Surf Coast Shire Council

09/09/2026

🏡 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞?
We want to hear from people from hinterland to coast as part of 'Voices from Home', our 2026 Creative Initiative Project led by artist Megan J Riedl.
The project will collect spoken and written reflections, memories, experiences, touchpoints and ideas of home, and culminate in a live community performance in November, capturing sense of community and place.
Share stories online or by phone, or join one of our creative writing workshops, at no cost.
👉 Find out more and get involved via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/VoicesFromHome
The workshops will be in:
📍 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐚 — Saturday 19 September, 11am–1.30pm
📍 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡 — Sunday 4 October, 1pm–3.30pm
📍 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐲 — Saturday 17 October, 11am–1.30pm
You don’t need to be a writer or artist to take part. Everyone has a story to share.

09/09/2026

🚴‍♀️ Amy's Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo returns this Sunday 13 September. Thousands of cyclists are in for a spectacular ride, taking in the coast and hinterland.

The event - via Amy's Foundation - also helps make cycling safer in Australia as it strives for zero deaths and injuries of people riding bikes on the roads.

ℹ For event details, including changed traffic conditions, visit https://www.surfcoastevents.com.au/event/amys-great-ocean-road-gran-fondo/

Closed roads. Incredible views. Thousands of riders. One unforgettable day.
Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo – Sunday 13 September
Whether you’re chasing a personal best, riding with mates, or soaking up one of Australia’s most spectacular cycling routes, there’s a distance for everyone.
👉 For more information head to www.surfcoastevents.com.au
Amy's Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo
Surf Coast Shire Council Inspired By Surf Coast Visit the Great Ocean Road

08/09/2026

Our School Holiday Program is here!

Find Your Niche is all about trying something new, meeting new people and hopefully the start of a new hobby.

We have teamed up with great providers to create a range of fun activities.

Across the shire we have pottery, glass fusing, pickleball, lino printmaking, fitness and nutrition, and a loaded brownie cooking workshop.

Programs are open to young people aged 12 to 17 who live or go to school on the Surf Coast.

The Winchelsea programs are open to young people aged 10 to 17.

Do one or all events, but be quick as places are limited and sessions will definitely fill up.

Tickets and more information:
https://events.humanitix.com/host/surfcoastyouth

All programs are free to attend.

For more information, please send us a message or email [email protected]

07/09/2026

REMINDER: H5 Bird Flu community meeting – tonight

The Victorian Government's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will lead a meeting for the Surf Coast community about the H5 Bird Flu outbreak.

Monday 7 September 5.30pm-7pm.
Surf Coast Shire Council office building, 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay

There will be speakers from each of the agencies involved in the local response, and an opportunity to ask questions.

All community members are welcome. There is no need to register.

Can’t attend in person? You can watch a live stream via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/birdflu.

04/09/2026

🌟 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬!🌟
Our annual Local Legends program celebrates some standout people who are making a real difference in our shire. 🧡
Today’s feature Legend is George Carman, Multi Arts Centre (MAC) Torquay.
👉 Read about George and our other Local Legends’ inspiring stories: surfcoast.vic.gov.au/LocalLegends

04/09/2026

🚧 Repairs to the historic Pollocksford Road Bridge will start in November. 🚧

Works will include:
🔨 Replacing the bridge deck.
🧱 Repairing the bluestone abutments.
🏗️ Refurbishing the steel structure.
🛡️ Installing new barriers and guardrails.
🌿 Protecting the river with enclosed scaffolding and environmental controls.

The bridge will be closed to all traffic, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, when works begin.
The project is jointly funded by Surf Coast Shire and Golden Plains Shire, with Surf Coast Shire Council managing the works.

04/09/2026

Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre is almost 85% complete!

Sustainability is at the heart of the new centre in north Torquay, with 490kW of solar panels now installed across the roof.☀️

The centre will operate without on-site usage of fossil fuels, with an airtight building design, lower pool hall ceilings and low-profile glazing also helping to reduce heat loss and energy use. All rainwater will also be retained and reused onsite.

Construction update:
✅All 3 pools and the spa are tiled🏊
🛠️The splash park is taking shape 🛝
🛠️Fit-out of the gym, café, sauna and steam room is underway🏋️‍♀️🥪🧖‍♀️

The centre remains on track to open in early 2027.

The centre is jointly funded by the Victorian Government, the Australian Government and Surf Coast Shire Council.

👉surfcoast.vic.gov.au/aquatic

03/09/2026

😡 Illegal dumping costs ratepayers money. 😡

Just last week, Council staff had to put other work on hold to collect parts of a dismantled caravan strewn along a rural road, then clean up the area and pay the landfill disposal fees. (There's no rubbish fairy to take care of it...)

Even more annoying: much of the rubbish we have to deal with can be taken to a transfer station for FREE, like car batteries, cardboard boxes, old appliances and electronics, polystyrene, metal fencing, old BBQs and more.

What can YOU do?
👉 Keep an eye out for suspicious dumping activity.

👉 If you see someone dumping rubbish, don’t approach them, but get as many details as you safely can like:
#⃣ Vehicle registration number #⃣
🚘 Vehicle make, model and colour 🚘
🧟‍♀️ Description of the person 🧟‍♀️
📍 Time and location 📍
⚠ Any other identifying details ⚠

👉 Report what you’ve seen to Council on our website.

Every report is investigated by Council’s Litter Prevention Officer, and fines of up to $10,000 may apply.

03/09/2026

If you want to work in a licensed alcohol-serving venue (like a bar, pub, restaurant or bottle shop perhaps), you must have an RSA qualification.

We are pleased to make this training available to the community at these upcoming courses:

📅 Monday 14 September - Winchelsea Shire Hall
📅 Tuesday 15 September - Torquay Community House

👉 These are free to attend, just register with the links in the comments.

02/09/2026

H5 Bird Flu - community meeting

The Victorian Government's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will lead a meeting for the Surf Coast community about the H5 Bird Flu outbreak.

Monday 7 September 5.30pm-7pm.
Surf Coast Shire Council office building, 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay

There will be speakers from each of the agencies involved in the local response, and an opportunity to ask questions.

All community members are welcome to attend. 

The meeting will also be livestreamed via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/birdflu.