News
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Tail-wagging wonderful!
It’s official – Castlemaine finally has a site for its first off-lead dog park. After many years of speculation and multiple aborted suggestions for a suitable site, the new off-lead park site was announced on the spot late last week. Covering 1700 square metres of leafy natural space, the site occupies the Castlemaine township edge…
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Hub push for funds
Macedon locals are fighting to keep momentum for a much-anticipated community hub as they face a cost blowout for the project. Volunteers are seeking $90,000 in Macedon Ranges Council’s 2020/21 budget to meet the funding shortfall for the building contract and continue efforts. Macedon’s Samara Hodson said the community had rallied behind the project and…
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Farmers looking after their own
Arnold-based primary producers Carly and Darren Noble of small farm business The Agri-Food Network recently launched a Mental Health Gift Hampers initiative aimed at bringing a smile to the face of fellow central Victorian farmers and small producers doing it tough during COVID. The couple launched the program in late March after close friend and…
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C-DOC returns to the Royal
It’s been swings and roundabouts but the 2020 ‘In The Clouds’ Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival is set to go ahead this weekend, July 17-19. The C-DOC team is thrilled to announce that limited ticketing is now available for the screening of its three scheduled films at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal. Those lucky enough to secure one…
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Castlemaine State Fest offers grants to creatives
Virus or no virus, come March next year the Castlemaine State Festival will happen, its director says. Exactly what form it takes will be guided by the level of restriction in place at the time, but festival director Glyn Roberts says planning for the March 19-28 festival is factoring in adaptation to the shifting COVID-19…
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Farmers win in land battle
A fourth generation Springfield farming family has taken on the state government in a David and Goliath battle over land, and won. Backed by Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the Clement family succeeded at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in preventing fragmentation of farmland at 75 Clements Road, Springfield. The family donated the land as…
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‘Fix traffic’ cry for Riddell
Traffic troubles are mounting in Riddells Creek and locals warn they must be tackled before development takes hold. Residents are urgently calling for a town traffic management and movement plan as they brace for a population forecast of 6000 people, becoming a ‘district town’, by 2036. Riddells Creek’s Ross Colliver last week called on Macedon…
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CHECKPOINT CHEATS
Macedon Ranges residents have raised concern over how easily people have been able to enter the shire from COVID-19 lockdown areas across its borders. While police have established vehicle checkpoints on major arterial roads heading out of Melbourne, several people have contacted the Midland Express to report their easy entry to the Macedon Ranges via…
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Coles Woodend staff member positive
A team member at Coles’ Woodend supermarket is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. In a statement posted to the Coles website last night, the company said a number of team members who worked in close contact had also been asked to self-isolate and Coles would continue to work with the Victorian Department of Health…
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Coin coup for Castlemaine photographer
The work of Castlemaine photographer Gary Chapman has just become a niche collector’s item, worth its weight in gold after it was selected to feature on a new limited edition coin. One of the images captured by the long-time local photographer has just been used on gold and silver limited edition commemorative coins produced by…
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TEDx has landed in Kyneton
Speakers are now being sought for TEDx Kyneton to bring the region’s big ideas to a world stage. The event invites up to 20 female speakers to share profound ideas and stories from the Macedon Ranges region with a larger audience to shape our world. Facilitator Paul Kooperman said the project aimed to explore a…
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Milestone for Romsey Men’s Shed
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday to mark an important milestone for the long-awaited Romsey Men’s Shed project. With a lease signed and a building permit obtained, the slab for the shed is expected to be poured within the next fortnight. Rain on Friday failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those present at the…