The state government is building hundreds more homes in Melbourne’s inner north – boosting supply and affordability in the heart of Fitzroy.

Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing recently announced up to 230 extra homes will be built at the iconic Fitzroy Gasworks site, on top of the 820 homes already planned for Parcels B and C.

The increase lifts the total number of homes planned across the precinct to 1,400, with at least 20 per cent affordable homes, helping more Victorians live close to jobs, education and public transport.

The updated plans also deliver 145 more public car parks and larger open space, making sure Fitzroy Gasworks becomes a leafy, vibrant place to live, work and meet for years to come.

Progress is also continuing on Parcel A, with ‘Local: Residential’ selected to build up to 360 new homes, including 33 per cent affordable housing, with 10 per cent of affordable homes reserved for First Peoples.

Local: Residential is Australia’s largest build-to-rent provider which will work alongside the Inner North Collective Joint Venture, which is building Parcels B and C, to create a connected and cohesive neighbourhood across the precinct.

Construction is expected to begin on Parcel B in April 2026, Parcel C in mid-2027, and Parcel A in mid to late 2027.

Already home to the Wurun Senior Campus and Bundha Sports Centre, Fitzroy Gasworks will soon be a thriving new community in one of Melbourne’s most sought-after locations, with easy access to bike trails, public transport, schools and employment.

The state government is delivering a boost to local healthcare in north-central Victoria with the completion of new accommodation for key workers at Kyabram and District Health Services.

Minister for Regional Development Jacyln Symes recently announced formal completion of the project, which will help meet an immediate need for staff accommodation – both one-bedroom units have already been allocated to staff and visiting health professionals, including interstate and overseas recruits.

The project was delivered as part of the government’s Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, set up to provide accommodation for workers in health, education, agriculture, and other key sectors. Across Victoria, the fund is helping employers like Kyabram and District Health Services attract and retain key staff.

Delivered by local builders Timberline Constructions, the new units are an investment in the future of the regional health service that has been delivering healthcare to the local community for more than 90 years.

Dozens of similar projects are underway across Victoria, including at other regional hubs in Shepparton, Kerang and Benalla.

The Regional Worker Accommodation Fund is a major investment in the liveability and prosperity of Victoria’s regions, which comprise about a quarter of the state’s economic output, population, small businesses and employment.

This investment is part of the more than $47 billion in rural and regional investment, delivered in just over a decade to drive economic growth and make regional towns even better places to live, work, and visit.

The state government is boosting drought support for farmers and communities – expanding programs that connect Victorian farmers to essential services they need to stay resilient and overcome drought conditions.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence recently announced an extension of key drought programs, bringing the Government’s Drought Support Package to more than $146.5 million.

Farmers from across the state will have access to a second Farm Advisory Service one-on-one consultation with a technical specialist. Community wellbeing support will continue with a new round of funding for the Look Over the Farm Gate grants program opening in February 2026, administered by the National Centre for Farmer Health.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) wellbeing counsellor in the south-west will be extended until 31 December 2026, offering free confidential wellbeing support alongside financial and business counselling – helping farmers stay strong and plan for the future.

Across Victoria, more than 100 Look Over the Farm Gate events have brought communities together, engaging around 13,000 people. So far, more than 700 farmers have participated in consultations through the Farm Advisory Service, and RFCS wellbeing counsellors have supported more than 100 farming businesses.

Work will also soon begin on a major pipeline expansion, to secure water access for approximately 200 rural properties and 10 towns in the Ararat, Northern Grampians and the Pyrenees LGAs.

Backed by $15 million from the government and $15.6 million from Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, the Mininera Pipeline will extend the East Grampians Rural Pipeline – currently under construction – as we continue to advocate for matched Commonwealth funding to deliver the full scope.

In addition to the drought support package, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) will receive $677,000 over two years to support financial services that assist Victorian farmers.

The funding will enable the VFF to support farming families to maintain ownership of their homes and land through drought periods where income is affected. Two financial capability staff members will support farmers across the state through community outreach activities and educational resources.

New support for small businesses in drought affected areas will be provided through a $600,000 package co-funded by the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation in partnership with Regional Development Victoria (RDV).

Grants of up to $50,000 in eligible areas will help councils, rural and regional Chambers of Commerce, and trade associations deliver local projects that boost spending and grow business activity.

These grants are for eligible organisations in Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, Greater Geelong, and the southern parts of West Wimmera.

To view the full range of financial, technical and wellbeing support available to drought impacted farmers visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or phone 136 186.

The state government is expanding training pathways for pharmacists – so more Victorians can access care, easier and closer to home.

Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas recently announced a new postgraduate training pathway will be offered by Monash University, ensuring more pharmacists can participate in the government’s Chemist Care Now program.

Formerly known as the Community Pharmacist Program, more than 800 pharmacies already take part in Chemist Care Now – and as the program continues to grow, the government is backing the workforce with more options to upskill.

The program allows pharmacists to provide treatment for common health conditions without needing a prescription including uncomplicated urinary tract infections, care for some skin conditions such as shingles, travel vaccines and other vaccines such as hepatitis A and B as well as the resupply of the contraceptive pill.

The program has already supported more than 64,000 Victorians at hundreds of chemists across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Pharmacists who complete Monash University’s Graduate Certificate of Pharmacist Prescribing or other accredited postgraduate courses are eligible to join the Chemist Care Now program.  

Enrolments are now open for this course, which is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council – the national body responsible for accrediting all professional pharmacy education programs in Australia

This course joins a number of graduate certificate courses that have full or conditional accreditation from the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), including the courses developed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and other training organisations.

Module-based training is still available for pharmacists wanting to quickly upskill in conditions and treatments in the Chemist Care Now program without completing a postgraduate course.

The state government is making it easier for Victorians to get free mental health care, with the official opening of the permanent Melton Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt recently opened the new Melton site – chosen and developed alongside community members and people with lived and living experience of the mental health system.

The service, which has been operating since 2023, will now offer walk-in services to the Melton community, with a range of clinical and wellbeing mental health supports – all free of charge with no Medicare card or GP referral required.

The service is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experienced mental health professionals, wellbeing staff and peer support workers, and is designed to meet the diverse needs of the community.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Melton is led by Mind Australia in partnership with IPC Health, Thorne Harbour Health, and Western Health.

People across the Melton area can now access the service at 223 Bridge Road, Cobblebank on weekdays from 10:00am to 8:00pm, and on weekends and public holidays from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Walk-ins and appointments are available Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Telehealth is available during all business hours.

Acting as a ‘front door’ to the mental health system, the network of Locals offers support and treatment for Victorians experiencing mental illness or psychological distress, including co-occurring substance use or addiction.

A flagship reform following the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the services have already supported more than 29,000 Victorians to access free mental health care.

The total number of Locals has now grown to 22 across 24 locations – and the growing uptake of these services reflects the progress in delivering a mental health system that is more accessible for Victorians.

More information and phone numbers are available at betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mental-health-wellbeing-locals.

The state government has completed a major upgrade to the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline, boosting water security for Geelong and securing the region’s drinking water.

Minister for Water Gayle Tierney recently announced the completion of the $40 million project, expanding the pipeline’s capacity from 16 billion litres to 22 billion litres every year – meaning up to 60 per cent of Geelong’s peak demand can be met through the pipeline alone.

The works included modifications at two basins, which provides for the pipeline’s water to reach a further 28,000 families and businesses in the Geelong region.

The pipeline stretches for 59 kilometres underground, connecting Geelong’s storage at Lovely Banks with Melbourne’s water supply network at Cowies Hill, west of Werribee.

This pipeline helped Geelong avoid water restrictions this year during one of the driest periods on record across central and western Victoria.

Barwon Water will continue to use the pipeline this summer to replenish local storages, which sat at 36 per cent of capacity at the end of winter – the lowest since 2008, during the Millennium Drought.

Earlier this year the government ordered 50 billion litres of water from the Victorian Desalination Plant in response to the driest summer in more than a decade with Geelong storages hitting a six-year low.

The Victorian Desalination Plant can provide up to one-third of the Melbourne’s annual water demand, underpinning supply not just for Melbourne but also surrounding areas including Geelong and parts of Gippsland.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is calling on organisations that use branded identifiers in their SMS messages (such as “myGov” or “AusPost”) to act immediately and register their sender IDs with their telco provider ahead of the launch of the SMS Sender ID Register on 1 July 2026.

The register will provide critical safeguards to help protect Australian consumers and brands from scam messages that impersonate legitimate organisations. Once established, it will help restore confidence in branded SMS communications.

Organisations using text messaging to communicate with their customers must register all their sender IDs by 1 July 2026. From that date, any text message (SMS or MMS) sent using a registered sender ID will be delivered with that ID and can be trusted by consumers.

Unregistered sender IDs will be replaced with the word ‘Unverified’ and grouped together in a single message thread on recipients’ phones. This will alert recipients that the text is a potential scam.

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said the ACMA is issuing an urgent call to action for all organisations that use sender IDs, including banks, medical and dental surgeries, retailers, utilities and not-for-profits, to talk to their telco provider as soon as possible.

“Anyone using sender IDs must act now to prepare for these changes and get their sender ID registered to take advantage of the new protections.

“If a legitimate organisation does not register their sender ID, their messages could be mistaken for a scam, disrupting customer communications and affecting brand reputation,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

Participating telco providers are leading the process for businesses to register sender IDs. Businesses can visit the ACMA website to check the list of participating telcos, which continues to expand as more are approved to participate. From 1 July 2026, Australian telcos must participate in the register to be able to send messages with sender IDs.

The register rules also require participating telco and other providers to educate consumers about what to expect when the register goes live and inform customers about registration requirements.

This includes registered sender IDs being clearly linked to the registering organisation, such as matching a business name or trademark.

The register is being implemented as part of the government’s Fighting Scams initiative to address scams and online fraud and protect Australians from financial harm.

Information about the new rules and how to register can be found at https://www.acma.gov.au/sms-sender-id-register.

The state government is putting creativity at the heart of Victoria’s future, with a new strategy to strengthen the state’s creative industries, support local talent, and increase access to culture, creative careers and experiences for the next generation.

Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks has released Creative State 2028, a new strategy to support and strengthen Victoria’s $41.2 billion creative economy – creating jobs, helping businesses thrive, and ensuring Victorians across the state reap the social, cultural and economic benefits our creative industries bring.

Since the government launched Australia’s first Creative State strategy in 2016, creative industries jobs in Victoria have grown by 41%, and Victoria’s creative economy has increased from almost $31 billion to $41.2 billion. Creative State 2028, positions Victoria’s creative sector for continued growth in the years ahead.

In the first year of the new strategy, the government will work with a range of creative partners to:

• Boost support for regional and outer metropolitan creative activity by piloting a dedicated Regional and Outer-Metropolitan Creative Projects Fund to support independent artists, in addition to the longstanding statewide program
• Strengthen Victoria’s position as Australia’s digital games hub through new initiatives to support industry networking, career development and knowledge sharing, and seed new Victorian games projects
• Develop dedicated literature and contemporary music sector strategies to harness opportunities and tackle the unique challenges facing these industries, and
• Increase the opportunities for young people to participate in creative activity as audiences, creators and leaders, including through a new Creative Industries Children and Young People Advisory Council, and boosting representation of young people on creative industries boards.

Informed by statewide consultation with more than 1,500 Victorians, including 200 First Peoples, the strategy will support artists, creators and businesses to turn ideas into opportunities and build resilience for the future.

Creative State 2028 strongly focuses on First Peoples creative and cultural practice and economic development. Key initiatives include a new First Peoples-designed fund for First Peoples creative organisations, and grants for First Peoples creatives to practice, connect and tell their stories on Country.

The strategy also continues VicScreen’s work to grow the state’s screen industry, builds on successful dedicated music industry programs and support for small to medium organisations and independent creatives, and will redesign regional investment and touring programs to strengthen creative opportunities across the state.

Download the full Creative State strategy at creative.vic.gov.au

Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics have worked through one of the busiest New Year’s Eve periods in recent years, responding to a sharp increase in emergency demand across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. 

In metropolitan Melbourne, caseload between midnight and 2am was 150 per cent higher than previous years, with Geelong and the Barwon region recording a 300 per cent higher caseload in the hours after midnight. In the Melbourne CBD and surrounds, paramedics were dispatched to more than 80 emergency cases with 62 patients treated and 33 transported to hospital.

AV was well resourced across the night, with additional paramedics rostered on across metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and key regional centres to support planned New Year’s Eve events and manage increased demand.

Ambulance Victoria Chief Executive Officer Jordan Emery said paramedics responded to a wide range of serious and complex incidents overnight. 

“Our paramedics treated a number of high acuity cases, including stabbings, serious assaults and fireworks related injuries, alongside the usual mix of medical emergencies, alcohol related illness, trips and falls,” Mr Emery said. 

“This was a much busier night than previous years, and our teams worked exceptionally hard under sustained pressure to ensure patients received timely and appropriate care.” 

Several serious incidents required urgent ambulance response across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, and a number of fireworks related injuries that resulted in significant trauma. 

Mr Emery also praised the role of event first aid providers, who treated more than 120 patients in the Melbourne CBD alone. 

“The support from first aid providers was outstanding and made a real difference,” he said. 

“By managing a large number of lower acuity patients on site, they allowed our paramedics to focus on the most serious and time critical emergencies.” 

Despite the increased workload, early evening crowds were generally well behaved, with demand escalating later in the night as celebrations continued. 

“I want to thank our paramedics, first responders, Communications Centre staff and our command teams for their professionalism and teamwork during a very demanding shift,” Mr Emery said. 

“As we head into the rest of the summer period, we’re reminding people to celebrate responsibly, look after one another, and take care with alcohol, fireworks and risky behaviour.” 

Well, that was a boring Christmas. Kyle and both managed to come down with some random virus which saw us unravelling all of our Christmas plans.
So no overnight trip to friends in Phillip Island, or friends in Frankston. And then we cancelled our Aperitifs for Christmas Eve. But not until we had cancelled Christmas Day with friends in Melbourne. And then we cancelled friends who were coming to stay Boxing Day night.
We watched a lot of television, slept a lot, ate biscuits and cheese for our wonderful Christmas lunch (and dinner) and got not one present. I know, we could have already shopped if we were planners, but we’re not.
However a few days before we got crook, we did make it to the 5000 Club’s Christmas luncheon – and it was fantastic. We joined more than 60 people at Daylesford’s Victoria Park for a three-course lunch with a mango and prawn starter, a roast meal with all the trimmings and then about six choices for dessert.
Well done to all those involved – and these guys do this nearly every Friday for the entire year. Offering not just food but also friendship to anyone keen to come along. It was really heartwarming and a shout-out to all those who volunteer their time throughout our wonderful shire. So many people give their time so freely. It only works because of you. You are appreciated.
Talking of volunteers, we did also get caught up in a house fire (not ours – and everyone was OK) on December 23. We were feeling pretty average by this stage and decided to travel to Woodend to “do” a Click & Collect. I just can’t Click & Collect at Daylesford. I would know the staffer and would feel really lazy. So off we went.
Doesn’t matter where but we saw a fair bit of smoke at a house and I thought “they should not be burning off” while Kyle’s immediate thought was “it’s cold, they’ve got the fire on”. Anyway, we ummed and ahhed, and Kyle did a u-turn and sure enough smoke was billowing out of the roof.
We rang Triple 0 and all three emergency services arrived and I would just like to say how wonderful they all are – volunteer and professional, as in paid.
The CFA was there within minutes – thank you Trentham, Tylden and Spring Hill – and I think there was another back-up team as well. I hope I did not miss anyone. They were all exceptional in not only their firefighting skills but being so kind with the homeowner offering water, something to eat, chairs, ground blankets…
Then the police arrived, once again amazing, they were from Kyneton and Gisborne I think. Again, outstanding and just quietly going about their business.
The ambo arrived next. I have never met an ambo I didn’t like and this bloke was no exception. Also thanks to so many people who stopped to see if help was needed. (No thanks to the grandparents who walked their three-year-old right through the scene declaring “we had no idea there was a fire, he just wanted to see the fire engines”. FFS.)
We are so lucky to live in this amazing region with its wonderful volunteers and professionals. I watched it unfold and felt what can only be described as gratitude. You are all amazing. True heroes. Not just today but every day.
Side note: We got it wrong. Kyle, who has fire training, called 000 while I ran to the home looking for occupants. Whoops. But I can truly say together we saved a woman and her child, two budgies and a cat from a burning house.
A few people who know us asked if we were triggered – we had a house fire before we moved to the Central Highlands. No, is the answer. While it certainly raised our heart rates we always felt once the living beings are out, that’s the best outcome. You can always rebuild. Wishing that family a better 2026.

A new arrival at the Hepburn wildlife shelter is a creature called a puggle. This is the baby form of the echidna, one of Australia’s unique egg laying mammals, known as monotremes.
Female echidnas lay one egg which they immediately pick up with pseudo pouch muscles in their belly that will hold the egg and then the puggle. The egg will hatch in about 10 days, whist the puggle will be carried for 45 – 50 days.
This little puggle is approximately four weeks old. Its mother was badly injured when a landholder decided to move a pile of branches using machinery and she died soon after as a result of her injuries.
When piles of branches and leaves have been in situ for a period of time wildlife will often begin to use them as a home. Some animals such as birds old enough to fly can quickly remove themselves from the pile if a person decides to burn or move it.
Other animals such as lizards will be slower to move especially in the cooler weather. But the echidna’s response to danger is not to move away from it but to dig down into the earth. This is not a good move when machinery or fire are involved, because they will not have time to create a burrow and will be just putting themselves into a small hollow in the earth. This will not protect them.
Echidnas will also dig a nesting burrow underneath a pile of branches and leaves where there is a constant temperature. When the mother is no longer carrying the puggle it will seal the young in, whilst it forages for ants, termites and small insects. The puggle is completely vulnerable during this time.
Female echidnas do not have teats or nipples, they have a patch on their underside that exudes milk from pores. The puggle will feed by hanging upside down and gripping strongly to the mother’s underside while licking and sucking the milk patch. Gayle Chappell from the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter tells me that this makes feeding the puggle very slow as it will keep trying to turn upside down. A puggle will feed from its mother for up to 12 months.
This little puggle will be a resident of the shelter for at least six months and will require feeding with specialized milk formulas relevant to its size and age.
When we live so close to nature as we do in the Hepburn Shire, it is kind to consider the wildlife in everything we do. An alternate to large piles of branches stacked for burning is for landholders to create smaller piles of branches that can be left to decompose which will create safe habitat for wildlife and will eventually be compost that will enrich the surrounding soil.
Dr Marita McGuirk is a field ecologist and environmental scientist, and a volunteer at the Hepburn Wildlife Shelter. Marita writes monthly columns about the shelter and the animals it cares for. If you would like to donate or volunteer, or just to find out more information, head to www.hepburnwildlifeshelter.org

Another year is coming to a close and, as is our tradition, this edition takes a look back at the year that was 2025 – with a brief bit of news.
There’s been lots happening but we have tried to focus on the great stuff like our artists and festivals – and a bit of news.
When we first started The Local, back in 2013 Kyle asked what would happen if we ran out of news. I assured him that would never happen – and it hasn’t. If anything we never quite get to everything on our to-do list.
Firstly, there’s Hepburn Shire Council, which as a ratepayer is a bit annoying, but as a journalist is the gift that keeps on giving. Never a dull moment. But always well handled by the communications team. I am sure they must see the emails with the subject line, Donna from The Local, and think, “what now?”
Then there is the Phoenix@Rex, or @TheRex. I am never quite sure. Anyway, the community cinema. They are trying so hard to raise the funds to reinstate this wonderful community asset. And there are so many people in the community willing to help. Hopefully 2026 will be the year we can buy the popcorn and enjoy a movie without a one-hour drive.
Of course, Trentham punched above its weight this year winning not only Victoria’s best Tiny Town but Australia’s best Tiny Town. I have always thought there was something in the water there with the amount of creatives living in the town. A truly deserved accolade.
Over in Creswick, the Djuwang Baring Trail network is making a name for itself with riders from around Australia finding their way there. Although there have also been a few rumblings around traffic management – and I think cyclist rescues might be on the rise from some social media posts.
So much news…The Block, we got our national parks, Radio Springs Hotel closed, new authors published books, agricultural shows were held, sheepdog trials happened, Rea Parklands was saved, a giant apple grown, a dog saved from a mine shaft, artists did their thing, festivals ran. You’ll find some of that in this edition but if you really want a look back, head to www.tlnews.com.au and take a wander down memory lane. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful 2026 – Donna xx

A revised masterplan for Victoria Park in Daylesford has been adopted by Hepburn Shire Council.
The masterplan includes a playspace with a picnic area and toilet facilities, and a dedicated dog off-lead area has also been included. The soccer precinct will see the development of a second pitch and the netball and table tennis precinct will have a second netball court and heating and cooling improvements to the table tennis building. Event-related upgrades include a new public address system, renewed ticket office, an improved event-day office and additional power outlets.

Djaara, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, is planning an exhibition at the Castlemaine Arts Museum in July next year to honour the timber which fell from the Guildford Big Tree in February 2024.
The Guildford biyal (red gum) has long been a culturally significant and important tree for Dja Dja Wurrung people. It was recognised by the National Trust as the Victorian Tree of the Year in 2023.

Hepburn Shire Council continues to deliver the Daylesford Community Facilities project which will redevelop the Daylesford Town Hall to provide a library, customer experience hub and multi-purpose community facilities.
At its December meeting, the council endorsed the project’s schematic design and supported the staged approach recommended by officers which would see a detailed design included in the next stage. The cost is believed to be $25 million.
Link: www.participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/dcf