Politics & Council

New council plan framework for thriving communities

A NEW plan for thriving Loddon communities has gone out for public comment. A special meeting of shire councillors on Tuesday received the draft community vision 2035 and council plan for 2025-2029. The plan says Loddon will have thriving...

14 hours ago

North focus in next child care push

THE Federal Government has been told it should spend a promised $5 million for Loddon child care in the shire’s north. Mayor Dan Straub gave the message to the office of Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh during a visit to Canberra last...

14 Sep 2025

Treaty talks must be transparent, says Hosking

THERE must be transparency in moves by the State Government to legislate an indigeneous treaty, Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Brett Hosking said after Tuesday’s announcement. “It is critical that such a significant piece of policy...

14 Sep 2025

Rural revolt rolls into region: loud Scrap the Tax calls

HUNDREDS of volunteer firefighters and farmers have converged on Bendigo today protesting the State Government’s controversial emergency services levy. An estimated 1000 people were at Weeroona Oval, many from Loddon communities including...

14 Sep 2025

Put stop to being poorly treated

Burden on country communities grows alarmingly, writes Gaelle Broad REGIONAL Victorians are proud, resilient and community-minded. We work hard, look out for each other, and contribute enormously to the state’s economy. But right now, our...

10 Sep 2025

Firies target area in next tax protest

DISGRUNTLED CFA volunteers are making central Victoria their next protest point against the State Government’s controversial emergency services tax. Leaders of several Loddon brigades say they will join the protest in Bendigo on September 14...

09 Sep 2025

Mining plans are shafted

PLANS for low-level gold mining at Llanelly has been scuttled by Loddon Shire Council. Councillors last week backed the recommendation of planning officer Darcy Jackson to refuse a planning permit for mining on a property in Alexander Lane. Mr...

07 Sep 2025

Land law fines get through with crossbench backing

FARMERS will be fined if they lock transmission companies out of their land after controversial new laws were passed in State Parliament late Thursday night. The Government had backing from Animal Justice Party’s member for Northern Victoria Region...

29 Aug 2025

Premier’s not a country friend

Government’s policies are working against rural Victoria, writes Dan Straub AT THIS point in time, for many it feels like every way you turn there is something closing in on you. What do you mean you may ask? Well, if you own and work on a farm...

27 Aug 2025

Seeing red: shire rate notice says blame government

RATES notices with thick red boxes have started appearing in Loddon letterbox as the shire council rams home its message that it has been forced to collect the State Government’s controversial new emergency services tax. The tax is tipped to add...

19 Aug 2025

Night owls find faults on roads

MORE than 200 defects have been detected by Loddon Shire in its night inspections of 770km of council roads. It said 168 related to signs needing to be replaced or repaired, including 71 hazard or warning signs, 32 regulatory signs and 23...

11 Aug 2025

You can go and get stuffed! Walsh invokes Castle line in opposing land access law bid

PROTESTORS on the steps of Parliament House had a simple message for Premier Jacinta Allan. As Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh finished his part in debate opposing the Government’s National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform)...

10 Aug 2025

VNI’s blowout billions

Renewed anger after report tips $11 billion bill THE cost of Victoria controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line project could blowout to more than $11 billion. Australian Energy Market Operator’s admission that the project had...

10 Aug 2025

Mums will have a legacy in centre

I KNOW how hard local mums and families in Wedderburn fought to get a child care centre in their town. I remember meeting many of them back in 2022 and how much their stories stayed with me. Of babies in play pens at the local butcher, toddlers...

09 Aug 2025