WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL, 2026
Postcard sized art The Hobsons Bay Arts Society is once again gearing up for its major annual event, the 5X7 Art Prize. Now in its 12th year, the popular community art prize offers big rewards for small works, with all entries no larger than postcard size or 5X7. More than 500 entries have been received for this year’s competition, with artists from all five western suburbs municipalities sending in their miniature masterpieces. The theme of the 2026 competition is “Nostalgia,” resulting in a “wonderfully diverse response,” according to the Hobsons Bay Art Society’s exhibition coordinator Kirsten Craggs. he competing artworks will be on display at the gallery at Louis Joel Arts and Community (LJAC) centre in Altona from 11-30 April. The winners will be chosen by a judging panel that includes Hobsons Bay mayor Diana Grima. All artworks on display will also be available for purchase. The 5X7 Art Prize is supported by Hobsons Bay council and will be displayed at the LJAC gallery. Exhibition coordinators Kathy Coller and Kirsten Craggs. (Damjan Janevski). 544397_03
No to data centre By Cade Lucas Maribyrnong council has announced its opposition to the proposed expansion of a massive data centre in West Footscray, following growing community concern about it and other similar data centre developments in the inner west. In a statement released late on Tuesday, 31 March, Maribyrnong mayor Mohamad Semra announced that council had lodged an objection to the planning application for the proposed expansion of the NEXTDC data centre in Indwe Street, arguing it was too big and posed a threat to nearby Stony Creek. “We are concerned about the scale of the buildings along Stony Creek, the level of overshadowing, and the impact that will
have on the creek corridor and the people who use it,“ Cr Semra said. Under the expansion proposal, NEXTDC’s existing data centre would double in size by taking up a vacant plot of land to the east that borders Stony Creek. In January this year, NEXTDC’s construction partner Kapitol Group Pty Ltd was fi ned $6000 by EPA Victoria for allowing building sediment to leak into Stony Creek. Cr Semra said council wanted to avoid any more damage to the waterway. “Stony Creek is an important natural and community asset. Development next to it needs to be designed to protect this essential green corridor and community asset.“ Cr Semra also referenced growing community concern about the size and
scale of the NEXTDC data centre and similar data centre developments in West Footscray and surrounding suburbs. “Local residents are concerned about construction impacts and what this level of development means for their neighbourhood. “Not every issue raised is something the planning system can resolve, but it is important that it is heard and considered.“ Among those concerned locals is Sean Brown, who along with his wife Warisa Somsuphangsri, has launched a Change. org petition calling on Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny to block the expansion. The couple and their 19-month-old son live in Fontein Street, about 300 metres from the NEXTDC site, in a home they bought in late 2024.
Mr Brown said even the existing data centre had grown exponentially since. “It’s massive now. It just dominates the area,“ he said, adding that had the data centre been the same size 18 months ago, he and his wife wouldn’t have bought their home. Mr Brown said the constant hum of the data centre was a problem, as was the noise of ongoing construction work. However, his biggest concern is pollution from backup diesel generators, which he claims are tested at least once a month. NEXTDC was contacted for comment. A spokesperson for the state government said that the expansion proposal was under consideration and, like all others, would be considered on its merits. Petition: https://c.org/Dh7FpJHn2Y
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