Geelong council has urged dog owners to dispose of their pets' waste properly after receiving more complaints about bags left on the ground, hanging from trees or thrown over fences. Councillor Elise Wilkinson said dog owners should carry a bag or device and use public bins or take waste home. Anyone caught leaving animal waste or not carrying bags or a device may be fined $418. Mayor Stretch Kontelj said most owners already act responsibly and that leaving bags behind simply moves the problem elsewhere.
District resident Greg Trotter says one section of Coragulac-Beeac Road has been fully resurfaced twice in 12 months. He says the work should have gone to other areas of the road instead.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council is asking residents and community groups to nominate people, groups and events for the 2027 Australia Day Awards. Nominations close at 4.00pm on Friday, 4 December 2026. This year the council has added a Community Group/Event of the Year award, which recognises groups or events that have made a meaningful contribution to community life during 2026. Previously unsuccessful nominees may be nominated again. Nomination forms are available from council offices in Cootamundra and Gundagai, and can be submitted online, emailed or returned to council offices.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Brewarrina Shire Council has opened nominations for its 2027 Australia Day Awards, which recognise people, organisations and events across the shire. Nominations close on Monday 30 November 2026 and can be lodged online, through the council website, or at council offices. An independent committee will review entries. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Brewarrina Memorial Pool on 26 January 2027. Mayor Tom Stanton encouraged residents to nominate people who have shown dedication, service or excellence.
An opinion piece argues that when local open space is fenced off for restricted use, the public loses part of its neighbourhood. It says public parks and community-held lots exist for everyone.
Pigeon droppings have become a major issue in Pinnaroo, a small town in South Australia's Murray Mallee. Local businesses and the primary school are spending hundreds of dollars weekly to clean up the mess, which has damaged machinery, blocked gutters, and contaminated drinking water. The Southern Mallee Council has been organising eradication efforts for the past 18 months, but the pigeons keep returning. Residents and the council are concerned about the impact on public amenities and buildings.
