Gippsland › Latest news › South Gippsland Local News
Shape South Gippsland community engagement and other council updates
South Gippsland Shire Council initiatives, programs and other updates.
The Shaping South Gippsland community engagement ends this weekend and Council would like to extend a big "thank you" to everyone who provided feedback. During the engagement we heard from over 500 people and this information will help to inform the development of key plans for South Gippsland including the 2040 Community Vision, the 2025 - 2029 Council Plan and the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan.
Thank you to everyone who joined the Shaping South Gippsland engagement! Special thanks to 11-year-old Oscar McGrath for his inspiring vision and enthusiasm
Shaping our future
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Shaping South Gippsland engagement over the last three weeks. A special shout-out to 11-year-old Oscar McGrath from Foster, who shared his vision for South Gippsland with great patience and enthusiasm. Oscar's passion was truly refreshing and inspiring.
Community members like Oscar, who engage openly and respectfully with Council, help us better understand and represent our community. If you missed this opportunity, be sure to share your thoughts next time. You can also contact any Councillor with your ideas. You can find their details at the South Gippsland Shire Council website. If you haven't had your say yet, there is still a little bit of time. The Shaping South Gippsland website closes this Sunday.
Make good happen
South Gippsland Shire Council is pleased to be involved in the Municipal Association of Victoria's 'Make Good Happen' federal election campaign. This campaign unifies councils to advocate for positive change within our communities, focusing on five key pillars:
- Make Community Infrastructure Happen
- Make Safer Roads Happen
- Make Fairer Energy Happen
- Make Resilient Communities Happen
- Make Local Democracy Happen
Mayor John Schelling is proud to represent Council and the local government sector as one of the campaign's key spokespeople, specifically on Making Fairer Energy Happen. For more information, visit Municipal Association of Victoria ( MAV ) website.
This Sunday is Clean Up Australia Day! Join community events in South Gippsland at Venus Bay (8:30am) or Port Welshpool (9:00am) to get involved
Clean Up Australia Day
This Sunday is Clean Up Australia Day and there are several events scheduled in South Gippsland for those who want to get involved. Join the community at Venus Bay from 8.30am, meeting at the Venus Bay Surf Lifesaving Club (Beach 1 Car Park), or at Port Welshpool from 9.00am, meeting outside the Rusty Gurnard Hotel (85 Lewis Street). If you would like to host your own event, you can register online at the Clean Up Australia Day website.
Council meeting
The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 19 March 2025 at 2.00pm. To watch the most recent Council Meeting, please visit Council Meeting YouTube channel.
To view the 2025 Council Meeting dates, head to Council Meeting Dates page. For further information, visit South Gippsland Shire Council website.
South Gippsland Shire Council seeks community members for the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee to promote equity and develop the Action Plan. Monthly meetings in Leongatha or online
Expression of interest
South Gippsland Shire Council is seeking community members to join the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee. The Committee addresses access and inclusion issues, promotes equity, and develops the Access and Inclusion Action Plan. Meetings are held monthly in Leongatha, with an online option available.
If you are passionate about making South Gippsland more accessible and inclusive, we encourage you to apply at the Your Say South Gippsland website.
What's On South Gippsland
South Gippsland Garlic Festival
Get ready for the South Gippsland Garlic Festival, Victoria's biggest celebration of Australian garlic, on Saturday 8 March from 9.00am to 6.00pm.
Enjoy a fun-filled day learning about, tasting and purchasing a wide variety of garlic. The festival features over 70 stallholders, including Aussie growers, food vendors with garlic-inspired dishes, local chef demonstrations, an educational hub, breweries, winemakers, live entertainment, kid's activities, and more. Don't miss out on this exciting event!
Join the South Gippsland Garlic Festival on Saturday, 8 March, for a full day of garlic tastings, cooking demos, live entertainment, and more!
Festival of Small Halls
The Festival of Small Halls Tour is coming to South Gippsland this March. Featuring Lucy Farrell and, Hat Fitz and Cara, this travelling lineup of live music will be activating 18 small halls around Victoria.
The Festival will be at the Tarwin Lower Mechanics Institute on Friday 28 March and Mirboo North Hall on Saturday 29 March. Book your tickets now by clicking below, and enjoy an evening of toe-tapping tunes.
Catch the tour at Tarwin Lower Mechanics Institute on Friday, 28 March, and Mirboo North Hall on Saturday, 29 March 2025
Visit South Gippsland
To see what's on in South Gippsland, please head to the Visit South Gippsland website. Here you can see the latest events, find places to stay and eat, and even find a fun weekend activity. To know more, proceed to Visit South Gippsland website.
Your community
International Women's Day
Celebrate International Women's Day with South Gippsland Hospital. They will be hosting a lunch on Wednesday 5 March from 12.30pm at the Community Health Centre in Foster. All are welcome to come along and enjoy this event. Please call 5683 9777 to RSVP.
Join South Gippsland Hospital for morning tea and an informative session on aged care navigation for over-65s, Wednesday 12 February, 10am-12pm, Banksia Centre, Foster
Aged Care Info Session
Join South Gippsland Hospital for a morning tea and an informative session on navigating the aged care system for those over 65. It will be held on Wednesday 12 February from 10.00am to 12.00pm at the Banksia Centre, South Gippsland Hospital, Foster.
The Session will touch on topics such as home care packages, local services, health and wellbeing, independent living, advanced care planning, patient transport, and active lifestyles. Please call 5683 9777 to RSVP.
Funding opportunities
Community Grants
South Gippsland Shire Council's second round of Community Grants are closing soon. Community Grants are an opportunity for Council to give back to local clubs and community groups who give so much to others.
Grants can be used for both minor and major projects and equipment, planning and developing reports, and festivals and events. Applications close Monday 31 March. For more information and to send your application, visit South Gippsland Shire Council - Grants website.
Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal
The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal have a number of funding opportunities currently open for application:
- In a Good Place (mental health support)
Applications close 11 March - Telstra's Connected Communities
Applications close 20 March - Strengthening Rural Communities - Round 24
Applications closes 27 March - Rebuilding Futures
Applications close 3 April
For more information and to apply , visit Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) website.
Community training
Small Business Mentoring
Are you a small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur? Register for a free virtual one-on-one mentoring session! Get personalised advice and insights from experienced mentors to help you start, grow, or manage your business successfully.
Reserve a time that suits you on Thursday 6 March for convenient online support. For more information and to register, please visit the Small Business Mentoring Service website.
Join our Social Media and Content Marketing Workshop on Tuesday, 18 March, 5:30pm-8:30pm, at Council Chambers (Meeting Room 1), 2 Michael Place, Leongatha
Social Media and Content Marketing Workshop
Are you a small business owner looking to master social media? Join our Social Media and Content Marketing Workshop on Tuesday 18 March from 5.30pm to 8.30pm at the Council Chambers (Meeting Room 1), 2 Michael Place, Leongatha.
This workshop will inspire you to create compelling content to engage your audience, use the right platform to reach your target market, and enhance your content marketing and social media skills. Spots are filling up quickly, so book now to secure your place.
Whether you're new or experienced, this workshop will help you secure project funding. Choose from two online sessions to participate
Smarty Grants 101
Do you have a question about the Council's Community Grants Program? Not sure of what the process is for applying for grants? Wondering what SmartyGrants is? Whether you're a beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, this Workshop is designed to help you succeed in securing funding for your projects. There are two online sessions to choose from. Simply pick a time that suits you to level up your community group's chance at securing funding.
Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/
Published by: news@gippsland.com

Community feedback strengthens Wellington's Road Management Plan, highlighting priorities for road upgrades

East Gippsland kids invited to join and send entries for National Water Week poster competition by 12 September 2025

Future Wellington Community feedback shapes draft plans, final input invited before 16 July 2025

Gippsland Water commits to keeping customer bills affordable despite cost of living pressures

Have your say on Latrobe's draft Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026 - 2029 until 29 July 2025

Latrobe City Council endorses new Council Plan and Community Vision 2025-2029 to guide Latrobe's future growth

Wellington Shire Councillors advocate for region's needs at National Local Government Assembly in Canberra on 24 - 27 June 2025

East Gippsland tourism and hospitality masterclass to build sustainable, resilient businesses and grow positive

Southern Rural Water celebrates 30 years of service with modernisation, partnerships and sustainable water
