News
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Haste on Clarkefield plan “unreasonable”
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has called out the state government’s haste in its four-week consultation on a development planned to change the face of Clarkefield. At council’s meeting last week, Cr Jennifer Anderson revealed the council had been informally refused a time extension on its submission to the process. With submissions closing yesterday, MRSC has…
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Who’s going to clean up this mess?
A Woodend mountain biker has expressed frustration after being shuffled between three state government agencies while trying to report illegal rubbish dumping in the Wombat State Forest. Matthew Connor was appalled to discover several piles of bathroom and kitchen renovation waste dumped along forest tracks last month. “A group of us know the bush very…
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Not lovin’ it – kids rally against Maccas
A vocal group of primary and secondary school students from Castlemaine and surrounding districts gathered for the Kids Against Maccas rally in Castlemaine last Thursday afternoon. About 300 young people, parents and supporters wearing anti-McDonald’s shirts and carrying placards picketed the site of the proposed McDonald’s restaurant on the corner of Forest and Hargraves streets…
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Macedon calls for reserve upgrades
Macedon sporting clubs have called for upgrades to Tony Clarke Reserve to keep pace with surging participation. User groups have united in a bid to improve facilities including clubroom upgrades, female-friendly changerooms to support club growth, and an overarching plan for the reserve’s future. Macedon Football Netball Club president Ron Rutledge said the precinct was…
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Building a work of art
Castlemaine’s industrial past has been brought quietly back to life, with Shades of Gray owner Peter unveiling the painstaking restoration of a second workshop space in the heart of town. What could easily have become another demolition site or block of flats has instead been transformed into a richly detailed 1940s-1950s workshop restored almost entirely…
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Intersection safety improvements questioned
Residents in Batters Lane at Kyneton have questioned the efficacy of intersection safety improvements on their road after a two-car collision sent four people to hospital last Tuesday morning. Emergency services were called to the scene at the intersection of Batters Lane and Pipers Creek Road about 9.20am. Police allege a 77-year-old man from Hoppers…
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Heritage questioned in cross tree clearing
A dispute has emerged between the Victorian National Parks Association and Parks Victoria over woodland clearing works at Mount Macedon, with differing interpretations of the heritage basis for the project. The controversy centres on vulnerable snow gum removal near the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross, which Parks Victoria says was undertaken to restore views associated with…
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More than just a free shower
A collaborative effort between Mount Alexander Shire Council, Dhelkaya Health, The Salvation Army Castlemaine and other agencies has enabled the Salvos to host a mobile shower truck in Castlemaine. The custom-built mobile shower trailers bring dignity directly to communities, but offer more than just a free shower — they provide a full wrap-around service of…
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Local designers edged out
Two local skatepark designers have questioned Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s decision to award the redevelopment contract for Kyneton Skatepark to a large Melbourne-based firm. Kyneton designer Darren White of Baseplate and Woodend designer Wade Trevean of EastbyWest – the team behind the successful Lancefield and Romsey skateparks – said they were bitterly disappointed their quote…
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An artist, a rockstar and the Archibald
Castlemaine artist Ned Middleton is a bit of a music buff, and while Tim Rogers’ band the Hard-Ons isn’t really his cup of tea, Ned was happy to have the chance to paint the legendary rock star for an entry into the Archibald Prize. After two sittings, a lot of research and guidance from his…
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Clarkefield future in focus
A 2300-home development will change the face of Clarkefield if approved and now the Victorian Government has opened consultation. The move follows Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s calls for broad community awareness and input after the plans were referred to the state’s Development Facilitation Program. Draft Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment – C164macr proposes a new…
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Lancefield development ‘sterilised’
A group of Lancefield landowners are hopeful a lengthy planning battle restricting development may soon come to an end. Macedon Ranges Shire mayor, Cr Kate Kendall, has sought Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s urgent assistance to remove Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24 (DPO24) that has created almost the opposite outcome of its intent. Cr Kendall told…