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  • Energy park on hold

    Energy park on hold

    Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group has put its community energy park project on hold indefinitely after receiving confirmation from the state government that regulatory barriers can’t be overcome in the next term. The vital step to enable the project to move forward was for the government to amend the Plantations Act to allow for non-forestry uses,…

  • Blaze at Carlsruhe

    Blaze at Carlsruhe

    Fire tore through a two-storey mudbrick home at Carlsruhe early last Thursday morning. Brigades from across the district turned out to the blaze at a property on Institute Road about 2.30am. The fire gutted the upper storey of the home while the lower level sustained significant smoke and water damage. All occupants of the home…

  • Macedon Ranges mayor takes up Plastic Free July challenge

    Macedon Ranges mayor takes up Plastic Free July challenge

    How can an environmentally conscious resident reduce their single-use plastic uptake even more? That’s a question facing Macedon Ranges mayor Jennifer Anderson this month as she tackles her own challenge for Plastic Free July. The Australian-born initiative is a global movement that encourages people to reduce their plastic use to lessen their environmental impact. This…

  • Kyneton Tea of Earth entrepreneur hailed a local business hero

    Kyneton Tea of Earth entrepreneur hailed a local business hero

    Kyneton business owner Rebecca Moore says her local Australia Post team had been friendly faces during the pandemic when she made the move to post online orders for Tea of Earth. Now they’ve hailed her a 2022 Australia Post Local Business Hero, recognising her unique and valued connection to the local community. “The continuing support…

  • Community throws support behind two young Lancefield boys injured

    Community throws support behind two young Lancefield boys injured

    Romsey Mitre 10 is leading a community charge of support for the family of two Lancefield boys recovering from severe burns following an accident last Friday. Brothers Xander, 3, and Tanner, 22 months, suffered burns to their hands and faces after a small explosion from an aerosol can accidentally put into a fire at their…

  • Garden the fire-wise way: Woodend brigade shares tips

    Garden the fire-wise way: Woodend brigade shares tips

    Woodend Fire Brigade’s new fire-wise garden has opened and members have shared tips for anyone seeking to take a similar approach. Located at the front of the station, the garden was a combined effort of members including removal of hazardous trees and careful planning and design. The garden also offers the community landscaping ideas in…

  • Meeting labelled a sham

    Meeting labelled a sham

    Campaspe River landowners have labelled a Coliban Water community meeting held via zoom last week a “sham”. The meeting was advertised as being held to discuss a proposed Environment Protection Authority licence amendment in relation to discharges of wastewater from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant to the river, but participants were not given any detail…

  • Clubhouse condition critical

    Clubhouse condition critical

    Woodend golfers are urging action to bring their dilapidated clubhouse up to building code or for demolition to rebuild.Last year, Macedon Ranges Shire Council set aside $200,000 to bring facilities up to scratch but members report little movement. “We haven’t seen any evidence of that money being spent,” Woodend Golf Club secretary, Barney Hearnden said.“The…

  • Austin on the road to recovery

    Austin on the road to recovery

    Courageous Castlemaine youngster Austin Vearing has successfully conquered two rounds of surgery in the United States and is now on his road to recovery.The four-year-old and his family flew to America earlier this month where he underwent life-changing SDR (selective dorsal rhizotomy) surgery at St Louis Children’s Hospital. Austin’s mum Kat and dad Julian said…

  • Communication breakdown?

    Communication breakdown?

    Residents cut off from power and telecommunications for days in June’s storm are questioning Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s communications with residents in emergency.Web, social media and phone proved ineffective means of communication for thousands of residents cut from power for between one to six days. “We were cut off from power and running water for…

  • Missing dogs feared stolen

    Missing dogs feared stolen

    Five missing dogs are feared stolen after not being sighted since mid-May in the Macedon Ranges.The dogs, all desirable breeds, disappeared within two weeks of each other from Lancefield, Clarkefield, Hesket and Benloch.missing are a black staghound, two dachshunds, a tri-coloured border collie and a pure-bred husky. Owners have contacted local authorities and made a…

  • Line crossed at school crossing

    Line crossed at school crossing

    Police are ramping up their focus on Castlemaine’s school crossings following a concerning near-miss last week.The increased policing focus follows last Wednesday’s incident in which a motorist drove a car through the Hargraves Street school crossing as an on-duty supervisor stood in the middle to assist school children who were preparing to cross the road…