News
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A first for the nation
Local First Nations groups across the region have welcomed the historic state-wide Treaty tabled in state parliament last Tuesday. It makes Victoria the first state or territory in Australia to introduce a bill of this kind in parliament and, if passed, will set in stone a permanent First Peoples’ Assembly under the name Gellung Warl,…
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Ngannelong speculation
Significant Treaty legislation introduced into the Victorian Parliament last week has re-ignited speculation in certain quarters about possible changes to the names of specific landmarks and waterways on state-controlled land. Could it be that the widely known phrase ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ eventually changes to ‘Picnic at Ngannelong’? Under the legislation introduced last week by…
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Entries open for business awards
Mount Alexander Shire Council is inviting local businesses to share their story and nominate for the 2025 Mount Alexander Business Awards. The awards celebrate the people and enterprises that drive positive change in our local economy – through innovation, care, sustainability and community connection. The 2025 award categories include: – Outstanding Workplace – Sustainability Hero…
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Malmsbury mayhem
Jenny Denton Three men charged over riots at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre in October 2023 were arraigned in the County Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a slew of charges relating to the violent and chaotic events. Isaac Hindmarsh, 20, Michael Hailu, 20, and Malith Arou, 21 were among five of 13 co-accused…
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New store to deliver big savings
Just three months after the opening of Castlemaine’s new Woolworths supermarket, the town is set to see the opening of another major retail outlet. Castlemaine’s new Reject Shop will open its doors this Thursday morning, September 11. Local residents have been keenly watching the development of the new store at 112-116 Barker Street in recent…
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From steam to satellites
Steam trains once defined the Victorian Goldfields Railway, carrying miners and goods across central Victoria. Today, those same tracks are playing host to something very different: a testing ground for the future of safe and reliable navigation. Space and spatial experts at social enterprise, FrontierSI, have launched Australia’s first Positioning, Navigation and Timing Labs, a…
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Push for dine-in dogs
Should dogs be allowed in Australian cafes and restaurants? Riddells Creek resident, Kristy Gadsby, thinks it’s a move that could boost business and foster bonds with man’s best friend. She has launched a petition seeking change to legislation that currently restricts them to outdoor dining areas only, unless they are a service dog. “I went…
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Riddell to double in size
A controversial development set to double the size of Riddells Creek has been approved by Victorian Government powers against local council and community wishes. The Amess Road development will create 1360 homes for 3808 new residents on 131.8 hectares, despite substantial push-back from Macedon Ranges Shire Council and residents. Last week, Mayor Dom Bonanno said…
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Reserve plan funded in good time
It didn’t make the budget but now Macedon Ranges Shire Council has found unspent funds for a Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve master plan. Last week, councillors agreed to allocate leftover Community Funding Scheme funds of $37,779.27 to the master plan project. The current plan for the reserve is more than 16 years old and no…
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Tighter leash on free dog walking
A group of dog owners are barking back at a proposal to shorten the off-leash Campaspe River Walk Track. Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s review of ‘Dog off-leash and prohibited areas for dogs and cats’ proposes to shorten the track, to stop off-leash dog walking from the Piper Street Bridge to Jennings Street. Kyneton resident Julius…
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Santa’s helpers fashion new bells
Billmans Foundry in Castlemaine has teamed up with a number of talented local tradespeople to craft a set of five new Christmas bells for the former Apex Club of Castlemaine’s annual Santa Run. The beloved event is a longstanding tradition in Mount Alexander Shire and celebrates its 88th anniversary on Christmas Day 2025. Former Apex…
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Gisborne’s crime sees Telstra exit
The Telstra branch in Gisborne has permanently closed down after a spate of crime hit its store, meaning the town’s residents will have to travel to Metropolitan areas to receive in-store service. The closest branches are located in Sunbury and Melton. Telstra’s regional general manager, Steve Tinker, told the Express crime was one of many…