The recent, and highly controversial, speed reduction on the Pyrenees Highway in Castlemaine has inspired the Chewton 50 Chillout Spotify playlist.
Featuring more than 100 songs and more than 10 hours of listening, it is sure to help drivers ‘chill out’, have a laugh and sing along, during the extra drive time to and from Castlemaine.
The eclectic playlist, with songs chosen by local residents to convey their thoughts and feelings on the divisive issue, was the brainchild of local resident Lucas Maddock.
Lucas told the Express that he started the playlist as a joke, not really expecting anyone to participate, but everyone loved the idea and before he knew it, he was spending countless hours on the project.
“What people put on there was really considered – it’s turned into a really good, and really funny, playlist, that’s now in high rotation at our house!” he said.
“I love that it’s a people-made playlist. So much of what we listen to is Spotify or an algorithm-made playlists, they play good songs, but there’s no meaning and no humour in it.”
Lucas noted that despite there being a huge list of issues that were vital to the community, the relatively minor issue of the speed limit was the one that had everyone up in arms.
“Not to downplay the lack of transparency around it, and the lack of consultation,” he said.
“I think people have a right to be annoyed and they’ve got a right to answers as well.
“But at the same time, the high school’s underfunded by over a million dollars a year, all the primary schools are underfunded, the ambulances are ramped, there’s fundamental stuff happening and you’ll never rally 2000 signatures for those,” Lucas said.
“There are some people who are upset by the whole stretch being changed, but I think they’re in the minority. The consensus seems to be about that last stretch of road past Chewton heading towards the freeway.”
The playlist got so much attention that Lucas took to the airwaves on Main FM last week, chatting with presenter Suzanne Donisthorpe and announcing the winners of the two best songs.
Lucas’ number one was Hertz by Amyl and the Sniffers and the people’s choice was taken out by Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads.
“The second most requested song was Take it Easy by the Eagles and the lyrics were spot on. ‘Take it easy, don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy, don’t even try to understand’.
“I don’t think our community is quite as polarised as we think,” Lucas said.
Lucas told the Express that the winners would receive a “Better than Snickers Bar’ from the Chewton Servo, which were a bit of an institution around Castlemaine, often selling out, with people dying to get their hands on the treat. Unfortunately, he didn’t plan ahead, so he may need to try his hand at making them!
