Bass Coast Shire is looking to state and federal politicians for funding of a new $47 million aquatic centre in Wonthaggi, and a tight Victorian election could be just what it needs to secure the dough.

What happened: At a council meeting last week, Bass Coast Shire councillors unanimously voted to award a $1.1 million design contract for a new Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Wonthaggi.

The shire has committed $15 million to the upgrade of the Wonthaggi leisure centre but is asking for an additional $15 million each from the state and federal governments.

What they said: Councillor Mat Morgan told the chamber the council has done everything it can to secure funding for the development.

"We've jumped in the swimming pools. We've awarded contracts,” Morgan said. “This is a desperate call for every single elected member of state and federal parliament to come up and show us the money.”

Read the full story here.

The Victorian Liberal and National parties have announced that, if elected in November, they will scrap the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West project (VNI West). 

But according to the Grattan Institute’s Alison Reeve, the plan to replace the high-voltage overhead electricity transmission lines with more gas doesn’t stack up. The problem? She argues the supply of gas doesn’t exist.

The background: Once complete, VNI West will run from Bulgana in Victoria’s west to Tragowel in the north before connecting with the NSW section north of Kerang. 

Why do it? The project would connect Victoria to NSW to increase electricity flow between the states.

Gas shortage: The Liberals and Nationals have said more permits for gas exploration would be made available to increase the state’s supply. However, Reeve said she did not believe there would be enough gas available for a new development to significantly change supply.

🗣️ “You can explore all you like, but if the gas isn’t there, it’s not there,” she said. “This is one of the things about a finite resource, and gas is a finite resource. Once you’ve burned it up, it’s gone.”

Around 90 percent of Victoria's commercially-viable gas reserves have already been consumed, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Read the full story here.

In 1858, Duncan Campbell built a hotel on the rise of his run immediately to the west of Traralgon Creek. That building was pulled down in 1914 to make way for the present Traralgon Hotel.

Take a look at a history video on the pub below.

On the streets of Traralgon, local resident John told the Monitor he has to swerve around the roads at night to avoid the potholes that pepper the region’s bitumen.

“I've been playing dodgem”, he said. “That's why I haven't had my car damaged. You've got to be really vigilant, and it's hard at night because it's not easy to see all the potholes around the place.”

John’s story would not be unheard of to Traralgon residents. The region faces severe road degradation and a pothole crisis that frequently damages vehicles, and councils have been left waiting for state government funds to undertake repairs.

What happened: Every month, the Monitor hits the streets of a Gippsland town to ask locals what the biggest issues are in their region. There’s a good chance no matter what area you’re in that most responders will say the state of the roads is the standout problem.

Stories of damaged vehicles from unsafe roads aren’t anything new. Another 50-year-old Traralgon resident said the roads in regional areas have always been left behind.

“All you have to do is look around your local area to see how many road speed limits have been downgraded because the roads haven’t been maintained.”

Read the full story here.

How big is the video game industry in Australia?

My colleague Archie Milligan from the National Account put together this video on independent Australian video game companies, which have had a lot of recent success with games like Hollow Knight, Pro Jank Footy and Big Walk - a game set in Gippsland’s Wilsons Prom.

Take a look at Archie’s video on the subject below.