Your local and independent news from the Prom Coast and South Gippsland.
It might seem cold and quiet, but there’s still plenty happening on the Prom Coast: a sinkhole opened up behind Foster's Foodworks, a Toora business owner is pushing to bring EV charging to the town, the FOGO bins have stirred some heated community debate, and Fish Creek played one of the games of the season in tribute to the late Damien Scully. Read on for all the stories, or grab this week's full digital edition here.
Thank you as always for reading and supporting your community newspaper. And don't forget to forward this email to your friends and family!
QUOTE OF THE FORTNIGHT
"To see our whole club front up and for the team to put our best performance of the year on display was a real show of character and unity." — Fish Creek coach Jarrad Walker, on the club's stirring victory and tribute to Damien Scully at the weekend's game against Thorpdale.
NEWS
New waste service stirs strong community reaction. The shift to fortnightly general waste collection and the arrival of FOGO bins has divided South Gippsland households, with families, medical needs and backyard composters all raising legitimate concerns. The Prom Coast News put the questions directly to Council, and Acting CEO Lucas Gardiner has responded. Read the full story →
Sinkhole scare reopens old wounds from Foster's mining past. A hole that started the size of a 50-cent piece grew to a metre square in front of Zavier Evans' eyes in the carpark behind Foster's Foodworks, revealing a chasm of roughly three cubic metres stretching toward the Exchange Hotel. The Exchange's Mark Daldy called it "disaster averted" — but not everyone is so relaxed about what might be lurking underfoot in a town built on gold-mining history. Read more →
Toora business owner pitches EV charging hub to put township on the map. Arron Crombie, co-proprietor of The Panton Store, wants to install a fast EV charger on his own land on Stanley Street — and he's arguing the case not just for local residents, but for the highway travellers who will stop, charge, and spend money in town. Read more →
Bird flu update: experts call for active surveillance as virus spreads. H5N1 is now confirmed in 12 birds across three states, including an Australian coastal seabird in South Australia — a significant development. International experts are calling for urgent active surveillance of beaches and wetlands, and BirdLife Australia is asking every birder and nature lover to write to their MP. If you see a sick or dead bird, do not touch it — call 1800 675 888. Read more →
COMMUNITY
The sinkhole wasn't the only thing emerging from the ground this fortnight. Corner Inlet Landcare Group kicked off their planting season in Toora, with 22 volunteers putting in 1,200 mixed forest trees and shrubs, with the Friends of Agnes Falls' purpose-built trailer arriving loaded with plants to help power the effort. That group is winding up after 14 years, and longtime secretary Kathy Whelan has headed to Coffs Harbour for a new chapter. Friends of Stockyard Creek also planted 500 plants provided by the WGCMA last Sunday. They gather on the first Sunday of each month at the Foster EV charging station car park if you'd like to join them.
LIFESTYLE
No Promises are bringing their new album Siren to Quirky Bar in Leongatha this Friday 17 July at 7pm for a pre-release vinyl listening party — and every Bandcamp pre-order could help Janine and Eric reach the ARIA charts in their first week. Stockyard Gallery is hosting Paywoottar: Long Time Ago until Monday 27 July, an exhibition featuring works by Lisa Kennedy, Sue Gilford, Sharon Monk and Michelle Gibson. Book reviews from Foster's Atticus Bookstore are in this week's edition, covering everything from Elizabeth Strout to Patrick Ness. And Pat O'Malley takes us inside the remarkable world of Southern Boobooks and owls in this week's Bird's Eye View.
SPORT
Fish Creek's 129-49 demolition of Thorpdale was the performance of the round — and it was played with enormous heart for Damien Scully, the 2023 premiership player and beloved club figure who lost his battle with brain cancer last week. Meanwhile, Foster put 203 on Toora but the more interesting story from the Tigers was a near miss the round before, when Stony Creek had them seven goals to one down before Foster stormed home to win by 17. Meanwhile, Tarwin's big win over Hill End could prove significant come finals time. MDU got past Morwell East and Mirboo North took a low-scoring win over Stony Creek.
Subscribe to read a digital copy of the paper or grab your printed copy at supermarkets and service stations around the Prom Coast.
SUBSCRIBE Independent, community-owned news from Foster, Meeniyan, Stony Creek, Buffalo, Fish Creek, Port Franklin, Toora, Port Welshpool, Welshpool, Yanakie, Tidal River, Waratah Bay, Sandy Point, Walkerville, Tarwin Lower and Venus Bay.
To subscribe, advertise or submit a story, get in touch!
