Month: May 2026

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

Exciting news! Bendigo has been shortlisted as a category finalist in the 2026 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards, so now is the time for residents to get voting.

Bendigo is a finalist in the Top Tourism Town category (population over 5,000).

Organised by the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, the finalists are selected for their commitment to tourism, outstanding visitor experiences, and for working collaboratively with local businesses, operators, and the community to grow visitation.

When you make your vote, you will enter a draw to win a luxurious stay in Melbourne for two people.

The City of Greater Bendigo’s submission for the awards captured a four-day weekend of ‘unexpected’ wonders for a couple’s short getaway. The itinerary included immersive experiences such as descending Central Deborah Gold Mine, a vintage tram journey, a city centre walking tour with Djaara guides, a visit to Botanic Gardens and Bendigo Pottery and a Discover Bendigo Guided Tour.

There were also local tips for visitors to make the most of their stay, and hospitality and accommodation suggestions to round of the four-day experience in Bendigo.

City of Greater Bendigo Manager Economy & Experience James Myatt said it was great news for Bendigo to be named as a 2026 Victorian Top Tourism Town finalist.

“It is very exciting for Bendigo to be a finalist for the sixth year in a row and be acknowledged as a must-see visitor destination that delivers amazing, memorable experiences.

“We have a dedicated and passionate tourism industry, including attractions, accommodation and hospitality providers that are proud to offer something for people of all ages and interests.

“I encourage the community to vote for Bendigo as it counts toward the final scores.

“The final result is a combination of public voting, user reviews, a video promotion, and suggested itineraries, so it means so much for Bendigo to be recognised in this way.

“It is easy to vote, visit Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards (VTIC) website click ‘vote now’, select Bendigo, and you can pop your details in to win a fantastic prize. Ask your friends and family to do the same and spread the word.

“Voting is open until Friday June 26 so vote 1 for Bendigo today.”

The winners of the 2026 Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards will be announced on Wednesday August 12.

To vote for Bendigo as the Top Tourism Town, visit:

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

Registrations are open for a free session to better understand the requirements for building a small second home on an existing property, sometimes called a ‘granny flat’.

The City of Greater Bendigo is hosting the information session on Thursday, June 11 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at The Capital (Banquet Room), 50 View Street.

Under Victorian Government changes, small second homes up to 60 square metres can now be built in many cases without a planning permit if other requirements are met. However, second dwellings still require a building permit.

Hear from City planners on the simpler process for building a second small home on your block. They will also explore the considerations should a planning permit be required and how the City can make the process easier.

A Q&A will follow the presentation.

Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge encouraged people interested in the second dwelling option to register for the session.

“This is a great opportunity to understand what is involved in building a second dwelling on your land and what you need to consider. City planners will be available to take your questions on the night, so please register to attend this session,” Mr Petherbridge said.

“We know that around 38,000 additional dwellings will be needed by around 2050 with most of these needing to be in urban Bendigo.

“The City’s Managed Growth Strategy guides residential growth in Greater Bendigo over the next 30 years.

“Building a second dwelling on existing residential land is a small but important part of a bigger picture to make sure that we get the diversity of housing types for future community needs.”

To register for the free information session, visit:

Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

The City of Greater Bendigo, in partnership with Bendigo Community Health Service (BCHS) has launched a series of four short videos to support parents, carers and educators to help young people navigate issues around vaping.

The videos are part of a new initiative called Escape the Vape which aims to increase awareness of the harms of vaping among young people, build young people’s capability to reject vaping, upskill local health professionals and provide educational support to parents and educators.

The videos are being launched in time for World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

City of Greater Bendigo Community Partnerships Manager Amy Holmes said a key part of the Escape the Vape project involves delivering a school-based education program to young people aged 10-12 that demystifies vaping and provides young people with a toolkit to say no to vaping.

“The new videos will sit alongside the school-based education program, as a resource for parents and teachers to use to help young people navigate issues around vaping,” Ms Holmes said.

“The videos feature parents with lived experience and local health professionals and provide information on the health effects and harms of vaping, how to talk to a young person about vaping and intervention and support strategies.

“It can be very hard for parents and carers of young people aged 10 to 18 to navigate the topic of vaping with young people and the aim of the videos is to provide tools to help them do this.  We also recognise that parents lead incredibly busy lives, so each video has been designed to be short, just a few minutes long and easy to watch.”

BCHS Senior Leader Integrated Health Promotion Natalia Smith said awareness efforts were making a difference and a video series aimed at supporting parents, carers and educators was essential to reinforce declining youth vaping rates.

“We’re excited to support this video resource especially given parents are at the forefront of efforts to encourage young people not just to quit but to not even pick up a vape in the first place,” Ms Smith said.

“We believe knowledge is power and have seen first-hand through our Prevention of Vaping program for grade 5 and 6 students that facts are empowering and have an impact when it comes to making healthy, informed decisions.

“This video series is a real asset to parents and educators and will provide them with further support on how to encourage young people to make positive choices when it comes to their health.”

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

National Medal recipients

On Saturday 23 May, Elmhurst Fire Brigade gathered to celebrate its proud history and recognise the dedication of its members at the brigade’s annual awards dinner.

The evening brought together volunteers, their families and distinguished guests in a heartfelt tribute to service and commitment.

The brigade, a longstanding pillar of the Elmhurst community, took centre stage as its achievements and contributions were highlighted throughout the night.

Attendees included Acting Deputy Chief Officer West Region Steve Alcock, Commander Paul Ditchburn and Emergency Management Victoria Deputy Commissioner Brett Boatman, all of whom joined in acknowledging the vital role the brigade plays.

A key moment of the evening was the presentation of a Special Recognition Award, honouring the brigade for its outstanding service and significant efforts during a recent local house fire.

The ceremony also placed a strong focus on individual and collective service milestones. Members were formally recognised through the presentation of Service Awards, CFA Life Memberships, Brigade Life Memberships, and National Medals. These honours underscored decades of dedication, often carried out quietly and selflessly behind the scenes.

In total, 28 awards were presented on the night, representing an extraordinary 785 years of combined service to the Elmhurst Fire Brigade, CFA and the broader community. The milestone serves as a testament to the enduring commitment of volunteers who continue to give their time and expertise to ensure community safety.

Submitted by	Nicole Bendelle

Source: Australia Bureau of Meteorology

IDS20201

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
South Australia

Marine Wind Warning Summary for South Australia

Issued at 2:02 am CST on Friday 29 May 2026
for the period until midnight CST Saturday 30 May 2026.

Wind Warnings for Saturday 30 May

Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
South Central Coast and Lower South East Coast

The next marine wind warning summary will be issued by 9:30 am CST Friday.

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecast or Local Waters Forecast for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for these coastal zones.

Source: Australia Bureau of Meteorology

IDS20201

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
South Australia

Marine Wind Warning Summary for South Australia

Issued at 2:02 am CST on Friday 29 May 2026
for the period until midnight CST Saturday 30 May 2026.

Wind Warnings for Saturday 30 May

Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
South Central Coast and Lower South East Coast

The next marine wind warning summary will be issued by 9:30 am CST Friday.

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecast or Local Waters Forecast for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for these coastal zones.

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

A possible “missing link” in the drivers of annual Southern Ocean sea-ice melt has been identified by an international team, led by Australian Antarctic Program* scientists.
Study leader Dr Rob Massom said ocean waves likely contribute to the surface melting of Antarctic sea ice in ways that have been overlooked, until now.
“Ocean waves promote melting at the base and sides of sea-ice floes, by breaking them up and exposing more of their edges to the warming ocean each summer. But this is not the full story,” he said.
“Our new study puts forward the idea that waves also cause surface melting of sea-ice floes, by washing over and flooding them, and by grinding them into a slush.
“This creates conditions that trigger the rapid growth of algae within the ice, and leads to further feedbacks that amplify melting.”

Diagnosing change in planet’s icy pulse
Each year, the annual cycle of sea-ice growth and retreat around Antarctica fluctuates from 2-3 million square kilometres in summer, to 18-19 million square kilometres in winter.
This “heart beat” of the planet’s climate system moderates global temperatures and drives ocean circulation.
“Antarctic sea ice and the snow that accumulates on its surface help keep our planet cool by reflecting sunlight back into space,” Dr Massom said.
“Snow-covered sea ice reflects more than 80 per cent of the sunlight hitting it, while the darker ocean around it absorbs about 93 per cent of the sunlight, causing the water to warm.” 
Dr Massom said the new theory could help account for the large differences in summer sea-ice retreat observed by satellites, compared to that simulated by climate models.
“Sophisticated climate models largely underestimate the average rate of sea-ice retreat observed by satellites each summer, suggesting incomplete knowledge and replication of important processes,” he said.
“This study addresses a gap in our ability to accurately model the annual sea-ice cycle, as we strive to understand the causes of recent dramatic sea-ice loss, and reduce uncertainty in future sea-ice and climate projections.” 
A perfect storm of ‘wave melting’
Using observations, modeling and theoretical insights, the study shows that ocean waves wash the snow off the sea ice, and cause seawater to pool on its surface.
This substantially reduces the sea-ice ‘albedo’ – or its ability to reflect sunlight – causing it to absorb more sunlight and melt.
Wave action also acts like a blender, grinding the ice floes together and creating a ‘wave slush’ that exposes more of the ice to sunlight and warming ocean.
This flooding and grinding creates the perfect conditions for sea-ice algae to grow, turning the ice green, reducing its albedo further, and amplifying melting.
The research team found that these three linked processes – called ‘wave flooding’, ‘wave pulverisation’ and ‘wave greening’ – could enhance the speed of summer melting by between 5.2 cm and 6.1 cm per day in summer.
“Our calculations suggest that ‘wave melting’ alone could melt a one metre-thick slab of flooded sea ice in just 20 days, and in about 16 days if amplified by greening ,” Dr Massom said.
“These increased melt rates are likely to be underestimates, due to positive feedbacks that potentially accelerate surface melting in a self-perpetuating cycle of melt amplification.”
Zoning in on sea-ice melt
These wave melting processes and feedbacks occur in the marginal ice zone – the outer part of the sea-ice zone, adjacent to the open ocean, that is affected by incoming waves.
Wave melting may also occur deeper within the sea-ice zone, due to periodic ocean swells and locally-generated waves in areas of open water within the sea ice – although more observations are needed to confirm this.  
Dr Massom said the research is also relevant to the changing Arctic, where declining sea-ice coverage is opening up larger areas of the ocean to wind-generated waves.
“Our aim is that this new line of research stimulates a cross-disciplinary community effort to measure and quantify wave melting and feedbacks around Antarctica,” he said.
“These data will inform models and determine the overall contribution of wave melting to the rapid summer meltback of Antarctica’s sea-ice zone, as well as Arctic sea-ice seasonality.”
Research is also needed to determine how wave processes affect sea-ice algae – which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help slow atmospheric warming – and how wave greening affects ecosystems and other biogeochemical processes that influence climate.
The study is published today in The Cryosphere [LINK to paper].
*Australian Antarctic Program researchers involved in this study are affiliated with the Australian Antarctic Division, Australian Antarctic Program Patrnership, and the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science.
Learn more about sea ice in our feature Antarctic sea ice in crisis.
This content was last updated 5 minutes ago on 29 May 2026.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

Shoppers looking for bargains at Panda Mart are again being warned about dangerous items being sold at the retailer’s Cranbourne and Preston stores.

Recent Consumer Affairs Victoria inspections have uncovered more unsafe products, including flammable candle holders that are banned in Australia because they can cause serious burns or fires.

Other items found included keychains with button batteries, which can kill or seriously injure a child if swallowed, and a range of portable pools and floatation devices that did not include mandatory warning labels – these pose risks of drowning and brain injury if misused.

Panda Mart has been the subject of repeated product safety warnings and legal action over the last year, after we allege it has failed to ensure that its products are safe and properly labelled.

Consumer Affairs Victoria obtained an urgent injunction in December, closing both stores for three days, and charged Panda Mart with 147 criminal offences in January, following the previous seizure of products from its Cranbourne store.

Director Nicole Rich said Consumer Affairs Victoria would continue to protect the community by pursuing Panda Mart until it met its legal obligations.

‘Under the Australian Consumer Law, retailers are responsible for the items on their shelves,’ Rich said.

‘It is extremely concerning to find new products flouting product safety laws on the shelves of Panda Mart, so soon after our previous action to shut down the stores to remove dangerous goods from sale to the public.’

‘We’ve issued this urgent warning to urge any customers who have bought these products to stop using them and store them securely out of reach of children.

‘Consumer Affairs Victoria has a range of legal options to use against retailers who don’t comply with their obligations. This matter remains under investigation. We will take further action where needed to protect the community from businesses selling products that pose a danger.’

A full list of items is available on the Public Warning Notice. If you’ve bought one, you can take it back to the Panda Mart store you bought it from for a full refund.

If you’ve seen a product that you think is unsafe on the shelves of any retail store, you can report it to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Consumer Affairs Victoria sits within the Department of Government Services.

Read our full public warning:

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

A Geelong conveyancer is facing disciplinary action for allegedly failing to comply with trust account audit obligations over a 5-year period.

Murray Grills, 71, of Lara, is the lead conveyancer at Murrsan Pty Ltd (ACN 162 274 526), which trades as Regional Conveyancing in Manifold Heights.

Consumer Affairs Victoria alleges Mr Grills failed to have his trust accounts audited between 2020 and 2024, as required under the Conveyancers Act 2006.

Licensed conveyancers must have their trust accounts audited annually by an approved auditor. The report must be lodged with Consumer Affairs Victoria via myCAV.

Mr Grills faces penalties and suspension or conditions imposed on his conveyancer’s licence.

Consumer Affairs Victoria Director, Nicole Rich reminded conveyancers to ensure their annual trust account audits are up to date and lodged.

‘Trust account auditing ensures that client money is being handled safely and securely.

‘We are continuing to monitor and make sure conveyancers and estate agents are lodging their trust account audit reports each year. We won’t hesitate to take further action where needed.’

An initial hearing was held on 28 January at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Source: Australian Capital Territory Policing

A South Yarra conveyancer is facing disciplinary action for allegedly failing to comply with trust account audit obligations over 4 years.

Consumers Affairs Victoria alleges that licensed conveyancer John Sierakowski, 78, failed to have his trust accounts audited between 2020 to 2023, as required under the Conveyancers Act 2006.

Licensed conveyancers must have their trust accounts audited annually by an approved auditor. The report must be lodged with Consumer Affairs Victoria via myCAV.

Mr Sierakowski may face penalties and suspension or conditions imposed on his conveyancer’s licence.

Consumer Affairs Victoria Director, Nicole Rich reminded conveyancers to ensure their annual trust account audits are up to date and lodged.

‘Trust account auditing is not just a minor administrative task, it’s a key consumer protection.

‘While we give conveyancers and estate agents warnings and reasonable opportunities to rectify missed lodgments, we’ve made it clear you will face further action if breaches persist.’

An initial hearing was held on 28 January at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.