Central Victoria local news briefing: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in Central Victoria today.

The Loddon Valley Highway between Bendigo and Kerang has been ranked among the three most dangerous regional roads in Victoria.

More than 6,000 people took part in the RACV's latest My Country Road survey, which identified stretches of the Princes Highway West between Colac and Camperdown and Portland and Port Fairy as the state's two most dangerous regional roads.

Potholes and deteriorating road surfaces were the biggest concern statewide, raised by 71 per cent of respondents.

RACV said it would use the findings to push the state government for targeted investment.

The family of a man who died in Bendigo's Black Saturday bushfires says damage to a bushfire memorial is disappointing and upsetting.

A sealed window at the memorial in Ironbark, displaying items salvaged from the bushfire, was recently found smashed.

A spokesperson for the Bendigo council said a replacement window had been ordered and items left behind were being safely held.

Jill Ryan, who lost her brother Mick Kane on Black Saturday, said the memorial was a special place for her family.

The state coroner is set to deliver his findings into the death of a patient at Bendigo Hospital last year.

The court heard Kenneth Saunders, 56, died at the hospital on October 12 after being treated for a respiratory illness.

It heard he had recurring chest infections and a "complex" range of illnesses, including hepatitis C, and a brain injury from a previous heroin overdose.

The court heard Mr Saunders was given antibiotics and initially improved, before deteriorating and dying two days later.

Public health data shows hundreds of cases of chlamydia have been reported in central Victoria.

The Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit said chlamydia was the most common sexually transmitted disease reported by central Victorians, with 530 cases in the past 12 months.

That was down from nearly 600 cases in 2025 and 700 in 2024.

Most reports were made by people aged between 20 and 24.

Women's Health Loddon Mallee said chlamydia made up nearly 83 per cent of sexually transmitted diseases reported by females, with gonorrhoea second at 8 per cent.

The state's planning tribunal has struck out a Kyneton dog breeder's right to appeal against a ruling on how many fertile animals she can keep at her property.

Tribunal documents showed Ilana Jasmin Solo sought a planning permit from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council for up to five Maltese cross poodle dogs, including one or two desexed pets, with two litters bred at a time.

The council issued a permit for three fertile female dogs.

Ms Solo had argued a clerical error in an amended permit should not be changed.

Echuca has taken bronze at this year's national Top Tourism Town Awards.

Stanthorpe in Queensland won gold and Kiama in New South Wales won silver in the category for towns with populations of more than 5,000 people.

Campaspe Shire mayor Daniel Mackrell and other council staff were in Canberra to accept the award.

Mr Mackrell said the recognition would help further elevate Echuca's profile nationally.

Bendigo is celebrating 175 years since the discovery of gold in the region.

Gold was first found in September 1851 in what is now known as Golden Square.

The discovery triggered a rush of diggers from around the world and made Bendigo the richest city in the world at its peak.

This weekend 's event program includes gold panning in Rosalind Park, a gold illumination of the Golden Dragon Museum's Yi Yuan Gardens, and the Laanecoorie Gold Bash event.