News

Council says trains must expand to meet demand
Corangamite Shire Council is calling for an upgrade of seven train station platforms on the Warrnambool train line to stop overcrowding.

Fuel price surge forces service to impose levy
A Colac waste management business has imposed a five-per-cent levy to help shoulder expenses from surging petrol costs the company says has made its operations unsustainable.

Balancing duty in community
Community members from Otways fire-stricken areas know the feeling of balancing protecting their towns with worrying about the safety of their own families and homes.

Officials should paws burns
Wildlife campaigners are calling for a pause on planned burning in the Otways following this summer’s bushfires, with fears of the impacts on local wildlife.

Works underway for revamped Point Grey
Major work is continuing on Lorne’s Point Grey redevelopment project, with the foundations of the new Angling Club placed this week.

Governor tours Otways region
Victoria’s Governor has praised the spirit of Colac and district communities in the wake of recent fires and floods.

East housing development makes progress
Councillors have praised movement on a development in Colac East that would create 40 residential lots.

German tourist applies for bail, police oppose
Police are opposing bail for a German tourist charged with causing a crash that killed a Cobden man.

Letters to the editor
Drop in travellers has ripple effect I write in reference to recent articles in the Colac Herald regarding the impact being experienced by businesses in Lorne and Apollo Bay as a result of the bushfires and floods in the region. It is important to point out that businesses in these areas are not the only […]

Government cracks down on ram raids
Ram raiding offenders can now face up to 25 years in prison following the introduction of new State Government penalties.

Upgrades done, outages over – Telco promises
Telstra says it has concluded upgrades that caused mass disruptions last week.

Police promise to hunt fuel bandits
Cobden Police has pledged to track down any further petrol drive-offs after a recent theft at the local service station.

Coastal visitation takes a hit
Emergency events at the start of the year triggered a decline of 283,000 visitors for the Great Ocean Road during the peak summer period, new data shows.

Residents invited to share unsealed road ideas
Colac Otway Shire residents and ratepayers are encouraged to give feedback on how the council will prioritise improvements to the shire’s unsealed road network.

Day out for families at Apollo Bay show
Crowds are continuing to flock to an important annual Apollo Bay event following its resurgence in recent years.

Otways community unites
“It’s a day to say thank you and get people out to have a nice time together again.”

Volunteers continue rebuilding properties
Volunteers are continuing to assist bushfire-affected properties at Gellibrand with the recovery phase.

Big recognition for Deans Marsh passion project
Deans Marsh Primary School students have received an accolade at Australia’s biggest horticultural show for their creative portrayal of Otways firefighting efforts this season.

Veil to lift on property prices
Colac real estate agents say new laws requiring agencies to reveal properties’ final sales prices is a positive move for hopeful homebuyers.

Special milestone for cable station
In 1936 the first telephone link from the mainland to Tasmania was achieved by the opening of the Apollo Bay Cable Station.

Coroner calls for review of high-crash district route
A coroner wants a review of signs at a high-crash intersection commonly used by Colac district commuters.

Clinical trial targets wheezing
Colac toddler Chester Williamson’s wheezing can become so severe that he has to be hospitalised. But now, the two-year-old is part of a major medical trial that could help prevent young people like him from needing urgent care.

WALKOUT: District teachers strike for pay increase
Almost all public schools in Colac and district have been impacted by state-wide teacher strikes, while an educator says the message is critical – raise the funding for our government schools.

Youth club vote is moved
Councillor exits have deferred a decision on the future of the Colac Youth Club building.

