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03/09/2026

VIDEO: MAN CRITICAL AFTER MELTON TO***CO SHOP FIRE

By: Editorial Team
Date: 3/9/2026

A man is fighting for life after suffering severe burns in a suspicious fire at a Melton to***co shop early this morning.

Emergency services were called to the store near the corner of High and Alexandra streets shortly after 2.50am on Thursday.

Police said a man with significant burns was found nearby and airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.

A second person is also believed to have suffered burns in the blaze.

Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad believe a white ute pulled up outside the shop before three people got out and entered the premises.

Police allege accelerant was poured inside the store before it was deliberately set alight.

No one else was inside the property at the time.

Shortly after 3am, police received a Triple Zero call reporting a vehicle on fire on the Western Highway at Hopetoun Park.

Detectives believe the vehicle was involved in the Melton fire and have seized it for forensic examination.

Police are now searching for the two other people allegedly involved in the incident.

One of those people is believed to have significant burns to their hands and feet.

Investigators have released CCTV and images of one of the people involved, including footage appearing to show the person on fire, in the hope someone can identify them.

Detectives are treating the blaze as a targeted attack but have not established a motive.

Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray warned those responsible could have suffered fatal injuries.

“We have said repeatedly that deliberately lighting fires comes with immense risk, not only to the broader community but also to the offenders involved,” he said.

“We have also seen incidents where offenders have died as a result of sustaining burns and this remains a very real possibility to happen again with this incident.”

Police are urging anyone who witnessed the fire, saw the white ute or its occupants travelling through Melton or Hopetoun Park, or has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.

Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through Crime Stoppers Victoria.

02/09/2026

MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED OUTSIDE BURNING MELTON TO***CO SHOP

By: Editorial Team
Date: 3/9/2026

A man has suffered severe burns after being found outside a burning to***co shop in Melton early this morning.

Emergency services were called to reports of a building fire at the corner of Alexander and High streets about 3am.

Fire crews arrived to find the shop fully engulfed in flames, with a man lying outside suffering serious burns.

He was airlifted to hospital with suspected life-threatening injuries.

The fire was brought under control and is not believed to have injured anyone else.

A crime scene has been established as detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze.

TEENAGER GUILTY OF SHOPPING CENTRE STABBING MURDER By: Editorial TeamDate: 1/9/2026A teenager has been found guilty of m...
01/09/2026

TEENAGER GUILTY OF SHOPPING CENTRE STABBING MURDER

By: Editorial Team
Date: 1/9/2026

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering Oscar Hamilton in a daytime stabbing at a local shopping centre.

Oscar was with his girlfriend and two friends at Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton West in September 2024 when he was stabbed three times by the then-15-year-old boy.

The teenager, now 17, stared straight ahead as a Supreme Court jury delivered its verdict after about two hours of deliberation.

He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but prosecutors rejected the plea and proceeded with a murder trial.

The teenager pleaded not guilty to murder, arguing he did not intend to kill or seriously injure Oscar.

The court heard prosecutors alleged the attack was motivated by an unproven claim that Oscar had sexually assaulted the teenager’s ex-girlfriend — an allegation Oscar denied.

Prosecutor Erin Ramsay told the jury the killing was not the result of a fight that had tragically escalated.

“This is not the tragic consequence of a fight between two boys,” she said.

“This was a targeted attack.”

Defence lawyer Richard Edney argued the teenager had been involved in pushing and shoving before producing the knife.

“This was a young person who had clearly lost the ascendancy in terms of the pushing and shoving, who has produced a knife in response … something he accepts he should never have done,” he said.

After the sentencing Oscar’s family and friends later gathered outside court, where a family representative, who wished to be known only as Caz, read a statement on behalf of his loved ones.

“Today justice has been served,” she said.

“We are deeply relieved by the jury’s guilty verdict which holds the defendant accountable for the sudden and devastating loss of our beloved Oscar.

“While this verdict brings a sense of legal closure, it doesn’t lessen the profound grief and the emptiness we carry every day.”

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, will be sentenced at a later date.

01/09/2026

VEHICLE COLLISION - WESTERN FREEWAY OUTBOUND

A vehicle collision is affecting outbound traffic near Troups Road North at the Western Freeway in Rockbank.

Significant delays are slowing vehicles from the Christies Road off ramp at Ravenhall.

Grand Blvd/Greigs Road outbound is also experiencing heavier than usual traffic with commuters trying to avoid the incident.

31/08/2026

25 NEW HYBRID ELECTRIC TRAINS PROMISED BY LIBERAL PARTY FOR BALLARAT (MELTON) LINE

By: Editorial Team
Date: 1/9/26

Commuters across Melbourne’s booming western suburbs will get more trains, more seats and greater capacity under a major announcement from Jess Wilson’s Liberal and Nationals team.

A future Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $1.7 billion to deliver 25 new hybrid electric trains for the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines.

This investment will finally deliver suburban rail services for these communities and means additional, potential City Loop services every hour during peaks on the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines, increasing passenger capacity by more than double.

Labor promised to electrify the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines in both 2018, and 2022 – yet eight years later, these communities are still reliant on V/Line diesel trains.

Under the Liberal party plan, the trains will be electric, with hybrid capability allowing them to operate on existing electrified and non-electrified lines across the suburban network.

Importantly, this commitment doesn’t preclude electrification of the Melton and Wyndham Vale lines upon completion of the upgrades to Sunshine station, but delivers electrified train services to these communities sooner.

A Liberal and Nationals Government will also establish a new and independent Public Transport Victoria (PTV) board to ensure Victoria’s public transport system is fully focused on better service delivery for commuters and taxpayers.

Leader of the Opposition, Jess Wilson said: “My Liberal and Nationals team has a plan to get Melbourne’s west moving.

“Labor has twice promised and twice failed to deliver the modern train services communities across Melton and Wyndham Vale deserve. Labor says one thing before an election then does another afterwards.

“Our plan will deliver metro-quality train services to Melbourne’s west sooner – meaning more trains, more seats and greater capacity.”

Shadow Minister for Public Transport, Matthew Guy, said: “Suburban passengers need suburban trains. Labor has promised electrification but broken it time and again, our Liberal and Nationals team will deliver more trains, more seats and greater capacity for Melbourne’s west.

“Our hybrid suburban trains will deliver metro-quality services now and are able to run seamlessly across both electrified and non-electrified train lines.

“The only way to deliver the quality train services Melton and Wyndham Vale communities deserve is to change the government this November.”

CAR ACCIDENT CAUSES TRAFFIC MAYHEM ON RECENTLY OPENED BRIDGE IN COBBLEBANK By editorial team 29.6.26Emergency services a...
29/08/2026

CAR ACCIDENT CAUSES TRAFFIC MAYHEM ON RECENTLY OPENED BRIDGE IN COBBLEBANK

By editorial team 29.6.26

Emergency services are currently attending a vehicle collision on the recently opened rail overpass bridge along Ferris Rd in Cobblebank.

Traffic is significantly delayed with only one lane allowing motorists to cross over.

The accident has put further strain on roads in the area with the Exford Road level crossing works nearing completion.

The new Ferris Road bridge opened to traffic on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.

The opening marked the removal of the 92nd dangerous level crossing in Victoria, replacing the busy rail line crossing to help over 16,000 drivers avoid delays.

27/08/2026

🚨 HOUSE FIRE | BONNIE BROOK 🚨

Emergency services are currently on scene at a house fire in Bonnie Brook.

The fire is not yet under control, with multiple FRV and CFA crews working to contain the blaze.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

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Update: 10:20pm - structure fire now under control

25/08/2026

BOY TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER ALLEGED SCHOOL ASSAULT

By: Editorial Team
Date: 26/8/26

A 15-year-old boy has been taken to hospital after he was allegedly assaulted at a school in Maddingley.

Police were called to Bacchus Marsh College on Grant Street about 1pm on Tuesday, August 25, following reports a student had been assaulted.

The teenager was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

No arrests have been made at this stage.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or other vision, or has information that could assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

25/08/2026

WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN BACCHUS MARSH

By: Editorial Team
Date: 26/8/2026

A woman has been found dead inside a Bacchus Marsh property, with homicide detectives investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Emergency services were called to a property on Connor Street shortly after 3.30am, where the woman was found deceased.

She is yet to be formally identified.

A 75-year-old man was arrested at the scene before being taken to hospital under police guard with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police believe the man and woman were known to each other and are not currently searching for anyone else in connection with the death.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC LIGHTS ANTICIPATED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY EARLY 2027, BUT NO START DATE FOR MAJOR WESTERN FREEWAY UPGRAD...
24/08/2026

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC LIGHTS ANTICIPATED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY EARLY 2027, BUT NO START DATE FOR MAJOR WESTERN FREEWAY UPGRADES

By editorial team: 25.8.26

Relief for Rockbank and Aintree residents with the confirmation from the Department of Transport that traffic lights are anticipated to be operational by early 2027.

The project will install temporary traffic lights at both the north and south intersections of Leakes Road with the Western Freeway, improving safety and traffic management for motorists using the interchange.

The works will also include a signalised pedestrian crossings to provide a safer connection for people walking through the intersections.

The project aims to improve safety, freeway access and road capacity to support significant population and traffic growth across Melbourne’s west.

Melton News Now reached out to the Department of Transport regarding the upgrade of the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs.

A Big Build Roads spokesperson responded with the following statement.

"We’re upgrading the Western Freeway to cater to strong growth across Melbourne’s west.

The Western Freeway is a critical transport link, carrying approximately 86,000 vehicles per day, with demand expected to increase to around 113,000 vehicles per day by 2031.

Pre-construction planning is progressing for the Western Freeway Upgrade – Melton to Caroline Springs, with key activities including detailed design refinement, site investigations, flood modelling and environmental investigations.

A program business case completed in December 2024 recommends a long-term, staged approach to upgrading the freeway."

To date, no timeframe for the beginning and completion of major construction has been announced but Melton News Now understands "construction will begin before 2030/2031"

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