Latest stories from Moyne and Corangamite 🗞️

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

Sixteen new dementia care beds are a step closer for Camperdown, with Corangamite Shire Council voting unanimously to negotiate a lease over part of Jaycee Park to allow Sunnyside House to expand its aged care facility.

What happened: At last Tuesday’s council meeting, councillors authorised chief executive David Rae, or a delegate, to negotiate the terms of a potential long-term lease for a portion of the 1.32-hectare reserve on Manifold Street. Any final lease agreement will return to councillors for approval.

• Sunnyside House, which has operated in Camperdown since 2001, plans to add 16 dementia care beds and a dedicated wellness centre to meet growing demand. 

• The proposal also requires additional car parking and upgraded fire services infrastructure, with part of Jaycee Park identified as the preferred location.

Why it matters: The decision comes as access to aged care remains a growing challenge nationally, particularly in regional areas.

• A 2024-25 federal government report found 58.9 percent of aged care residents waited up to nine months before being allocated a place. 

• Between November and March this year, Australia’s average wait time between applying for aged care services and receiving care was 294 days, while Victoria recorded the nation's shortest median wait time at 273 days.

Local shortages: In neighbouring town Terang, the 2023 closure of the town’s main aged care facility, May Noonan, left a sizable shortage of available aged care beds between Warrnambool and Colac. 

• The loss of May Noonan’s 40 beds means the town now has 15 aged care places, forcing older residents to move away from their families and support networks.

• A local Terang aged care nurse who had been in the industry for 10 years previously told the Brolga the remaining facilities had turned to agency nurses and foreign nurses to address staff shortages.

A need for the shire: Councillor Geraldine Conheady said demand for aged care services in Corangamite was growing.

🗣️ “The 16 dementia care beds and a dedicated wellness centre are solidly needed, not just in Camperdown but across the whole shire,” she told the meeting.

Full story below.

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

After months of temporary repairs and mounting concern over Port Fairy's ageing Gipps Street Bridge, contracts have finally been signed for its long-awaited replacement, tipped to cost $7.75 million.

What happened: Moyne Shire Council has appointed Murray Constructions to design and construct the new crossing following a competitive tender process, with contracts finalised this week.

🗣️ "This is a major step forward for this vital project and an important investment in critical infrastructure for Port Fairy," Mayor Jordan Lockett said in a statement.

How long will it take? Construction is expected to take up to 10 months, with a full bridge closure anticipated for up to six months during the works, meaning drivers entering town from Warrnambool will travel along the Princes Highway, instead of turning onto Griffiths Street.

The current situation: The existing timber bridge, built in the early 1900s, connects South Beach with the town centre and carries about 4,000 vehicles each day. 

• It has been subject to load and speed restrictions after reaching the end of its serviceable life last year.

Complete overhaul: The new reinforced concrete bridge will cater for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists while improving flood resilience from the Moyne River.

• The $7.75 million project will be funded through a $5 million Australian Government grant under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program and a $2.75 million contribution from council.

Full story below.

West Vic winter feeds 🥘🍴

Darcie and I have put together two guides for you this week: Where to enjoy the best Sunday roast in the region, or where to try the best vegetarian meal.

Headlines in Ballarat and Pyrenees 🗞️

🏡 House prices surge up to 61 percent in Pyrenees towns as investors and Ballarat buyers push in

The median house price in Moonambel has jumped 61 percent in five years - from $347,500 to $560,000 - as part of a price surge across the Pyrenees driven by out-of-state investors and buyers priced out of Ballarat. 

❓What happened: The Pyrenees is a region known for a rich wine production sector, located approximately two hours west of Melbourne. 

Prominent townships include Avoca, Beaufort, Moonambel and Lexton, and each one has seen a price increase at the top end of the spectrum since 2021. 

Why is it increasing? A West Vic-based real estate agent told the Brolga that only two agencies operate out of the Pyrenees region, and many of the sales go through Ballarat agencies instead. 

🗣️: “I think one of the reasons [prices are increasing] is because of events in Ballarat,” he said. “If Ballarat is up, the surrounding regions are up. So many people are pushing up from Ballarat or even Melbourne who are priced out, but they can afford to buy in those smaller areas.” 

• New developments were also flagged as a factor changing the composition of the market. 

🗣️: “Ten years ago, agencies in Ballarat would be carrying 2000 properties, with 1800 ready to move in”, he said. “With new developments, you have 1750 on the market but only a third of those are move-in ready. The rest of the blocks of land to build, but they’re still listed online and linked to a display home.” 

Incoming: Out-of-state investors are also entering the market, with reports of investors often making offers before properties even enter the market. 

• “There’s a huge influx of investors, especially interstate, that are looking in that $400,000 to $650,000 area and driving competition.” Damian Shackell, Residential Sales Consultant at PRD Ballarat, told the Brolga in March.

In Avoca: Five years ago, the average price for a home was $299,000. Now, it’s closer to $415,000. That’s an increase close to 39 percent. 

56 Bridport Street is currently for sale in this bracket. It’s a four-bedroom home with gas cooking, open plan dining and living and a garage on 1,200 square metres of land. It’s on the market with a price guide between $385,000 and $415,000. 

In Beaufort: Five years ago, the median house price in Beaufort sat at $348,000. In 2026, the number is closer to $450,000 according to PropTrack. That’s an increase of 29.3 percent. 

32 Olinda Street is on the market with three bedrooms, built-in wardrobes and a lot of white walls to serve as a blank canvas. The listed price is $449,000. 

Full story below.

On Your Feed 📱

Last week, Darcie — who is a much braver soul than I — visited the Painted Lady in Ballarat East, formerly the Eastern Hotel, to hear the owner’s ghost stories. Check out the video below to get the full spooky story.

If you missed it, I recently spoke to French expat Coralie Schaff, who is in the process of starting her own escargot farm at Beech Forest in the Otways from scratch. You can listen to Coralie talk about her journey in the video below.