In a tourism region like the Central Highlands you would think the busiest business would be a hotel or a cafe but it’s probably Jamie Adams from Daylesford Tyre and Windscreen Service.
Potholes are the talk of the region and Jamie is happy to chat about them too.
“They’re just everywhere, they keep opening up,” Jamie said. “Since August 10 we’ve had 48 pothole strikes – I have been keeping a count.
“Ballan-Daylesford Road’s been a hotspot, we had 28 in one week alone. It’s about 70 per cent tyre, 30 per cent wheels. The wheels have got to be repaired or replaced.”
Jamie said one of the worst jobs was a Tesla which was towed in with two tyres and two rims gone, at a cost of about $1800.
“The worst one was an AMG Mercedes SUV last week. Tyres and rims, about $5300. The tyres alone are $950 each.”
In terms of pothole size Jamie says the largest was one out near the Daylesford Cemetery. It takes up the whole lane, it’s probably 15 metres long – they’re not potholes, they’re mini mineshafts.”
Trying to make a claim against VicRoads? Good luck. Jamie said VicRoads bumped up the claim threshold from $800 to $1681 a few years back.
“But you’ve got to prove it and they won’t look at a claim under that. You can burn an hour on hold to the pothole hotline just to be told that.”
That threshold represents the dollar figure you have to reach before you can claim anything above it. So the driver pays the first $1681, frontloads the rest of the bill themselves and then argues it out with VicRoads.
Of 1809 compensation claims lodged with the Department of Transport and Planning over the past two financial years, just 23 were paid out, a success rate of roughly two per cent.
And while Jamie may be keeping busy, it’s not a great business for his usually friendly demeanour.
“The customers are always pissed off when they come in,” Jamie said. “Half the cars these days don’t even carry a spare, so if someone needs to get back to Melbourne, they’re stuck with getting towed.”
Mechanics in other areas across regional Victoria have also reported a surge in pothole-related work, with more wheel alignments, shock-absorber replacements, worn ball joints and control-arm repairs coming through the workshop door than in previous years, as the state’s ageing road network struggles to keep pace with a wet winter and rising traffic volumes.
Hepburn Shire Council has tipped $2.73 million into road reconstruction, resealing and gravel re-sheeting in recent years, on top of roughly $3 million more in general repair works, including a $500,000 patching contract awarded off the back of a dedicated pavement defect audit.
Down the road, the City of Ballarat committed $3.4 million to repairing its municipal road network after a wet winter and has since launched what it is calling its largest road maintenance blitz yet, targeting more than 340,000 square metres of damaged road across the municipality.
The state government has also moved to double its pothole repair target, pledging to fix 500,000 potholes by the end of January next year, up from an earlier commitment of 250,000, at a cost of $352 million on top of the $1.04 billion already budgeted for road maintenance this financial year.
Victorian Roads Minister Paul Hamer has acknowledged road conditions are “not good enough” and confirmed a review is underway into the compensation scheme, though he has stopped short of promising changes to the damage threshold that determines whether a claim is even considered.

Words: Kyle Barnes | Images: Kyle Barnes

A new purpose-built dental practice is opening in Kyneton on September 9, with local dentist Dr Sonya Kaur behind the new venture.
Sonya has called Kyneton home for the past nine years with her husband and two children. Before opening Market Street Dental, she spent five years working as a dentist in Woodend, caring for patients from across the Macedon Ranges and surrounding communities.
“Kyneton has been our family’s home for almost a decade, so opening my own practice here is really special,” Sonya said.
“I wanted to create a practice that combines modern dentistry with genuine, personal care — somewhere people feel comfortable, listened to and looked after.”
Located at 30 Market Street, Kyneton, the purpose-built practice features modern dental technology, including digital scanning and imaging and same-day crowns made in-house, helping reduce waiting times and unnecessary appointments.
There is also a strong focus on patients who may feel nervous about dental treatment, with nitrous oxide (‘happy gas’) sedation available where appropriate and an emphasis on gentle, unrushed appointments.
Families have also been considered, with a dedicated children’s room designed to make visits more comfortable and positive for younger patients.
Market Street Dental will offer a broad range of services including general and children’s dentistry, check-ups and cleans, emergency care, fillings, root canal treatment, wisdom teeth, dentures, same-day crowns, dental implants, Invisalign®, teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry.
The practice can also make custom sports mouthguards and night guards in-house, with Sonya keen to connect with sporting clubs and families throughout the region.
“We’re really looking forward to opening the doors and caring for people from Kyneton, Woodend, Trentham, Daylesford and the wider Macedon Ranges and Central Highlands communities.”
Market Street Dental, 30 Market Street, Kyneton
(03) 5422 4500
info@marketstdental.com.au
marketstreetdental.com.au (Advertorial)

The risk of plague locusts has increased across Victoria due to favourable autumn and winter conditions, more egg laying, and high locust numbers in New South Wales and South Australia. Egg hatching is expected to occur sooner than originally predicted.

Wimmera: low to moderate chance of high locust numbers in spring, with hatching expected from late September.

Mallee: moderate to high chance of high locust numbers in spring, with hatching expected from mid-September.

Now is the time to prepare:

• check paddocks, roadsides and bare or lightly grassed areas for egg beds
• learn what young locusts look like
• get your chemical and management plans ready.

Spraying is most effective about 2 weeks after hatching, when young locusts can’t fly and start to band together.

See locusts? Report them to us. Early reporting helps track locust movements and supports timely management responses.

Agriculture Victoria’s Fire Preparedness Toolkit can help you develop or review your pre-season planning.

Use the 8 checklists and templates in the toolkit to update your planning:

• Business preparedness
• Family/staff briefing
• Farm preparedness
• Building/vegetation maintenance
• Equipment and asset maintenance
• Water supply
• Livestock management
• High risk day ratings plan.

Click the button below to get your free copy of the toolkit today or request a hard copy by emailing recovery@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Victorian farmers and regional communities will have better tools to manage future drought conditions.

The federal and state governments are investing more than $66.8 million to continue the Victorian Farm Business Resilience Program and Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program through to 2029.

This funding is in addition to the state government’s $146.5 million Drought Support Package for Victorian farmers.

The Farm Business Resilience Program gives farmers practical skills to make informed decisions on their farms.

Farmers can learn more about profitable decision-making, drought preparedness, farm management, and a range of other topics through a mix of short courses, workshops, webinars, field days and farm walks.

The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program helps communities turn local drought plans into action.

Every region across Victoria now has a regional drought resilience plan in place, developed through the program’s first phase

Up to $1.5 million will be available in each region to support coordination and deliver priority actions identified in local regional drought resilience plans.

This will help communities, local government, industry and regional organisations deliver projects that strengthen drought and climate preparedness and build resilience for the future.

The programs build on strong results already delivered across Victoria.

Since 2021, more than 4000 people have engaged in intensive Farm Business Resilience Program activities.

More than 2400 farm business plans have been developed or updated to help strengthen business performance.

More than 47 Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program on-ground projects have been delivered across Victoria.

These programs are helping support farmers prepare for future drought conditions – helping protect regional jobs, local economies and Victoria’s food security.

For more information on the Farm Business Resilience Program, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/prepare/farm-business-resilience-program

For more information on the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program: extensionaus.com.au/rdrvictoria/

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is inviting local community groups to apply for grants under the Australia Day Grants program, with applications now open and closing on 21 September.
Eligible groups can apply for grants of up to $1,000 to support free community events or ceremonies that mark Australia Day in a way that is respectful of everyone in the community.
A total of $5,000 is available through the program.
Mayor Cr Cassy Borthwick encouraged local groups with ideas for Australia Day events to consider applying.
“These grants support community-led events that bring people together, foster connection and provide opportunities for people to reflect on what Australia Day means to them and their community,” she said.
“Council welcomes applications for events that are welcoming, accessible and respectful and that recognise the diverse experiences, histories and perspectives that exist across the Macedon Ranges.” Funding may be used for costs such as venue and equipment hire, catering, promotion, performers and artists, and Welcome to Country or cultural education activities.
Funded events must be free, open to the public and held within the Macedon Ranges Shire between 19 January and 2 February 2027.
To be eligible, groups applying must be incorporated, community-based not-for-profit groups operating in the Macedon Ranges. Unincorporated groups may apply through an eligible auspicing organisation.
Groups considering applying are encouraged to discuss their event idea with Council’s Community Development team before submitting an application.
For more information or to apply, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/AustraliaDayGrants. You may also call the Community Projects Officer on 0417 568 122 or email grants@mrsc.vic.gov.au. Application for grants close on 21 September 2026.

More than 100 schools will receive grants to continue providing Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) in 2027.

102 small, rural and regional schools will get a funding boost of up to $40,000 each to supplement OSHC delivery.

The maximum funding amount per school has increased from $30,000 per school for 2026.

The grants can help fund before school care, after school care or holiday care – responding to the needs of local communities.

For working parents, that means having the peace of mind that care is available for the kids.

This also gives regional families the support they deserve to get back into the workforce, do extra study or undertake training.

The investment focuses on schools with less than 200 students, and schools in rural and regional areas.

A proactive water flow onto the Gunbower Forest floodplain is aimed at building resilience in native waterbird populations at a time when they need it most.
The environmental flow will also help bridge the gap between the amount of water that made it onto the floodplain from the recent high Murray River flows, and the amount that should have.
Following high river flows in mid-July, North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) began delivering water to the floodplain’s wetlands before pausing in anticipation for further high flows later in the month.
The environmental flow has now resumed as the highest flows have moved through the system. This time it has an additional focus.
Environmental water on the floodplain provides an opportunity for a positive response from waterbirds, something Arthur Rylah Institute Ornithology Scientist Dr Nyil Khwaja said could help native species battle likely bird flu outbreaks.
“More water on the floodplain at Gunbower increases the chances of waterbirds coming together to nest, and these group-nesting events are important for sustaining their populations,” Dr Khwaja said.
“Many of these species are ones that research suggests are going to be susceptible to H5N1. A successful nesting event would help make their populations be as resilient as possible to the additional threat posed by the virus.
“While we might see some additional mortality of breeding birds in these events due to the virus, we expect any group nesting that happens to be an overall positive for their populations based on the evidence we have.”
North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Chief Executive Officer Brad Drust said recent high Murray flows and wetter conditions have provided an opportunity to do more.
“Without river regulation, recent natural peaks that put water onto the Gunbower floodplain would have been twice as large,” he said.
“There would have been constant overbank flows into the forest from June to August – more than two months.
“That’s why this environmental flow is needed. We can now deliver water to more areas of the forest, help bridge the gap between what should have flowed onto the floodplain and what actually did, and support more breeding and feeding habitat.
“That’s great news for waterbirds, but also for our world-famous redgums and wetlands.”
The flow will enter the forest via the Hipwell Road regulator and channel and will be managed to ensure downstream consumptive users on Gunbower Creek have access to the water they need.
The flow will inundate about 3500 hectares of the forest and wetlands, three quarters of the environmental water footprint and less than 20 per cent of the floodplain.
“Working alongside Mother Nature like this allows us to get great bang for our water buck,” Mr Drust said.
“This is not new or extra water. It is the same amount of water that was planned when the flow began in June.
“Delivering it via the Hipwell Road infrastructure allows us to be efficient and really effective. If we didn’t have this infrastructure on the floodplain, the deficit between what should have been, and what will be, on the forest and in the wetlands would be a lot greater.”
The flows are authorised by VEWH in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2026-27, which is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au, with regular watering updates posted on the North Central CMA website www.nccma.vic.gov.au.

More than $4.5 million will help kinders upgrade buildings, playgrounds and buy equipment so every child can fully participate.

Building upgrades

Grants of up to $200,000 will help 29 services upgrade their facilities.

Attwood Childcare Centre and Kindergarten will use its grant to build accessible pathways and purchase new musical equipment and play features.

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Clear will use its grant to build a new sandpit, a ramp from the verandah, a cubby, raised garden beds and shade sails – creating a safer space for kids to explore and learn together.

Equipment grants

Sixty services will receive up to $10,000 each to buy accessible equipment like adjustable furniture, mobility stools and sensory resources.

KU Alexander Magit Kindergarten in Ferntree Gully will use its grant to purchase resources such as sensory balance beams, an activity cube and water play equipment – helping more children build agility and coordination.

H5 bird flu is present in wild birds in Victoria. Bird flu cannot be controlled in the wild.

From 20 August, bird flu reporting in Victoria has changed to align with the national reporting framework.

We now report H5 bird flu events, rather than individual detections. The new number of positive events captures all previously reported individual confirmed detections.

You can explore confirmed events on our interactive map.

H5 bird flu has not been detected in poultry.

If you see sick or dead birds or other wildlife, do not touch them. Avoid direct contact. Record what you see. Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline or using the form below.

For updates, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdflu and follow Agriculture Victoria on Facebook.

For more information about the situation across Australia, visit Bird flu

Victorian farmers and regional communities will have better tools to manage future drought conditions.

The state and federal governments are investing more than $66.8 million to continue the Victorian Farm Business Resilience Program and Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program through to 2029.

This funding is in addition to the state government’s $146.5 million Drought Support Package for Victorian farmers.

The Farm Business Resilience Program gives farmers practical skills to make informed decisions on their farms.

Farmers can learn more about profitable decision-making, drought preparedness, farm management, and a range of other topics through a mix of short courses, workshops, webinars, field days and farm walks.

The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program helps communities turn local drought plans into action.

Every region across Victoria now has a regional drought resilience plan in place, developed through the program’s first phase

Up to $1.5 million will be available in each region to support coordination and deliver priority actions identified in local regional drought resilience plans.

This will help communities, local government, industry and regional organisations deliver projects that strengthen drought and climate preparedness and build resilience for the future.

The programs build on strong results already delivered across Victoria.

Since 2021, more than 4000 people have engaged in intensive Farm Business Resilience Program activities.

More than 2400 farm business plans have been developed or updated to help strengthen business performance.

More than 47 Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program on-ground projects have been delivered across Victoria.

These programs are helping support farmers prepare for future drought conditions – helping protect regional jobs, local economies and Victoria’s food security.

For more information on the Farm Business Resilience Program, visit: agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/prepare/farm-business-resilience-program

For more information on the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program: extensionaus.com.au/rdrvictoria/

Victoria is facing one of its warmest and driest spring outlooks in some time, increasing the risk of an earlier and more active fire season across parts of the state.
For Forest Fire Management Victoria, preparing for bushfires is a year-round job. Across parks and forests, our crews work every day to reduce bushfire risk through fuel management, preparedness activities and maintaining the capability to respond quickly when fires occur.
This year’s seasonal outlook reinforces why that work is so important.
Throughout spring, we will continue working with our emergency management partners to monitor conditions and undertake fuel management and preparedness activities in the lead-up to summer.
We are also preparing our people and equipment for the season ahead so we can respond quickly when and where bushfires occur.
With more than 1,800 frontline personnel, specialist emergency management staff, firefighting vehicles, heavy machinery and a world-class aerial firefighting fleet, our focus is on detecting, responding to and containing bushfires as quickly as possible to minimise impacts and help keep communities safe.
Everyone has a role to play in preparing for the season ahead. Victorians can do their part by having a bushfire plan, downloading the VicEmergency app and staying up to date with Fire Danger Ratings.
If you’re visiting parks and state forests, please take extra care with campfires and always know and follow the rules.
Together, we can all play a part in reducing bushfire risk and helping keep Victorian communities safe.
Visit Forest Fire Management Victoria for more information about how we’re preparing for the bushfire season.
Chris Hardman AFSM Chief Fire Officer Forest Fire Management Victoria

Minister for Small and Family Business Natalie Suleyman has announced two new grant programs that will deliver up to $10,000 in funding for local business associations and trader groups. 

This will support small businesses to build skills, strengthen their networks and create new opportunities.

Multicultural Business Skills Fund Grant Program

The Fund provides $5,000 grants to business associations for projects that help diverse small business owners and their workers develop their business skills.

Grants are open to trader groups, business chambers and industry organisations.

Funding can be used to deliver projects that provide training and mentoring.

Applications for the Multicultural Business Skills Fund are now open.

Shop Local Business Fund

The Fund provides $5,000 grants to business associations and local councils to deliver initiatives that support Victorian small businesses, and the contributions they make to communities.

Delivered through the Victorian Budget 2026/27, projects eligible for funding include local business expos and awards, shop local campaigns, online promotions, workshops and mental health and wellbeing initiatives.

Applications for the Shop Local Business Fund will open on Thursday 3 September.

Victoria’s 735,000 small businesses make a big contribution to Victoria’s economy.

They employ over 1.3 million Victorians and generate more than $429 billion annually in income.

For more information about both grant programs and how to apply, visit business.vic.gov.au.

A Cudgewa dairy farmer and dedicated community volunteer has become the first ever woman to be crowned Footy’s Favourite Farmer.

Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Steve Dimopoulos today announced Elise Hill as the 2026 winner of the annual competition, which recognises Victorian farmers who go above and beyond for their local sporting community.

This local hero has made an extraordinary contribution to the Upper Murray community, where she balances life as a dairy farmer with extensive charitable work and numerous volunteer roles at the Cudgewa Football Netball Club.

As the grand prize winner, Elise has secured $10,000 worth of safety improvements for her farm and a further $10,000 in safety upgrades for the club.

Elise has been a driving force behind the Cudgewa Blues, volunteering as a first aider, trainer, fundraiser, committee member, and umpire. She is also a source of support for locals experiencing mental health challenges.

This year’s Footy’s Favourite Farmer competition attracted nominations from across Victoria, including fellow finalists, Aydan Garrett from the Latrobe Valley and Tania Staley from South Gippsland.

Aydan, a cattle farmer and former full-forward at Rosedale Football Netball Club, suffered a life-changing farm incident in 2020 but is now back at work and has channeled his passion for local sport into coaching.

Dairy farmer Tania is admired for her industry contributions, including empowering multicultural farm workers, farmer education, as well as her dedication to the Toora Football Netball Club.

The monthly winners each received a farm safety package valued at almost $2000, an OHS essentials workplace safety consultation and sporting equipment for their local club.

The competition is one of the many initiatives delivered through WorkSafe’s long-running 25-season partnership with AFL Victoria, backing country football and netball clubs, while championing workplace safety.

Since 2002, WorkSafe has visited 139 local football-netball clubs across Victoria and provided 192 Club Safety Fund grants, helping local clubs upgrade their facilities and improve safety for players, volunteers and supporters.