News

The Victorian Budget 2025/26 will invest $727 million to ramp up capacity in Victoria’s prisons and youth justice centres, bringing more prison beds online to deal with the increasing number of alleged offenders being denied bail.

On the Bendigo line, six car trains will run on weekend services. These additional cars will be targeted to already busy services, with development underway to confirm the new timetable.

Significant lighting upgrades at Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve are now completed, ready to enhance the facility’s usability and safety for after-dark activities.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas last week announced eleven new projects across Macedon are being delivered through round 2 of the fund for towns with populations of  fewer than 5,000 people.

The Hepburn Shire Council is calling for suitably qualified or experienced community members to join the Heather Mutimer International Women’s Day Advisory Committee. 

The Hepburn Shire Council has this week received confirmation from the Essential Services Commission that its application for a 7 per cent rate cap variation has been approved. 

The Hepburn Shire Council recently announced the launch of the Domestic Violence (DV) Safe Phone Program, an initiative that provides safe mobile phones to domestic violence victim-survivors.  

Author of The Buried Life, Andrea Goldsmith joins Clunes writer Tess Brady in conversation on June 8 as part of the Clunes Booktown Sunday series.

Since the rollout, 1,264 tonnes of organic material have been collected from the kerbside organics bins and are being turned into compost at the Creswick Transfer Station.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas this week announced that applications have opened for the 2025–26 Men’s Shed Funding Program ...

Police are appealing for witnesses following the fatal two-car collision in Eganstown on Monday afternoon.

Victoria Police has arrested more than 30 people as part of an investigation into a series of concerning attacks on men linked to the use of dating apps and social media.

Live4Life is the only evidence-based mental health education and youth suicide prevention model designed specifically for rural and regional communities.

Ballarat’s flagship creative sector development program Craft Lab is returning, showcasing the work of the some of the region’s most talented makers, artisans and artists.

The innovative trial, recently used as part of a 1.6-kilometre road reconstruction of Gillies Road between Jubilee Road and Millers Road, involved using the clay-based soil on-site mixed with the liquid stabilisation agent that permanently transforms the soil, strengthening the material at a molecular level.

The City of Ballarat says it's thrilled to welcome the Spilt Milk music festival back to Ballarat later this year.

The state's Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney visited Melbourne Polytechnic’s Heidelberg Campus last week to congratulate some of the state's 40,000 newly qualified tradies on receiving Trade Paper.

The Victorian state government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of the community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.

The state government has partnered with the Salvation Army to open a new health clinic in the city to help Victorians facing homelessness and chronic addiction.

This is a tale on the path of embarrassment, horror and fear.

"Some of the walkers, for some reason, got wildly excited about picking grapes so we had them around, had hot cross buns for morning team, a barbeque for lunch and then a few drinks at the end of the day."

Come check out Gladheart Farm,” said Elle. “They are a cult, but they make a killer sourdough and I need to stock up my cafe.”  

She paints in acrylic, oils and mixed media, ink and pencil, is a nature  photographer and a talented musician who plays with her bands Lunar Dust and Lake Mist as well as solo.  

Organists Beverley Phillips and John Tungyep from the Royal Society  of Church Music, Central Victoria will play the retuned historic Fincham organ.