🟠 Dirty disputes and fuel's shock drop

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK 🎟️

• FRIDAY 28/11/25 | Arj Barker - The Mind Field

• SUNDAY 30/11/25, 9AM-1PM | Mooroolbark Community Garden Market

• SUNDAY 30/11/25, 10AM-2PM | Tabulam and Templer Homes for the Aged Weihnachtsmarkt

• SUNDAY 30/11/25, 5PM | Kitty Flanagan - Gladgame

• TUESDAY 02/12/25, 11AM-NOON & 2-3.15PM | Tis the Season - A Very Jazzy Christmas Spectacular

• COLDSTREAM — EVERY DAY UNTIL 24/12/25; WANDIN — EVERY DAY to 04/01/26, EXCLUDING CHRISTMAS DAY | Cherry Picking @ Cherry Hill Orchards

📰 RECENT LOCAL HEADLINES

🪧 Montrose locals in a dust-up over quarry expansion’s air quality concerns

Tensions continue to boil over the proposed 30-acre and 32-year expansion of a quarry in Montrose, as the company running the development says perceived health risks around silica dust are not a concern.

In May 2024, Resources Victoria announced an approval to extend the Works Authority for Montrose Quarry for the removal of another seven million tonnes – or about eight years of production.

In October, Boral announced the expansion plans for its Montrose quarry, which would increase the boundary by about 30 acres. This would provide access to about 26 million tonnes of additional material over about 32 years.

Boral has submitted a referral for the Planning Minister to consider if an environment effects statement (EES) – an in-depth analysis of a project’s environmental impacts – would be required before plans could be approved.

Much of the public revolt to the project has surrounded dust and other debris caused by digging, specifically silica.

According to University of Sydney occupational epidemiologist, Professor Tim Driscoll, silica is a “naturally occurring substance” found in most rocks.

Silicosis, a disease caused by inhaling silica dust, can lead to scarring of the lungs, a reduction in a person’s ability to convert oxygen to carbon dioxide and possibly other chronic lung diseases or cancer.

In May 2023, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court fined Boral $180,000 and required they pay $13,886 in court costs, after atmospheric monitoring found a number of workers had been exposed to levels of crystalline silica exceeding workplace exposure standards.

The court found it was reasonably practicable for the company to require workers to wear fit-tested respiratory protective equipment and provide adequate supervision.

A parent who has been connected with the nearby Billanook Primary School, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were concerned about the impact of silica dust on children and teachers.

“We don't want them to stop going outside and enjoying that space,” the parent told the Eastern Melburnian. “We could also lose some of our good teaching staff if that air quality does change.”

Between July 2022 and July 2023, consultants for Boral carried out air quality monitoring and modelling, but found the risk of locals who lived near the new site contracting silicosis would be low.

A Boral spokesperson said the impacts of airborne dust would be “avoided, minimised or managed” to meet the required standards to protect both workers and nearby residents from any harm.

According to Boral, staff at Montrose quarry have employed a number of dust management measures, including a fixed speed limit for all vehicles, water sprays with dust suppressants and sprinklers along main internal roads.

Professor Tim Driscoll said developing silicosis was more likely to be a concern for those working in the site than nearby residents or school children.

“I wouldn't say the risk is zero, but I wouldn't consider it a high risk for the people living around the quarry,” Driscoll told the Eastern Melburnian. “If the quarry has appropriate dust control measures, then I would expect that risk to be very low.”

Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino told the Eastern Melburnian her office had been inundated with emails concerning the proposed expansion.

"This is so significant," she said. "What's happening here, this will have quite an impact on a lot of people.”

The issue is unlikely to disappear overnight.

Locals in the community have already successfully blocked expansion of the sites proposed in 1996 and 2003, and seem steadfast on doing the same with this latest proposition.

In an email sent to a number of major stakeholders and seen by the Eastern Melburnian, long-time local Kim Wormald said the blasting, crushing, mixing, screening and transferring of rock to carry out the expansion of the pit would create a “cumulative, long-term exposure burden for residents”.

Ultimately, the decision is with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, who is able to single-handedly approve due to recent changes to the state’s Planning Provisions and could even fast-track the process.

A State Government spokesperson said “any proposal will be considered on its merits” and it would be “inappropriate” to comment while the project was being considered.

⚡️EV sales “shooting off” in Melbourne’s east as petrol and diesel cars lose their stronghold

Electric and hybrid vehicles now make up more than a quarter of new auto sales, as the market share for cars powered by internal combustion engines fell to less than 70 percent for the first time.

In Melbourne's eastern suburbs, one car dealership says real life backs up the stats.

According to a report from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the latest data from the July to September period showed EV sales accounted for 9.7 percent of new vehicle sales – the highest quarterly proportion for EV sales recorded in Australia since data collection began in 1991.

In Victoria, a total of 8,904 EVs were sold between July and September – a 3.08 percent increase from the previous quarter (8,638) and a 67.72 percent increase since the corresponding period in 2024 (5,309).

EV sales accounted for about 11 percent of total sales – up from 10.19 the previous quarter and seven percent in the July to September 2024 period.

Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars launched its EV division – Evolve Motors – about two years ago.

Evolve Motors EV operations manager Kevin Abelnica said EVs had been “shooting off like crazy”, with the proportion of sales from EVs growing by about 40 to 50 percent year-on-year.

“We started off with one a couple of years ago and then from there, we just got a lot more,” said Abelnica. “The downstairs part of the dealership is pretty much primarily EVs. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up coming all the way upstairs because of the popularity.”

Abelnica said there was always healthy demand for EVs, with the demographics of buyers ranging from families to young professionals and aging drivers.

“On Sunday, half the cars that we sold were EVs,” he said. “Some days, Teslas make up half the enquiries and we don’t have enough staff to handle everyone.”

AAA’s data showed cars with an internal combustion engine (ICE) fell below 70 percent market share – 69.65 percent across Australia and 68 percent in Victoria – for the first time.

In Victoria, ICE vehicle sales were down about 15 percent from two years ago, when the category made up about 83 percent of the market.

According to a report from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), used hybrid sales have more than doubled in the last two years as wel, rising from 6,868 in October 2023 to 14,784 in October 2025.

Used EV sales in October saw a 7.9 percent increase to 3,231.

The average Australian drives around 12,000 kilometres per year and spends around $2,500 on petrol.

An EV travelling the same distance would only cost $500 to charge, with yearly charging costs dropping as low as $200 per year if the EV owner “fills up” using their home’s solar panels.

The Federal Government is attempting to boost EV sales through policies like its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) – a limit on the amount of CO2 emissions new cars can produce – and tax exemptions.

SEEN THIS WEEK 🤓

Environmental laws under scrutiny

70% of Australians reckon our environmental laws should take into account the impact of climate change. Will Labor make that happen? Reporter Huw Bradshaw took a deeper look into the issue.

Carols, fireworks and Christmas cheer

Here is our yuletide guide for all the local stops for Santa Claus before his big night.

December’s live music events

Already sick and tired of Christmas carols blasting over speakers in the supermarkets? Pop down to these local gigs to check out homegrown talent and legendary musicians.

New mayor in Knox

Knox Council elected its new leading councillors for the term ahead last Thursday night — with Paige Kennett stepping up to the top job and Chris Duncan becoming deputy mayor.