Tuesday, 14 April, 2026
Council to formally object to Quarry Road development
Invisible migrant stories to be shared in exhibition
Lillydale Shire’s war history documented in fifth book
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Opposition’s Valley visit Opposition Leader Angus Taylor touched down in the Yarra Valley on Thursday 9 April making a pit stop at a local strawberry grower. The topic of discussion was rising costs and uncertainty around diesel supply. Coldstream’s Australian Strawberry Distributors, owned and run by the multigenerational Ripepi family, hosted the visit, providing insight in to the challenges being faced as a primary producer. “People have got to realise that the primary industry feeds Australia and other parts of the world as well,” director Joe Ripepi said. To read the full story, turn to page 4
ASD’s Jim and Rocco Ripepi, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Casey MP Aaron Violi. (Stewart Chambers: 545830)
House prices soar By Mikayla van Loon Outer metropolitan suburbs are driving Melbourne’s housing market recovery, with Lilydale emerging as a top performer in the March 2026 quarter. According to the latest Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) data, Lilydale recorded a 14.9 per cent price surge, bringing its median house price to $950,000. REIV CEO Toby Balazs characterised the spike
as a “strong rebound” following a sluggish end to 2025, noting that the suburb is now on par with neighbours Chirnside Park and Mooroolbark. Overall, the metropolitan median reached $991,500, its highest point since late 2022. The REIV attributes this outer-ring strength to two primary factors: accessibility, with high-performing suburbs typically within 10 minutes of a train station, and affordability, with 11 of the 13 top outer suburbs holding medians under $1 million, and seven qualifying for first-home buyer conces-
sions. While Lilydale’s housing market thrives, its unit market saw a 5.2 per cent quarterly dip. However, Mr Balazs noted that units in outer areas typically experience slower growth and that Lilydale’s 4.1 per cent annual growth suggests underlying stability. Despite the growth in Lilydale, results across the Yarra Ranges were mixed; Woori Yallock and Warburton saw declines of nine and 12 per cent,
while some Dandenong Ranges suburbs grew by nearly 10 per cent. Mr Balazs cautioned that low transaction volumes in semi-rural areas often trigger such volatility. Looking ahead, the REIV predicts steady prices with minor fluctuations as interest rates and cost-of-living pressures lead to more cautious buyer sentiment. Turn to page 3 to read more
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