when state Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence first called on the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to fix the issue. The DTP sent crews to repair the crossing in February 2024 and July 2025, but the signals stopped working soon after due to uncontrolled conditions affecting communication. A DTP spokesperson said the DTP would continue to investigate solutions to repair the horse crossing at Wandin North.
“We encourage everyone to remain vigilant while travelling on our roads – whether you are driving, walking or riding, you should always obey road signage, watch for oncoming traffic and monitor your surroundings,” a DTP spokesperson said. Ms Newstead demanded action from the DTP before someone gets hurt. “We’ve had to say to them, ‘you have to take liability if somebody gets hit here.’” Read more on page four
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