Articles by: Jackson Graham
Lake level too low for yachts
Water evaporation at Lake Colac looks set to force Colac sailors 35 kilometres away to finish their racing season at Lake Purrumbete.
Wastewater progress pleases resident
A Forrest resident says an option to upgrade the town’s wastewater system has struck a balance between managing growth and safeguarding against overdevelopment.
Push for velodrome upgrades
A Colac cyclist says Elliminyt’s velodrome is posing a risk to competitors and he is pushing to get a new surface by next summer.
Councillors back proposal for sports facility upgrade
Colac Otway Shire councillors have unanimously supported proposed upgrades for Elliminyt Recreation Reserve, with one saying the plan would bring the facility “into the 21st century”.
Construction to start on $4.9M roundabout
Work has begun on a new roundabout at a notorious intersection at Birregurra, but Victoria’s Roads Minister anticipates completion will be in the latter half of 2019.
Topping up Lake Colac could cost $150 million
A future water top-up of Lake Colac could cost up to $150 million depending on the volume of water needed, Polwarth MP Richard Riordan says.
China trip lifts joiner’s skills
Elliminyt’s Tom Neave has tested his skills against China’s best joinery students after winning at a national trade skills competition earlier this year.
Boat honours historic heroine
Apollo Bay Sailing Club’s new rescue boat commemorates a heroine who drowned after saving others aboard a sinking ship nearly 90 years ago.
Federal Government commits $26 million to coast
The Federal Government has committed more than $26 million for Colac district coastal tourism projects as part of the Geelong City Deal.
Everything is good in Colac; we feel a lot of support
Colac and district could see its population grow if a Federal Government plan for new migrants to move to regional areas goes ahead.
$800,000 injection for Colac’s Western Reserve
Colac’s Western Reserve will receive more than $800,000 of upgrades to the ground and lights, after the State Government awarded a grant for women’s football at the facility.
Shining a bright light on cancer awareness
Drivers and pedestrians on Colac’s Murray Street will notice about a dozen median-strip trees lit by pink lights at night, marking breast cancer awareness month.
Farm owner running for Labor
Labor has announced Freshwater Creek farmer and tourism operator Doug Johnston as the party’s Polwarth candidate for the state election.
Fire refuge proposal finds strong interest
A bushfire refuge and a new learning facility to attract researchers and tourists are among community-led ideas under consideration for a vacant State Government site at Forrest.
Ocean Road roundabout plan worries cafe owner
Cafe owner Paul Yates is worried about a proposed roundabout at Lavers Hill's main intersection.
Yacht racing to return to lake after 13 years
Sailors will return to race on Lake Colac for the first time in more than a decade, with water now deep enough for rescue boats and bigger craft.
WHALE TRAPPED
Authorities are searching for a distressed southern right whale seen entangled in rope offshore near Apollo Bay.
Trust wants Colac’s Colanda site for future burials
Colac’s Colanda Centre could become a new cemetery if the State Government acts on an a proposal from Geelong Cemeteries Trust to take over the site.
Mum praises decision to cut treatment costs
A Colac mother is relieved her son will have access to a life-changing cystic fibrosis drug after the Federal Government decided to subsidise the treatment.
Creekside pathways proposed
Two pathways linking Colac’s lake and creeks are among initiatives in Colac Otway Shire Council’s draft Colac 2050 Growth Plan coming out next month.
Mum full of praise for son’s saviours
A Colac mother whose 15-month-old son was nearly airlifted to a Melbourne hospital with breathing issues has praised Colac Area Health’s doctors and nurses for their “reassuring and calm” response.
New rules delay generation
Full-capacity power generation at the Mount Gellibrand Wind Farm is behind schedule due to work to bring the site in line with new rules for wind farms.
Surge in drug users seeking counselling
The number of ice users looking for help from a Colac counselling service has almost doubled in the past year.
Leadership change will impact on marginal electorate
A change in Australia’s Prime Minister could fuel a swing against the Liberal Party in marginal seats including Corangamite, a Cororooke-based politics professor says.
