The Bacchus Marsh Strawberry and Cherry Festival returns to the Victorian town for three days in November. Festivities begin on Friday 13 November at Village Green, with market stalls, food trucks, entertainment and carnival rides. Saturday 14 November is the biggest day, ending with a fireworks display at 9.30pm. Local farms open for fruit picking across the weekend. A shuttle bus runs between Bacchus Marsh railway station and the festival areas on Saturday and Sunday, with a gold coin donation welcomed.
House prices in Victoria's regions rose 6.7 per cent over the past year, even as the Melbourne market slowed after interest rate rises. Glenelg recorded the biggest jump, with prices climbing more than a quarter in 12 months. Agents in Portland and Ararat say interstate investors are driving demand, while limited listings push prices up. Mansfield was one of the few areas where the median house price fell, dropping by more than $75,000 in the September quarter. Experts say regional areas are attracting buyers through relative affordability and more job options.
Ararat Rural City Council has begun a four-week program of road and footpath repairs across the municipality, investing about $100,000. The works include patching, dig-out repairs and spray sealing on local roads, lanes and footpaths, at sites including Red Hill Road, Geelong Road and Frontage Road. Chief Executive Officer Phuong Au said the program reflects the council's ongoing maintenance commitment, with a further repair blitz planned around Easter next year. Residents can report road and footpath damage through the Snap Send Solve app, and reports will now receive updates better linked to the council's repair processes.
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Police have arrested two protesters during a stand-off over the removal of culturally significant trees on the Western Highway in western Victoria. The 12-kilometre duplication between Buangor and Ararat has long been contentious because the trees are sacred to Djab Wurrung people. Yaraan Couzens-Bundle said about 20 protesters at the site opposed removing any culturally significant trees and did not endorse a cultural management plan approved in March. Police said a man and a woman were arrested for refusing to leave a restricted access area and were released pending summons.
Ararat Rural City Council is urging residents to start preparing their homes, gardens, farms and rural properties for the coming fire season. Suggested steps include clearing long grass, removing leaves and bark, pruning branches and testing water tanks, pumps and firefighting equipment. Council will carry out annual fire prevention inspections later in the season. Eligible properties in high to extreme fire risk areas can receive green waste vouchers to help with clean-up costs. Residents can contact the council's Customer Service team for eligibility advice.
Ararat Rural City Council has appointed Phuong Au as its new Chief Executive Officer for a four-year term starting 1 October 2026. Councillors endorsed the appointment at their August meeting, following a public recruitment process run by an external consultancy. Current chief executive Dr Tim Harrison will retire on 30 September 2026, bringing his retirement forward. Ms Au first joined the council in 2023 and became Deputy Chief Executive Officer in 2025. Mayor Bob Sanders said she was a standout candidate.
