News
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Discover your new career
Looking for a career change or new skills? Visit the Training and Skills Fair! Mount Alexander Shire Council is inviting local job seekers, career changers, students and aspiring entrepreneurs to attend the free Training and Skills Fair on Wednesday September 2 at Castlemaine Town Hall. The event will bring together 35 organisations offering employment opportunities,…
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Sewer spills raise fresh concerns
Heavy rain has again triggered sewer overflows in Kyneton and Malmsbury, prompting renewed concern from residents about the impact on local waterways. The incidents last Wednesday followed similar spills from pump stations in the two towns just two weeks earlier. Edgecombe resident Graham Connell said sewerage from the Kyneton spills was flowing into the Campaspe…
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Crossing relocation questioned
Concerns have been raised over the relocation of a pedestrian crossing point near the Romsey Road/High Street intersection at Woodend where two children were struck by vehicles. The two separate incidents in April saw already active campaigns for safety improvements to the busy site ramp up. In July, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas announced more than…
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Honour Avenue under water
Woodend’s Honour Avenue road users have flagged safety concerns over ongoing flooded roadways during wet weather. Residents are calling for a permanent drainage fix for a section of the road near Savages Lane that is often inundated with water during heavy rain. Reduced speed and ‘water over road’ warning signs put out often do little…
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FOGO and glass bins on council’s agenda
The agenda for tonight’s meeting of Mount Alexander Shire Council is out, and FOGO (Food Organics Green Organics) is top of the list – leaving members of YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) and the newly formed Mount Alexander Organics Partnership (MAOP) feeling confused. MAOP spokesperson Mikaela Beckley said the group was perplexed by the council’s…
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Big Splash makes waves
A push for year-round swimming facilities in Mount Alexander Shire has gathered momentum, with hundreds of community members backing a campaign for better access to aquatic facilities. Swim Mt Alexander (SWIMMA) held a ‘Big Splash’ gathering on Saturday morning, bringing supporters together on the steps of Castlemaine’s historic Market Building to highlight the growing need…
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‘Opportunity to provide certainty’ on DPO24
After years of stymied development and restrictions in key Lancefield growth areas, landholders are now getting a fairer hearing for their predicament than ever before, as the state election approaches. They are asking for removal of Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24 that has hindered land freedom and development for 27 landholders across three areas. The…
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Push to pause on Clarkefield
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has formally called on the Minister for Planning to defer a decision on a major Clarkefield development. MRSC wants Amendment C164 put on hold until major unresolved planning, infrastructure, safety, environmental and financial matters have been independently reviewed and addressed. It is also seeking the minister undertake an independent peer and…
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Windfall doco to screen
Blackwood-based film Windfall, which documents the extreme weather events of June 2021, will be showing at Woodend this month. Director Brendan Hehir said the film was filled with amazing footage, local insights and humour, as well as expert analysis and explanation. While the film captures the fear of an extreme weather event, it also uses…
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Artist leaves his mark
What began as a plain Colorbond fence has become a vibrant work of art thanks to Solomon Islander artist Donald Suakapu, whose talent is leaving a lasting impression on the Castlemaine community. Local resident Margaret Grey recently commissioned Donald to paint a sweeping landscape across the inside of her backyard fence after discovering his work…
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‘Let’s get on board’
Acting Sergeant Erin Barkway joined the Castlemaine unit earlier this year. While she has been welcomed by the members, there are only a handful of women and she would love to see more join the force. “Women in policing – let’s get on board,” she said. “There are only a handful of women at Castlemaine,…
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Housing questions left unanswered
Housing targets for the Macedon Ranges are set at 13,200 dwellings by 2051 but council queries about how those figures were formulated have so far been unanswered. The state government set targets for each municipality last year and warned councils they would need to unlock land for housing or it would “do it for you”.…