A $1 billion gas storage project located three kilometres off the coast of Gippsland’s Ninety Mile Beach has collapsed into administration.

What happened? Two weeks ago, the Victorian Labor government awarded a $1 billion production licence to GB Energy.

The company proposed to remove the relatively small amount of remaining gas from the Gold Beach field before installing a two-way pipeline, which the company said would’ve allowed them to store gas in the basin.

Money given: The project was awarded a $32 million commercial loan by current Opposition leader Angus Taylor while acting as Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction in the 2022 Morrison Government. 

Read the full story here or watch a video about it below.

Humid conditions in some parts of Gippsland have gifted farmers with a lot of crop growth before summer, but the weather has also brought swarms of mosquitoes that risk infecting cattle with diseases not normally seen in Victoria.

What’s happening? The Victorian government has warned that an increased number of mosquitoes this season could bring viruses and diseases from northern parts of Australia, and Gippsland farmers are already seeing the impact on the health of their cattle.

Why more mozzies? University of Melbourne School of BioSciences research fellow Dr Perran Ross told the Monitor the number of mosquitoes in Victoria is above average this season due to a combination of higher than average rainfall with warmer temperatures.

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From speeding vehicles to chronic starvation and dog attacks, there’s a lot to be afraid of in the day-to-day life of a Gippsland koala. But a new Yarram Koala Sanctuary is aiming to improve the survivability of one of Australia’s mascots and other native wildlife as well.

What’s happening? Fundraising has begun for a koala sanctuary and hospital in Yarram to save injured wildlife and protect the threatened Strzelecki koalas.

The group of 13 directors and advisors behind the Yarram Koala Sanctuary concept came up with the idea after the closure of the native timber harvesting industry in the town. They’re hoping the wildlife facility will bring swathes of tourists to the region.

Show me the money: The state government has already funded a $160,000 feasibility study for the sanctuary in 2025. Now the group is seeking $16,000 in donations to fund plans for the site before it reaches out to philanthropic funders for the roughly $8 million needed to build the facilities.

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The Victorian Labor government has pledged $5 million to upgrade Wonthaggi's Bass Coast Secondary College TAFE campus if re-elected at the state election later this month.

What campus? The government said the campus will offer more health and construction courses and be built by 2029.

The promise is part of a $70 million election promise to upgrade two TAFE campuses in Bendigo and Wonthaggi, and build a new campus in Dandenong.

Coalition response: The Liberal candidate for Bass Rochelle Halstead told the Monitor instead of funding TAFE her party would look at reintroducing technical colleges in Victoria and build one in Bass.

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Federation University, its staff and the education union are still negotiating after a 24-hour strike action on Monday over pay and work conditions.

What happened? After eight months of failed negotiations, Federation University staff at Victoria’s Ballarat, Berwick, Melbourne, Wimmer and Churchill campuses chose to undertake a 24-hour strike to pressure the university to meet their demands.

What they said: Federation University nursing lecturer Michelle Hibberson told the Monitor that staff were now “exhausted” after elongated negotiations for a pay increase to make ends meet.

Read the full story here.

Here’s some events and things to do that caught our attention this week.

Have you noticed all the products on the supermarket shelves advertising their protein content?

My colleague Archie Milligan from the National Account looked into the booming protein industry and why the price of the offshoot product of dairy are increasing.