🟠 Who stole Rowville's 400kg Gandhi?

Also including: Victoria's Planning Minister orders a review of Boral's proposed expansion of its Montrose quarry

Author

Matthew Sims
February 06, 2026

⏱️ The 113th edition of our newsletter is a seven-minute read.

Hi there 👋 

Matthew Sims here, your reporter at the Eastern Melburnian.

📍 On the drive down Stud Road towards Dandenong — or onto the Monash Freeway —commuters often pass through Rowville, with the largely industrial hub not demanding much attention.

🇮🇳 However, a piece of news has grabbed global attention: the theft of a solid bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi weighing more than 400 kilograms and estimated to be worth about $60,000.

🚔 Police have alleged three unknown offenders allegedly used an angle grinder to remove the statue from an Indian charity centre, with investigations now underway to recover the effigy, including asking local scrap metal dealers to let them know if they see the statue or any suspicious activity.

🪙 I once tried to earn some extra pocket money by stripping copper from bits and bobs of rubbish and let me tell you… you don’t earn much.

I called up some local scrap metal dealers, with one telling me you’d be lucky to get $10 per kilo for bronze.

However, this statue is clearly priceless to the local Indian community, as it honours a man who is often described as the “father of the nation”.

👀 I hope the statue turns up soon and it can be restored. Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you see anything leading to its recovery.

Today we’re covering:

  • The alleged theft of a bronze statue of Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi from a charity in Rowville;

  • A fire at a Kilysth South nursery;

  • Victoria's Planning Minister ordering an environmental review of the Montrose Quarry expansion; and

  • The draft plan for $15 million of upgrades for a Burwood sporting hub over the next 15 years.

“A project of this scale and duration must be subject to the highest level of environmental scrutiny, and we will continue to engage constructively throughout the EES process to ensure community health, environmental values, and planning integrity are properly protected.”

STOP the Montrose Quarry Expansion member Phillip Dane welcomed Wednesday’s news that Victoria’s Planning Minister ordered the operator of Montrose’s quarry to carry out a full environmental assessment before a proposed expansion can go ahead

WHAT’S ON 🎟️

📰 THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES

Police are on the lookout for three thieves who allegedly stole a solid bronze statue of Indian freedom fighter and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi from a charity centre in Rowville last month.

Police have alleged three unknown offenders used an angle grinder to cut down the statue of Ghandi – who led India to independence from British rule in 1947 – on Kingsley Close at about 12.50am on Monday, January 12.

Police have begun warning scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the statue and to report any suspicious activity to police.

Since its unveiling in 2021, the statue – a gift from the Indian government – has already been vandalised once in the past.

Former Aston MP Alan Tudge and former Deakin MP Michael Sukkar officially opened the Australian Indian Community Centre in March 2021, with federal funding contributing $2.5 million alongside a commitment of $850,000 from eight trustees.

Weighing more than 400 kilograms, Australian Indian Community Charitable Trust founding chairperson Vasan Srinivasan said the estimated value of the statue was about $60,000, but the installation cost the centre’s board about $80,000 at the time.

One employee at a local scrap metal dealer told the Eastern Melburnian bronze would only chase up to $10 per kilogram.

Srinivasan said the local Indian community was shocked by the incident, but believed it was not fuelled by racism or hatred.

“The statue was taken because it’s made out of solid bronze. It has a materialistic value,” Srinivasan told the Eastern Melburnian. “It is sad we lost it, but we hope to get it back. If not, we will find a way to bring another one, maybe in a year or so.”

India Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, said the government “strongly condem[s]” the act.

“We have strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged them to take immediate action to recover the missing statue and hold the culprits accountable,” said Jaiswal.

The operator of Montrose’s quarry will have to pay for an environmental assessment as it looks to prove that keeping it open for another 32 years – and digging another 26 million tonnes of rock – won’t have a significant impact.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny determined the project would require a full environmental audit on Wednesday morning, sparking a celebration from local residents and politicians.

After months of considerations, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has ordered Boral to complete a full Environment Effects Statement (EES) before its proposed expansion of the Montrose Quarry can go ahead.

An EES is an in-depth analysis of a project’s potential environmental impacts, as well as proposed measures to avoid, minimise or manage negative effects.

If a project is expected to potentially have a significant effect on the environment, the company proposing the project needs to ask the Planning Minister if an assessment would be required.

If the Planning Minister says an EES is required, the developer is then responsible for covering all costs of preparing and completing the work, including technical studies and environmental investigations.

In October, Boral southern executive general manager, Duncan Harris, announced plans to expand the Montrose quarry by 30 acres and provide access to about 26 million tonnes of additional material.

Since the announcement, the STOP the Montrose Quarry Expansion group has attracted more than 3,700 signatures on an online petition against the project, while Monbulk MP Daniela de Martino has launched a similar effort.

Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino was among the local members who advocated for an EES to be required and said the decision was a “great outcome” for nearby residents.

“The Montrose community has been clear about the impacts they are already experiencing and their fears about a larger quarry footprint,” said De Martino.

A spokesperson for Boral said they respected the minister’s decision and were keen to get started on work to deliver the EES.

“We are confident we have developed robust environmental mitigation strategies and look forward to reviewing the full scoping requirements once issued and finalising an Environment Effects Statement for the Government's consideration,” the spokesperson told the Eastern Melburnian.

STOP the Montrose Quarry Expansion member Phillip Dane said the decision validated the need for a “comprehensive and transparent assessment”.

“A project of this scale and duration must be subject to the highest level of environmental scrutiny, and we will continue to engage constructively throughout the EES process to ensure community health, environmental values, and planning integrity are properly protected,” Dane told the Eastern Melburnian.

The Department of Transport and Planning will soon publish information on the timeline of the EES process and how the community can give input.

Burwood locals keen for a planned $15 million upgrade of Bennettswood Reserve will likely have to wait until 2041, with the works not projected to reach the final stages for at least 15 years.

While Deakin University has promised just over $4 million towards the development of Bennettswood Reserve, Whitehorse council said it still needed to procure at least $10 million in funding from the state and federal government, as well as its own coffers.

Located along Burwood Highway and next to Deakin University’s Burwood campus, the draft master plan of Bennettswood Reserve covered a space of more than 21 acres, with the proposed revamp including:

  • The installation of one senior soccer pitch, overlayed with two junior soccer pitches, and floodlighting;

  • The expansion of the existing cricket nets from four lanes to six;

  • The installation of up to three golf training nets; and

  • A social and recreational area featuring two undercover multipurpose courts, fitness equipment, picnic areas and table tennis tables.

In order to deliver this infrastructure, the council will have to source about $11 million, including from ratepayers and its open space reserves – essentially a supply of money set aside from contributions made by developers for the future development of open space – as well as other levels of government.

Deakin University has agreed to fund and deliver the two new multipurpose courts and canopy – with an estimated cost of about $3.1 million – and an extra pavilion to support educational and community programs – with a projected cost of $1 million.

Whitehorse Council will soon open community consultation on the draft master plan before it returns to council approval to inform the project’s delivery.

High-priority upgrades set to be delivered between July 2026 and June 2032 – at a cost of about $6.1 million – include two new multipurpose courts and a senior soccer pitch.

SEEN THIS WEEK

🔥 Fire tears through Kilsyth South nursery

A daytime blaze has destroyed part of a Kilsyth South plant nursery, with the Country Fire Authority confirming “welding practices” as the cause.

Firefighters from multiple crews attended a fire at Colchester Nursery and Garden Supplies on Wednesday.

A CFA spokesperson said 11 CFA units, alongside Fire Rescue Victoria teams, responded to a structure fire on Colchester Road in Kilsyth South at about 1:12pm.

“Crews discovered a structure fully involved in fire,” said the spokesperson. “Victoria Police, the relevant power company and Ambulance Victoria were called to the scene.”

The fire was deemed to be under control at 3.19pm.

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Thanks for catching up with us this week at the Eastern Melburnian. We hope you enjoyed this issue.

Cheers,

Matthew