YEAR IN REVIEW: A look back at the local news in 2022

A look back at the 2022 local news from January to March.

JANUARY
Locals said goodbye to 2021 and welcomed 2022 in hot and humid conditions. Many found local pools, rivers and streams the ideal places to cool off.
Fire restrictions came into force across Baw Baw Shire in the first week of January. Restrictions also came into force in the shires of Bass Coast, Cardinia and Latrobe. There were no restrictions in force in East Gippsland.
The restrictions were a month later than 2020 because of a long wet spring period. They are due to be lifted in May, although last year's restrictions ended ahead of schedule in March.
In what's thought to be a super food or livestock, the Ellinbank Smart Farm is feeding their dairy cows red seaweed to reduce methane emissions.
It's part of their latest research that aims to give farmers the tools to prevent climate emissions while increasing productivity on dairy farms.
More ambulances will be available for patients facing life-threatening emergencies during the busiest times of the day, with a new paramedic team hitting the road in Warragul.
The new Peak Period Unit will see an extra crew, comprising of two advanced life support paramedics, on shift for up to 12 hours during the branch's busiest times.
Warragul recorded another wet year, falling just under the 1000mm mark.
A total of 999.2mm was recorded, falling just under the 1036.4mm the previous year. Strong spring rainfall tipped gauges above so called normal levels.
With a federal election set for 2022, Voices for Monash (V4M) called for all residents to support the move for stronger, community driven representation in parliament.
Residents were invited to play a key part in selecting an independent candidate, who will be supported by V4M members to stand in this year's federal election. V4M was formed by a core group of locals dissatisfied with current representation in the electorate.
While there are no lockdown restrictions in place, many local businesses have been forced to close or operate on reduced hours as COVID-19 infections balloon.
Many in the workforce have been forced to stay home and isolate as they contract the virus or become close contacts.
It came after Baw Baw Shire recorded its highest ever increase in COVID-19 case numbers on January 14, when the health department reported 190 new cases. There were 695 active cases in the shire.
A 65-year-old Noojee man was found by neighbours in the yard of his Henty St home after an offender stole 13 firearms from his gun cabinet. Police said neighbours went to check on the Noojee man and found him lying on the ground. He was taken to hospital with head injuries.
Staff shortages forced West Gippsland Hospital into code brown status. It was the first time the West Gippsland Healthcare Group had to activate a code brown emergency management response, but the community was assured there was no need for alarm.
Reconstruction and widening of the road and construction of footpaths along two sections of Sutton St, Warragul was finally underway. Residents had been calling for the work for many years.
Many locals were honoured in Australia Day honours including Order of Australia Medals being presented to Lorraine Kinrade of Drouin, former Drouin resident Brian Milner and Beverley Holmes of Walhalla. A Fire Service Medal was presented to Graeme Higgs of the Drouin West CFA.

FEBRUARY
A $30 million community precinct development in the heart of Warragul edged closer to reality. The state government announced $3.5 million for the project, currently in the pre-design stage by Baw Baw Shire.
The Baw Baw culture and connection precinct will be developed on underutilised council owned land surrounding the West Gippsland Arts Centre and Civic Park.
A golden shovel turned the first sod on a $4.1 million Bellbird Park facility, set to evolve Drouin's soccer, hockey and cricket clubs.
The redevelopment will include a large meeting space, a changeroom pavilion and a massive 182-car parking lot.
Funding was announced to plan for Noojee's economic transition after the planned phasing out of native timber harvesting in Victoria by 2030.
The state government is providing $360,000 for Baw Baw Shire to employ a project officer to head development of the strategy. The focus of consultation will be to identify Noojee's strengths, assets, challenges and opportunities for innovation and economic development as native timber logging is phased out.
A Phillip Island lawyer is focussed on bringing a fresh approach to politics as the Voice for Monash candidate in the federal election.
Deb Leonard was endorsed by the community independent group that aims to bring grassroots ideals to the political arena.
Future recreation developments valued at $70 million across four new precincts were endorsed by Baw Baw Shire. But, the plans were only concepts within a sporting reserves masterplan and are dependent on future funding opportunities.
Sporting hubs, including competition and training facilities as well as pavilions, will be created in the masterplans that identify future recreation precincts in Drouin, Lillico and Warragul.
An elderly Warragul woman sustained leg injuries when she fell in a deep hole at the Woolworths carpark. A witches hat that was covering the hole had blown away in the wind.
Neerim District Health Services wants state government capital funding to expand its services to meet the needs of its growing population and an increase in tourist visitors.
The health service sought funds for a second operating theatre, day procedure centre and additional consulting rooms.
Equine training in Warragul ended with closure of the Gippsland Harness Training Centre, 25 years after it opened. Community College Gippsland ceased offering equine training as part of its curriculum and withdrew from its lease of training facilities at Logan Park.
A leafy street in Warragul was turned into a highway or carpark because of a lack of action by Baw Baw Shire, residents said. Roadworks in Sutton St resulted in traffic using Alford St as a short cut instead of the designated detour.

MARCH
Three community banks in Baw Baw Shire were excluded by the State Education Department from holding accounts of local state schools.
A directive of the department gave Victorian government schools that don't already bank with one of its approved banking suppliers - major banks Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank - to transition by the end of the month.
A grim piocture of the traffic problems Warragul and Drouin face unless major new arterial roads are constructed has been painted in a report for Baw Baw Shire Council.
Council has been advocating strongly to address a 100 year old arterial roads system serving both towns that is "past its use by date," conceding it already can't cope with current congestion and growth and wants residents and ratepayers to join lobbying efforts to the state government for a fix.
Within months of taking on a new business venture in Warragul, Amy Tyrrell cannot believe roadworks have virtually shut it down.
Ms Tyrrell said she had built up a strong clientele at the Sutton St Corner Store store. A $1.9 million upgrade of Sutton St was welcomed as long overdue by residents. Ms Tyrrell didn't disagree but she wasn't expecting to lose access to her business.
West Gippsland was crying out for rain after an unusually dry summer while as close as an hour away by aeroplane large swathes of New South Wales and Queensland battle catostrophic flooding.
Steady rain of more than 30mm ended a long dry spell in which the December to February summer rainfall was well below average.
A $700,000 investment in Baw Baw Shire's flailing planning department caused a blowout in the mid year budget.
A report to council showed council was $1.5 million behind in its forecast mid year position, largely caused by employment of additional planning staff salaries.
Former Baw Baw Shire councillor who resigned after an "outrageous" drink driving incident was fined $2000 and lost his licence for two years. Ben Lucas, 34, of Drouin appeared at Dandenong Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving and drink driving.
Three years previously, the Bunyip Complex Fire ripped the heart from the Garfield North community. But, in its recovery, a $2.3 million multi-purpose facility is testament of the community's strength and spirit.
The multi-purpose centre, to be built at Cannibal Creek Reserve will provide a much needed centre for the community and user groups.
Pakenham livestock agent Nathan Gibbon was convicted and fined more than $20,000 for offences breaching National Livestock Identification System regulations.
Mr Gibbon and two local cattle farmers - Kristian Bingham of Warragul and Peter Armstrong, formerly pf Darnum - pleaded guilty to livestock traceability offences at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court.
Amazing weather and new attractions saw almost 40,000 people flock to Lardner Park's Farm World event. Lardner park chief executive officer Craig Debnam called the four day agricultural show an "outstanding success."
A 13 per cent decrease in criminal offences reflected a state wide trend for 2021, but local police warned criminal activity was already increasing as communities returned to pre-lockdown social activities.