Zara Cuthbertson

What’s causing Warrnambool’s housing shortage?

The combination of a growing population, more workers in the city and a dwindling pool of available rentals have helped to create the regional centre’s residential squeeze.

Warrnambool

Warrnambool’s 50-home housing project waiting on $4m election pledge

Mayor Ben Blain says funding for power, water and sewerage upgrades could finally get the Harrington Road development moving after almost two years of delays.

Warrnambool

Ballarat council makes energy upgrades to save ratepayers millions

The city is backing projects it says will cut emissions and save money.

Ballarat

🌊 Newsletter: Does Apollo Bay need more homes?

Plus: Hepburn council charges dismissed

Newsletters

Does Apollo Bay need another 144 houses? The agent selling this 100-acre plot believes so

Kevin Paghdar said the development site could bring in as much as $600,000 a lot.

Great Ocean Road

“Just doesn’t make sense”: Moyne councillor calls for review of festival and events funding after $150,000 approval

Jim Doukas supported this year’s grant recipients, but requested a more thorough process for next year to determine which events could “survive without [council’s] help”.

Moyne

Who can I vote for across Western Victoria at the 2026 Victorian election?

Our guide to November’s state election, who you can vote for and what they hope to achieve if they are elected into power.

Politics

🐦‍⬛ H5 bird flu hits West Vic

Plus: Council's call for up-front disaster funding

“A mammoth project”: Darlington Hall receives $20,000 funding boost for major revamp

The 150-year-old building is one of eight projects to share more than $104,000 from the Berrybank Wind Farm community benefit fund.

Corangamite

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been detected near Portland. Now what?

Agriculture Victoria confirmed a positive test for the disease on Thursday.

Portland

After footing the bill for January's bushfires and floods, Colac Otway council wants the state to change how it funds disasters

Councillors hope to see an established fund in place to allow the government to respond to disaster funding claims faster.

Colac Otway

“Can’t afford to have one accident”: Southern Grampians moves forward with $480,000 upgrade of dangerous Hamilton intersection

The project is part of a $2 million overhaul of Hamilton’s pedestrian crossings and intersections.

Roads

VicGrid sets stricter standards for wind farm developers after Corangamite council cites “minimal and last minute” consultation

Mayor Kate Makin described the process as “not good enough”, pointing to Berrybank Wind Farm as an example of how to do it better.

Climate

Southern Grampians council approves 340-home Hamilton estate despite traffic and flooding concerns

The four-stage development on Lake Hamilton’s edge will include hundreds of homes, a childcare centre and retail space, with planning permits still required.

Southern Grampians

Long-term whale study to track endangered whales along Victoria's south west coast

The program will combine the use of drones and Traditional Owner knowledge to gain insight into the species’ habits and movements.

Wildlife

The Vic Coalition wants drivers to go 110 km/h on the Princes Highway. Labor's Polwarth candidate wants to see the safety data first

“We’ve got to keep roads safe in proportion to their ability to hold cars running at that speed limit as well.”

Politics

Newsletter: Gipps Street bridge is falling down

Plus: What's behind the Ballarat and Pyrenees house price spike.

Newsletters

The best Sunday roasts for a hearty feed in West Vic

From classic dishes to rotating specials, these venues are serving some of winter's most comforting meals.

Food

Port Fairy’s Gipps Street bridge to close for six months for $7m replacement

Patched with steel plates and inspected daily, Moyne Shire Council has awarded a contract to fully replace the frequently-used thoroughfare using grant funds received in August.

Port Fairy

The best spots to get a vegetarian feed in Ballarat

Healthy and ethical, the Brolga has rounded up the best spots for a green meal.

Lifestyle

As aged care access continues to get worse, Corangamite Council moves to unlock 16 new dementia care beds in Camperdown

The decision comes as average wait times in Victoria surpass 270 days.

Corangamite

🐦‍⬛ Newsletter: Bird (flu) is the word

Plus: Hamilton's visit from a family on national food drive

Newsletters

Glenelg Shire has three operating wind farms and two approved battery projects. It says its ready for more

A regional advocate says councils should help communities to set clear expectations about what they want from renewable projects.

Climate

“More people living in cars than ever”: The national barbecue food drive offering a warm meal to vulnerable locals

Dave and Cara Meadows stopped in Hamilton on their national drive to provide a free American-style barbecue and raise awareness of homelessness and food insecurity.

Hamilton

Warrnambool council scraps gambling policy as poker machine losses near $25.6 million a year

Councillors say the Victorian Government - not the council - controls gambling regulation.

Warrnambool

Zara Cuthbertson

What’s causing Warrnambool’s housing shortage?

Warrnambool’s 50-home housing project waiting on $4m election pledge

Ballarat council makes energy upgrades to save ratepayers millions

🌊 Newsletter: Does Apollo Bay need more homes?

Does Apollo Bay need another 144 houses? The agent selling this 100-acre plot believes so

“Just doesn’t make sense”: Moyne councillor calls for review of festival and events funding after $150,000 approval

Who can I vote for across Western Victoria at the 2026 Victorian election?

🐦‍⬛ H5 bird flu hits West Vic

“A mammoth project”: Darlington Hall receives $20,000 funding boost for major revamp

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been detected near Portland. Now what?

After footing the bill for January's bushfires and floods, Colac Otway council wants the state to change how it funds disasters

“Can’t afford to have one accident”: Southern Grampians moves forward with $480,000 upgrade of dangerous Hamilton intersection

VicGrid sets stricter standards for wind farm developers after Corangamite council cites “minimal and last minute” consultation

Southern Grampians council approves 340-home Hamilton estate despite traffic and flooding concerns

Long-term whale study to track endangered whales along Victoria's south west coast

The Vic Coalition wants drivers to go 110 km/h on the Princes Highway. Labor's Polwarth candidate wants to see the safety data first

Newsletter: Gipps Street bridge is falling down

The best Sunday roasts for a hearty feed in West Vic

Port Fairy’s Gipps Street bridge to close for six months for $7m replacement

The best spots to get a vegetarian feed in Ballarat

As aged care access continues to get worse, Corangamite Council moves to unlock 16 new dementia care beds in Camperdown

🐦‍⬛ Newsletter: Bird (flu) is the word

Glenelg Shire has three operating wind farms and two approved battery projects. It says its ready for more

“More people living in cars than ever”: The national barbecue food drive offering a warm meal to vulnerable locals

Warrnambool council scraps gambling policy as poker machine losses near $25.6 million a year

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