News
Criticism for emergency app
Colac’s State MP says a truck spill that closed the Princes Highway for more than half a day should have been reported on the state emergency notification website.
Council to vote on childcare centre
Colac Otway Shire Council officers are recommending councillors award planning approval for a proposed childcare centre on Colac’s Woods Street.
Alvie plants legacy pine
Alvie Primary students have been part of a special moment in the school’s history to commemorate Anzac soldiers.
Operation Aware aims to protect pedestrians
Colac Highway Patrol officers hope a new statewide operation will help change road user behaviour across the city.
Initiatives support Dolly’s day
Schools and workplaces across Colac will paint the city blue today for Do it for Dolly Day, a national campaign championing the battle to end bullying.
Colac Otway priorities miss out on funding support
There is a Colac Otway shaped black hole in the 2026-27 Victorian Budget, with little dedicated funding set aside for the region’s priority projects.
Flood feedback sought from Surf Coast locals
Surf Coast Shire residents have until Sunday to share their thoughts on a plan that outlines how emergency agencies prepare for, respond and recover from flood and storm emergencies.
Dentist’s unusual patient
A Colac dentist’s chair usually hosts local residents, but this week’s most urgent appointment was for a patient with a cracked shell.
Consistent care could be cut
For Camperdown residents Liz Morrison and Ellie Blackney, being part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has given them access to a form of consistent care and independence that would otherwise be out of reach.
Major drilling project greenlit
The State and Federal Governments have greenlit a major gas drilling project in the Otway Basin.
Slow down for whale season
The season has returned for southern right whales and humpback whales to come to Victoria’s coastal waters and bays, including near the Great Ocean Road.
Accessible program extended for users
Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority has extended its accessible beaches program until the start of winter.
Plate day protects motorists
RoadSafe Otway is encouraging Colac and district residents to give their mum the gift of safe number plates this Mother’s Day.
Reminder for fire protection
Fire services across the state are warning of the fire risk of everyday household products after a recent significant incident in north-east Melbourne saw a family lose their home in a fire linked to a lithium-ion battery charger.
New mum marks milestones
Ten-month-old Hudson Johns has become the centre of the world for Colac’s Justine Barber and her fiancé Charlie Johns.
Proceed with caution during tax time planning
The Australian Taxation Office is warning Colac and district residents to avoid incorrect or misleading information ahead of tax time.
Letters to the editor
Dog owners should follow the rules Last Saturday afternoon I was walking my dog. A dog came at us from open gates and traumatised my dog and upset me. My dog is an eight-month-old pup being trained to walk on a lead and to slowly interact with other dogs. This dog bit my dog below […]
Landslip works cause traffic delays in Otways
Motorists travelling through some Otways and coastal areas can expect potential delays as landslip geotechnical works get underway.
Long-awaited nets project completed at Central
The Colac Football Netball Club has unveiled new nets behind both goals at Central Reserve, marking the completion of a long-running project aimed to improve the facility.
Traffic diverted after cheese spill
The Princes Highway has reopened after a truck carrying cheese spilt its load in a late-night incident, diverting traffic for almost a day.
Steady demand for hardship assistance amid rises
Sustained demand for Colac’s support services is expected to climb further following the Reserve Bank’s third consecutive interest rate increase.
Eleven hospitalised in crash
A man has been airlifted to Melbourne while 10 others have received emergency treatment following a head-on collision along a section of the Great Ocean Road at Gellibrand Lower.
District turning blue for Dolly
Colac and Elliminyt have been named as the top Victorian postcode leading donations to national anti-bullying campaign Dolly’s Dream.
Midwife’s generational calling
Leisa Gittings says she doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be a midwife.
