News

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the news that the 2026/27 Federal Budget will invest an additional $2 billion over four years to fund critical infrastructure, which will support the construction of up to 65,000 new homes.

Planning for level access tram stops will commence along Sydney Road, Brunswick and Coburg and Keilor Road, Niddrie.

Works on the massive $535 million expansion of the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton are now underway.

Farmers statewide are encouraged to subscribe to Agriculture Victoria's Soil Moisture Monitoring Cropping Report e-newsletter for real-time soil water data in their region.

Aboriginal children and young people will have a new advocate in the Commission for Children and Young People.

Bees contribute an estimated $4.2 billion to Australian agriculture each year, yet the array of pollinators underpinning that system face threats on multiple fronts, including climate change, habitat loss, agricultural chemical use and the ongoing spread of pests and diseases.

The federal government is continuing to deliver for regional communities, with more than $23 million committed to four Victorian projects under the latest round of the $400 million regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.

Child and Family Services Ballarat (Cafs) is celebrating National Families Week 2026 (11–17 May) by shining a light on the many different ways families live, grow and care for one another across the Central Highlands region.

First Nations trailblazers have been recognised for their contributions at the Aboriginal Honour Roll Ceremony.

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is urging the Federal Government to use the upcoming Budget to directly address Australia’s severe shortage of skilled tradespeople and apprentices, warning that housing supply targets will not be met without decisive action.

Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) has warned the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the private health insurance rebate for older Australians could threaten the viability of dozens of private hospitals that regional communities rely on for essential healthcare.

Submit your expressions of interest to exhibit artwork in the Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer from July 2026 through to June 2027. Local artists, group shows and community organisations all welcome. 

This was an interesting edition to write. Lots of stories - somehow seemed to be a bit Daylesford-centric but sometimes it's just how the edition turns out.

Local Lines

Sarah Gray is the next author for Paradise Bookshop’s Community Book Launch series with her book, It's Not You, It's Perimenopause. The event is on Thursday, May 21 from 5pm to 6pm at the Daylesford book store. Sarah chatted to Donna Kelly.

Johann (John) Konrad Vorbach was born on November 28, 1826 in Nieder-Wiesel, Germany, the illegitimate child of Katharina Lander.

Sometime this year, a memorial service for Thomas Burrowes will be held, 83 years after his death. Tom was a wireless operator and air gunner on the Beaufort Bomber A9-211, when it was hit during a bombing mission to Rabaul during World War II on December 14, 1943.

Craig Lenaine-Smith did the tree change thing in 2008. He sold up his café in Thornbury and moved to Woodend with his wife, screenwriter Emma J Steele and their two young children.

Two Macedon state electorate organisations have received funding from the state government.

Planning is underway for new female-friendly change rooms (and associated facilities and works) at Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, Creswick.

Daylesford's Amazing Mill Markets stallholders and staff rattled their Good Friday Appeal tins and raised $386.45 for the Children's Hospital. Market owner Mark Ward then matched the amount raised for a total of $772.90. Market spokesperson Dani Dwyer said the plan was to do it all again next year "and raise plenty more".