The Melbourne Snap⚡- Monday 10 February
By-election on knife edge, egg shortage is coming back, crime spree in Richmond and the new kids' play centre that serves cocktails.
G’day and welcome back to The Melbourne Snap. I hope you enjoyed your weekend. If you have tried to get a friend to sign up but struggled, you can always direct them to melbournesnap.substack.com. If they’re new that link will take them to the welcome page which has a signup option. Alternatively, they can put their email in the box below if they are unsubscribed. Now let’s get on to Monday’s edition.
🗳️The Snap purposefully avoids politics and sport as a general rule (because they’re covered so comprehensively elsewhere), but the Werribee by-election is worth talking about. The results won’t be known until Friday and Labor’s tenuous hold on the western suburbs seat will be decided by 4111 postal votes issued by the Victorian Electoral Commission but which have not yet been returned. - Chip Le Grand and Rachel Eddie, The Age
➡️The cliffhanger count is in a seat the Liberal Party has not held for 46 years.
➡️Meanwhile, The Liberal Party's Rachel Westaway is set to win the Prahran by-election, beating out the Greens. - ABC News
🥚We could have more egg shortages at our supermarkets. The highly pathogenic H7N8 bird flu strain was detected at a Euroa poultry farm in Victoria, prompting a five-kilometre quarantine and the culling of 76,000 chickens.
➡️Authorities are working to contain the outbreak, which is believed to have spread via wild birds, and are urging poultry owners to stay vigilant. - Allanah Sciberras, Nine News
➡️It’s not looking good for bananas either. There’s likely to be a shortage at supermarkets after North Queensland supply routes were cut off by floodwater. - Emma Kirk, news.com.au
⛅ Monday weather
Crime Watch
This section is dedicated to crime news. Scroll on if you want to skip to lighter news. The section tends to be longer than normal after a weekend.
🚨Two teenagers have been charged following an alleged crime spree in Richmond on Friday that included attempted carjackings and a crash involving retired AFL player Jordan Lewis’ vehicle. The pair, aged 15 and 18, were arrested after their stolen car flipped. Witnesses got hold of them and performed a citizen’s arrest. - Yashee Sharma, Nine News
🚔A fifth man has been charged over the alleged murder of a young Melton footballer who was stabbed to death in a brawl involving up to 40 youths. Konshu, known as Kon, was killed during a violent knife fight involving up to 40 youths at Kurunjang on December 20. - Victoria Police
🔥A house fire in Braybrook on Saturday morning is being treated as suspicious after emergency services found the property engulfed in flames around 5:30am. Cops confirmed the inner west home was unoccupied. - Victoria Police
🧪A man and woman from Safety Beach have been charged after police seized a large quantity of 1,4 Butanediol (used to make GHB), a stolen shotgun, drugs, and vehicles during a raid on Rymer Avenue. - Victoria Police
🕵🏻♀️Detectives continue to investigate the death of a 60-year-old man following a fire at a Chapel Street property in St Kilda on 5 February. A 30-year-old man was arrested and interviewed but has been released pending further enquiries. Police are appealing for witnesses. - Victoria Police
🚬 A 32-year-old Epping man has been charged with arson and motor vehicle theft following a December arson attack on a Craigieburn tobacco store. A 25-year-old Reservoir man is also expected to face charges. - Victoria Police
🕵🏻♀️A Noble Park man was charged on Thursday with firearm and drug offences after detectives found ammunition, a shotgun receiver, and suspected methylamphetamine at his property in the south-east suburb. - Victoria Police
🎼Hans Zimmer, the legendary composer behind iconic scores for films like The Lion King, Inception, Gladiator, Interstellar, Dune and many more is coming to Melbourne. The "Hans Zimmer Live" tour will feature his epic film music, a 19-piece band, full orchestra and special effects at the Rod Laver Arena on 29 April. - Instagram
🛝Maribyrnong Council has removed a $250,000 playground from Nicholson Street Mall in Footscray following complaints it attracted antisocial behaviour rather than families. A community survey revealed two-thirds of respondents wanted it dismantled due to issues such as drug use, rough sleeping, and safety concerns. - Sophie Aubrey, The Age
🍻Hoopla in South Morang has launched as Australia's first “parent-focused” kids' indoor play centre. The centre in the city’s north offers 3000 sq meters of play space for kids, and a grown-up pub food menu with alcohol options (they do cocktails). There are even quiet rooms for parents who want to get some work done while their kids play. - Instagram/Urban List
🎶The Prodigy are returning to Melbourne for their 2025 Australia tour. The UK electronic music group are now led by vocalist Maxim after the death of frontman Keith Flint in 2019. The band will be at the Rod Laver Arena on February 18 and spoke to Beat Magazine about how the tour is “a primal release”. - Cyclone Wehner, Beat Magazine
🏰 Melbourne's house price record may have been shattered with the rumoured sale of Toorak's prestigious Coonac property. Previously owned by Essendon Football Club boss Paul Little and Jane Hansen, the home is estimated to have fetched between $115 million and $150 million, placing it among 10 homes in the city valued at $100 million or more. - realestate.com.au
🏳️🌈Around 50,000 Victorians celebrated Victoria's Pride yesterday with a vibrant Street Party in Fitzroy and Collingwood, featuring music, comedy and art installations as part of the Midsumma Festival’s final day. - Vic Gov
🛡️The City of Melbourne will trial contracted security guards to address issues such as begging and alcohol consumption and assist with local law enforcement. The move comes in the wake of community safety concerns and violence against council staff. - CBD News
🛍️The Rose Street Markets will debut in Kensington at the revamped Younghusband precinct this Saturday. The new monthly craft market is an extension of the popular Fitzroy event and will feature around 60 stallholders offering art, fashion, jewellery and locally made products. - North West City News
🎨Frankston Council has awarded a $2.1 million contract to redevelop the Frankston Arts Centre forecourt, focusing on improved accessibility, enhanced signage, and integration of Indigenous artwork. - Bayside News
📢Community Noticeboard📢
📌” Clean up Australia Day 2025 is just three weeks away! Roll up your sleeves and lend a hand on Sunday 2 March to show Edwardes Lake Park and Keon Park Children’s Hub some love.” - more details
📌”On Saturday 15 February, Heidelberg Park comes alive with a FREE night of live music! Feel the energy, soak up the vibes, and dance under the stars at Twighlight Sounds 2025.” - more details
Get your news, event, gathering, new business or community update here. Fill in this form. There’s no charge.
💨And finally…There were high winds across parts of the city yesterday. Spare a thought for the person in Delahey, north-west Melbourne, who had a trampoline smash into their roof due to the gusts. I bet the incident has left them feeling jumpy…- Brimbank Community
Thank you for reading edition 59 of The Melbourne Snap. If you missed Friday’s edition you can read it here. This newsletter is 100% independent and free for all. I write it in the early hours every weekday morning so it gets to you around 7am. Any support you can give, either by becoming a paid subscriber or simply sharing this with a friend, is greatly appreciated. See you tomorrow.