2025: A year in review…

January

A FISHING event at Peppertree Park aimed to help protect the local platypus population by removing invasive carp from the Werribee River, and the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve was allocated $4 million from the Federal Thriving Suburbs Program for a community and multi-sports hub upgrade.The Corangamite CMA was awarded more than $1.5 million to address barriers to fish passage along the lower Barwon and Moorabool Rivers, and the Bacchus Marsh-based Soul Food Program reported a record number of meals served to people experiencing food insecurity.Moorabool Shire Councillor Rod Ward persisted with efforts to clarify the future of services and jobs at the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Regional Hospital after its absorption into the Western Health Network.Thirty-two new Australian citizens were celebrated at a ceremony at the Ballan Mechanics’ Institute on Australia Day.

February

Ballan’s Great Vintage Rally and tractor pull chugged into town with old farm machinery, vintage and classic cars the stars of the day, and an influx of vintage and classic vehicles met at Rowsley War Memorial hall for a quarterly delegates meeting of the Victorian Federation of Veteran, Vintage and Classic Vehicle Clubs.

Member for Hawke Sam Rae praised an agreement between State and Federal governments aimed at more fairly allocating funds between Victorian public schools, and members of the Meredith History Interest Group called for photos depicting the life, landmarks and people of Elaine for an exhibition at Elaine Hall.

The proposed plan to merge the Lerderderg State Park with the Wombat State Forest into a single national park divided the community, and Hollywood Royalty was at the Bacchus Marsh Aerodrome as action movie star Liam Neeson filmed The Mongoose on site.

The ribbon was cut on the new Ballan kindergarten, and the Member for Ballarat Catherine King announced that a Township Active transport Loop would be delivered in Gordon with Federal and local government funding.

 

March

Western Highway upgrades got bi-partisan backing, and the Australian Labor Party committed $25 million to Bacchus Marsh’s MARC indoor pool project ahead of the 2025 Federal Election.

Concerns over health service staff cuts in Bacchus Marsh continued to simmer, Western Renewables Link Project opponents stood firm, and the netball courts at Gordon and Wallace recreation reserves re-opened after improvement works funded by a State grant.

MARC stadium in Bacchus Marsh hosted a round of Basketball Victoria’s 2025 Junior Country Championships for the first time, and the seventh Blackwood Community Garage Sale attracted bargain hunters.

One of the oldest regional country fairs in the Moorabool Shire, Ballan Autumn Festival returned to celebrate culture, creativity and community with live entertainment, market stalls, food, a woodchop competition, vintage cars and children’s activities.

The Mount Egerton Recreation Reserve’s market and car boot sale fundraiser returned, and Crossroads Trading Ballan was celebrated as the most progressive Australian Independent Rural Retailer at the AIRR national conference.

 

April

Dunnstown Recreation Reserve’s upgraded pavilion was officially opened with fresh player and umpire changerooms, including female-friendly familities, an updated hall, and meeting, storage and first aid spaces.

The new Navigators Community Hub opened for business with a new meeting space, accessible amenities, storage rooms, a kitchen, clubrooms a viewing area, pathways and landscaping.

Works continued on a permanent war memorial to be established in Mount Egerton to commemorate those from the town and wider district who served in the First and Second World Wars, and the Upper Williamson Creek Landcare Group Turned 30.

The Blackwood Woodchop and Easter Carnival offered an action-packed day out for the whole family for the 123rd year, and Darley FNC’s Kim Bessell kicked her 300th career goal.

 

Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Reserve’s new oval and cricket nets were opened, and the same reserve was allocated $300,000 from the State Government for an off-leash dog park.

Locals got behind the Lions Club of Bacchus Marsh’s Good Friday Appeal initiative, Ballan RSL secured a State grant for a new storage shed, and the Liberal Candidate for Hawke Simmone Cottom announced a pledge of $1 million to resurface Ballan Recreation Reserve oval if elected at the 2025 Federal Election.

Anzac Day was marked across the region, and Ms Cottom pledged $125,000 for the Blackwood War Memorial if a Coalition government were to be elected.

 

May

The Australian Labor Party won the 3 May Federal election, and new food relief collaboration by the Ballan Neighbourhood House, FoodBank Victoria and the Ballan and District Country Women’s Association was launched with an aim to ensure healthy food was reaching needy people in the district.

Western Health moved to reassure Bacchus Marsh Residents that service and staffing levels at the local hospital were in no danger in the face of community unrest about perceived cuts. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas visited to tour the facility with Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and WH CEO Professor Russell Harrison.

 

Bacchus Marsh Primary School celebrated its 175th anniversary as the oldest still-operating state school in Victoria, Moorabool Shire added its voice to the widespread outrage that greeted the State Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, and Masons Lane Dog Park was officially opened.

Major annual FightMND fundraiser Big Freeze in the Marsh was held at Maddingley Park. 13 people from the Bacchus Marsh and Sebastopol football netball club communities were sponsored to slide into an icy pool in costume, all to raise funds for research into treatments and a cure for motor neurone disease.

With a goal of $53,000, the sliders raised $55,000 by the time they went down the slide, and the campaign total hit more than $58,000 by the middle of this week. Bacchus Marsh Football Netball Club president Ian McClure was ecstatic at the “magnificent” outcome, and at the support for the festivities.

 

June

Bacchus Marsh’s Wayne Barnes was awarded an Emergency Services Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours for his distinguished service with the Victoria State Emergency service.

Moorabool Shire welcomed 32 adults and seven children as citizens of Australia at two ceremonies at the West Maddingley Early Years and Community Hub.

Moorabool landowners remained steadfast in their opposition to the Western Renewables Link towers being erected on their properties, even with the prospect of being fined for refusing to allow access. About 70 people attended a Western Victoria Community Alliance public meeting in Myrniong to discuss an Environmental Effects Statement for the WRL, along with the draft Victorian Transmission Plan.

 

July

A new accessible play space was unveiled at Darley Park, and Moorabool Shire’s Cr Sheila Freeman raised her concerns on the increasing number of speeding drivers in Clifton Drive, Bacchus Marsh.

More than $10 million worth of upgrades to Darley Primary School were completed ahead of schedule. The facility was modernised with a new administration building, the upgrade and extension of a classroom block to create a new learning community, the part demolition of the main block and a relocatable building, and the movement of another relocatable building. The extension added two new classrooms and an art room.

Grow West held their annual Planting Day along Korjamnunnip Creek, putting more than 4000 native plants in the ground to create a nature corridor to support local fauna, and the Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance was awarded a $20,000 grant to restore and enhance local river systems to allow platypus to survive long term.

 

Upgrades to spectator seating at MARC Stadium were funded by the State, and the Lal Lal Falls masterplan and Ballan Cycling Hub feasibility study were awarded Tiny Towns Fund grants.

Moorabool Shire Council lost its application for a stay on an order to clean up more than 1200 dissolved acetylene cylinders on a nature strip in Merrimu, east of Bacchus Marsh. The decision, handed down by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), left the Shire liable for the estimated $500,000 cost of removing the cylinders, which are on pallets in two truck trailers at 210 Lerderderg Park Road.

 

August

Plans stalled for a Neighbourhood Watch group and program in Bacchus Marsh, and Darley’s Geoffrey Nelson celebrated his 100th birthday at Susan Barton House.

The Environment Protection Authority’s refusal to help pay for removal of industrial waste on a road reserve near Bacchus Marsh infuriated Moorabool Shire mayor Paul Tatchell. The EPA confirmed that it had ruled out bearing part of the cost, an option suggested by VCAT in July.

Moorabool Shire sought urgent talks with Western Health management after revelations that a registered nurse position would be removed from the Bacchus Marsh Urgent Care centre in September. WH previously indicated the change was being considered as a response to demand at Bacchus Marsh, and the Melton Urgent Care facility.

 

Council completed the clean-up of the industrial waste from the road reserve at Merrimu. The clean-up of more than 1000 empty dissolved acetylene cylinders on two truck trailers took several days and was carried out in compliance with an EPA order.

Bacchus Marsh Cobras expressed their disappointment over the premature end to their BFLW footy season ahead of a proposed second semi-final against Redan, but Darley Devils completed a fairytale three-peat winning the BFLW premiership by 20 points against Redan.

Youthful energy and little green thumbs got Telford Park, Darley to look even lusher. 900 Bacchus Marsh Primary School students and staff were on site as part of a tree planting day to celebrate BMPS’ 175th year.

 

September

Ballan Library and Community Hub was officially opened with a plaque unveiling and public celebration. The $7.25 million building on Inglis Street offers traditional library services, digital resources, meeting, study, children and youth spaces, an art gallery space, visitor information, and Maternal and Child Health services.

The Darley Devils won the BFNL’s football and netball senior and A-grade premierships.

Moorabool Shire Council claimed repeated Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the EPA about illegally dumped industrial waste near Bacchus Marsh had been denied.

Trentham was crowned Australia’s top tiny tourism town and Member for Melton Steve McGhie announced he wouldn’t be seeking re-election in 2026.

 

October

An Inquiry and Advisory Committee began a lengthy program of public hearings on the Western Renewables Link (WRL) Environment Effects Statement (EES), and Wombat Regional Arts Network celebrated 25 years with a free event at Ballan Neighbourhood House.

Moorabool Shire Council’s dispute with the EPA over illegally dumped industrial cylinders near Bacchus Marsh attracted high-ranking support. The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) adopted a motion submitted by a Gippsland region municipality at its annual conference, backing the Shire in its campaign against being forced to pay for the removal of the cylinders.

A statewide illegal dumping summit was hosted by Moorabool Shire Council as part of its campaign against the practice.

Bacchus Marsh SES was awarded a Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program grant worth just over $45,000 from the State Government to upgrade its thirty-one-year-old kitchen, some electrics and lighting.

 

November

Moorabool Shire Council mayor Cr Paul Tatchell stood down from the position at the municipality’s statutory meeting. He had served his fifth term as mayor and his 13th year as a councillor.

Cr Steve Venditti-Taylor was elected the new mayor, with Cr Jarrod Bingham elected deputy.

The Ballan Jockey Club hosted the Ballan Cup at Geelong which was won by Fridge Monster and jockey Sheridan Clarke.

Ground was broken at the new Gordon kindergarten site adjacent to the primary school. It is expected to open for term one, 2026.

The new-look public park in the centre of Ballan was officially opened. McLean Reserve, at the corner of Fisken and Inglis streets, was upgraded this year at a total cost of $900,000. It includes a new shelter and stage for community events and performances, modern playground equipment and seating areas, a restoration of the historic horse trough, the return of the Moorabool Arts Pathways Program Up in Lights noticeboard, landscaped gardens, improved pathways, upgraded lighting and drainage, and a pavilion.

 

December

Moorabool Shire Council took the next step in its push for an indoor pool at MARC stadium in Bacchus Marsh, with a formal submission of a grant application to the Federal Government. Under the Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program, the Shire wants the government to deliver on a commitment, given by the Member for Hawke Sam Rae, of a $25 million contribution in the lead-up to the 3 May election. It would provide the remaining money needed to build the pool. The Shire has already contributed $15 million and the State Government has put forward $10 million.

The third stage of the Bald Hill redevelopment was opened with a community celebration. A free barbecue, coffee van and a walk along the 2.5-kilometre summit trail with the artists behind the sculpture trail took place alongside official proceedings.

After many years of campaigning, the recently legislated Wombat-Lederderg National Park was celebrated at an emotional event in Trentham.