Ballarat and South West Victoria local news briefing, Monday, 14 September, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in the Ballarat and South West Victoria regions today.

A motorcyclist has died after reportedly hitting a pothole in Victoria's south-west on Sunday.

Police said officers were called to the Western Highway in Trawalla following reports a motorcycle "had struck a pothole and lost control" just before 1pm.

The rider, a 71-year-old Ballarat man, died at the scene.

Police said the exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations are ongoing. 

The grandmother of a 17-year-old girl who died in state care says more should have been done to protect her. 

In June this year, 17-year-old Mia* and her 26-year-old boyfriend Marcus*, whose names have both been changed for legal reasons, were found dead in a "squat house" in Ballarat that had no running water or power. 

A coronial inquiry in August heard the pair died from carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to have been from a barbecue or grill. 

Mia's grandmother told the ABC her granddaughter was let down by the system, which left her vulnerable. 

A spokesperson for her residential care provider Berry Street said it would be inappropriate to comment as the matter is still before the court.

Police have charged a Bandidos outlaw motorcycle member after a suspicious shop fire at Taylors Lakes early Friday morning. 

Police said the 32-year-old Delacombe man and a 42-year-old Melton man were later arrested in Delacombe. 

Detectives also raided several properties, including the Bandidos' clubhouse in Delacombe, as part of an ongoing investigation. 

It's alleged the 32-year-old was also involved in a shop fire in Melton earlier this month which left a man with life-threatening burns. 

The man has been charged with offences including recklessly cause serious injury, aggravated burglary and damage by fire, while the 42-year-old has been released pending summons. 

A court has ordered a health report be prepared for a south-west Victorian man accused of fatally dragging a koala behind his vehicle.

Koroit man Maurice Molan is charged with three offences under the wildlife and animal cruelty acts, after he tied a rope around a koala and dragged it behind his vehicle in March. 

The Warrnambool Magistrates Court heard Mr Molan's lawyers would argue their client had acted in an honest and reasonable way, as he believed the koala was already dead. 

The court also heard Mr Molan had dementia, with the judge adjourning the case and ordering a health report be prepared. 

The CFA said community feedback after the 2024 Pomonal fires in western Victoria has identified key areas of improvement around community bushfire preparedness and response.

The Pomonal community and the wider Grampians region were affected by two fires, 10 months apart, in 2024. 

The research found there are different understandings of what it means to leave early during a fire.

It also found residents want more specific information during bushfires, including what direction a fire is travelling, how long until it reaches them, and the best route out when warnings are published. 

Construction is underway on the expansion of Brown Hill Kindergarten in Ballarat.

The City of Ballarat and the state government have jointly funded the $2.65 million project, which plans to provide more student places and upgraded facilities.

The expansion near the Brown Hill Reserve in Reid Court will deliver a new 33-place kindergarten room, increasing the centre's total capacity to 99 places to meet the growing demand in the area.