News
-
Grape help for hospitality workers
Fruit-picking is hard manual labour but Harcourt Valley Vineyard has seen a sudden influx of offers and is returning a favour with this year’s harvest. The team has offered this season’s remaining work to local hospitality staff facing an employment slump in the COVID-19 pandemic. Vineyard owner Kye Livingstone said hospitality was among the first…
-
Impact and opportunity for VGR tourist railway
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the Victorian Goldfields Railway to suspend all of its advertised passenger service until the end of June. The VGR has also had to halt its project taking up the old disused main line track between Guildford and Castlemaine for recycling on part of its tourist line. “We’re not happy with…
-
Local business offers smart response to crisis
Local businesses are finding innovative ways to adapt amid the current coronavirus restrictions. One such businesses is Castlemaine’s Mulberry’s Delicatessen, which has been quick to respond to the crisis by developing a new phone and email based ordering and home delivery service. The innovative new way of continuing to function rolled into action on Friday…
-
Nature can help calm
We are lucky in this region to have beautiful parks and gardens full of glorious autumn colours to enjoy during this time of social isolation. With many of us feeling anxiety and fear getting out into nature can help calm us. Spending time outdoors has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, calm you, and…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…