Digging up dirt on our 'secret suburb' and other top stories.

• Digging up dirt on our 'secret suburb'

  

  Scraper operator Hayden Scott, development manager Gary Smith and grader driver Glen Miller are excited about Geelong's newest suburb, Charlemont Rise. Picture: Nathan DyerGEELONG’S least known suburb is now under construction. Charlemont, officially gazetted in 2012, will be transformed from farmland to suburbia in the coming years.But without even a signpost naming it until recently it has been branded “Geelong’s new secret suburb”.Proponents of its first housing development, Charlemont Rise, ..

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• Cats washed off Simonds

  

  Simonds Stadium flooded on Wednesday. Source: CATS TVUPDATE: GEELONG looks set to return to Simonds Stadium for training on Thursday after being forced off the venue this week following last Wednesday’s record rains.Mud and clay from the stage-four construction site washed onto the playing surface, prompting City of Greater Geelong to call in a series of experts to assess the damage.An environmental engineer and turf consultant inspected the ground and have provided stadium management with a rep..

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• Geelong council: Proposed rate rise is region's biggest hike

  

  City of Greater Geelong is the only council in the G21 region to apply for an exemption from the 2.5 per cent cap. Picture: Nigel HallettGREATER Geelong ratepayers will be slugged with the biggest average rate increase in the region next financial year if council gets its way.But the rise — expected to be no more than 3.5 per cent — would be the smallest percentage increase to their rates in the past 10 years with new rate-capping laws tightening the screws on council coffers.The City of Greater..

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• Accused fraudster racks up theft charges

  

  Kaylene Hussen leaves a Geelong Court. Picture: Mike DugdaleA TORQUAY tax agent accused­ of stealing $2.1 million from clients, which included the elderly, dead and dying, has appeared in court on 1232 charges of theft and fraud.Jamie Singh, appearing for Kaylene Hussen, told the court he had only recently come into the case and, despite consid­erable discussions with the crown prosecutor, much more work needed to be done before the matter would be ready to proceed.Mr Singh said it was imp­ortan..

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• Why Geelong fans need to let Kel, Stokesy go

  

  Mathew Stokes and James Kelly will be in different-coloured jumpers this season.AS A Cats fan I’m not looking forward to seeing premiership stars James Kelly and Mathew Stokes run out against Geelong in red and black jumpers. But good on them.A mate of mine, who’s also a die-hard Cat, believes the duo should have retired as one-club players.He says they have nothing more to gain at Essendon, other than an extra season of salary. I couldn’t disagree more.Sure it would have been nice to see them f..

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• Chaos has this mild commuter baying for blood

  

  V/Line’s ongoing train pain is frustrating commuters. Picture: Nigel HallettTRAVELLING on V/Line this past month has guaranteed me precisely three things: cancellations, coaches and crowded carriages.The chaos during January and now February has turned me from a civilised commuter into a wild-eyed grouch.STILL NO ANSWERS IN V/LINE SAGAI catch the train to and from Geelong and I play timetable roulette. Usually I lose.These past few weeks I’ve wondered whether the train I picked would arrive and ..

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• Geelong Star fishing trawler slammed for serving suspension out at ...

  

  Factory fishing trawler Geelong Star spent its suspension out at sea, instead of in port.CONTROVERSIAL trawler Geelong Star’s decision to serve out its temporary ban at sea rather than in port shows its owners believe it is above the law, the Animal Justice Party has said.The factory-freezer trawler was suspended from fishing on Friday after it killed seven albatross.DEATH TRAWLER SETS SAIL AGAINThe temporary ban was lifted by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority on Monday after it and ..

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• Gaol's drop-in centre offers respect

  

  Father Kevin Dillon and committee members John Douglas and Wendy Leigh open the Lazarus daytime drop-in centre for Geelong’s homeless and vulnerable.RESPECT will be one of the key offerings when Geelong’s Lazarus daytime drop-in centre opens doors to Geelong’s homeless and isolated people.Founders made the pledge as they formally opened the centre in the former warden’s residence beside Old Geelong Gaol on Monday.They hope its communal rest and recreation areas will be open within a few weeks.Ab..

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• Rhys Stanley eyes NAB Challenge return for Geelong Cats ...

  

  Geelong Cats ruckman Rhys Stanley returned to full training with the team at Geelong Baseball Centre on Tuesday, after six months on the sidelines with a foot injury. Picture: Nathan DyerGEELONG ruckman Rhys Stanley is confident he will squeeze in some NAB Challenge footy as he reaches the end of a long rehab from a serious foot injury.Stanley, who was recently eased back into the main training group, has not played since he broke down against Port Adelaide in Round 11 last year — arguably the b..

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• Roasted duck is a highlight. Photo: Josh Robenstone

  

  Roasted duck is a highlight. Photo: Josh Robenstone Gemima Cody If you grew up in a small town the specialities at your local Chinese restaurant might have read something like satay chicken, Mongolian lamb, beef black bean, spring rolls and fried rice. If it was a special occasion you might have ordered scallops stir-fried with ginger and possibly, if luck was on your side, there would be prawn toast. My local, Rose Garden, played to its audience. Honey chicken and fried rice were the hot..

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Mayor still to perform duties from UK .	Geelong's property prices on the rise as Waurn Ponds peaks .
Greater depth has Geelong ready to pounce .	Geelong Star albatross deaths force fishing ban for factory trawler .