Stories that shaped south-west Victoria in 2024

Watch: stories that shaped south-west Victoria in 2024.

Transcript

00:00Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever been in a place like this before.

00:112024 was a year of change and challenges for Warrnambool and the Southwest, from infrastructure

00:16struggles to moments of triumph and heartbreaking tragedies. This is a look back at the stories

00:21that shaped our region. In January, the community was shaken by the closure of Tasty Plate,

00:27a not-for-profit cafe that provided jobs for some of our most vulnerable.

00:32After losing nearly a million dollars over four years, its doors shut for good,

00:36taking two other cafes with it and leaving staff and participants in limbo. Our roads,

00:43often called the lifelines of the region, had a rough year. With nearly 500 kilometers in

00:48dire condition, repairs were criticized as band-aids or bullet holes. And with a massive

00:5396% drop in funding for repairs last year, it's no wonder locals are frustrated. The state's

00:59promised 964 million road blitz offers hope, but will it be enough? The Warrnambool train line saw

01:06a long-awaited upgrade with the arrival of velocity trains, but celebrations quickly

01:11turned to frustration as overcrowding, limited seating and no snack cars left passengers asking,

01:18was this really an upgrade? Still, extra services and vending machines were added.

01:23Our health system faced its own hurdles. Plans to merge regional hospitals were scrapped after

01:29public backlash, but budget cuts still loomed large. Warrnambool Base Hospital's 384 million

01:35redevelopment lost critical features including a kitchen and underground parking as costs spiraled.

01:42Construction is set to begin in 2025, but the challenges remain. Severe weather tested the

01:48region yet again, with flash floods inundating parts of Warrnambool, despite research drainage

01:54upgrades. It's a stark reminder of how climate change is reshaping our challenges, especially

01:59as sea level rise predictions increased this year. But through the challenges, we also celebrated.

02:05South Warrnambool's football and netball teams clinched back-to-back premierships,

02:10while Naranda achieved an unbeaten season in both sports.

02:14The region's passion for community and sport remains unmatched. And on the global stage,

02:20Camperdown's Grace Brown brought home gold in cycling, while Penny Smith earned bronze in

02:25trap shooting. Their achievements remind us all of the talent and determination this region fosters.