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MORE EXPLOSIVE DEVICES DETONATED By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN A FURTHER two improvised explosive device detonations on Monday night are being investigated by Wangaratta police. The small explosions occurred within 40 minutes of each other on the corner of Ovens and Docker streets at around 7:20pm, followed by another explosion at the intersection of Greta and Tone roads at around 8pm.
Police and fire crews attended and investigated the scenes. The two detonations take to eight the total number of explosions reported in the city over the past five weeks. The first of the recorded explosions occurred at George Street on April 13 at around 9:25pm, and preceded incidents at the Rowan Street underpass, intersection of Ryley and Perry Streets, Ovens Street near the
front of a school, Crammond Street and Ryley Street. Senior Constable Aidan Hogan of Wangaratta police said all improvised explosive devices have contained an unknown substance inside of a plastic bottle, which has caused it to have a chemical reaction. “We’re having it all analysed to find out exactly what that material or substance is,” he said. ■ Continued page 3
ANALYSIS ONGOING: Wangaratta police continue to investigate a series of small explosive device detonations across the city over the past two months, including one at the Rowan Street underpass on April 18 (pictured). PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
WAITING GAME Senior citizens club disappointed pp as council misses out on $ $4m Wareena bid
WANGARATTA S Senior i Citizens Club members’ wait for a new home is set to continue, after the Rural City of Wangaratta missed out on a hoped-for $4 million Federal Government boost. Club president Michael Chambeyron said he was “not surprised, but
BY SIMONE KERWIN skerwin@ nemedia.com.au
disappointed” that council’s application for Growing Regions Program cash was unsuccessful. If it had received the funds, council planned to
match the $4 million t h th illi tto establish a community hub and an intergenerational play and exercise area on the former Olympic Pool site in Swan Street. These projects form the first stage of the rural city’s Wareena Park Masterplan, which was adopted in mid2020 and is among council’s
highest-ranking hi h t ki advocacy d priorities. The hub has been mentioned as a potential fit for the long-promised home of the senior citizens club, which has been based ‘temporarily’ at Ford Street’s Tara Court complex since its original clubrooms made way for
Wangaratta’s W tt ’ BIG W store. t Mr Chambeyron said the senior citizens club was assured at that time that provision would be made by council for new clubrooms - a wait which has extended beyond 20 years. “The club has been waiting a long time, and there will be disappointment
Up to 40% off* rrp
he ffor a llott off members,” b ”h said. “There are still a few members around who were there and can remember handing over their building. “It is disappointing, but practically speaking, you’ve got to realise that things are tight. ■ Continued page 2