Local News
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Lancefield plan endorsed – Councillors divided on ‘community opinion’
Passionate pleas for council to dump a restrictive development plan for Lancefield have ended in disappointment for some landowners. Macedon Ranges Shire councillors endorsed a development plan overlay on three residential areas in the township in a 5-4 vote at their ordinary meeting last Wednesday. Lancefield local Robert Green said the move had taken away…
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Threats trigger security
Security and police have been engaged over threats from the public made to Macedon Ranges Shire Council staff. Security guards screened all general public attending Wednesday’s ordinary council meeting following threats made relating to an agenda item up for discussion. Acting Macedon Ranges chief executive John Hausler did not divulge the nature of the threats…
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MAINfm kicking goals for community
The second annual MAIN Kick-Off is hitting Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve this Saturday for a community fundraiser of a different kind! The day will feature an all-inclusive game of footy plus loads more and promises to be fun for all! The day is a major fundraising initiative for 94.9 MAINfm and will kick off the station’s…
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Brewing some good
A new craft beer co-operative took its shaky first steps last week in Castlemaine. Rock & Ranges Brewing Co-operative is based in the Macedon Ranges, community-owned and democratically managed and seeks to help locals to “live their dream and (eventually) own the brewery”. After their first commercial brew, a collaboration with Castlemaine’s Shedshaker Brewing, the…
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Broiler farm battle ends
Local residents who led a protracted legal battle against large-scale chicken broiler farms being built at Baringhup are celebrating this week after the long-running saga finally concluded with a VCAT ruling in recent days. The VCAT ruling to cancel remaining permits and applications by the broiler farms’ proponent, Michael Vukadinovic and Pavilion Partners, now spells…
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Time to take tea at Plaistow
Renowned for its luscious cakes and home-baked scones, the annual Biggest Morning Tea at Plaistow Homestead has gained a hungry legion of supporters. In preparation for this year’s morning tea Lil and Peter Skilbeck, owners of this gracious country homestead at Joyces Creek, have again been busy preparing delicious morning tea treats ahead of the…
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To Lonely, With Love
Melbourne’s La Mama Theatre returns to Taradale’s Ash Tree Studio this month with an emotion-packed play based on the real-life letters of prisoners serving time. To Lonely, With Love features La Mama actors Lisa Dallinger and Jennifer Monk – who also directs this production. Both Lisa and Jennifer were also part of the script-writing process…
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Walk together with courage
A host of events are planned for National Reconciliation Week in Mount Alexander Shire – starting this Sunday with a special Sorry Day commemoration at Harcourt. Local Indigenous elder Aunty Julie McHale will be keynote speaker for Sunday’s Harcourt Sorry Day event hosted by Mount Alexander Shire Council. “This is an opportunity for all of…
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Tackling the ‘wildfire gateway’
Malmsbury Common has long been regarded as a neglected piece of land. Large areas of gorse, non-native grasses and a northerly aspect effectively made it the town’s high-risk ‘wildfire gateway’. The repatriation of the common has been a long-term project championed by the local landcare group and in recent times Macedon Ranges Council has added…
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Biggest morning stroll
Pull on your walking shoes and take a stroll around Castlemaine’s beautiful botanical gardens for a very good cause this Thursday. Castlemaine District Community Health nurse Bronwyn Grieve said that to coincide with Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea they were holding the special morning walk at the gardens with all funds raised to fund…
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Bittersweet result
It was a bittersweet result for returning Labor MPs Lisa Chesters and Rob Mitchell as they celebrated comfortable wins in the federal seats of Bendigo and McEwen respectively while their party mourned an election loss. Saturday’s win to the Liberal National Coalition means the local MPs will once again sit in opposition in the federal…
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For writers and thinkers
Whether you’ve got a book and you want to self-publish, or you’ve lost the plot… or perhaps you’re interested in exploring ideas like where Australia is headed, of fierce Australian women past and present… The Words and Ideas program of the Woodend Winter Arts Festival has 10 events you can choose from. Here’s a three-word…