The man received a hefty fine for unlawfully dumping the rubbish.
DETSI investigates every case of illegal dumping.
A man has received a hefty fine for unlawfully dumping rubbish in bushland in the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park.
Remote cameras captured a ute with rubbish in the tray entering the conservation park on 16 March 2025. The vehicle was later captured leaving the conservation park with an empty tray.
Rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) conducted a site inspection and discovered the waste, which included air-conditioning units, empty boxes and other general waste.
Executive Director Waste and Enforcement Jackie McKeay said officers from DETSI’s Litter and Illegal Dumping Compliance Operations issued a show cause notice to the driver of the vehicle.
“The man admitted that he dumped the waste in the conservation park, and he went back to clean it up,” Ms McKeay said.
“He was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice for $2,580. This fine is a reminder to Queenslanders that our remote cameras can be anywhere at any time.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal dumping, and we investigate every report we receive.
“Recently, the Queensland Government made it easier for people to report illegal dumping with the new Litter and Illegal Dumping Online Reporting System.
“Unlawfully dumping waste is a pollution risk and a fire hazard, and it can harm our native animals.”
People can report littering and illegal dumping to their local council or via the online reporting tool: Report it.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
In brief:
The 2025-26 international cricket schedule has launched.
This includes two matches in Canberra at Manuka Oval.
This article includes details plus the full Season 2025-26 international schedule around Australia.
Canberra will host two international cricket matches this summer.
In the much-anticipated summer of cricket, featuring the next edition of the Ashes against England, 26 international matches will be played in 11 cities across Australia.
For the first time in 17 years, there will be matches in every state and territory capital.
The international season kicks off in August 2025 with a men’s ODI and T20I series against South Africa and concludes eight months later in March 2026 with a women’s test match against India.
Australia to face India in Canberra
Both the Australian men’s and women’s teams will take on India at Manuka Oval.
The Men’s T20I Series v India match will be played on Wednesday, 29 October 2025.
The men’s blockbuster white ball series will include the first five-match T20I series between the cricket heavyweights.
The Women’s T20I Series v India will be played on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
The Australian women will host a multiformat series against the rapidly emerging Indian team.
Canberrans flocked to see international, domestic and local cricket played at Manuka Oval last summer.
This included the most-ever attendees to a women’s international fixture played at Manuka Oval.
Ticket details
International ticket pre-sales will begin on Tuesday, 3 June. This is for fans who have registered through Cricket Australia.
General public tickets will go on sale on Friday, 13 June.
The schedule at a glance
NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes includes Gabba D/N Test and Adelaide Christmas Test
Blockbuster India men’s white ball series features first five match T20 series
Women’s multiformat series against India with Test Match at the redeveloped WACA Ground and three big stadium games
Northern Series returns in tourist hot spots Darwin, Cairns and Mackay.
2025–26 International Schedule
Men’s T20I Series v South Africa
Sunday, August 10: Marrara Stadium, Darwin (N)
Tuesday August 12: Marrara Stadium, Darwin, (N)
Saturday, August 16: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns, (N)
Men’s ODI Series v South Africa
Tuesday, August 19: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns, (D/N)
Friday, August 22: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, (D/N)
Sunday, August 24: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, (D/N)
Men’s ODI Series v India
Sunday, October 19: Perth Stadium, Perth, (D/N)
Thursday, October 23: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, (D/N)
Saturday, October 25: SCG, Sydney, (D/N)
Men’s T20I Series v India
Wednesday, October 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra, (N)
Friday, October 31: MCG, Melbourne, (N)
Monday, November 2: Bellerive Oval, Hobart, (N)
Thursday, November 6: Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, (N)
A motorcycle rider has been seriously injured in a crash at Blackwood this afternoon.
Just after 3.30pm on Thursday 22 May, police were called to Shepherds Hill Road after reports of a collision between a truck and motorcycle.
The rider, a 46-year-old man from Blackwood, sustained serious injuries in the crash and rushed to hospital. He remains in a critical condition.
The truck driver, a 38-year-old man from Holden Hill, was not injured.
Traffic was blocked for westbound traffic from the Blackwood roundabout for several hours but reopened about 9.15pm.
Major Crash Investigators attended the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the crash and hasn’t yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.
Despite numerous warnings to bushwalkers of being prepared, police were again required to rescue two walkers from the west coast wilderness today.
Police search and rescue personnel including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were deployed to rescue a party of two who had become lost in the Savage River Regional Reserve.
The party had entered the area with insufficient equipment and limited knowledge of the area.
After two days in the area, they attempted to call triple zero for assistance however were unable to get phone coverage in the remote area. They eventually were able to hike to high ground and call for assistance.
“Police cannot reiterate enough that If hiking in a remote area ensure you not only have a mobile phone with adequate battery and backup battery but also carry navigation devices that work even when out of cellular coverage and a personal locator beacon,” Inspector Steve Jones said.
“Never solely rely on a mobile phone. Always carry enough adequate equipment and supplies for the intended journey and additional emergency supplies to survive when a trip does not go as intended.”
Of all the trends shaping the Australian economy over the past half century, one of the most profound has been the long swing towards Asia (Graph 1) and, more specifically in recent years, China – now our biggest single trading partner by a country mile (Table 1). But China is also front and centre in the US administration’s rapidly evolving tariff strategy. How that strategy plays out, and how China responds, are therefore key issues for the economic outlook in Australia, and hence the RBA’s monetary policy.
Table 1: Australian Goods Trade with the United States and China (2023)
Rank in Australian …
Australian exports to country as share of …
Australian exports from country as share of …
Australian trade balance (US$bn)
Exports
Imports
Australian exports
Country imports
Australian imports
Country exports
US
5
2
4%
0.5%
11%
1.7%
−18
China
1
1
37%
7%
25%
2%
71
Sources: Observatory of Economic Complexity; UN Comtrade.
Given the importance of understanding the Chinese economy, the RBA has maintained a small team based at the Australian Embassy in Beijing since 2011, to take the temperature of the economy up close. Their work, together with the work of our Australian-based staff, directly informs our Monetary Policy Board’s deliberations – most recently earlier this week – and our broader analysis.
I recently joined the team to speak with a wide range of organisations drawn from right across the Chinese economy and the Australian export community, in both Beijing and Shanghai. The trip, arranged months earlier, turned out to be auspiciously timed, because it came in the week after so-called ‘Liberation Day’ – when US tariffs on China rose to 145 per cent, and China retaliated in kind.
Tonight, I want to discuss four key themes that we heard that week, and which – despite the further dramatic turn of events since then – seem so far to have stood the test of time.
For anyone wanting to cut to the chase, or, in the words of the Mandarin saying, ‘open the door and see the mountain’, I’ll put it more bluntly: don’t count China out.
Theme 1: People felt the economy was finally turning a corner in early 2025
Nearly everyone we spoke with felt the Chinese economy was at last turning a corner in the months leading up to 2 April:
The September 2024 Politburo announcements and subsequent policy pivot were seen as a recognition of the need both for further stimulus and for a more determined switch in emphasis from boosting supply to boosting demand.
The DeepSeek announcement, President Xi’s meeting with business leaders in the private sector and his well-publicised handshake with Jack Ma, triggered renewed optimism in support for the private sector and its capacity to innovate and harness the benefits from high technology, after a period of negative government sentiment, declining foreign investment and technology embargoes.
Property markets seemed finally to be showing signs of stabilising, at least in larger cities, after years of declining sales, investment and prices.
It’s important to put these points in context. For anyone visiting China, the ever-present abandoned housing developments and stationary cranes provide a potent reminder of the challenges the Chinese economy has been through. But an improvement in sentiment, if it persists, would itself be an important economic development, after such a long period in the doldrums. And harder data also support the view that domestic demand growth had begun to strengthen in the first quarter of 2025.
Theme 2: ‘Liberation Day’ was a genuine shock
Against this backdrop, the eye-popping tariff tit-for-tat escalation in early April came as a genuine shock to most of those we spoke with. Significant increases were of course expected – but there was surprise along three dimensions. On scale, the typical expectation had been for a 25–50 percentage point increase: anything over 60 was judged to be an effective embargo. On speed, expectations of a rolling increase, or a negotiation period, were dashed. And on scope, the huge tariffs on China’s southeast Asian neighbours were seen as being aimed at cutting off trade and production chains that linked China to the United States via third countries. Some also contrasted the scale and immediacy of the Chinese retaliation with the absence of a similar reaction in Europe and elsewhere in the West, disappointing those hoping for a common front.
It is difficult to quantify the economic impact these mega-tariffs could have had on China. But expectations in China appeared to be in the range of 1.5–2 percentage points of GDP in 2025, before accounting for any offsetting policy stimulus.
Theme 3: China feels it has a strong economic hand in responding to tariffs
Those are big numbers. But for every expression of surprise, we also heard a striking confidence that China was going into this trade war with a strong hand. Judged solely in economic terms, that view rested on four main planks:
First, a deep belief in the authorities’ commitment to deliver the growth target of ‘around 5 per cent’ a year. This goal may attract scepticism in some quarters –10-year bond yields in the 1.5–2 per cent range certainly suggest market participants have doubts over the medium term. But the commitment to the goal had a seemingly totemic status amongst most of those we spoke with.
Second, a confidence that the Chinese authorities had the policy tools, the space and the will to inject the domestic stimulus needed to compensate for any weaker growth in trade. There are limits to this of course. Past efforts to boost domestic consumption have had mixed success. Many of the authorities’ existing policy tools are best suited to boosting supply, which diverts resources from consumption and adds further to production capacity, bearing down on inflation. And the barriers to a more persistent rise in consumption are arguably as much structural as cyclical, reflecting a limited social safety net, and constraints on the use of capital markets to manage savings. There are questions too about how much headroom is left for further stimulus. Public debt is elevated, particularly at local government level; nominal interest rates are already quite low, and focused on exchange rate and financial stability as well as demand management; and the central bank has made it clear it does not favour quantitative easing. This may be one reason why the authorities bided their time in the immediate aftermath of 2 April, spurning the ‘big bazooka’ policy package that some in the financial markets hoped for. But a range of monetary and financial easing measures have subsequently been announced, and the authorities have underscored their commitment to expand fiscal policy if needed to support the growth target.
Third, we heard a general expectation that a large share of the economic costs of US tariffs would fall on the United States itself, and a determination not to cushion that impact. Nearly half China’s exports to the United States are products for which the United States has limited alternative external suppliers, including lithium batteries, computers, smartphones and video game consoles (Graph 2, lower right quadrant). Indeed, the massive advance in technology use is one of the most striking impressions to any outside visitor. The pass-through of US tariffs to US consumer prices for such goods is likely to be high – perhaps explaining why many were quickly exempted. Much of the rest of China’s exports (Graph 2, lower left quadrant) are products for which the United States is not a dominant source of demand, so could to some degree be divertible to other markets. There are far fewer products in the upper part of Graph 2, where the United States accounts for a large share of Chinese imports.
The inflationary impact of US tariffs on US consumers could, of course, be reduced if the Chinese currency were devalued substantially, as happened in 2018–2019. But we detected little expectation that this would happen, because China would want to avoid: insulating the United States from its own tariffs; provoking retaliation from other countries; triggering capital outflow of the kind seen around the 2015 devaluation; or undermining the political and social gains (including recognition of China’s economic and technological advance) perceived to flow from a stronger exchange rate. Some noted that, according to simple measures of purchasing power parity such as the Economist’s ‘Big Mac Index’, the Chinese currency was more likely to appreciate rather than depreciate against the dollar, if left to its own devices.
Graph 2
There was of course a recognition that Chinese exporters would face real economic costs if high tariffs persisted. It was too early to see any of that at the time of our visit. But we did hear a determination to face into it, if it came.
Fourth, we heard real doubts about how much manufacturing currently done in China would relocate to the United States. Elevated labour costs, and a finite stock of advanced manufacturing skills, were thought to make it impossible to produce many goods at the prices US consumers expected to pay – as would the absence of the highly integrated, co-located supply chains that had developed within China as well as across Asia. And there were doubts about the viability of long-term investment in factories while the volatility of US policy settings remained so elevated.
Recent weeks have walked us back from the precipice a little. The rapid reductions in US tariffs on China’s Asian neighbours saw a pick-up in production and export via third countries, as was evident from the April trade data. And the threat of ‘mutual assured (economic) destruction’ provided the context for the rapid, if ostensibly temporary, reduction of United States and China tariffs. Those tariffs still remain well above historical levels, of course – and future increases, or other trade barriers, cannot be ruled out. But in view of the near-term de-escalation, China’s seemingly strong negotiating position and its scope to inject further stimulus, our baseline projection for Chinese GDP growth in the May Statement on Monetary Policy is 4.8 per cent in 2025 and 4.4 per cent in 2026 – only modestly changed on three months ago.
Theme 4: Australian companies see opportunities amidst the risks
As part of our trip, we held a roundtable discussion, organised by Austcham Shanghai, with a large group of Australian firms active in China, across retail, agriculture, banking, finance, law, steel, health care, manufacturing and commercial property. What really struck me about that session was how upbeat most, if not all, of the firms were about the outlook for their businesses. The recovery in sentiment in early 2025, and confidence that the authorities would ‘do what it takes’ to sustain the economy was part of it. But there was also a sense that recent developments in trade policy could enhance their competitive position in Chinese markets.
There’s always a risk of survivor and recency bias in such discussions, of course – and the firms involved varied considerably in size (and hence macro-economic impact). But we heard something similar in separate discussions with companies active in steel and iron ore – the latter, of course, being Australia’s largest export to China by some distance. They saw few threats to the scale and cost advantages of Australian ore relative to other producers in the near term (longer term challenges from the energy transition are of course a different matter). Their central expectation was for Chinese steel output to remain relatively robust, remaining at or near one billion tonnes a year in the near term. A large majority of Chinese steel is consumed domestically; and demand has been sustained in recent years by a pivot from property-related uses towards manufacturing and infrastructure. Further Chinese policy stimulus was expected to continue to involve (steel-intensive) infrastructure investment, despite the pivot to consumption. Chinese steel exports were obviously seen as more vulnerable to a slowdown in global demand. But direct exports account for a little more than a tenth of Chinese steel output (very little of which goes to the United States). And indirect exports via steel-intensive products, like machinery, ships and cars) are roughly the same again.
Conclusion
Let me conclude.
My goal this evening was deliberately narrow – to set out what I heard in China in the immediate aftermath of ‘Liberation Day’.
That narrative, at that time, was pretty positive: that the Chinese economy was seen as picking up in early 2025; that China felt it had a strong hand in responding to the economic impact of tariffs; and that Australian companies in China saw opportunities amidst the risks.
But, just as clearly, it was also partial – in four important ways.
First, it was just a moment in time – and as Jay Powell reminded us recently, life moves pretty fast. Tariff settings have already moved on dramatically, and will doubtless change further, whether up or down. And we’ll soon start to see data on just how the existing tariffs – still high by historical standards – are affecting the Chinese and global economies.
Second, it was just one set of views, from one country with a story to tell. Some of the judgements may prove wide of the mark – the tolerance for bearing economic costs may prove lower; domestic stimulus may prove to be harder to deliver; and so on.
Third, no in-the-moment assessment can hope to capture the ‘general equilibrium’ effects of such dramatic changes. An example of this is the possibility that Australian firms might in time face more intense competition, at home and overseas, from Chinese firms discounting output diverted from US markets. It’s unclear how big an effect this would be, given the limited overlap between Chinese and Australian outputs. But it’s clearly on the minds of others in the Asia–Pacific region.
Last, but not least, is perhaps the elephant in the room: how purely economic factors of the kind I’ve discussed here will interact with more strategic considerations, and where that leaves Australia. I’ve neither the competence nor the authority to discuss such issues – but I know that others on the panel and in the audience tonight here do! So I look forward to our discussion.
To mark National Volunteer Week, approximately 100 City of Greater Bendigo volunteers were acknowledged at a celebratory morning tea held today at Ulumbarra Theatre.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the event was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the vital contributions of volunteers and to celebrate the spirit of National Volunteer Week.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate and dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom have been with us for years,” Cr Metcalf said.
“This year’s theme, ‘Connecting Communities’, truly reflects the power of volunteering to bring people together. Volunteering fosters meaningful relationships, enriches lives, and builds a sense of connection and belonging.
“Through these connections, our volunteers play a key role in creating inclusive and thriving communities.”
The City currently has around 445 volunteers supporting a wide range of services and activities that benefit the community.
“Whether it is welcoming visitors at our Visitor Centres, ushering guests at our theatres, sharing knowledge at the Gallery or Town Hall, helping run events for all ages, caring for the environment, or contributing through advisory groups—our volunteers’ time, energy, and enthusiasm are deeply appreciated,” Cr Metcalf said.
“We simply couldn’t achieve all that we do without them. Their passion, commitment, and generosity are invaluable, and we’re always looking for more people to join our volunteer team.
“Volunteering not only strengthens our community—it’s also proven to boost mental wellbeing. It’s a chance to connect with others, be part of a team, learn new skills, and build confidence.
“The City offers a well-established volunteering program with excellent training and support. If you’re considering volunteering, I encourage you to visit our website and explore the many opportunities available. I encourage you to give it a go.”
Volunteers support the City across a variety of services, including:
Bendigo Animal Relief Centre
Bendigo Art Gallery
Bendigo Venues & Events
Bendigo Visitor Centre
Heathcote Visitor Centre
Bendigo Writers Festival
Bendigo Easter Festival
Community Grants Advisory Panel
Disability Inclusion Reference Committee
Heritage Advisory Committee
Intercultural Ambassador Program
Yo Bendigo
Positive Ageing Advisory Committee
Youth Council
The City also partners with numerous volunteer groups to deliver events and deeply values this important collaboration in the community.
A dedicated philanthropic fundraising campaign has ensured the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment can proceed.
Led by the Sidney Myer Fund and The Ian Potter Foundation, contributing $4M and $3M respectively, together with a number of private donors, the philanthropic campaign has achieved a total of $9.35M to date. The largest private donation of $1.5M has come from arts philanthropist, Dr Mark Nelson, who has connections to the Bendigo region.
The campaign, driven by the Gallery and a philanthropic fundraising committee chaired by Andrew Myer AM, has generated the largest-ever private investment in the development of civic infrastructure owned and operated by the City of Greater Bendigo.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said this incredible financial support reflected the value of the Gallery to Greater Bendigo and to the state of Victoria.
“Two of Australia’s most respected philanthropic foundations connected to the arts have embraced the opportunity to support our redevelopment, recognising the vital connection of culture and creativity to our community and the local economy,” Cr Metcalf said.
“In particular, we are delighted to have the support of the Sidney Myer Fund, a name that has had a long connection to Bendigo and also to the Gallery, including the Sidney Myer Work on Paper Gallery added in 2014.
“We sincerely thank Andrew Myer for chairing the fundraising committee and for his incredible enthusiasm for this project and the legacy it will leave.
“Philanthropy is an incredible, living gift for those in the fortunate position to contribute in this way, and the City and Gallery are truly grateful to the foundations and individuals who have kindly chosen to contribute to this next chapter in the history of our esteemed Gallery.”
Sidney Myer Fund Chairman Andrew Myer AM said his grandfather, Sidney Myer, opened the first Myer store in Bendigo 125 years ago and the city had been part of his family’s DNA ever since.
“My grandfather believed strongly that art, culture and creativity were vital to a good life, and that everyone in the community deserved to have access. Bendigo Art Gallery puts that belief into action and the Sidney Myer Fund is delighted to be able to support this major redevelopment that will serve the people of Bendigo for decades to come,” Mr Myer said.
The Ian Potter Foundation CEO Paul Conroy said the Foundation was delighted to support a regional gallery with such a strong reputation.
“The redevelopment plans are impressive and focus on the Gallery’s ability to grow visitation and participation, including education programs. Investing in this project strengthens this community asset that will provide further benefits for the wider Bendigo community through access to the arts, increased tourism and subsequent economic growth,” Mr Conroy said.
Bendigo Art Gallery Director Jessica Bridgfoot said this level of philanthropic support was unprecedented for Bendigo Art Gallery.
“It is an acknowledgement of the transformative impact arts and culture can have on a regional community and we truly appreciate our donors’ investment in the Gallery and Greater Bendigo,” Ms Bridgfoot said.
“During the construction phase, residents and patrons of the Gallery will have the opportunity to be part of this exciting project and make a philanthropic contribution of their own, with further details to be shared on how these funds will be used.
“At the heart of this project has been a vision to ensure the redevelopment delivers ‘The People’s Gallery’ – a space that is dynamic, inviting, accessible and inspiring for all who visit.
“We know the Gallery is treasured by our community and there will be many people, no matter the size of their donation, who will want to contribute to this transformative project for the Gallery and Greater Bendigo.”
The construction budget is made up of $21M from the Victorian Government, $9M from the City of Greater Bendigo, $4M from the Gallery Board and $9.35M from philanthropic donations, and is enough for the project to proceed.
The Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, the largest-ever construction project to be led by the City of Greater Bendigo, will proceed.
A flythrough video released today highlights stage one of the redevelopment and how it will transform the Gallery and deliver on the original scope of the project, which includes a second floor blockbuster exhibition space, an innovative learning centre, theatrette and Traditional Owner Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural materials.
The City is seeking to deliver stage one for $45M and will call for expressions of interest in June for a head contractor for the project.
The Gallery is expected to remain open until November this year while the procurement process takes place. Construction is expected to start in early 2026 and take approximately two years to complete, with the aim of re-opening in early 2028.
To complete the project in its entirety, the City and Gallery will continue to seek $15M from the Federal Government to deliver stage two. An application for $15M still sits with the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, as the process was not completed before the Federal election.
Stage two includes a dedicated gallery for Australian art (an additional 400m² of gallery space that was not part of the original project scope) and an elevated hospitality offering, featuring an improved café/restaurant incorporated into a redesigned sculpture annex and second floor function facility and terrace.
To deliver stages one and two during the planned construction period, Federal funding would need to be confirmed by the end of this year. Although any additional funding secured would always be accommodated.
The total project cost remains $54M. All funds raised to date have been put towards construction, however if Federal funding is secured it would mean some of the already committed funds can be reallocated to future programming for the new gallery spaces.
City Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cooney said the Gallery redevelopment was an investment in the cultural and economic future of the region.
“It is exciting to make this announcement today and confirm this city-defining project is going ahead. Over the past several months we have worked to refine the project scope and I am so pleased we can move forward with the budget available and deliver a fantastic outcome, with the option of a second stage should additional funding be secured,” Mr Cooney said.
“Today’s announcement intends to give certainty to our community, particularly the many businesses that benefit from the tourism generated by the Gallery. The project will cement the Gallery’s reputation as a leading cultural institution in Australia and will trigger increased visitation to our region.
“This news is also expected to encourage greater private sector investment in our city centre. Business owners can now be confident about the project’s future, factoring this into their current operations or potentially plan for other complementary business ventures.”
Gallery Director Jessica Bridgfoot said a number of small changes to the design had achieved important savings for the project.
“This project will meet key objectives and realise our original vision to deliver ‘The People’s Gallery’ – a place that empowers the Bendigo and broader Victorian community through accessibility, education, shared economic benefit and celebrating Traditional Owners. The redevelopment will establish the Gallery as an international, world-class cultural facility for future generations,” Ms Bridgfoot said.
“Savings were achieved by rearranging some of the features of the redevelopment, reducing back of house areas and locating offsite storage. Other minor structural changes also helped save on material and engineering costs.
“The project was granted the necessary planning permits from the City and Heritage Victoria in 2024 to proceed, and has been reviewed favourably by the Office of the Victorian Architect.”
As part of the redevelopment, the Gallery will become a trusted Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural material and the façade of the building will feature a design by a Dja Dja Wurrung artist.
Dja Dja Wurrung Group Chief Executive Officer Rodney Carter said he was excited by the opportunities presented by the redevelopment.
“The Gallery’s commitment to celebrating and preserving Dja Dja Wurrung culture and art is a significant benefit that supports outcomes across the Closing the Gap framework. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Gallery through a dedicated Place of Keeping, and fully support additional funding for the redevelopment to be fully realised,” Mr Carter said.
It is widely recognised the Gallery is an important economic driver for Greater Bendigo and both the City and Gallery continue to plan for event attraction that will support tourism and businesses during the closure.
“In the coming months, the City and Gallery look forward to announcing a family-friendly exhibition that will be staged in partnership with the Discovery Science and Technology Centre from March to November next year, as well as sharing highlights of the 2026 major events and activation calendar,” Ms Bridgfoot said.
“Gallery staff are also planning now for how they will continue to deliver a public program that allows residents, visitors and students to engage with the arts in other locations while the Gallery is closed.
“For now, it is business as usual and residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the Frida Kahlo – In her own image exhibition before it closes on Sunday July 13.”
The construction budget is made up of $21M from the Victorian Government, $9M from the City of Greater Bendigo, $4M from the Gallery Board and $9.35M from philanthropic donations, and is enough for the project to proceed.