Your local and independent news from the Prom Coast and South Gippsland.
What’s happening on the Prom Coast this fortnight? Fish Creek has taken its decades-old sewage problem back to Council, Toora is rallying to reopen its beloved Royal Standard Hotel, the offshore wind auction is finally live, and the Corner Inlet Stingrays have made history with a double premiership. Read on for all the stories, or grab the latest digital edition here.
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Quote of the fortnight "I know what a pub means to a town, and being the only one in the town, I would have opened it without the liquor licence again if we had to." — Royal Standard Hotel owner Adrian Darby, on reopening Toora's beloved pub.
NEWS
Fish Creek takes its sewage problem to Council. Every Fish Creek resident knows the whiff that haunts the town in the warmer months. It's a problem that has been going on for decades. Last week the Fish Creek Community Development Group presented South Gippsland Shire Council with a detailed case for urgent action. Multiple feasibility studies, council plans and environmental reports spanning from 2008 to 2022 all point to the same conclusion: Fish Creek needs a proper sewerage system. Without one, the township faces ongoing risks to public health, the environment, business viability and 500,000 annual visitors heading to the Prom. Read the full story →
Toora rallies to reopen the Royal Standard. The Royal Standard Hotel has sat behind steel barricades since February 2025, when storm damage to its roof and balcony led Council to rule it unsafe. Last year was the first Christmas and New Year in nearly 140 years without a beer at the Standard. Frustrated locals recently sat down with pub owner Adrian Darby to hear the situation for themselves, and what emerged was less a story of inaction than a protracted insurance stand-off. Read more →
Victoria's offshore wind auction opens. Australia's first offshore wind auction is now live, with the Victorian Government opening its Request for Proposal process for the first two gigawatts of offshore wind capacity. South Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils, which have already secured $4.7 million in federal funding to plan for the infrastructure demands ahead, are calling for a structured government coordination framework to ensure the region captures the jobs and economic benefits while managing community impacts. Read more →
COMMUNITY
Book Week brought out fierce Gauls, giant peaches and a memorable Max from Where the Wild Things Are at Foster and Fish Creek primary schools last week, with students, teachers and Prom Coast Kindergarteners all joining in the celebrations. The SGH Auxiliary has donated two falls alarms and two pressure-injury prevention mattresses to South Gippsland Hospital. Koonwarra's Colin "Stocky" Stockdale has received the CFA's Outstanding Service Medal for 63 years of dedication. The Foster Op Shop is looking for volunteers and the Prom Coast News is seeking community-minded Board members — email hello@promcoast.news or call Kaye Rodden on 0438 317 499.
LIFESTYLE
FAMDA's One Act Play Festival wrapped up its best-attended year yet; Ann-Maree Gentile's I Heart South Gippy exhibition opens at Stockyard Gallery from 3 September, bringing together 24 local artists responding to the place they call home and FAMDA invites the community to a free play reading of the Australian comedy Bondi Legal on 18 September at Manna Gum Community House from 6.30pm — BYO nibbles. Plus, don't miss Horns of Leroy at the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre on 12 September, with support from the Foster Secondary College Big Band and Bec's Bonny Boners. Community BBQ from 5pm, tickets $25.
SPORT
The Corner Inlet Stingrays made history with a double Grand Final triumph on Sunday. The Under 10s held off a brave Moe challenge to win 2.3 (15) to 1.4 (10), while the Under 12s were equally brilliant, with a 4.3 (27) to 1.6 (12) win over Moe. The MGFNL Senior Grand Final is set, with Fish Creek defeating Yinnar 12.10 (82) to 7.9 (51) in a bruising preliminary final, with Jackson Wiedemann the best player on the park with three goals. Foster await Fish Creek at Meeniyan Recreation Reserve next Saturday 12 September, bounce 2.45pm, in a replay of last year's premiership decider. Full Grand Final program at Meeniyan from 8am, with football and netball across all grades.
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