3APL Apple 98.5fm to close down

After nearly 40 years on-air, Victorian community radio station 3APL Apple 98.5fm is closing down.

The station – a longtime listening staple of the local Bacchus Marsh community – has confirmed via its Facebook page that it will cease broadcasting on Sunday, July 5^th.

“While it is sad that the station is wrapping up, we are proud of all that ‘The Voice Of The Valley’ has accomplished.”

“We would like to thank all the volunteers, members, announcers, Committee members, technical people, sponsors, guests, Shire Council members and community groups who have been involved with the radio station over the decades. And we would especially like to thank the group of visionaries who founded ‘Bacchus Marsh Community Access Radio’ in the mid-80s.”

As reported by our sister publication Radioinfo, the station’s November 2025 AGM spoke to ‘shaky finances’ and few new volunteers coming through to fill vacancies on air and behind the scenes.

CBAA Head of Advocacy and Communications Reece Kinanne said “We are saddened to hear of Apple FM’s closure and the loss of a local media outlet for the growing community of Bacchus Marsh.“

Images: Facebook