Industry
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Rationale breaks ground at Kyneton
Australian luxury skincare leader Rationale has broken ground on its global headquarters in Kyneton. Last month, Rationale’s founder Richard Parker, CEO Shamini Rajarethnam and company representatives met with construction company Fairbrother’s general manager Michael Josey and team at the High Street site for the ceremonial breaking of ground. The new global headquarters will see the…
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VGR in state’s new rail training pilot
A new pilot program will offer training and hands-on experience helping Victorian Goldfields Railway upgrade the tourist railway’s infrastructure between Castlemaine and Maldon. Late last week the state government announced support for indigenous and vulnerable people in the Loddon Mallee region to gain a certified qualification through the program. Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll…
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Free thermal home assessments
Maldon couple Linda Pannan and Graham Thomas are already reaping significant savings from making their new home highly energy efficient. Now they’re about to share their knowledge through a new community project aimed at helping the town’s residents become “climate ready”. The two are among a small band of local volunteers who will next month…
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The Paddock to feature
The Paddock Eco Village in Castlemaine will be featured as part of Sustainable House Day this Sunday. Established in 2001, Sustainable House Day is a national event coordinated by Renew that allows the public to see and learn from the best environmental homes in Australia. It aims to inspire people to live sustainably, showing them…
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Gisborne fight not over
Opponents to Gisborne Business Park’s expansion fear their voices have fallen on deaf ears as the proposal lives on in Macedon Ranges Council’s draft Gisborne Futures project. More than 300 residents petitioned council last year to scrap the plan that seeks to expand industrial and commercial activity to Saunders Road by rezoning Rural Living land.…
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CHASING CARS Leo Pruneau’s designs come to life in iconic Australian wheels
Not many people can lay claim to having flown first class on every business trip, and on the Concorde five times, but Leo Pruneau has the ‘souvenir’ glasses to prove it. Such was the jet setting lifestyle of a top General Motors designer, “in another life” as the now 88-year-old Woodend resident describes it. Responsible…
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FUTURE FOR FACTORY? Objections and support for Woodend retail plan
Parking and traffic flow need a re-think in a $4.7 million Woodend retail redevelopment plan to breathe new life into ‘The Old Factory’, objectors say. The proposal for 30 Brooke Street includes a 40-stall market, 75-seat licensed restaurant and tavern, but neighbouring residents have slammed a waiver for car parking as unacceptable. It has been…
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Tastings back on the menu
Cellar door operators are toasting their return in time for the Queen’s Birthday weekend following pressure on the state government to ease COVID-19 restrictions on the sector. Yesterday wine tastings returned to the menu but doubt hung over the industry until Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes threw a lifeline on Friday. Ms Symes announced cellar…
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Foundry powering on through pandemic
Castlemaine’s Billmans Foundry was gearing up for the unveiling of its largest project to date – two beautiful bronze whales created by Wollongong artist Julie Squires and fellow artist Theresa Ardler in Sydney’s Botany Bay – when the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Regarded as Australia’s leading manufacturer of bronze fountains, street park, garden furniture and…