Eligibility change allows more blood donations
AUSTRALIAN Red Cross Lifeblood has confirmed changes to eligibility rules for blood and plasma donation which will allow more Australians to donate. Previous rules prevented...
School holiday fire safety reminder
BEFORE the school holidays come to an end, Victorian fire services are encouraging the community to practice their home fire escape plan. Everyone who lives...
Free hearing checks coming to Bannockburn
HEARING Australia staff will be at Bannockburn Library next month providing free hearing checks. Each check takes about 15 minutes and anyone aged 18 years...
Learn and connect at Haddon centre
TERM three at Haddon Community Learning Centre will see a range of workshops, activities and programs on offer. The not-for-profit community centre operates under the...
Fish stocked for school holiday fun
AHEAD of this school holidays, about 35,000 trout have been released into Victorian lakes by the state government. The initiative aims to provide families with...
Warm up and get fit
GENKIFIT'S clubbercise and barre classes are set to return for seven weeks at Smythesdale. Clubbercise combines cardio, club music and glow sticks, while barre includes...
Plan supports children’s wellbeing
GOLDEN Plains Shire councillors have endorsed the municipality's Early Years and Children's Plan for 2025 until 2029. The document provides a strategic framework for the...
Alliance calls for collaboration with State Government
THE Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils, or GBAC, have met with Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos to advocate for collaboration between the two...
Shire offers expanded breastfeeding support
ENHANCED support is available across the Golden Plains Shire for breastfeeding mothers and families thanks to $5000 in funding from the Victorian Local Government...
Partnerships keep Moorabool River flowing
THE Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, or Corangamite CMA, is working with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to maintain flow on the lower reaches...
Voucher program expands
THE Community Choice voucher program has been expanded into Rokewood. The initiative provides assistance to people facing financial hardship, allowing them to access food and...
Youth Hub closed for most of July
THE Golden Plains Shire Youth Hub is closed until Thursday 24 July for maintenance works due to a leaking roof. All regular weekly programming will...
Panel to review State’s owners corp rules
THE State Government has announced an independent panel will review the Owners Corporation Act to ensure it is fair and efficient. One in four Victorians...
Drought taskforce aims to guide future relief
PREMIER Jacinta Allan visited Ballarat last Friday for the third meeting of the State Government's drought response taskforce. Ms Allan is the chair of the...
Red bandage sparks conversations around blood donation
BLOOD and plasma donors have become easier to recognise with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood permanently replacing its white arm bandages with branded red bandages. The...
Protect your water meter from frost
CENTRAL Highlands Water staff are urging the community to protect water meters from frost this winter. Frosts can freeze or burst water meters, and to...
EOIs open for summer art initiative
EXPRESSIONS of interest are open for this year's Golden Spaces summer exhibition which celebrates and promotes local artists from across the Golden Plains Shire. The...
Satisfaction score below average – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs
GOLDEN Plains Shire’s satisfaction survey result has declined since 2024, with a score of 41 compared to 42 last year. This is below the state...
Small steps to protect waterways
CORANGAMITE Catchment Management Authority staff are encouraging residents to protect local waterways like the Yarrowee, Leigh, Moorabool and Barwon rivers by undertaking six actions. Community...
Plan to guide Smythesdale reserve’s development
WORK towards the Woady Yaloak Recreation Reserve Master Plan is progressing and community members are invited to provide feedback on the draft document. The draft...
Fire to light Cape Clear’s night
THE Cape Clear community's annual bonfire night will light up the sky tomorrow evening. The event celebrates the winter solstice and provides an opportunity for...
Councillors push for mental health support
THROUGHOUT June, Golden Plains Shire mayor Owen Sharkey and councillors Emma Robbins and Gavin Gamble are completing more than three thousand push ups to...
Smythesdale-based SoupBus campaign a success
GENKI Fit Smythesdale's Fill the Bus campaign has raised more then 930 donations and a $480 Sinclair Meats voucher for The SoupBus Ballarat. The campaign...
Above average bushfire risk this winter
EMERGENCY Management Victoria is warning there will be an above average bushfire risk for large parts of Victoria this winter. The Australian seasonal bushfire outlook...