News
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Mountain bikers take out the trash
Frustrated by a lack of action from government agencies, two Macedon Ranges mountain bike riders have begun cleaning up illegally dumped rubbish in the Wombat State Forest themselves. Long-time local residents, Matthew Connor and Craig Jones, spent part of their weekend removing waste from several dumping sites after becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of…
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A frontline service for animals
For the past 10 years, Nikki Medwell has spent her days (and often nights) caring for sick and injured wildlife at the Red Box Wildlife Shelter – her rehabilitation sanctuary in Elphinstone. While the 60-acre bush block, located near Leanganook (Mount Alexander), was spared by the January bushfires, the impacts on the shelter were profound.…
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Funding miss for Macedon reserve
Tony Clarke Reserve has missed out on funding for changeroom upgrades in the Victorian Government’s 2026-27 Country Football and Netball Program. The Macedon project is valued at $650,000 and would upgrade existing changerooms to meet current AFL community standards, ensuring they are inclusive and fit-for-purpose for all user groups. Macedon Ranges Shire Council applied to…
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Hepburn CEO resigns
Hepburn Shire CEO Bradley Thomas has resigned following a turbulent period in the role. Mr Thomas was assaulted by a community member, when doused in coffee at a public location, following a planning dispute in November. Both Mr Thomas and councillor Don Henderson were each served with alleged criminal charges initiated by a private individual…
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Restrictions remain for Lancefield
Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s bid to remove planning controls that have stymied Lancefield development has been rejected by the state government. Earlier this month, the council sought to remove the restrictive DPO24 that applies across about 150 acres of township land in three residential zones, impacting about 22 landowners. The planning tool intended to create…
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Thieves target botanic gardens
Thieves have stolen about 40 plants valued up to $2000 from the Kyneton Botanic Gardens over an 18-month period. Plants have been taken from three different areas of the gardens in several repeat incidents that have left local volunteers devastated. Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens secretary Helen Frost said members were “extremely disappointed and disheartened”…
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Little mouse carries big story of hope
A small mouse with a big heart is helping share a powerful story of courage, connection and recovery following the January bushfires in Harcourt and District. Harcourt Valley Mouse, a locally written and illustrated children’s picture book, will be officially launched as part of a special event at the Victorian Miniature Railway in Harcourt this…
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Kyneton grandmother gobsmacked by Tatts win
A Kyneton grandmother has started the week in a wonderful whirlwind after discovering her TattsLotto ticket in the weekend’s draw scored a life-changing $1.8 million prize. The Macedon Ranges resident held one of the 11 division one winning entries nationally on Saturday, and looks forward to a total prize of $1,818,181.82. When an official from…
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Sophie vaults into championships
Hard work has paid off for Gisborne gymnast Sophie Strano, with the teenager having just qualified for the Gymnastics Victoria State Team. The 16-year-old’s milestone comes after years of dedication, having first stepped onto the mats at Gisborne’s Jets Gymnastics as an energetic two-year-old. By age four, she had earned a spot in the pre-squad,…
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‘Race still on’ for Clarkefield
“Premature, insufficiently resolved, and not yet justified” is how Macedon Ranges Shire Council has described controversial plans to transform Clarkefield into a new township. The council has called for the development to undergo a full public hearing before an independent planning panel in its preliminary submission to the state government. The planning amendment in question,…
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Composting advocate hails rare opportunity
A leading Australian community composting advocate says Mount Alexander Shire has a rare opportunity to build on an already thriving grassroots movement rather than replacing it with a one-size-fits-all waste solution. Churchill Fellow and community composting researcher, Clytie Binder, visited Castlemaine last week to learn more about YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard), the volunteer-run…
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Death enters election race
Former Macedon Ranges Shire mayor Annette Death has been announced as Victorian Labor’s candidate for the seat of Macedon at November’s state election. The Riddells Creek resident, a Labor Party member for almost 20 years, will contest the seat following the retirement of incumbent MP Mary-Anne Thomas. Ms Death served as a Macedon Ranges Shire…