News
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Residents push for 60km/h on Grahams Road
A large amount of in-depth evidence has been collected to justify action to cut the speed limit from 100km/h to 60km/h on an unsealed rural road close to Lancefield. “In summary, the problems could be solved through three major signage installations, saving the shire council considerable time and money,” local resident Denis Graham said yesterday.…
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Songbird joins campaign to ban duck hunting
“Duck hunting in Victoria needs to end.” That’s the emphatic statement of acclaimed Malmsbury singer songwriter Lucy Wise who is throwing her weight behind the fight to end the annual blood sport. “These beautiful animals are vital to the ecosystem that we and all living things on this land depend on,” she said. “It is…
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Residents fundraise for Bald Hill battle
Kyneton residents opposing a proposed nine-lot subdivision adjoining Bald Hill Reserve are raising funds for legal representation ahead of a VCAT hearing. A small group of community objectors launched a fundraising campaign after Macedon Ranges Shire Council rejected the development in December last year. The Melbourne-based developer has appealed the decision, with the matter due…
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Bonanno runs as Independent
Back in 2022, Dom Bonanno was the Liberal Party candidate in the state seat of Macedon, trying to unseat Labor’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas. Fresh life was injected into the 2026 campaign with Bonanno — a Macedon Ranges Shire councillor for almost six years — announcing yesterday he was running as an Independent candidate. He…
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Does the political system need reform?
Bryn Davies, government and democracy lead, Castlemaine Institute and Really Local Are you sick of the election before it even starts? You are not alone (but there is another way…). September 15 was the International Day of Democracy. Don’t worry, most people didn’t know that either. There weren’t many street parties celebrating the day. And…
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Multi-million pub revival plans
It has not yet been decided whether a planning permit application for a proposed $8 million upgrade to the long-closed Romsey Hotel will be decided by Macedon Ranges councillors, or by council officers under delegation. Council’s director of planning and environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, stated this in response to queries raised by the Express last week.…
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Questions over skatepark tender and cost blowout
New questions have been raised over the tender process and delays surrounding Kyneton’s long-awaited skatepark redevelopment, with construction costs now estimated to be up to $1 million above the original budget. These questions come from local designers Baseplate and EastbyWest, whose quote to design the project was unsuccessful despite receiving a higher raw score than…
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A ‘second gold rush’ at Maldon
Armed with modern technology, mining companies determined to find what their predecessors couldn’t are buying up Victorian mining sites, in what some have called the ‘second gold rush’. At the centre of what is often referred to as the ‘Golden Triangle’ (from Ballarat to Wedderburn and Tarnagulla to Ararat), lies Australia’s First Notable Town –…
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Fix needed for koala roadstrike hot spots
Wildlife carers are calling for urgent action to prevent koala fatalities and injuries at Calder Freeway hot spots in the Macedon Ranges. Damaged wildlife fencing is enabling koalas and other wildlife access to dangerous roadways, and requests for maintenance are going unanswered. Wildings Woodend Wildlife Shelter has tended to five koalas at the Black Forest…
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Community joins statewide push
Castlemaine residents determined to protect their town from a McDonald’s store are joining forces with other communities across Victoria in a statewide fight to stop the spread of multi-national fast-food outlets. The MAC OFF – Protect Castlemaine campaign is joining the ‘Not Lovin’ It!’ campaign that arose after Darebin City Council rejected a proposed 24-hour…
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Lancefield town plan deferred
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has voted to defer discussion on a town structure plan for Lancefield until April next year. The Department of Transport and Planning had offered support towards the plan as one of two options to resolve the lingering Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24. The other option was to review and simplify DPO24…
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Celebration of diversity turned sour
Seasoned drag performer Miss Polly Filla has been the subject of online abuse, harassment and death threats after a video of their performance at a local high school was shared on Facebook. On Friday, one of our journalists attended Castlemaine Secondary College for the annual Wear It Purple Day celebrations and Story Time with Polly.…