Business Corangamite

19/01/2026

Look Over the Farm Gate applications are now open. Up to $5,000 for event funding. Take a look if you are considering running an event for the farming and supporting community.

In response to the bushfires and ongoing drought, Look Over the Farm Gate applications are opening today, Friday 16 January 🙌

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for events and activities that support mental health and wellbeing.

🤝Managed by the National Centre for Farmer Health on behalf of the Victorian Government.

15/01/2026

The Camperdown Newsagency has recently had a freshen up using the Business Assistance Scheme, Facade Improvement Program. The program is open all year round. Get in touch with the team today for more information.

14/01/2026

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will be available for Victorians impacted by the ongoing bushfires.

The allowance provides financial assistance to people residing or working in designated areas who have experienced partial or total income loss due to the bushfires. Employees and sole traders may receive up to 13 weeks of income support.

Applications will be accessible to eligible residents in Alpine, Ararat, Colac Otway, Corangamite, East Gippsland, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Horsham, Mansfield, Mildura, Mitchell, Moira, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi, Pyrenees, Strathbogie, Towong, Wellington, as well as the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort.​

To be eligible, your income must have fallen below the average Australian weekly income because of the bushfires.

This support is in addition to the already announced Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and other assistance jointly funded by the Australian Government and Victorian Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For more information or to apply:

👉 Applications open 2pm AEDT Thursday 15 January 2026. The quickest way to claim AGDRP and DRA is online through myGov.

🌐 Visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/disastersupport

📞 If you or someone you know needs help to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.

Further information is available at disasterassist.gov.au

14/01/2026

14/01/2026

13/01/2026

Dairy Australia and WestVic Dairy, as members of the South West Dairy Industry Leadership Group are working with industry partners to support dairy farmers to prepare and manage bushfire impacts. This united approach ensures help is co-ordinated, informed and responsive to community needs.

Learn what support is available: https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/news-repository/2026/01/13/bushfire-support-for-south-west-victoria

13/01/2026

Are you a farmer needing emergency fodder after the recent bushfires?

You can register to receive fodder as part of our Emergency Fodder Support Program.

🔗 Click https://www.vff.org.au/vff-emergencyfodderrequestform/ or call 1300 882 833

Agriculture Victoria CFA (Country Fire Authority) VFF Making Our Farms Safer Project VFF Stock Sense

11/01/2026

Emergency relief payments are now available for eligible people impacted by the January 2026 fires.

An emergency relief payment can help you to pay for things you need most, including:

✅ food
✅ clothing
✅ medication
✅ accommodation.

You can apply for this payment if:

👉 your principal place of residence was damaged or destroyed by the fires and you can’t live in it, or
👉 your principal place of residence was in an evacuation warning area, and you evacuated your property,

AND
👉 you have unmet immediate relief needs.

📞 Call the VicEmergency Hotline to apply for an Emergency Relief payment on 1800 226 226 (Press 0, then 1 to talk to someone or press 9 for an interpreter).

For more information go to https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/january-2026-fires

11/01/2026

We have developed a webpage with a list of resources for those impacted by the fires. 👉www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/SkiptonFire2026

This also includes the latest community newsletter from the Ararat Incident Control Centre.

Our Recovery Hub is open in Skipton until 4 pm today. Drinking water is also available here.

Skipton residents can drop off waste for free at the Skipton Transfer Station which is open from 1 - 5 pm today, and open again Wednesday and next Sunday.

08/01/2026

Lake Edge Cafe is located, as its name suggests, on the edge of Lake Purrumbete. You can visit Lois and the team Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Offering a lovely place to take a moment, enjoy the hospitality and take in the water's view.

08/01/2026

Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating tomorrow - Friday January 9

Under a catastrophic rating, conditions are the most dangerous for bushfires. If a fire starts, it will be fast-moving, unpredictable, and extremely difficult to control.

The following Council locations will be closed tomorrow:
• Port Campbell Visitor Information Centre
• Timboon and Derrinallum Transfer Stations
• Naroghid Transfer Station – closed to the public, commercial customers only
• Family daycare and childcare services
• Council swimming pools: Camperdown, Cobden, Lismore, Skipton, Terang, Timboon
• Libraries: Camperdown, Cobden, Derrinallum, Terang and Timboon, and Skipton Library book exchange
• Camperdown Stadium and Timboon Stadium, including gym access
• Community halls
• Walking Trails, including Mount Leura and Mount Sugarloaf Reserve, Mount Noorat, and Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng trail (Camperdown to Port Campbell)
• Mount Leura Road
• Local Laws officers will be responding to emergencies only.

Kerbside waste collection services in Terang, Noorat and Glenormiston will operate as normal, although collection will commence earlier.

Most importantly, stay safe and keep cool – and remember, in an emergency, leaving early is always the safest option.

Full media release: https://www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/Council/News-and-Media/Latest-News/CatastrophicFireDanger9January2026

Fitzmedia Productions / South West Local News

07/01/2026

Thinking of starting a business this year? Start with a self-review to make sure you're ready:

✅ Skills: financials, marketing, leadership. Do you have the toolkit to run a business?

💡 Idea validation: Is there real demand? Is it viable? How will you stand out?

💰 Funding and income: Have you calculated start-up and ongoing costs? Can you support yourself until the income flows?

🔄 Lifestyle impact: Are you ready for long hours and swings in work-life balance?

💪 Resilience: Can you stay motivated when times get tough and the payoff isn't immediate?

If you’re not fully ready yet, that’s okay too. You can sharpen your skills, test out your idea, or revisit the plan when the time’s right.

For more visit business.gov.au/are-you-ready