News
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Eyes in the sky
Victoria Police members will soon have access to drone technology with the establishment of the first ever Drone Unit. Senior Sergeant Peter Carey of Castlemaine Police said he had not yet been briefed as yet to where the drones would be located regionally, but Bendigo would be a likely location. “This will give us the…
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Baringhup solar hearings begin
State planning panel hearings for the proposed 75 megawatt Baringhup solar farm began yesterday and will continue today at Maldon’s Bill Woodfull Reserve. Planning Panels Victoria is conducting the series of three hearing dates with the final hearing date next Tuesday, July 23 at Baringhup. The first two days including today are for Res Australia…
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Steps forward for Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock’s East Paddock will be purchased by the state government from Macedon Ranges Council via a $3 million commitment over the next three years to implement the Hanging Rock Strategic Plan. The purchase will prevent any future plans to commercially develop the site, as was controversially proposed by a former council that sought private…
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River warning lifted
A health warning applied to the Campaspe River between Kyneton and Lake Eppalock since early June was lifted on Sunday afternoon by the Environment Protection Authority. The warning had been issued after Coliban Water admitted it had been forced to make daily unauthorised releases of water unfit for stock and domestic use to the river…
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Castlemaine unwrapped!
A special tour taking place in Castlemaine next week will show participants where and how they can shop locally to keep single-use plastic out of their shopping baskets and out of the environment. Castlemaine Unwrapped – A Tour happens next Monday July 22 and follows the first such tour that was well received by local…
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TOWERS CALL – Council in bid for innovative solutions
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has won support after doubling down on its call for stronger governance on the placement of telecommunication towers in the natural landscape. Taking its fight to the Australian Local Government Association for the second time, the council saw a small victory in the decision to lobby for increased federal funding for…
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Big-hearted gesture
Homeless people and those doing it tough are being offered a warming soup and roll and a warm dry place to escape the bitter winter cold at a new soup kitchen in Castlemaine. Launched last week by members of St Mary’s Parish with the support of other churches and the wider community, the soup kitchen…
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Courage on climate workshop
Locals worried about climate change and its impacts are being encouraged not to despair and invited to join with like-minded others to help address the global issue. The Castlemaine-based group Central Vic Climate Action is gearing up to coordinate a range of community actions including this month’s upcoming public workshop in Castlemaine. Group members like…
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From EPA exec to Coliban Water chief
An executive director of the Environment Protection Authority will be the next managing director of Coliban Water. Damian Wells, from Bendigo, will take on the role from August 5. “Damian’s depth of experience in aligned sectors working with regional and urban communities made him a stand-out candidate to lead Coliban Water,” said board chairperson Lucy…
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Fire compo to court
A Lancefield landholder whose property was burnt out by bushfire as a result of a state government planned burn that got out of control, says he has been forced to resort to legal action to finalise a compensation claim. Graeme Walker and his wife Adele have commenced County Court proceedings against the Department of Environment,…
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Challenging social systems – Artists highlight lack of monuments to women
Probing gender inequity in civic commemoration, Sydney based art duo Make or Break (Connie Anthes and Rebecca Gallo) asked female-identifying people in Kyneton to propose a public artwork, monument or memorial for their town. In a survey issued they note that ‘In Australia, there are more statues of animals and oversized fruit than there are…
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Club links with Carlton Respects
Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club has just become the first community club in Victoria to partner with Carlton Football Club and the important Carlton Respects Program. Carlton Respects, founded in 2016, promotes gender equality for the prevention of domestic violence against women, and has over 7500 participants in its schools’ program. The co-gender Woodend club sees…