June 17, 2026

Here is what is making news for June 17, 2026.================================Otway Tentcare will shortly be reopening asking Colac locals to donate tents to help provide shelter for those affecting by homelessness.Colac Salvation Army's Josiah Van Niekerk says the winter month can be harsh, and any help would be much appreciated.================================================================The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says Regional Victoria holds the key to the state’s future prosperity ahead of the next state election.CEO Sally Curtain says decades of underinvestment, rising business costs, workforce shortages and growing infrastructure pressures are limiting the Colac Otway region's potential.================================================================Lismore residents are celebrating the completion of a two-hundred-thousand-dollar footbridge replacement project, set to officially open this Sunday.================================================================The Corangamite Shire Council is set to crown it's 2026 Business Award winners tonight.Mayor Kate Makin says they look forward to the annual celebration. ================================================================Otways communities affected by the January blazes are being urged to tap into a new four-hundred-thousand-dollar funding pool aimed at supporting mental health and bushfire recovery.================================================================Dozens of Forrest residents and landholders braved rain and cold temperatures on Saturday for a community forum titled, "What’s going on with our River?".Hosted by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority alongside Barwon Water, the event at the Forrest Community Hub detailed the current health and ongoing restoration of the upper Barwon River. ================================================================AND IN SPORTThe future of local sport is back on the agenda for the Colac and District Football Netball League, with A-F-L Barwon launching a major twelve-month review.Titled the Barwon Blueprint, the project will analyze competition structures, club sustainability, and competitive balance. ================================================================A proposed shake-up by Cricket Victoria could see the Colac District Cricket Association move to the Western Waves region.Under a new governance model aimed for the twenty-six twenty-seven season, the C-D-C-A would split from Geelong and Bellarine. ================================================================See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.