Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating – Changes to Services

Published on 08 January 2026

The South West region, which includes the Southern Grampians, Fire Danger rating has been upgraded from extreme to catastrophic for tomorrow Friday 9 January 2026.

What Council Services will be impacted?

All Outdoor Swimming Pools (this includes the Hamilton Outdoor Pool) will be closed.

All Transfer Stations (this includes the Hamilton Transfer Station) will be closed.

Kerbside bins scheduled for a regular Friday collection will rescheduled to Saturday 10 Jan.

All Maternal Child Health home visits and appointments located at the Frances Hewett Centre will be rescheduled to another date. This will also include scheduled appointments located at the Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre. Maternal Child Health staff will reach out to reschedule appointments for those impacted.

Southern Grampians Family Day Care and Occasional Care located at HILAC will be closed. Staff are in the process of notifying impacted families. Families are welcome to contact the Occasional Care Coordinator and respective Family Day Care Educator for more information.

Which Council Services remain open?

Hamilton Library will be open from 10:00am – 5:30pm

HILAC Gym and Courts will be open 6:00am - 8:00pm | Aquatic Area (Indoor Pool) – 6:00am – 6:30pm

Council Customer Service Centre will be open from 8:30am – 5:00pm. Building and Planning Services will be available to assist customers via the Greenlight portal, phone 5573 0444 and email council@sthgrampians.vic.gov.au.

Hamilton Cinema as per scheduled movie screenings

Hamilton Gallery will be open as per usual trading hours 10:00am – 5:00pm

Hamilton Visitor Information Centre and Dunkeld and Grampians Visitor Information Centre will be open as per usual operating hours.

These service changes are in line with Council’s Catastrophic and Extreme Fire Danger Days Policy.

If you aren’t sure what a Catastrophic Fire Danger rating means, check out this helpful video released by the CFA https://www.facebook.com/reel/880104081668763/?s=single_unit

Make sure if you haven’t already done so to download the VicEmergency App for emergency information and messaging.

Stay up-to-date and aware of changing conditions, and review your household Fire Plan. If you haven’t made a plan, it’s not too late. Visit https://fireplanner.vic.gov.au/?gad_source=1...

Thank you for your understanding and stay safe.