Environment
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'Tack-on Sunburyisation'
A developer’s bid to subdivide a 60-acre parcel of farmland at Kyneton South into 87 residential lots would be a complete overdevelopment of the site, local residents say. The land at 85 Harpers Lane is zoned Low Density Residential, paving the way for such a subdivision to occur, but Macedon Ranges Shire Council is still…
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Farm build rights gone?
Landowners in the Macedon Ranges will lose their existing rights to build a dwelling on 40ha or more in the Farm Zone under a state government proposal to protect farmland. It is one of the controversial elements in Planning for Melbourne’s Green Wedges and Agricultural Land Consultation Paper aimed to protect agricultural land within 100km…
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Wild Things to premiere
Castlemaine’s inspirational School Strike 4 Climate youth activists feature as part of a new film, Wild Things, set to make its Victorian premiere at Castlemaine’s own Theatre Royal on Thursday January 28. The premiere is a Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival pop-up event and will take place from 7.30pm, followed by a Q&A with writer/director Sally…
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Cheeky thief caught yolk-nosed
A cheeky brush-tailed phascogale has been caught yolk-nosed at the centre of a hen house theft in Lauriston. Property owner Albert Golden said he was amazed to discover the ‘vulnerable’ listed creature, known for its distinctive bushy tail, making a feast of his hen’s eggs one night. Albert had set out to find the culprit…
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Paddock talks continue
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will continue negotiations with the state government to sell Hanging Rock’s East Paddock despite one councillor’s push to abandon the prospect. Cr Geoff Neil last week questioned the council’s need to sell the land associated with the “icon that’s very close to residents’ hearts”. “To be truthfully honest I haven’t come…
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Hepburn war on waste
A group of Hepburn Shire residents has begun its own war on waste and is looking for input from the wider community to collaborate across the shire’s communities. Forty people met (via web) in late September to hear from Peter Cox, who was key in initiating the very successful Bendigo social enterprise, the Eaglehawk Recycling…
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Keeping watch on Mount Macedon
A new fire observer cabin has been installed on top of Mount Macedon. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning project officer, Andrew Johnstone, said the new cabin and access ladders replaced an older model and included improved safety features for the fire lookout observer. “The new cabin looks similar to the old one but…
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Plans shaping up for Romsey Ecotherapy Park
Detailed design planning for stage 2 of Romsey Ecotherapy Park is under way, with construction scheduled to start next year. Stage 2 of the master plan will deliver a sensory therapeutic space and an arts/culture open space for people of all ages and abilities. Macedon Ranges Council is working in partnership with the community group…
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Planned burn at Macedon
Forest Fire Management Victoria will conduct a planned burn, weather permitting, at Macedon next week. The 70.6-hectare burn, at Dixon Road, four kilometres south-west of Macedon, is scheduled to be ignited between 10am Monday and 8pm Thursday. Smoke may be visible for the following days in nearby localities. If you are experiencing any symptoms that…
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Bushfire preparation begins
Forest Fire Management Victoria continues to prepare the region for the upcoming bushfire season, building on fuel management works conducted throughout the year to reduce bushfire risk for communities and the environment. FFMVic has recruited additional seasonal firefighters, with 55 fixed-term firefighters in place across the district from late October to work alongside the department’s…
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Environmental journalist turns MC for gliders
By Bron Willis Gregg Borschmann has had many conversations with editors over his 30-year career as an environmental journalist, but there is one from the 1980s that sticks in his mind more vividly than any other. “I had just come back from spending time in Queensland – writing about the reef and the Wet Tropics…
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‘A LICENCE TO POLLUTE’
Coliban Water’s planned upgrade of the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant will not be completed in time to prevent further illegal discharges of wastewater to the Campaspe River this year, downstream landowners fear. Significant rain a fortnight ago has raised the plant’s storage lagoons to 96 per cent capacity and wet conditions have delayed upgrade works…