News
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An age-old challenge
Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal has come up with a membership scheme to help meet the challenges of operating a grand old theatre in a regional setting. Tim Heath and Felicity Cripps now manage the theatre on their own, having recently parted ways with their former business partners. The beautiful 150-year-old building is the cultural heart of…
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A cellar door like no other
Blurring the lines between urban winery, cellar door, neighbourhood wine bar and beer garden – Musk Lane Wine is a cellar door with a difference. Different? You have probably heard that word touted before…but this is different, really different. Musk Lane Wine is a winery in the centre of Kyneton. Yes, that’s different! It’s in…
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Council acts on wastewater
Growing concerns over Coliban Water’s releases of low-quality wastewater into the Campaspe River have been relayed to the Minister for Water, Lisa Neville. Last week Macedon Ranges Shire mayor, Cr Janet Pearce and CEO Margot Stork met with representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and ministerial staff at Ms Neville’s Melbourne…
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Rationale projects 2021 opening
Australian luxury skincare brand Rationale has confirmed plans for a new headquarters in Kyneton are progressing well, with completion now projected for 2021. Plans for the $6 million facility were announced last year at the proposed 14,000sqm vacant site at the eastern gateway to Kyneton. Rationale CEO Shamini Rajarethnam said the Rationale team was “gratified…
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Tower proposal revisited
A proposal to construct a new Optus telecommunications tower at Castlemaine’s Wesley Hill is set to be revisited. The revised proposal would see the tower moved about 100-200 metres inside the reserve and away from nearby homes. Those impacted, however, say that the tower is now closer to residents in Railway Avenue who may be…
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Twenty years of dance
Castlemaine’s long-running hip-hop dance school Movement Zone is celebrating 20 years of dance with a special event at the Theatre Royal on Saturday August 3. Dancers past and present, parents and supporters are encouraged to get along to ‘Ready, Set, Glow’. The school’s humble beginnings began in Melbourne in 1999. It was co-founded by renowned…
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Brown in the ‘Maine
Former Greens leader Bob Brown has praised Castlemaine as a great generator of ideas for the future during a visit to the town on Friday. Brown and his long-time partner Paul Thomas attended the Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival at which the high-profile environmental campaigner was a guest speaker. As part of Friday’s festival opening night,…
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Newstead ‘getting it done’
Newstead residents are set to receive most of what they’d hoped for when they petitioned Mount Alexander Shire Council for an upgrade of the town’s leafy Newstead Community Park last year. Back in October the residents presented the council with a petition bearing 378 signatures and calling for upgrades to the park, which they said…
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On-water access
Residents are seeking reassurance on water quality and safety as the state government prepares to open on-water access for Coliban Water’s Kyneton catchment from August 1. For the first time, kayaks, canoes and small craft with electric motors will be permitted for recreational use at Malmsbury, Lauriston and Upper Coliban reservoirs. The new access comes…
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Reform ‘a step backwards’
Macedon Ranges has joined a chorus of local councils demanding answers on a major proposal to reintroduce single-member ward structures state-wide. The change would likely carve Macedon Ranges into nine council wards with individual representation, but the restructure call has been widely criticised as ‘a step backwards’. Macedon Ranges Council has called for choice over…
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Farm venture up for award
Kyneton’s Melissa Connors has been nominated for the Prime Super Agricultural Innovation Award for her initiative This Farm Needs a Farmer. The initiative has become the first point of call for people making a tree-change and pairs retired or semi-retired farmers with people new to working the land to pass on their knowledge as mentors.…
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A hill house concert hall
A house on a hill at chilly East Trentham has by chance become an inviting winter concert hall. Built 13 years ago, although not with such a use in mind, long-time local Susie Kilby soon realised her large home – with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the valley below – lent itself perfectly to a concert…