An attempt to try to stop Hepburn Shire Council from selling the bequeathed Rea-Lands Park in Daylesford, or changing its use, was lost at last month’s council meeting.
On July 29 this year the council moved to request CEO Bradley Thomas to prepare a briefing report for councillors with the history of the Raglan Street park, and whether the site could be considered for sale or other use by the council.
Cr Hood’s notice of motion last month asked the council to acknowledge that the land was “generously bequeathed in 1982 to the citizens of Daylesford for their use and benefit by a former shire councillor and shire president, Betty Rea”.

He also asked officers to include in their report additional information that would: investigate how the land could be held in perpetuity as a council asset on behalf of the community for their use and benefit; consider how the land could remain to be known as ‘Rea-Lands Public Park’ in perpetuity; and provide information on re-zoning the land as a Public Park and Recreation Reserve.
The motion was moved by Cr Brian Hood and seconded by Cr Tim Drylie with support from Cr Lesley Hewitt – who originally raised the July motion. Those against the motion were Cr Shirley Cornish, Cr Don Henderson and Cr Pat Hockey. Cr Tony Clark abstained which is counted as a “no” vote. The motion was therefore lost.

Betty’s son Stefan, a former police officer at Daylesford, told The Local in August that he clearly remembered his mother expressing her desire that the land be made available as a park for the citizens of Daylesford and for visitors to the area for future generations,
Stefan said his mother would definitely not have been in favour of selling the land to fund other projects. “She wanted it to remain as a parkland. Obviously, it’s been developed by the Daylesford Community Food Gardeners. They’ve done a superb job with where they’ve got it to today with further tree plantings and other facilities that are there.
“I think she would have been very proud and impressed when they took over the role. She would have been more than satisfied that it was being used for a community park and community purpose here.
“The suggestion for it to be sold off and the funds used by council for any other event, she would have been totally against, as I am and I’m sure quite a lot of other locals are as well.”

Words: Donna Kelly

Travel + Leisure Co., a leading leisure travel company, are the new owners of the historic Hotel Bellinzona in Hepburn Springs.
The property will become part of Club Wyndham South Pacific, the region’s biggest vacation club.
Established in 1903 and reopened in late 2020 after a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, Hotel Bellinzona is among the most prominent hotels in the Hepburn Springs region.
Renowned for its elegant interiors, attentive service and high-end dining, the property offers the perfect blend of heritage charm and contemporary indulgence, making it a favourite among travellers from Melbourne and beyond.
Club Wyndham South Pacific owners and guests staying at the 43-suite property can expect a king-sized bed, bespoke artwork, modern furnishings and an ensuite with a walk-in shower. Six executive suites – the hotel’s largest suites – also offer a bath. All guests enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s heated indoor pool, spa and sauna.
There is a 160-seat gourmet restaurant, the Virgin Kitchen, and the 40-seat Lobby Bar offers a cigar lounge-style design. Six conference rooms and two private dining rooms – capable of accommodating up to 650 guests – make the hotel one of the premier venues in a town renowned for its weddings.
Following the purchase, the hotel will be renamed Club Wyndham Bellinzona Hepburn Springs, Daylesford, and become the 68th resort available to Club Wyndham South Pacific vacation owners.
Travel + Leisure Co International Operations president and managing director Barry Robinson said the property was “an extraordinary addition to our portfolio – a property rich in character, elegance and connection to place”.
“We are honoured to carry forward its remarkable legacy while offering it to our Club Wyndham owners. Daylesford is the heartland of wellness in Australia, and this strategic move gives our owners access to a destination that has long been on the radar of discerning travellers.”
Travel + Leisure Co. oversees more than 100 properties in the Asia Pacific region, over half of them in Australia. The business developed four shared ownership vacation clubs with more than 100,000 members: Club Wyndham South Pacific, Club Wyndham Asia, Accor Vacation Club and Accor Vacation Club Asia Pacific.

Words & image: Contributed

Daylesford Show winners, representing the Midlands Group, have done well in the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show in a number of categories.
1st State Final Junior Photography went to Gracie Hetherington with 1st State Final Crochet going to Charlotte Godfrey.

3rd State Final Senior Photography went to Beck Walker and the State Finalist in Rural Ambassador representing Daylesford Show and Midlands Group was Charlotte Cain.

Gracie said she was surprised but pleased by her win – of a photo taken at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne looking out onto the cityscape.
Photography had been a hobby but a couple of years ago she got her first camera and is now doing media studies at Ballarat Grammar.
The 17-year-old said she hoped to work in the media or communications in the future, and had already done public relations work experience at the Richmond Football Club.
Charlotte, who took up crocheting during the pandemic, using YouTube as her teacher, said her win was “incredible”.
“It’s insane because I’ve never entered any competition ever.” She went to the show, with her son, on the first day, to check out her ribbon. “There’s no way I’d have been patient enough to wait any later.”
Charlotte said she chose Pinocchio after looking for ideas online. “I thought that would be really cool because he articulates the bends in his arms and legs. A way of doing something a bit different.”
Beck said her photo was of the St Andrew’s Church in Sturt Street, Ballarat through its ornate iron gates. Judges comments were: “Demonstrates creativity and originality. Beautiful composition, symmetry and colour bringing a fairy-like image.”
Charlotte is a sixth-generation farmer from Carisbrook, Victoria, with a lifelong passion for agriculture. Growing up on her family’s farm, she has been actively involved in the sheep industry from an early age, exhibiting poll Dorset sheep, judging at local shows, and contributing to agricultural committees.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: VAS & contributed

“Unintended traffic impacts” since the opening of the Djuwang Baring all-abilities 60-kilometre mountain bike trail network in Creswick, will see Hepburn Shire Council spend at least another $300,000 on the project.
After community feedback since the second and final stage of the trails opened in November 2024, the council commissioned a traffic engineering firm to undertake an independent assessment of the area and prepare a traffic management plan for the precinct.
A report to last month’s council meeting said “the trails network has been widely embraced by riders and has seen a significant boost in local business activity, however the influx of visitors to the site has resulted in some unintended impacts on the nearby residential area”.

Key issues were increased traffic including local, non-local and commercial vehicles, dust and amenity issues along unsealed roads used for parking and/or trail access, parking pressure during peak periods and pedestrian safety risks along the shared connections between the trails, parking and Hammon Park areas.
Public submissions to the council included support for treatments including at St Georges Lake Road, the increase in formalised parking and pedestrian connections, traffic calming on Moore Street and a shuttle pick-up area at Hammon Park.
Works to be carried out immediately include: upgrading St Georges Lake Road to a sealed surface, realigning St Georges Lake Road intersection; installing speed humps and associated infrastructure (eg. lighting) along St Georges Lake Road; undertaking a speed limit review on St Georges Lake Road; implementing relevant signage across the precinct and establishing a pick-up zone on Moore Street for commercial shuttling, on a trial basis project. The cost is $300,000.
Another nine medium-term works and four long- term works have not yet been costed.
In conclusion, the council report said “while Djuwang Baring presented a fantastic opportunity for regional tourism, local business and supporting participation and active recreation, council acknowledges that it is essential to balance patronage with residential amenity and safety”.
“It is recognised that the traffic management plan will not satisfy all submissions however it seeks to manage traffic, dust, parking and pedestrian safety whilst providing the opportunity to implement a staged treatment approach, acknowledging the resources and funding available to council.”
Council CEO Bradley Thomas said funding for the short-term works would come from savings on the project which was originally costed at $9.4M but would come in at $8.8M.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: File

Creswick’s John Curtin Aged Care has received federal funding of $13 million for a new 18-bed residential support wing and refurbishment of 35 smaller existing rooms.
John Curtin Aged Care was established in 1986 with 65 permanent rooms as well as 19 independent living units which surround the facility. Every room at John Curtin looks out over a garden space and this will be preserved.

At the funding announcement on Wednesday, October 1, Ballarat MP Catherine King said former Prime Minister Bob Hawke opened the facility, naming it in honour of Creswick-born former Prime Minister John Curtin.
Board president Sue Craven said the grant will enable John Curtin Aged Care to provide improved care to all its residents and meet the demand for more residential aged care beds in the area, taking pressure off Ballarat hospitals.
“This project has been a wonderful team effort by our treasurer Richard Ainio, our CEO Steve Bruechert, our finance manager Simon Coope and our infrastructure committee members Malcolm Hull and John Edwards.
“I extend my congratulations to them all and extend our gratitude and thanks for their contributions.

“I would also like to thank Minister King for supporting this grant application and recognising the importance our facility holds within our local communities.”
“I hope to see you all at John Curtin Aged Care over the Creswick Garden Lovers weekend on November 8 and 9.”
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

Daylesford is celebrating, again, after winning a two-year long battle to stop the Endeavour Group from putting a Dan Murphy’s in the town.

The Endeavour Group appealed the Victorian Liquor Commission’s landmark ruling citing harm, to refuse a licence to operate in Daylesford in 2024 and have been arguing their case in VCAT throughout July and August 2025.
Former Hepburn Shire councillor Jen Bray was one of the original 204 community members who objected, and has seen the process through to the Liquor Commission hearing and now the VCAT review hearing.
“I am thrilled with the result,” Ms Bray said. “On the one hand it feels miraculous that a small community like Daylesford could win against a huge corporate giant like Dan Murphy’s. That only happens in the movies.
“But on the other hand, the Tribunal’s decision to refuse the permit makes perfect sense. It’s obvious to us that this liquor store is in the totally wrong location. It’s a family-friendly educational precinct across the road from a kindergarten, primary school, swimming pool and bus stop. That’s going to have a huge impact on young people in our town.”

Mayor Cr Don Henderson said it was not just a win for the community and the council, but for everyone into the future who will now be protected from the risks and harm associated with alcohol.
“I know that this outcome was achieved by the grit and determination of our community. Thank you to those who stood alongside the council as we fought to keep our community safe.”
In upholding the Commission’s decision, VCAT stated: “Put simply, we have decided not to grant the liquor licence because of particular local, social, demographic and geographic circumstances.
“The premises is located in an education and family friendly area with children of all ages present throughout the year. The location of the premises means that children going to and from school, in care, at school or at leisure will be exposed to this packaged liquor premises.
“There is a risk of harm to minors from exposure to the premises and the potential for normalisation of alcohol associated with this location. This is a circumstance where precaution is warranted.”
History
The decision to overturn the liquor licence for a Daylesford Dan Murphy’s in August 2024 was the first time the new definition of “harm” under the Liquor Control Reform Act had been used to refuse a licence. The packaged liquor licence was for proposed premises located at 63 Central Springs Road, Daylesford.
On July 26, 2022, Victoria Police advised that it did not object while on August 12 Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas advised that the council objected.
Another 204 objections were lodged to the original application.
Responding to an inquiry by The Local in February this year, Endeavour said it believed the Commission erred in its decision and did not appropriately consider the positive community benefits of having a Dan Murphy’s in Daylesford, particularly in relation to the community’s concerns about underage drinking.
“Like the community, we were concerned about the claimed levels of underage drinking and the alleged provision of alcohol to minors in Daylesford. If these claims are true, we believe that there are a number of opportunities for existing licensees and the community to work together to address this issue,” a spokesperson said.
“Dan Murphy’s does not sell alcohol to minors and has an industry-leading approach to the requirement for identification to prove that our customers are adults.”
It said that 44 million customers nationwide were reached in the 2024 financial year with messages about responsible drinking – the equivalent of reaching every adult drinker three times throughout the year.
“We also have a ‘refusal of service’ policy that prohibits sales based on the risk of underage drinking and secondary alcohol supply and we exclude patrons from our premises for problematic behaviour.”
Endeavour said up to 30 new jobs would have been created as well as offering “local products that can be enjoyed responsibly by the Daylesford community and tourists alike”.
“Daylesford is a unique community with a rich history and a strong sense of identity. Our goal would be to respect and contribute positively to the local heritage and culture, ensuring that our presence aligns with the community’s values.”
Above, residents celebrate the first win in August last year
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed

Hatch – Match – Despatch is a new exhibition by the Daylesford Historical Society to be held at the Daylesford Museum on Saturday, October 11 from 11am to 3pm.

The exhibition draws on three significant stages of life: birth, partnering and passing. The museum collection is showcased to highlight these events and includes baby bonnets, christening gowns, wedding dresses and mourning outfits.
Many wedding photos from local and district families will be shown and the community is encouraged to bring along their family photos to have them digitised into the community collection. The exhibition is curated by fabric conservator Larry Edwards and generously supported by the Rosalind Pyers memorial exhibition support fund.
Daylesford Museum is at 100 Vincent Street, Daylesford. Entry costs are $5 for adults with children and society members free. Link: www.daylesfordmuseum.net

The  state government is delivering improved broadband coverage for Murray Plains communities with nbn towers in Nyah, Swan Hill North and Piangil now live.

Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins said the upgrades would make it easier for residents to connect with loved ones, work or study from home, stream content online, and access safety information during bushfires and other emergencies.

The new towers will provide the nbn Fixed Wireless service to more than 2400 premises across the Murray Plains, offering residents and businesses access to download speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second, through their chosen internet provider. The towers have been designed to support faster download speeds in future.

The project has been co-funded by Connecting Victoria, NBN Co and the NSW Government, with broadband coverage extending across the Murray River into parts of NSW.

Through the Connecting Victoria program, the Victorian Government is working to fast-track more than 1,300 mobile and broadband projects.

While the Australian Government is responsible for telecommunications services in Australia, the Victorian Government is investing significantly to fast-track telecommunications infrastructure and address connectivity issues across the state.

Improved mobile and nbn internet connectivity has an important role to play in helping to keep people, businesses and communities connected during emergencies.

Residents can check if they’re eligible for a Fixed Wireless service via the ‘check your address’ function at the nbn website. Find out more about the Connecting Victoria program at vic.gov.au/connecting-victoria

Victoria’s housing crisis has worsened across almost every key measure, with new data released today showing surging rents, a ballooning social housing waitlist and thousands of people forced into homelessness because of family violence and housing stress.

Council to Homeless Persons’ (CHP) 2025 Housing Insecurity Index reveals:

• Median rents increased 3.9% across Victoria in the past year – with regional rents up 6%
• More than 66,000 people are now on the social housing waitlist – up 7.4% in a year
• Over 13,000 Victorians every month are seeking homelessness services due to family violence
• More than 10,000 people each month turn to homelessness services because of housing stress
• Victoria’s proportion of social housing is just 3% – the lowest in the country
• State investment in housing and homelessness services is just $399.80 per person, below the national average, despite Victoria accounting for one-third of demand

The report has made three key recommendations: Set a Social Housing Target and deliver a Social Housing Building Blitz of at least 4000 new homes per year; increase investment in homelessness prevention, including Housing First models and income support; and boost funding for crisis accommodation and homelessness services.

The 4000 figure is recommended by Infrastructure Victoria. But the report makes clear that a larger build of 7990 social housing homes over ten years is needed to bring Victoria up to the national average, as recommended by SGS Economics.

CHP Chief Executive Officer Deborah Di Natale said the figures paint a devastating picture of rising demand and insufficient government action.

“Every day in Victoria, tens of thousands of people are forced into impossible choices between paying rent, escaping violence or facing homelessness. The Housing Insecurity Index shows the crisis is not easing. It’s intensifying,” Ms Di Natale said.

“People are sleeping in cars with their kids, couch surfing or living in public spaces. They are doing everything they can to hold their lives together while waiting endlessly for secure housing.

“This report makes it crystal clear that the government must do more. We need a Social Housing Building Blitz of at least 4000 new homes per year, stronger prevention measures to stop people becoming homeless in the first place, and urgent investment in crisis accommodation and services.”

The Index has also revealed the growing impact of family violence, with more than 43% of Victorians who turned to homelessness services in June doing so to escape violence; a figure that has remained above 13,000 every month since August 2023.

Ms Di Natale said urgent action would not only reduce homelessness, but also save the government money.

“Investing in social housing and homelessness services is common sense.

“Right now, Victoria spends more per person on police services and court hearings than on keeping people safely housed.

“Every dollar invested in social housing reduces costs to the justice and health systems, while sparing thousands of Victorians the often lifelong trauma of homelessness.”

A new round of grants for a broad range of safety initiatives to protect and educate Victorian motorcyclists is now open.

The Safer Motorcycling Grants Program will kickstart projects across three categories including technology and intelligent transport solutions (ITS), education and research, and policy and law to make road safer for these drivers.

Motorcyclists are overrepresented in road trauma in Victoria, with 46 riders this year losing their lives on our roads.

The grants program will include projects to:

• educate and empower riders to buy high safety rated protective gear and equipment
• develop cutting-edge tools and systems to ensure motorcycle infrastructure investment is targeting the right solution in the highest risk locations to maximise safety
• deliver new rider and driver training and education programs, while exploring innovative technology to provide a real-time skills feedback system for riders
• undertake research into rider behaviour and vehicle design.

Sixteen organisations will receive a share of $3.5 million to deliver a range of innovative projects to improve safety for motorcyclists in Victoria, funded through the state government’s Motorcycle Safety Levy.

The Motorcycle Safety Levy improves motorcyclist safety by investing in targeted safety initiatives across motorcycle policy and law, education and research and road safety infrastructure improvements for motorcyclists, with more than $100 million spent since its introduction in 2002.

Recipients include Savic who will develop an intelligent rider evaluation system to encourage safer riding techniques and Machine Alley who will develop a motorcycle training and safety equipment education program.

For more details and the full list of successful recipients and details, visit:  vic.gov.au/grants

Ambulance Victoria has launched its annual Shocktober campaign, inviting Victorians to learn or refresh their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and sign up to be a GoodSAM responder.  

October marks the sixth year of the campaign and aims to increase cardiac arrest survival rates across Victoria.

Ambulance Victoria’s latest data showed that Victoria achieved its highest internationally comparable survival rate of 41 per cent of patients surviving to hospital discharge: Australia’s best cardiac arrest survival rate and the third best in the world.

Ambulance Victoria Medical Director Associate Professor David Anderson said it is essential to know CPR, how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and where your closest defibrillator is located.

“Shocktober is about giving more Victorians who suffer a cardiac arrest a better chance of returning to their loved ones,” he said.

“We are urging the community to refresh their knowledge about CPR and how to use a defibrillator. For every minute CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at any age, health or fitness level, and often without symptoms.

“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to Call (Triple Zero 000), Push (perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED).”

In regional Victoria, cardiac arrest survival rates are significantly boosted by the swift action of bystanders who use publicly accessible AEDs.

Associate Professor Anderson also encouraged the community to sign up to be a GoodSAM Responder.

“GoodSAM is a free mobile app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who is willing to begin hands-only CPR while paramedics are on their way,” he said.

“There are currently more than 17,300 GoodSAM Responders across the state, but we need more.”

Last year, paramedics responded to 7,545 cardiac arrest cases in Victoria and most occurred at home.

Victoria has the best cardiac survival rates in Australia, and the third best anywhere in the world. 

Every day, around 21 Victorians suffer the medical emergency but only 1 in 10 survive.

As part of Shocktober, Ambulance Victoria is running hundreds of free community events across the state to teach Call, Push, Shock. Find your closest event and get involved in the campaign here: www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober

Victorians want and need their right to work from home protected according to a record-smashing survey undertaken by state government.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Acting Minister for Industrial Relations Harriet Shing said 36,770 responses were received during statewide consultation on the government’s plan to legislate the right to work from home two days a week.

An initial snapshot of the data released today makes it clear – Victorians want work from home protected:

• More than 74 per cent of employees surveyed (25,724) said the right to work from home was “extremely” important to them.
• More than 3,200 didn’t feel they could ask their current employer to work from home.
• Of those who could work from home but currently don’t, most had requested it – and most were refused.
• Almost all those who were refused felt this was unreasonable, and the majority said it led to further challenges for them in the workplace.

Most employees surveyed said the ability to work from home would make them more likely to choose one job over another, and make them stay in their current job longer.

Survey respondents were asked to rank the benefits of working from home.

Saving time came out as the leader, with more than 13,300 respondents saying their one-way trip to their workplace takes over an hour.

The second most popular benefit was saving money. More than 9,200 said commuting to their workplace costs between $25 to $49 a week.

The third-highest benefit of working from home was being able to focus without distractions.

Additionally, more than 28,700 participants told us they were more productive when working from home, in terms of both hours worked and milestones achieved.

The survey also found that two days a week is the most common work from home arrangement (10,207 respondents) – showing our policy gets the balance right.

The nearly seven-week consultation period closed on Sunday night. As part of the online survey responses, it attracted more than 700 in-language responses and 295 formal submissions.

More than 1,000 responses were received in the first two hours of the survey opening, with 5,000 responses received by the end of the first day.

Employers who participated in the survey mostly had fewer than 20 employees.

Employers ranked “employee satisfaction” as the most important benefit of having a work from home policy, followed by having a bigger talent pool for hiring and higher productivity.

Further consultation with businesses and industry groups is happening now, with 122 registrations for the online industry forums.

This is an initial snapshot of data from the survey’s multiple-choice answers. A full report with further data will be released when the many ‘free text’ answers have been analysed.

The overwhelming response to this survey will now be used to make sure the new laws reflect what’s fair, practical and already working for Victorians.

Under the government’s proposed laws, if you can reasonably do your job from home, your ability to do so two days a week will be protected, whether you work in the public or private sector.

Asthma Australia is urging people with asthma or hay fever to take steps now to protect themselves, as south-eastern Australia enters its high-risk thunderstorm asthma season.

Thunderstorm asthma events are well documented in south-eastern Australia and can create high-risk conditions for people with asthma and hay fever. In this region, grass pollen typically peaks in November. During thunderstorms, rain and moisture can cause pollen grains to absorb water and rupture into tiny sub-pollen particles (SPPs), and storm-driven winds then push these small particles down to ground level, where people may inhale them.

Chris Pearce, GP and Asthma Australia Board Member, said: “For people with asthma, thunderstorm asthma can escalate quickly and be life-threatening. Now is the time to check your asthma control with your GP, use your preventer as recommended and make sure you have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan, which formalises how to manage asthma and what to do if symptoms worsen.”

He also has some advice for those using a blue reliever inhaler: “Most people with asthma would take their reliever out with them because symptoms can flare when they are exposed to triggers like grass pollen. We want to make sure people with asthma are up to date with best practice. The latest asthma guidelines recommend against relying on a blue reliever inhaler alone. Anti-inflammatory relievers containing both a preventer and reliever medicine are now recommended in place of the blue reliever alone.

In the devastating 2016 Melbourne Thunderstorm Asthma event, more than 3,500 people sought emergency care and 10 lives were lost. Most presenting to hospital during this event didn’t have a doctor diagnosis of asthma, yet of these people, almost half reported symptoms suggestive of the condition.

Dr Pearce said, “People with hay fever can also be affected during thunderstorm asthma events, even if they’ve never been diagnosed with asthma. Those who are sensitive to grass pollen, or wheeze and cough at night or get short of breath when grass pollen is high should prioritise seeing their GP to make sure they are assessed for asthma.

“It’s also important to keep a close eye on high-pollen and storm forecasts. You can check grass pollen levels using the AirRater App which provides real-time forecasts and warnings, to help you plan your day,” he said.

Who is at risk?

• People with asthma, particularly if it is poorly controlled;
• People with asthma symptoms, even if undiagnosed (e.g. wheeze, shortness of breath, night coughing);
• People with hay fever (especially triggered by ryegrass pollen);

How Victorians can prepare

Asthma Australia recommends the following steps:

• Check your asthma control – Book a review with your GP, ensure your preventer is used at least daily as prescribed, and have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan.
• Keep your reliever close by
• Manage hay fever – Take recommended treatments to reduce sensitivity to pollen, including nasal steroids.
• Stay informed daily:
  – National Pollen Forecast Service: https://www.PollenForecast.com.au
  – AirRater app: www.airrater.org
• Be prepared during storms – On high pollen and storm days, stay indoors where possible, close windows and doors, and keep your reliever inhaler handy.

Fuel retailers across Victoria have been commended for their compliance with mandatory fuel price reporting regulations now in effect and set to save Victorian motorists money at the pump.

The retailers are now required to report their fuel prices through a new fuel finder feature soon available on the Service Victoria app that will help motorists make informed decisions about when and where they fill up their tank.

Data published last year from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found Melbourne motorists could have saved up to $333 in 2023 from filling up at the lowest point of fuel price cycles and from shopping around for lower priced fuel retailers.

Mandatory real-time fuel price reporting requires all fuel retailers to report their prices on the new fuel finder feature, giving Victorian drivers the information they need to find their area’s most affordable fuel price.

The regulations commenced in August ahead of the official launch of the fuel finder feature later this year, to ensure retailers are compliant and onboarding complete ahead of the launch.

Victorian fuel retailers must now be registered with Service Victoria and report their fuel prices whenever they change, with penalties applying for those who are non-compliant.

Consumer Affairs Victoria is responsible for ensuring fuel retailers are aware of their obligations and are supported to comply with the new regulations.

Inspectors from Consumer Affairs Victoria have been out across the state visiting service stations and educating and informing their owners and staff about their obligations and will continue to monitor compliance and conduct site inspections throughout Victoria.

For more information, visit consumer.vic.gov.au/fuel-price-reporting

More homes are getting off the ground faster after fast-tracking the approval of 270 homes across Geelong – close to public transport, jobs and services.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has given the green light for two new housing projects – at Malop Street Geelong and across Hope and Autumn Streets in Geelong West – which were fast-tracked through the Development Facilitation Program.

The Malop Street development will provide 214 new homes – ranging from studio to three-bedrooms – which will be in walking distance of the Moorabool St Bus Interchange, Geelong Station, University Hospital Geelong, Malop Street shopping centres, and the Geelong Waterfront.

The 16-storey development on Malop Street will also include public walkways connecting to Little Malop Street, new retail spaces, a co-working office space, and a new hotel.

Two four-storey buildings at Hope and Autumn Streets in Geelong West will also provide 56 new homes – ranging from studio to three bedrooms – a short walk from Geelong Station, bus stops, shops, and parks.

These developments mean people have more choice about how and where they want to live, as we continue working towards our bold housing targets.

The government’s Development Facilitation Program streamlines the planning process for priority projects that boost investment into the economy, keep people in jobs, and create homes for Victorians.  These projects must deliver at least 10 per cent affordable housing to be eligible for the pathway.

Since the program opened to residential development two years ago, more than 5000 homes have been fast-tracked by the Minister for Planning through this pathway.