The latest round of the Live Music Festivals Fund is now open – providing grants of up to $50,000 to Victorian festival operators.
Festivals attracting more than 1000 people are eligible to apply. Applications for the Live Music Festivals Fund close on Tuesday, March 31 at 2pm. An online information session will be held on Monday, March 16 at 2pm.
Link: www.musicvictoria.com.au

Macedon Ranges Council last week accidentally doubled down on direct debits for rates to about 1040 ratepayers’ bank accounts.
Corporate director Adele Drago-Stevens said the council understood the overnight bungle “may cause concern or financial stress, particularly while household budgets are tight, and we apologise for the worry and inconvenience caused”. “No immediate action is required if you notice a duplicate debit; refunds will be processed automatically once the reversal is completed, and affected ratepayers will be notified. We appreciate the community’s patience while we urgently resolve this matter.”

From July, women over 18 will be able to access the oral contraceptive pill at one of 850 participating Chemist Care Now pharmacies.

This change saves women time and gives them more options to get the care they need.

It also expands access for women in rural and remote areas where access to a GP is more challenging.

The Chemist Care Now consultation with the pharmacist is free. Women will pay for the medication.

Pharmacists who want to deliver this service will be required to complete a postgraduate training module to keep women safe.

Before dispensing the medication, pharmacists must undertake a thorough consultation and outline any risks.

They will also provide comprehensive advice about other options, including long-acting reversable contraception.

Chemist Care Now is already saving Victorians time for the treatment and care of common conditions.

Since it began as a pilot in 2023, more than 76,000 services have been delivered by pharmacists across the state.

One of those services is a resupply of an existing oral contraceptive pill prescription, which has been accessed by 17,000 women since 2023.

Over the next two years, Chemist Care Now will grow to include another 23 treatments – including the resupply of hormone replacement therapy.

Currently treatment is also available for uncomplicated UTIs, skin conditions such as shingles and travel vaccines.

To find a Chemist Care Now pharmacy, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/chemist-care-now

Upgraded lighting is now complete at Bendigo stadium – the largest netball facility in regional Victoria.

The Premier and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards announced the completion of the lighting works, with 200-lux lighting installed across the stadium’s 12 outdoor netball courts.

The lights were installed in time for the Central Victorian Netball Association competitions in the coming weeks.

Bendigo Stadium is home to the association which includes 22 clubs across the Greater Bendigo region. The new lighting will allow for extended training and match play hours – giving hundreds of local players, volunteers and families greater access to quality facilities.

The lighting upgrade is part of a broader redevelopment at the stadium – which include two new indoor sports courts, refurbishment of courts 9 and 10, a new backup generator and installation of solar panels, car parking and accessibility improvements. These upgrades will ensure even more local players and visitors have the facilities they need to participate year-round.

A major regional hub for community sport, Bendigo Stadium is also home to the Bendigo Basketball Association and the Bendigo Volleyball Association. Works at the Stadium are expected to be completed in late 2026.

The project is being delivered by the government, in collaboration with Bendigo Stadium Limited and the City of Greater Bendigo.

For more information about the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, visit sport.vic.gov.au/rsip 

Hundreds of new homes at the former Cadbury building site have been fast-tracked.

The 402 new homes at 636 St Kilda Road will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes in one of Melbourne’s best-connected locations

Residents will have easy access to five different tram routes, Albert Park Lake, The Alfred Hospital, and jobs and services along St Kilda Road and Chapel Street.

The project was fast-tracked through state government’s Development Facilitation Program, which streamlines the planning process for projects that deliver homes for Victorians.

The pathway has brought average approval time for projects down to four months – 10 months faster than the average council housing approval.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny said the fast-tracking was about making sure more Victorians have the opportunity to live in these great locations – close to the public transport, jobs and services they rely on.”

Australia’s shift to clean energy is reshaping the country’s landscape, yet communities hosting renewable projects are often consulted rather than brought in as genuine partners.

Community Power Agency has released Power in Partnership: A guide to developing a community stake in renewable energy, a new resource designed to help shift the dial from community consultation to genuine community partnerships and financial participation.

The guide draws on 18 months of research and collaboration with renewable energy developers, local and state government stakeholders, advocacy organisations and community members.

It responds to a growing recognition that Australia’s shift to renewable energy must move beyond consultation and towards genuine partnership with host communities if people are to have a real say in projects, share in the benefits, and avoid unnecessary conflict. While there has been increasing focus on improving community engagement practices, many renewable projects still rely primarily on information-sharing and benefit funds rather than bringing communities into the fold and providing pathways for them to have a real stake in projects.

Lead author Dr Anna Berka says communities deserve more than to be informed about renewable energy projects – they should also have the opportunity to directly participate and shape projects so that they can deliver on priority community needs.

“The shift to renewable energy represents a major change for many regional communities. For it to succeed, communities need meaningful opportunities to shape the decisions that affect them and to share in the benefits.”

Community partnerships offer a different approach. Models such as co-ownership or co-investment give communities a real say and a real stake in renewable energy projects. Compared to one-off benefit funds, these models can create long-term income streams and bring communities into the decision-making process, helping turn projects into shared local assets.

The Guide brings together emerging case studies from Australia alongside international examples where shared ownership models are well established. In Denmark, community co-ownership of wind energy isn’t a pilot program, it’s policy. The same is true across the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and the Netherlands. Australia is yet to catch up.

Dr Berka said Australia is now at an important moment in the shift to renewables.

“Unlike some other countries, Australia has done little to enable communities to participate meaningfully in the renewable energy rollout. Given the scale of additional renewable capacity needed to 2030, now is the time.”

“The shift to renewable energy is happening at scale in regional Australia. Done well, community partnership models can deliver significant regional development benefits, strengthen local economies and build the social support needed to transform our energy system.”

The Guide, supported by Energy Consumers Australia, provides a practical roadmap for developers, investors, governments and communities seeking to embed partnership models into renewable energy projects, helping ensure projects not only deliver clean power, but stronger regional economies and fairer outcomes for the communities hosting this infrastructure.

Justin Whelan, Manager Consumer Advocacy at Energy Consumers Australia, said: “There is growing awareness that good community engagement means taking real steps to work with local communities on how energy projects can work for them, as well as the developer.

“Approaches like community co-ownership and co-investment can help turn engagement into genuine partnership, giving communities a meaningful stake in renewable energy projects and a share in the benefits.

“We are therefore delighted to support this important new guide from Community Power Agency, which showcases practical examples of how these partnership models are being developed in Australia and overseas.”

Data shows affordability, flexible work and evolving regional economies are driving renewed confidence beyond Melbourne.
• 74% of VIC residents say life in a regional area feels appealing
• 70% believe regional areas are attracting more highly skilled and professional workers than in the past.
• 53% of VIC residents say they are likely to consider moving to a regional area within five years.
• 88% say innovation and new industries are important to regional Australia’s future.
Regional Victoria is entering a period of renewed confidence, as economic diversification and lifestyle priorities reshape thinking beyond Melbourne.
New research from NGM Group, the customer-owned bank behind Greater Bank and Newcastle Permanent, points to growing belief in regional Victoria as both a professional and personal long-term choice.
The national YouGov survey, the second in NGM Group’s What Matters Most research series, reveals Australians increasingly view the regions as not only a great place to live, but as central to the country’s economic future – with new industries, diverse jobs and smarter ways of working.
In Victoria, seven in 10 residents (70%) believe regional areas are attracting more skilled professionals than they used to. Among those who agree, 38% cite more affordable property prices compared to major cities, while 31% point to the growing embrace of remote and hybrid work.
Nearly three in four Victorians (74%) say life in a regional area feels appealing right now. The appeal is grounded in practical considerations – more space and nature (60%), a slower pace and better lifestyle (54%), housing affordability (40%) and safety and peace of mind (37%).
James Cudmore, Chief Customer and Digital Innovation Officer at NGM Group, said regional Victoria’s growth reflects steady diversification alongside enduring lifestyle appeal.
“In places like Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, regional centres have broadened their employment base over time. They still have strong roots in traditional industries, but there’s now more depth across healthcare, education, construction, local government and professional services, supported by major infrastructure investment and developments like the Ballarat West Employment Zone.”
“That matters because people want confidence in long-term opportunity. They want to know they can build a career locally, not just commute or compromise.
Media Release
“Regional Victoria has always had lifestyle appeal – more space, strong community ties and a different pace to Melbourne. What’s changed is that the economic foundation behind that lifestyle has strengthened.
“Hybrid work has certainly helped people reconsider what’s practical, but flexibility alone doesn’t drive relocation. People move when they believe there are stable industries, diverse employers and genuine pathways to progress.
“That combination of lifestyle and economic depth is what’s reinforcing regional Victoria’s momentum.”
More than half of Victorian workers (57%) say remote or hybrid work has changed their view of where they could realistically live, and more than half (55%) say new people have moved into their local community over the past year.
When asked where the best lifestyle is found, Victorians are relatively balanced – 23% nominate outer suburban areas, 21% regional coastal areas and 19% inner city. However, when asked what type of community they would most like to live in long term, regional coastal communities lead (38%), followed by regional inland areas (29%).
Eighty-eight per cent say innovation and new industries are important to the future of regional Australia, reinforcing strong support for continued economic diversification.
NGM Group launched the What Matters Most series to explore how Australians’ values are shifting, and what that means for the future of housing, work and community.

With petrol prices set to rise, anti-price gouging laws are in effect from today.

The new laws mean fuel retailers must set a daily cap on fuel prices and publish the price in advance.

Under this scheme, you can find the best deal tonight and know the price won’t jump tomorrow.

How it works

• Retailers have until 2pm to set their fuel price for the following day
• The capped price is published on Servo Saver at 4pm
• The price will apply for 24 hours from 6am the following day
• Retailers can reduce the price during a 24-hour period, but they cannot increase it

Petrol stations that fail to register or report their prices now face fines of more than $3,000 for each breach, or more than $24,000 if taken to court.

Last year, the state government launched Servo Saver, the first phase of its Fair Fuel Plan.

Since its launch last October on the Service Victoria app, more than 265,000 Victorians have used it.

It’s estimated that Victorians using the app save up to $333 a year at the pump.

To protect Victoria’s aquatic environment and industries, Agriculture Victoria has strengthened aquatic pest rules by declaring 14 new high‑risk species.
The declaration of these additional noxious aquatic species means people must not bring, keep, sell, transport or release these live species in Victoria’s protected waters.
Biosecurity Victoria Executive Director, Charlotte Austin said Victoria’s rivers, lakes and coasts face increasing threats from harmful pests and invasives that do not belong here.
‘These pests can damage habitats, harm native wildlife, and hurt local industries by spreading quickly and are almost impossible to remove once they take hold.
‘They can hitch a ride on boat hulls, fishing gear, or even through the aquarium trade and if they spread, they cost millions of dollars to manage and can destroy our waterways,’ said Ms Austin.
There are practical ways for everyone, particularly boat owners and recreational water users, to protect our waterways.
‘Protecting our waters starts with all of us and it is as simple as cleaning and drying your gear and boats before moving to another waterway.
‘Check for hitchhikers like mussels or algae on boat hulls and trailers and never release aquarium fish, plants or water into rivers, lakes, or the ocean.
‘Do not use declared noxious aquatic species as bait. Rather, use local bait only and don’t bring live bait from other areas’ said Ms Austin.
Any unusual, strange or exotic aquatic species, found or sighted in Victoria, should be reported to Agriculture Victoria Report a marine pest sighting | Marine pests | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria
The newly declared Noxious Aquatic Species are:
Scientific name Common name
Hemigrapsus takanoi Asian brush-clawed shore crab
Hemigrapsus sanguineus Asian shore crab
Charybdis japonica Asian paddle crab
Eriocheir sinensis Chinese mitten crab
Rhithropanopeus harrisii Harris’ mud crab
Mytella strigata Charru mussel
Perna canaliculus New Zealand green-lipped mussel
Perna perna Brown mussel
Perna viridis Asian green mussel
Didemnum vexillum Carpet sea squirt
Didemnum perlucidum White sea squirt
Corbicula fluminea (freshwater) Freshwater golden clam
Dreissena polymorpha (freshwater) Zebra mussel
Didymosphenia geminata (freshwater) Didymo
For more information and identification guides, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/marine-pests or call the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186, Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm.

As the State Library Victoria marks its 170th anniversary, the iconic institution will usher in a new era with the appointment of respected public and private sector leader Helen Silver AO as the 25th President of the Library Board of Victoria.

Minister Brooks today announced Ms Silver’s appointment – to lead the next chapter for one of the states most celebrated public spaces – supporting learning, research and community connection.

It follows the retirement of Christine Christian AO who has served the Library as a board Director since 2013 and as President since 2021.

Helen Silver AO has dedicated her career to ensuring strong governance in major public and private sector organisations.

She was the CEO and Secretary of Victoria’s Department of Premier and Cabinet between 2008-2013, where she led the state through major events such as the Black Saturday bushfires. She also led the arts portfolio and Arts Victoria – the government’s creative body now known as Creative Victoria.

Alongside board and executive roles in the insurance, banking and infrastructure sectors, Ms Silver also has a long-standing connection to the creative industries.

She currently serves as Chair of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and previously served on the board of Victorian Arts Centre Trust and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Ms Silver’s appointment follows the appointment of renowned librarian Christine Mackenzie AM and historian and academic and author Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee who joined the board as Directors earlier this month bringing a wealth of expertise and experience across the library, history and research sectors.

Minister Brooks paid tribute to Christine Christian AO for her leadership as President, championing free access to the Library’s spaces and collections. Ms Christian has strengthened the Library’s foundations as a global cultural destination that sits at the heart of Victoria’s cultural life.

Ms Christian also looked to the future, funding StartSpace, the Library’s free entrepreneurial hub now supporting over 2,000 members. Minister Brooks said her vision and generosity ensure the Library continues to inspire, educate, and provide knowledge and opportunity for all Victorians.

One of the state’s most iconic overnight hiking trails reopens to visitors following extensive safety works following bushfire damage. 

The 164-kilometre Grampians Peaks Trail has now fully reopened.

The five hiking campgrounds in the central sections of the Grampians Peaks Trail, destroyed in the 2024-25 bushfires, are now open for families to stay.

The rebuilt Barri Yalug, Duwul, Durd Durd, Yarram and Wannon hiking campgrounds provide safe and accessible facilities designed to support multi-day hiking in the great outdoors.

While most of the trail reopened in July, the remoteness and extent of the damage meant the central section was closed to overnight hikers while extensive rebuilding was done.

The Grampians Peaks Trail was delivered by the Labor Government in 2022 to support jobs and bring tourism to the Grampians and western Victoria while letting families enjoy an affordable weekend away in the great outdoors.

The fires in December and January 2024-25 severely impacted local biodiversity, cultural places, and visitor assets in the south-eastern, southern, and western areas of the park.

More than 135,000 hectares of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was burnt by the bushfires.

Work has focused on critical biodiversity protection and visitor site recovery, including repairs to roads, walking trails and campgrounds to make it safe.

For bookings, please visit parks.vic.gov.au.

By Dr Jeff Cave, Senior Veterinary Officer
With the current weather conditions, sheep producers should be aware conditions are ideal for flystrike.
Flystrike is a condition that costs the Australian sheep industry approximately $320 million annually, because of lost production, treatment costs, and deaths.
Reducing the risk of flystrike has great benefits to the health and wellbeing of sheep – as well as their productivity. The major fly responsible for flystrike in sheep in the green blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, which is believed to be the cause of 90% of flystrike cases.
Lucilia cuprina begins to become active when temperatures are above 15oC and is most active when temperatures are between 26 – 36oC, and conditions are calm.
Each female fly can have up to 300 viable offspring and with a 21-day life cycle when conditions are optimal, fly numbers can increase rapidly. The fly is attracted to odour and moisture, so the risk of flystrike increases when there is regular consistent rainfall that keeps the sheep’s skin moist.
Sheep most susceptible to flystrike are those with breech wrinkles, long wool, dags, urine stain, fleece rot, dermatitis and/or wounds. Sheep that have been previously fly-struck have a higher likelihood of being re-struck.
The prevention of flystrike requires an integrated plan and includes the following:
•the selection of sheep and marking of lambs to produce a flock with low susceptibility to flystrike
•shearing and crutching timed before the peak flystrike risk period
•the correct use of preventative chemicals timed to give protection during the peak flystrike risk period
•worm control and dietary management to help reduce the prevalence of dags
•the selection of open, windy, dry paddocks
•the removal of infective material and carcasses that may attract flies.
As conditions become more conducive to flystrike, sheep should be monitored more regularly for flystrike.
If a fly-struck sheep is found, the affected area should be clipped close to the skin, dressed to prevent reinfection, and the sheep should be moved to a hospital paddock to reduce the risk of infecting the rest of the flock. Any maggots should be collected and killed to help reduce the build-up of fly populations.
For further advice contact your local veterinarian, rural merchandise reseller or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) is calling on the federal government to provide clear leadership and transparency on Australia’s diesel supply situation, as prices surge and supply pressures begin to emerge across parts of regional Australia.
Transport operators have reported diesel price increases of between 30 and 60 cents per litre in recent days, with some regional fuel suppliers also introducing rationing measures.
ALRTA president Gerard Johnson said while isolated supply pressures were being reported, the priority must be maintaining confidence and stability across the freight network.
“Transport operators and regional communities need clear information and reassurance that Australia has sufficient fuel supplies and that appropriate measures are in place to maintain stability,” Mr Johnson said.
“Panic buying only risks making the situation worse. What we need right now is calm behaviour from consumers and strong leadership and transparency from government.”
The rapid increase in diesel prices is placing immediate pressure on rural freight operators who already operate on extremely tight margins.
“For many transport businesses the jump of 30 to 60 cents per litre represents a 10 to 20 per cent increase in operating costs almost overnight,” Mr Johnson said.
“With industry margins typically sitting between three and seven per cent, that level of cost escalation places enormous pressure on the viability of small and medium regional operators.”
Mr Johnson said any disruption to freight operations would have direct consequences for Australia’s food and export supply chains.
“If diesel becomes unavailable or unreliable along key freight routes, trucks do not move.”
ALRTA also cautioned the Federal Government against rushed policy responses aimed at reducing fuel prices at the bowser.
During the temporary fuel excise reduction in 2022, the fuel tax credit available to heavy vehicle operators was reduced under the existing road user charge arrangements, significantly impacting operator cash flow.
“While excise cuts may provide short-term relief to motorists, they can have unintended consequences for the freight sector. For transport operators the loss of fuel tax credits can effectively add a further five to seven per cent to operating costs almost immediately,” Mr Johnson said.
ALRTA said the priority should be ensuring supply stability and providing clear communication to industry and the community.
“Discussion about Australia’s long-term fuel security will inevitably occur in due course, however, now is not the time to create uncertainty. The priority must be ensuring fuel continues to flow so trucks can continue to keep supermarket shelves stocked and deliver the export commodities that underpin Australia’s economy.”

Cafs (Child and Family Services Ballarat) is proud to announce the launch of a new online Financial Wellbeing Virtual Helper, now available on the organisation’s Financial Wellbeing webpage (Financial Wellbeing – Cafs).
This new virtual tool has been designed to make it easier for people across the region to access timely information, ask questions, and connect with Cafs’ Financial Counselling Programs.
The Virtual Helper provides an accessible, private and easy way for community members to seek support at any time of day, especially for those who may feel unsure about reaching out, or who need information outside traditional business hours.
Wendy Sturgess, Cafs CEO, said the new Virtual Helper is an important step in making financial wellbeing services easier to access for people experiencing financial stress.
“Cost‑of‑living pressure continues to affect individuals and families across our community. We want to remove barriers to support. The Virtual Helper helps people get clear, reliable information quickly, and make the first step toward speaking with a financial counsellor if they need it,” Ms Sturgess said.
Cafs’ Financial Counselling Program provides free, confidential assistance to people experiencing financial hardship. Financial counsellors can help with managing debts, dealing with creditors, budgeting support, understanding rights, and connecting with other services.
OFFICIAL
The Virtual Helper guides users to information on topics such as:
• How financial counselling works
• Eligibility and what to expect from the service
• Managing debt and navigating financial difficulty
• How to request an appointment with a Cafs financial counsellor
The tool is designed as an additional access point, not a replacement for human support. Community members can still connect directly with Cafs staff by phone, email or in person.
“The Virtual Helper reflects Cafs’ commitment to innovation and accessibility,” Ms Sturgess said.
“We know that reaching out for help can feel overwhelming. This tool gives people a safe and simple way to ask questions and find the information they need, when they need it. It’s another way we’re supporting financial wellbeing in our region.”

The state government is building a stronger, more inclusive health system that works for all Victorians.

That means enabling more Aboriginal-led care because it delivers better health outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians.

The best healthcare is not a one size fits all – it’s care that suits people, reflects their culture and is shaped by their community.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has announced that 15 Aboriginal organisations will share funding to continue and expand locally led Culture + Kinship initiatives.

The Culture + Kinship initiatives include an Elders Choir, Cultural Memory and Return to Country Project, Youth Cultural and Diversionary Camps, Transferring Elders Knowledge and Early Years Connection to Country.

Strong culture, connection and kinship are proven protective factors for mental health, resilience and long-term wellbeing, and these initiatives are designed by Aboriginal Victorians for Aboriginal Victorians.

This investment is part of the ongoing delivery of the Victorian Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Agreement.

A successful 2022 pilot demonstrated measurable improvements in social and emotional wellbeing, highlighting the power of Aboriginal-led solutions.

The evidence is clear: when care is culturally safe and community-controlled, health outcomes improve and lives change.

This is another step towards closing health gaps by backing Aboriginal leadership and building a healthcare system that truly works for everyone.