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Farmers for Climate Action CEO Natalie Collard spoke on a panel on Tuesday during the Summit, speaking about fairer energy access for regional Australians.

She said that although much of Australia’s clean energy comes from renewable projects built and operated across regional Australia in places like western Victoria, people who live in these areas can’t tap into the electricity they’re hosting.

The local power lines are too old and weak to handle the power coming off those energy superhighways.

And they can't deliver the heavy-duty power modern farmers or businesses need for things like irrigation pumps or cold storage, so even with these massive wind turbines spinning nearby delivering some of the cheapest, cleanest energy Australia has ever seen, communities are stuck paying premium prices for diesel to run their own equipment.

Watch the video below for the full story.

Finals season is upon us, so I asked Camperdown locals who they’re backing to bring home the bacon this year.

Watch the full video below.

If you’re in need of a bakery recommendation, it’s your lucky day. Watch the video below for a rundown on the Dunkeld Old Bakery.

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🗞️ LATEST HEADLINES

💨 A West Vic farmer gives their view on fair rewards from wind farms

If a new multi-million-dollar renewable energy project wanted to begin construction near your town, how would you want the community to share in its rewards?

For grain farmer Susan Findlay-Tickner, who has hosted the Murra Warra Wind Farm on her property between Warracknabeal and Horsham for the past decade, the answer lies in community benefit sharing.

Community benefit arrangements vary widely across Australia. 

There's no standard formula: some developers opt for broad-based approaches - like paying for a percentage of every household's electricity bills - while others focus on targeted grants to community groups, scholarships, funding for sports clubs, or investment in local infrastructure. 

The Murra Warra Wind Farm distributed $103,000 in community grants to not-for-profit and community groups across the Horsham, Yarriambiack and Hindmarsh shires.

At the Mt Gellibrand Wind Farm near Colac, wind power revenue has led to the distribution of $570,000 so far this year to Victorian community groups. 

Among the recipients was Let’s Talk Colac, which used its funding to raise mental health awareness via the Colac and District Football Netball League’s Let’s Talk Round.

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🔥 When spring turns to summer, a lack of rain could leave West Vic exposed

Record low rainfall and long-term drought conditions are fuelling a heightened risk of bushfires across Western Victoria in coming months.

Dry conditions in south-west Victoria have left a dangerous build-up of fuel, including dead vegetation and fast-curing pasture, according to the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services 2025 spring outlook.

“While winter rainfall across the south-west … could minimise the chance of fires in forests, a lack of rainfall in spring could result in above-normal fire potential in these areas leading into summer,” the Country Fire Association said.

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🕰️ The ultimate guide to vintage and antique shops in West Vic

If there’s one thing West Vic is not short on, it’s quirky antique shops stocking all sorts of collectibles and bric-a-brac.

This is the Brolga’s guide to the best spots around the region. Read on for a haven of classic vinyl, carnival glass and enamel car signs.

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