Latest
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Glamour on the menu
Local foodie Jennifer Beachey and former Melbourne restaurateur Marcus Tomlin are the creative minds behind the newly revamped and reimagined Piper Street restaurant Parkland Kyneton. The vibe is one of understated traditional elegance with a luxe twist. “We want anyone and everyone to walk in, find their nook and instantly feel comfortable,” Jennifer says. “We…
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An age-old challenge
Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal has come up with a membership scheme to help meet the challenges of operating a grand old theatre in a regional setting. Tim Heath and Felicity Cripps now manage the theatre on their own, having recently parted ways with their former business partners. The beautiful 150-year-old building is the cultural heart of…
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A cellar door like no other
Blurring the lines between urban winery, cellar door, neighbourhood wine bar and beer garden – Musk Lane Wine is a cellar door with a difference. Different? You have probably heard that word touted before…but this is different, really different. Musk Lane Wine is a winery in the centre of Kyneton. Yes, that’s different! It’s in…
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Tower proposal revisited
A proposal to construct a new Optus telecommunications tower at Castlemaine’s Wesley Hill is set to be revisited. The revised proposal would see the tower moved about 100-200 metres inside the reserve and away from nearby homes. Those impacted, however, say that the tower is now closer to residents in Railway Avenue who may be…
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Brown in the ‘Maine
Former Greens leader Bob Brown has praised Castlemaine as a great generator of ideas for the future during a visit to the town on Friday. Brown and his long-time partner Paul Thomas attended the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival at which the high-profile environmental campaigner was a guest speaker. As part of Friday’s festival opening night,…
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Newstead ‘getting it done’
Newstead residents are set to receive most of what they’d hoped for when they petitioned Mount Alexander Shire Council for an upgrade of the town’s leafy Newstead Community Park last year. Back in October the residents presented the council with a petition bearing 378 signatures and calling for upgrades to the park, which they said…
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On-water access
Residents are seeking reassurance on water quality and safety as the state government prepares to open on-water access for Coliban Water’s Kyneton catchment from August 1. For the first time, kayaks, canoes and small craft with electric motors will be permitted for recreational use at Malmsbury, Lauriston and Upper Coliban reservoirs. The new access comes…
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Steps forward for Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock’s East Paddock will be purchased by the state government from Macedon Ranges Council via a $3 million commitment over the next three years to implement the Hanging Rock Strategic Plan. The purchase will prevent any future plans to commercially develop the site, as was controversially proposed by a former council that sought private…
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River warning lifted
A health warning applied to the Campaspe River between Kyneton and Lake Eppalock since early June was lifted on Sunday afternoon by the Environment Protection Authority. The warning had been issued after Coliban Water admitted it had been forced to make daily unauthorised releases of water unfit for stock and domestic use to the river…
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Castlemaine unwrapped!
A special tour taking place in Castlemaine next week will show participants where and how they can shop locally to keep single-use plastic out of their shopping baskets and out of the environment. Castlemaine Unwrapped – A Tour happens next Monday July 22 and follows the first such tour that was well received by local…
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TOWERS CALL – Council in bid for innovative solutions
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has won support after doubling down on its call for stronger governance on the placement of telecommunication towers in the natural landscape. Taking its fight to the Australian Local Government Association for the second time, the council saw a small victory in the decision to lobby for increased federal funding for…
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Courage on climate workshop
Locals worried about climate change and its impacts are being encouraged not to despair and invited to join with like-minded others to help address the global issue. The Castlemaine-based group Central Vic Climate Action is gearing up to coordinate a range of community actions including this month’s upcoming public workshop in Castlemaine. Group members like…

