Year in review

JANUARY

Baw Baw Shire’s chief executive officer Helen Anstis has resigned. She will finish up at Baw Baw Shire in early February to take up an executive director position with Services Victoria.

Warragul and Drouin retailers reported an overall positive end to their trading years, but town business groups continue to encourage more people to shop local.

An elderly Warragul couple is horrified at a proposal to build a roundabout just two metres from their front gate. Adding to the shock, Neil and Heather Reeves who have lived at 58 Albert St for 52 years learnt of the proposed plans via a letter drop.

Timber mills at Noojee, Powelltown and Longwarry are under threat as the state government moves to finalise decisions on the future of Gippsland’s forestry industry. The three mills, which employ more than 100 people and extensively use local services, will close if the government creates a Great Forest National Park.

Optometrist John Farmer and Paralympic gold medallist Jayden Warn received Order of Australia medals, while Neerim South’s Glen Chapman also made the Australia Day honours list, receiving an Ambulance Service Medal for 28 years of service.

FEBRUARY

Eight car parking spaces will be lost once current streetscape works in Smith St are completed, but Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci said new car parking spaces would be created as works progress in other central business district areas.

A $10.9 million tender for redevelopment of the West Gippsland Arts Centre has been approved by Baw Baw Shire. Community members cheered councillors when they voted five to three to accept the tender.

A new West Gippsland Hospital estimated to cost more than $300 million will be built if a Coalition government is elected. Opposition leader Matthew Guy was in Warragul to announce the Coalition’s commitment to a new hospital on a greenfield site at Drouin East.

A $9.3 million windfall to the West Gippsland Hospital will deliver a new operating theatre and eight more beds in the emergency department.

MARCH

Warragul hydroponics firm Flavorite starts an $11.5 million expansion plan that will boost jobs and export opportunities. The company, established at Warragul in 1990, will build a new 4.3 hectare glasshouse on the Copelands Rd property.

Thousands of people attended the Thorpdale Potato Festival to celebrate the industry at the heart of the town.

Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent said “he’s ready to go to war” against his own Federal government and previous ones. The issue is the number of aged care beds allocated to community owned not for profit providers, he said.

APRIL

A strong gust of wind, described by witnesses as a “mini tornado” hit Trafalgar, ripping down the façade of a Waterloo Rd building.

With less than a month before new and expanded intra-town bus services begin in Warragul and Drouin, a number of residents are complaining about bus stops proposed in front of, or close to, their houses.

A two per cent rate rise will be presented to Baw Baw Shire councillors when they consider the first budget of their term since being elected.

February: Starting school has been a big adventure in itself for prep students but Neerim District Rural Primary School has a new playground to make the school year more exciting. Playing on the playground are (from left) Laura Freeman, Lily Brajkovic,...

February: Story time was the theme of the 2017 Ficifolia Festival in Drouin. Cherie Baillie from Fable Workshop Faeries took part in the street parade.

April: School is back and so is the bell at Lardner District Primary School. Student Troy Griffin leapt with joy at its return after the old bell had been stolen.

January: Snake catcher Ben Barcham secures a red bellied black snake at a residential property in Trafalgar.