Tuesday, 17 March, 2026
Residents get new recycling choices
Deer problems in the Dandenongs
Watching over wildlife in neighbourhood
Real estate liftout inside
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Shell-abrate The Clams By Tanya Steele A Clam-tastic performance like no other was hosted by the Olinda Community Pool over the weekend as a self-dubbed “unprofessional ballerina workshop” performed by The Clams descended on the Hills. The Clams, from the inner city, headed out to perform their Unprofessional Water Ballet 101 Workshop at the Olinda Community Pool, with giggles and splashes in abundance on the day. Workshop attendee and Hills resident Michelle said she was thrilled when she heard that they were coming to the Hills. “It was exciting to have them at Olinda Pool and the performance was fabulous, so quirky with their cute caps and stunning red costumes,” she said. “I had a ball learning some signature moves.” James Edge from the Olinda Pool Association said they were very excited about The Clams bringing their magic to the Dandenongs. Read more on page 18
The Clams performed and invited others to join in the fun after. (James Edge)
Councillor banned By Tanya Steele Found to have engaged in misconduct by an independent arbiter, Councillor Peter Lockwood of Baird Ward has been suspended after making disruptive meeting comments, including calling other councillors “grinches” in July last year. A Knox Councillor has been suspended from office for one month as of 10 March for his behaviour stemming from council’s decisions on the budget for the region’s Christmas decorations. The councillor also liked posts critical of other Knox councillors and shared part of an internal
email from the Mayor on a public Facebook page. They included failing to treat others with respect, undermining the Mayor’s role, behaving disruptively during council meetings and engaging in conduct that could damage public confidence in local government. During a hearing on the matter in August 2025, Cr Lockwood apologised for referring to colleagues as “grinches” and saying they “lacked heart”, but argued many of the complaints made against him were trivial or had been misinterpreted. Arbiter Jo-Anne Mazzeo determined that Cr
Lockwood’s conduct at the July council meetings, his media comments and several social media posts constituted misconduct under the Local Government Act 2020 and ultimately decided that Cr Lockwood would not undergo any training to refresh on the code he is bound by and suspended him for one calendar month. “Cr Lockwood is an experienced Councillor and does not lack an understanding of the Model Code, but appears to have chosen to disregard it when making the ill-considered public comments/behaviour at Council Meetings and social media interactions he engaged in,” Arbiter
Mazzeo said in the report submitted on 2 March. A spokesperson from Knox Council said that internal arbitration proceedings are matters conducted between the councillors involved, in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020. “At the Council Meeting on 10 March 2026, Council tabled a decision from a state-appointed independent arbiter, following applications under Section 143 of the Act seeking findings of misconduct against the elected representative for Baird Ward,” they said. To read more, turn to page 3
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