Latest
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Castlemaine wildlife reserve welcomes friends
It’s a little natural jewel, easy walking distance to the centre of Castlemaine, and right under residents’ noses. But many locals don’t even realise the Kaweka Wildflower Reserve is there say the dedicated committee members who help look after it. Kaweka Wildflower Reserve is an L-shaped 2.5-hectare parcel of conserved bushland that was presented to…
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Castlemaine-Guildford rail trail idea starts rolling
The disused Castlemaine to Guildford railway corridor should be turned into a rail trail, keen local cyclist Lou Citroen believes. The Castlemaine recreational cyclist has contacted Mount Alexander Shire Council to canvass the plan and seek support to make it happen. His suggestion comes as the disused Castlemaine to Guildford track is currently being taken…
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Backing cash-for-cans
It is not yet known what impact a state-wide container deposit scheme would have on kerbside recycling services but both Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shire councils have welcomed the move. A soft announcement of the state government’s likely introduction of scheme came last week as Macedon Ranges began its four-bin waste collection service that…
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Kyneton and District Tennis Club gets love
After 10 long years of planning and fundraising, Kyneton and District Tennis Club had good reason for a celebration late last Thursday afternoon. The club’s six aged courts have been replaced with four modern grass courts and two safe and compliant hard courts. And on top of that, lights have been installed – a great…
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Newstead a perfect platform for long dinner and art auction
Take a vintage country railway platform, throw in lots of good food and wine, add a very long dining table – and you’ve got the makings of a very memorable fundraising dinner. These are just some of the elements coming together for the inaugural Fundraising Dinner and Art Auction soon to transform the heritage railway…
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Bid to protect Gisborne avenues of honour
Unregistered avenues of honour in Gisborne and New Gisborne are at risk as the towns reshape for population growth. Several of the 100-year-old oak trees have already been lost to road widening and duplication works over the years and residents fear more may be lost with no protection, while development and changes to road networks…
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Exploring Ibsen in Castlemaine theatre residency
Castlemaine’s latest At Home Phee Broadway Theatre residency kicks off today and will explore the dark themes of 1881 play Ghosts by 19th century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. In this unique residency, three women explore their lives and culture in these horrific times and find connections to Henrik Ibsen’s amazing play and the echoes of…
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NETWORKS DOWN
Residents across the region vented their anger last week with mobile phone services disrupted from Tuesday to Thursday and power outages during Friday’s 40-degree heat leaving many sweltering. Seven days of planned works to the Kyneton area mobile phone network were abandoned on Friday after Telstra reassessed their suitability going into the day’s forecast heat…
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Devastation and hope
Dedicated local wildlife carers Scott and Nikki Medwell of the Red Box Wildlife Shelter at Elphinstone have been doing what they can to support stricken fellow wildlife carers in Victoria and beyond. Scott made the trek north earlier this month to offer assistance to fellow carers and friends Sara Tilling and Gary Henderson of the…
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Railway maneuvres
Victorian Goldfields Railway volunteers have begun dismantling the old Castlemaine-Guildford railway track before re-using the rails to upgrade the Castlemaine-Maldon tourist railway. The project that started last week opens up interesting questions as to the future of the Castlemaine-Guildford corridor and, more pointedly, the currently disused Castlemaine-Maryborough passenger line that it’s part of. Starting at…
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Reclaiming the Campaspe River
Campaspe River landowners are taking the health of the river into their own hands by commissioning independent scientific monitoring of the waterway. The residents fear waste from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant will continue to pollute the river, as Coliban Water faces 11 criminal charges relating to the illegal discharge of thousands of litres of…
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Fierce forest fire
A thick layer of smoke has blanketed parts of the Macedon Ranges after lightning sparked a fierce blaze in the Cobaw Forest near Pipers Creek about 4pm Sunday. About 40 CFA, Forest Fire Management and Parks Victoria crews attacked the firefront that threatened farming properties. Emergency warning alerts were issued as winds spread embers over…