News
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Children seen fleeing scene of suspicious fires
Firefighters and police are treating two fires that broke out at Woodend on Saturday as suspicious. Woodend CFA captain Mike Dornau was first at the scene in parkland near Shirley Park just before noon and discovered an area of about half an acre fully involved, with flames creeping up several large cyprus trees. Seven tankers…
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TAKE THE MESSAGE SERIOUSLY
Authorities are urging people to take the self-isolation message seriously as Victoria steps up measures to flatten the curve in new cases of coronavirus. Victoria has entered stage three of its response, with people facing fines of more than $1600 for breaching social-distancing rules. Gatherings will be restricted to no more than two people except…
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Boost for small agribusinesses
Seven agribusinesses in the Macedon Ranges have received grants through the state government’s Small-Scale and Craft Program to support business growth, create jobs and attract more visitors to enjoy locally made food, beer and spirits. Grants of up to $25,000 have been awarded and will be used to assist businesses in scaling up, expanding their…
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Cheese please! A new venture for Castlemaine
A new artisan cheesemaker and cheese school is being establishing in Castlemaine, adding an additional attraction to the town’s Mill complex and tapping into newly emergent demand. Building work is well underway to develop existing premises in the site’s specialty food and beverage precinct. The Cheese School and artisan cheesemaking enterprise – Long Paddock Cheese…
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Gisborne ALDI soon
Construction has commenced on an ALDI supermarket at Gisborne that will provide 15-20 permanent and part-time jobs to the local community. A company spokesperson said the store was due to open this year. “The council has approved the temporary structures currently occupying the site,” the spokesperson said. “We are eager to bring our unique shopping…
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New public events policy clamps down on waste
New requirements governing waste management – including plastics – at local public events will be phased in over the next two years after Mount Alexander Shire Council adopted its new waste-wise events policy last week. Once fully implemented, the new policy will require a range of more environmentally sustainable practices aimed at reducing landfill and…
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Looking after locals
Riddells Creek Foodworks has employed security to check identification at the door to prevent outsiders from stripping the shelves bare. The move comes after reports of busloads of Melbourne shoppers flocking to regional towns and clearing the shelves. Since 10am last Wednesday, anyone without proof of residency within a 12km radius of Riddells Creek was…
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Trade takes new shape
Trade is taking new shape for many innovative local businesses adapting to COVID-19 precautions. Drive-through options, online platforms and extra delivery services are helping locals adhere to spatial distancing and assuring the region is still open for business. Malmsbury Hotel owner Anda Gazzard said it was important for local businesses to adapt as needs and…
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Kyneton volunteers deliver meals to those in self-isolation
A small group of Kyneton volunteers are helping those in need and in self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic by cooking and delivering meals to residents in Kyneton and surrounds. The group was started by a Kyneton resident who wanted to help the elderly, vulnerable and those who could not access supermarkets or food outlets…
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Council public facilities closed, events cancelled or postponed as COVID-19 precaution
Many of Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s public facilities will be closed and events will be cancelled or postponed as a preventative measure following the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19. Chief executive officer Margot Stork said council was taking a proactive approach in order to protect the health and wellbeing of the community, especially elderly and vulnerable…
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Poster art provokes
Peter Drew has had one or two confrontational moments in his successful career as a street artist of renown. His work – displayed in very public places – tends to elicit strong response. “My intention is not to change the world but to put art into the world to see what happens,” the Adelaide-based artist…
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Macedon Ranges Council shake up – Redundancies expected in restructure
Council staff fear job losses as a major organisational restructure begins to shake up Macedon Ranges Shire Council. Chief executive officer Margot Stork confirmed last week the council was in the process of transitioning from four directorates to three. Hundreds of council staff will not know the full impact of the restructure for 10-12 weeks,…