Articles by: Billy Higgins
Lockdown timeline in doubt
Colac and district appears unlikely to get an early reprieve from lockdown as a COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread across the state.
Pandemic plan gives agents glimpse of future
Colac travel agents remain hopeful for a bright post-COVID future, despite ongoing lockdowns and continued lack of confidence in the sector.
Police seek owner of lost cash
A lost wad of cash is awaiting collection at Winchelsea police station.
Green light for resort
Princetown wetlands developers can continue building a controversial new tourism resort, despite an investigation finding breaches of a planning permit.
Man to face court on gun charge
A Camperdown man allegedly busted with trafficable quantities of guns and drugs following a police raid at his home is on bail while he waits to face rare charges.
Winter boost for tourist sector
Local tourism providers have experienced mixed results from a steady school holidays period amid ongoing COVID uncertainty.
10 new cases as Colac and district wakes up in lockdown
Victoria has recorded 10 new local COVID-19 cases this morning as Colac and district people enter a five-day, circuit-breaker lockdown.
Real estate surge amid city exodus
Colac and district house prices are among the fastest growing in the state and are outstripping city markets, new data shows.
New cases highlight Sydney outbreak’s risk
Victoria has slammed its border shut to New South Wales and recorded its first local COVID cases in nearly a fortnight as a Sydney virus outbreak worsens.
Kids catch the news bug
Colac and district schoolkids will have the chance to show off their work to family, friends and the wider community in their local paper, with the return of the Colac Herald’s Newspaper in Education program.
Red rally against gas plan
Red-robed protesters made a colourful demonstration at the Twelve Apostles to campaign against proposed gas exploration in the nearby ocean.
Terrific tuna turning heads off Apollo Bay
Monster tunas weighing well over 100 kilograms have attracted fishers from far and wide, including some famous faces, to try their luck in Apollo Bay waters.
Outbreak hits lobster sector
Apollo Bay’s lobster fishing industry has suffered another blow, with its crucial Sydney export market in COVID turmoil.
Otways rubbish piles frustrate bush users
Fed up Otways residents have called for rubbish dumpers to clean up their act, with the region’s walking trails being treated as tips.
Suspended teacher on sex assault charge
A teacher will face court on six sexual assault charges stemming from an incident in Colac in 2010.
Pilot to tackle home shortage
Timboon and Simpson will feature in a State Government pilot program that addresses critical housing shortages in regional communities.
No decision yet on fallen bridge
There’s no timeline for a replacement bridge over a Chapple Vale river after the original crossing collapsed under a tipper truck last month.
Gas raises water worries
At Otways landcare advocate fears the region will become more bushfire prone as the impacts of gas production decimate local groundwater reserves.
Residents opposing shire rule
Surf Coast Shire residents have rallied in opposition to their council’s controversial governance rules.
Raid finds guns and drugs
A house raid at Camperdown found six guns and a trafficable amount of cannabis, and resulted in two arrests.
Rain leaves lake and basins in healthy state
Lake Colac’s water level has risen slightly since the end of summer and water storages are near capacity following stable rainfall totals.
Prehistoric giant set to rise again
A giant, ancient marsupial that left fossils in the Colac district will feature at an ambitious proposal for Cororooke’s town centre redevelopment. Grand plans for entrance sculptures at the Colac district town would include life-sized replicas of a diprotodon – a rhinoceros-sized herbivore that roamed the region’s volcanic plains tens of thousands of years ago. […]
Mask restrictions ease for office workers
Workplace mask rules have eased, and large venues can welcome more patrons under new COVID restrictions that begin today.
AFL game unlikely
Hope for a Colac AFL match appears dashed as nation-wide lockdowns ease and normality returns to the league fixture.
