Golden Plains on the frontline
Plus: Ballarat's ABCs.
Darcie Humphreys
July 08, 2026
⏱️ This edition of the West Vic Brolga newsletter is a five-minute read.
👋🏻 Hello Brolga readers, Darcie with you today. It was 0 degrees this morning in the ‘Rat and I could see my own breath indoors. Winter has arrived.
Let’s get into the news 👉️
In the last week, I did the gruelling work of investigating the best spots for a sweet treat in West Vic, and spoke to a Ballarat author about the trials and tribulations of writing the A-Z of Ballarat’s history: Ballaralphabet.
I also reported on farmers redesigning their wind breaks to incorporate extra layers made up of native plants - it not only helps biodiversity, but also protects the soil from extreme weather ⛈️
Zara looked into the 500+ local governments (including Golden Plains) pushing for a billion dollar national fund to cover the cost of climate-change damage, paid for by coal, oil and gas companies in Australia.
Just quickly: Do you remember Blockbuster? Last week, I was reminded of the beauty of DVD (and VHS) rental while covering the best galleries in the region. If you didn’t know, Backspace Gallery on Mair Street was formally a Blockbuster, and the sign was up all the way until last year.
Shout at [email protected] with your best 2000s memories renting movies, and let’s all indulge in a warm cup of nostalgia ☕️
From Golden Plains and the Southwest 🗞️
Golden Plains Shire Council is among more than 500 local governments backing a push for a new $1.3 billion national fund to deal with the escalating cost of climate-related damage.
Locally, that pressure is being felt through more frequent and intense rainfall, flash flooding and strain on drainage systems.
What’s going on: A motion on the proposal was passed at last week’s Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) national conference in Canberra. It calls for the creation of a “Climate Compensation Fund” sourced from levies on coal, oil and gas companies.
For councils like Golden Plains in western Victoria, local governments are on the frontline of repairing and rebuilding roads, community infrastructure and public assets after extreme weather events.
While the scale and type of impacts vary between municipalities, councils argue they are consistently absorbing long-term costs linked to bushfire, flooding and storm damage, without a rise in revenue to meet those pressures.
In its 2026-27 budget, Golden Plains Shire allocated $1.57 million – alongside a $2.54 million federal grant – to resealing and improving local roads, as well as $600,000 for a drainage program.
The rain that blankets the Otways might send most people running for shelter, but for Coralie Schaff it’s the type of weather that could offer a sustainable future for the next generation of Australian escargot producers.
A snail’s race: Drawing on childhood memories of collecting snails with her father in rural France, Schaff is building Otway Escargot from the ground up. She told the Brolga she hopes her small farm will make western Victoria a new frontier for a very niche industry.
🗣️ “We would cook them with my mum, so I'm a big escargot eater”, she said. “I love it, with the main recipe of garlic, butter and parsley”.
From The Central Highlands 🗞️
Verena Doyle has been fielding orders from cropping and livestock farmers at markets who want her to grow native shrubs for windbreaks - a shift from the traditional single-row tree plantings that lined agricultural properties for generations. The reason is the weather is changing.
❓What happened: Verena and Tony Doyle have run Allendale Native and Habitat Plants since 2018.
The couple previously worked as educators, delivering programs for children about the importance of native plants and revegetation projects under The Lord of the Rings-inspired name “Entmoot”.
During this period Verena realised it was more sustainable to grow her own plants than buy them, and Allendale Native and Habitat Plants was born. Today, the couple work with local farmers, scout camps and gardeners, providing native plants for revegetation projects.
Gone with the wind: Verena told the Brolga that nature-inspired designs for agricultural systems and gardens have become more popular. This includes wind breaks on West Vic farms.
Just quickly: A windbreak is defined as rows of trees planted to protect crops, shelter livestock and redirect wind velocity.
🗣️: “You have your trees, shrubs in front of that, and smaller shrubs and ground cover in front of that again,” Verena said. “The wind is pushed up over the top of the shrubs instead of just slamming into the trees themselves.”
This layered planting technique offers greater protection to agricultural land. Thickened windbreaks help reduce evaporation and increase moisture retention in the soil.
In nailing down the ideal A-Z of Ballarat history for a kids book, it was the letter J that gave author Tamara Sheward the greatest pause for thought.
🗣️: “I couldn't have jousting twice, because obviously K is for Kryal Castle,” she told the Brolga. “I started listing adjectives upon adjectives, and then I thought that there has to be some ye olde type from Ballarat with a name starting with J.”
And so it was that she stumbled upon James Oddie, “who is apparently the father of Ballarat”.
Oddie left quite the footprint in the town - founding the Art Gallery of Ballarat, procuring the original Eureka flag for public ownership and commissioning a statue of key rebel Peter Lalor that remains on Sturt Street today.
❓What happened: Sheward was once a globetrotter writing and researching for Lonely Planet, but her latest read is the A-Z through Ballarat history: Ballaralphabet.
The siren song of the sweet treat can be irresistible. We’ve listed some of the best places in West Vic when you’re in need of a pick-me-up only something dusted in icing can provide.
Did we miss your favourite? Shout out at [email protected]
🧁 Kittelty’s
Kittelty’s has transitioned from home-kitchen to fully-functioning cafe in the old Apollo’s Fish & Chips building on the corner of Victoria Street. It’s the classics with a creative edge, like cinnamon scrolls with fresh leaves decorating the icing, or lemon cakes covered in nasturtiums.
Where: 134 Victoria Street, Ballarat East
🧁 Sisko Chocolate
Sisko Chocolate is an artisan chocolate store where you can watch the magic happen, get involved through a range of family-friendly workshops or browse the shelves stocking things like a nine-piece “French orb” collection.
Where: 5 Albert Street, Trentham
🧁 Le Comptoir Bakehouse
A simple dessert executed perfectly can be as luxurious as a complex three-tier cake.
Le Comptoir cooks up a range of gourmet foods, including French pastries like pain au chocolat and croissants.
Where: 85 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet
🧁 Daylesford Hot Chocolate Company
Daylesford Hot Chocolate Company provides the comfort of a hot cup of cocoa, hand in hand with the character of Daylesford. The shop is in a small heritage cottage on the edge of town.
Their beverages often involve spices from around the world, freshly melted for each mug.
Where: 22 Raglan Street, Daylesford
On Your Feed 📱
Did you feel the earthquake on Sunday? Zara reported on the recent rumbles near the Great Ocean road as well as a brief history of ‘quakes in our patch.
Watch the full video below 🌐
And I talked about the art shows and spots i think you should visit this winter 🥶
✍️ That’s a wrap on the news this Wednesday! Zara will be with you in a few days for another round of West Vic happenings.
As always, please get in touch with any thoughts, comments, feedback or news tips you have for us - you just have to reply to this email 💌 .
If you want to stay up to date between editions, you can follow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook 🫶
Cheers,
Darcie
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