The week started on a positive note with Budj Bim gaining a place on the World Heritage List, ending years of campaigning. It's great that our indigenous culture will be preserved and showcased to the world. We revealed this week a native title group hoped to use a negotiated treaty to secure an economic slice of the region's industries.

Our embattled train service was again back in the news this week after we revealed more than 100 passengers were forced to stand from Melbourne to beyond Colac after a carriage was unable to be used on the Sunday trek to Warrnambool. It again highlighted the need for modern rolling stock to be introduced. The promised upgrades can't come soon enough for long-suffering passengers.

It wasn't just trains that made headlines. Our crumbling roads deteriorated in the wet weather and tyre retailers reported unprecedented damage to vehicles. It again highlighted the importance of our community campaign to drive road upgrades.

Deakin University's new vice-chancellor Iain Martin revealed he was optimistic about the Warrnambool campus' future after meeting staff and students for the first time at Sherwood Park since taking on the role on July 1.

Deakin Warrnambool needs to become closer aligned with the region's changing economy and industries. The addition of an agribusiness major in 2017 was a promising start. Professor Martin, with a fresh set of eyes and ideas, intends to explore more new frontiers.

Can the university play a role in the region's emergence as a renewable energy hotspot? Can it tap further into the Warrnambool campus' jewel in the crown - marine sciences? Is there a role for re-educating workers whose careers or industries change? Are there more research possibilities?

We need a vibrant university alongside our expanding South West Tafe to foster aspirations among our young people.

The message from Professor Martin is that Deakin is willing to think outside its traditional areas of expertise. That's good news for Warrnambool and the south-west. It's a welcome change from three years ago when his predecessor was steering a course to closure.

Warrnambool's new housing market had an unexpected stumble with the demise of the developers behind the Riverside at Wollaston estate.

Now for a change of pace!

Don't miss your chance to win one of three double passes to see Roald Dahl's delicious tale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on stage in Melbourne. Simply click here to enter your details to go into the draw.

The A reserve double passes worth $279.80 are for the 1pm performance on Sunday, August 11, at Her Majesty's Theatre, 219 Exhibition St, Melbourne.

Good luck.

Check out a selection of stories that made headlines this week.

Until next week,