The Westsider

The Westsider team celebrated a very special milestone in August. On a cold and wintry night at Kindred Studios in Yarraville members of our radio team gathered for inaugural drinks to meet each other and honour the achievements of the last year. For those who haven’t been paying attention, The Westsider launched an internet radio station last year to amplify the voices and music of the West.

I represent a group of 20 Yarraville shop owners that are strongly against the permanent closure of Anderson St as part of planned level crossing removal. We have had no genuine consultation. Closure of our street will destroy our trade and livelihoods! Hoping that someone at your organisation can help shine light on our plight. Tim Chang Thing is everyone uses online services and therefore it needs these services.

By Peter Gartside When, back in June 2025, The Westsider published an article pointing out the rapid growth of data centres in the West, we were definitely onto something. Since then, campaigners have unearthed more applications and approvals, and construction has begun on several more hyperscale facilities in the West, including the CDC Laverton AI data centre that sparked the initial  article.

Brimbank City Council’s Be Bold Festival brings art and culture to Melbourne’s western suburbs! The festival brings together people of all different walks of life who live, work and play in Brimbank. Celebrate our diverse community through music, art, interactive workshops, children’s activities, bilingual storytime, food and culture.

By Claire Tierney There is no question that Yarraville’s Anderson Street level crossing needs to be addressed. Safety matters. Congestion matters. Improving the connection across the railway is an important investment in Yarraville’s future, and like many locals, I’ve stood waiting at the boom gates wondering why such a short journey can sometimes take so long and that frustration is real.

By Tarquam McKenna Those three words change the way you look at risk. They change the meaning of waiting for a scan. They change how you think about time. And they certainly change how you react when asbestos-containing material is confirmed at building works close to your home. I have lived with serious cancer for several years. I have undergone treatment and surgery and continue to live with the uncertainty familiar to many people with cancer.

By Lev Burke RMIT journalism intern Advocacy group LeadWest says outreach services for the homeless are struggling to keep up with growing demand. New data from the group shows the homeless rate in Melbourne’s west is approximately 50 percent higher than that of the national average. LeadWest is an advocacy alliance between the Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham municipalities. Its data shows 15,025 people sought homelessness assistance in 2024-25.

By Hannah Vandenbogaerde A new planning application for West Footscray’s Wool Store has sparked debate across Melbourne’s west. Following the expiry of its previous permit, music and events company Untitled Group has submitted a proposal seeking to increase both the size and number of events held at the venue, alongside a reduction in parking. “The Wool Store has been a local landmark for generations, but has sat unused for years.

By Minh Le RMIT journalism student Sunshine’s Vietnamese community once saw Hampshire Road as simply part of everyday life. That all changed following the death of local shopkeeper Van Viet Truong. On July 25 Mr Truong was allegedly bashed when he tried to stop a group of teenagers suspected of stealing clothes from a neighbouring store. He died in hospital a few days later. Mr Truong, 60, ran his grocery shop in Sunshine for more than 30 years.

By Lev Burke RMIT journalism intern A major milestone was reached last month as the More Trees for a Cooler, Greener West program planted its 500,000th tree. Around 350 volunteers took part in the annual event at Victoria University’s Werribee campus, where they managed to plant 2,500 trees. The event has taken place over the past several years and VU has been able to celebrate its own milestone: 20,000 trees planted on its campus alone.