The Melbourne Snap⚡- Wednesday 19 February
Australia’s tallest apartment project in jeopardy, MEL Airport's 'Flight Frenzy', a disastrous council meeting and is there an acai war brewing?
G’day and welcome back to The Melbourne Snap. It’s a busy newsletter today so let’s get straight to it. Don’t forget to subscribe if you’re new here. Now on to Wednesday’s edition.
🎓The University of Melbourne has ranked 47th in an annual list of the 300 most prestigious universities in the world. British magazine Times Higher Education’s world reputation rankings placed the 171-year-old institution top in Australia. Monash University ranked 63 on the list. - Aisling Brennan, news.com.au
🚔A popular acai bowl and dessert bar in Dandenong was destroyed after a car rammed through the shopfront and the business was set alight. Police are investigating and searching for the offenders.
➡️The owners of the small-run Munch Spot in Melbourne’s east vowed to come back “ stronger than ever”.
➡️There has been a so-called ‘Acai War’ in Sydney as a result of the intense competition among acai bowl businesses in the city's western suburbs. Violent kidnappings, shootings and shops being lit on fire have been linked to the conflict. It’s not yet known what prompted the Dandenong arson attack.
🌦️ Wednesday weather
Crime Watch
This section is dedicated to crime news. Scroll on if you want to skip to lighter news.
🚨Police have arrested two 16-year-old boys after an allegedly stolen car evaded officers twice in Melbourne’s west. After a chase through Melton along the Western Highway the boys were nabbed using stop sticks in Hopetoun Park. - Victoria Police
🥷Police arrested five men after an attempted home invasion in Cranbourne North last night. The group of me threatened residents and stole a dirt bike in what is believed to be a targeted attack. Cops later intercepted the suspects and arrested them. - Victoria Police
👊A tourist was reportedly assaulted while walking on Fitzroy Street, St Kilda on Monday afternoon. CCTV footage appears to show a shirtless man running up to another man and sucker punching him in the head. - RiSK
🏛️A bikie serving 35 years for the execution of an innocent Melbourne father in 2019 has launched an appeal, with his legal team claiming the jury got it wrong and it could have been someone else. - Nine News
⚖️Kon Kritikos, a beloved grandfather, was fatally beaten by his de facto daughter-in-law, Danielle Birchall, in his Coburg home on November 11, 2020, after she sought financial assistance. Birchall pleaded not guilty to the murder but now admits to the assault and will be sentenced on April 4. - Emily Woods, AAP (via Nine News)
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🏢The development company behind Australia’s tallest apartment project, BSSPV Pty Ltd, owes over $100 million in outstanding payments to top designers, consultants, and lawyers. The planned $2.7bn STH BNK tower faces uncertainty after the company collapsed into administration. - realcommercial.com.au
🪖New footage of captured prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins has raised fresh hope the Melburnian could be brought back to Australia in exchange for Russian prisoners. - Herald Sun
🪦Australia’s most notorious pedophile priest died in jail yesterday. Gerald Ridsdale, a former Catholic priest convicted of sexually abusing more than 70 children across Victoria over three decades, died in prison on Tuesday at the age of 90.
➡️Advocacy groups for survivors emphasise that his death does not erase the profound suffering he inflicted. - The Guardian
If you need support after abuse adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380.
🏫Victorian parents are paying the highest private school fees in Australia, with median charges rising to over $11,200, particularly in Melbourne’s inner south-east where fees have soared to nearly $41,000. - Noel Towell, The Age
📚A high school on the Mornington Peninsula is tackling student behaviour challenges with a school-wide program focused on respect and calmer classrooms. Essentially, behaviour lessons. Teachers at Rosebud Secondary College say the initiatives have led to more engaged students and improved classroom order. - Nine News
🗣Police were called and councillors were escorted out of a rowdy Casey City Council meeting last night. Angry shouts of “boo” and “bulls**t” rang out from the public gallery. - City of Casey Council (live stream)
➡️Around 500 locals reportedly turned up with many frustrated at laws surrounding what can and cannot be done with cars on private property.
➡️This issue is unlikely to fizzle out any time soon. There were over 300 (mainly angry comments) on the livestream and Casey Council, which covers a big area in the south-east, eventually turned all comments off.
💵City property developer Peter Wu and his business, Centreland Agriculture Co, have been fined $170,000 for destroying 19 hectares of native vegetation in Truganina, west Melbourne. - Alexandra Alvaro, ABC News
🥧The owners of Tarts Anon learned their Cremorne bakery site would be demolished. Still, they’re determined to continue scaling the business, planning a pop-up at the Arts Centre’s Protagonist cafe while searching for a new location. - Instagram
🎬The Calder Freeway north of Melbourne was closed briefly yesterday as it became the set for a Hollywood action movie. The Mongoose stars, friend of this newsletter, Liam Neeson (I’ve written about him three times this month). The Irish actor has been shooting across the state. The closures near Malmsbury and Harcourt should now be removed. - Allanah Sciberras, Nine News
⚫ Mark Taylor, the renowned Melbourne street artist and bodybuilder known as MeatAXE, has suddenly passed away. His family shared the news on social media. It is unclear how he died, but a GoFundMe page said he suffered a medical emergency while taking his youngest son to a birthday party on Saturday. - Instagram
🎸Two-piece Syndey band The Mess Hall is back after a decade and bringing their signature sound to the Brunswick Ballroom on February 21, 2025. - Beat Magazine
🚑A person - possibly a Melbourne Grammar School student - was taken to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition from the school’s rowing boat shed on Boathouse Drive, on Tuesday afternoon. Male teens gathered near the rowing shed at 6.40pm were observed to be visibly upset. - Emma Sudano, Herald Sun
🎧NTS Radio is bringing its underground sounds from London to Melbourne's north next weekend. The event will take place at the restored Northcote Theatre all day on Saturday. - More details
🏗️Frankston Council is seeking $10 million each from state and federal governments for the $20 million Nepean Highway Boulevard redevelopment project. - Brodie Cowburn, Bayside News
🛠️The state government is repairing Workshops Pier in Williamstown, with works to strengthen the pier and complete minor repairs. - Vic Gov
📢Community Noticeboard📢
📌” If you're a first-home buyer, join Stockland's "Open Doors" free pop-up event on Sunday, 23 February at Marnong Estate for expert advice, free pastries, coffee, ice cream, and more, along with a property panel.” - more details
📌”The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is hosting its 15th annual Vintage Clothing Sale, featuring a curated selection of high-end designer pieces and timeless accessories. The event will take place at Abbotsford Convent on March 22-23.” - more details
📌”No tricks, no catch, completely FREE furniture to go to a good home! But it’s first come, first served and only available Sunday, 2nd March from 10am until it’s all gone. Come to Eltham Rugby Union Football Club 58 Bridge St Eltham Vic. There are 50 wooden stackable chairs, 14 round tables and 8 table tops.” - more details
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And finally…When there’s a flight sale running it’s usually run by the airlines, but Melbourne Airport yesterday launched its own “Flight Frenzy” sale. Deals include $199 flights to Vietnam and sizeable discounts on flights to the UK. - More details
Thank you for reading edition 66 of The Melbourne Snap.
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Tobacco and now acai? Which I didn't even know how to pronounce until I watched the vid. Quelle dommage!