News
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Council ready to fight
The decision on a controversial 711-lot development plan in Gisborne now falls to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal after Macedon Ranges Shire Council failed to make a decision within a reasonable time-frame. Councillors made one last effort to highlight concerns for the 39 Willowbank Road proposal at the ordinary meeting last week, which attracted…
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Farm zone nod
Farming activities are expected to intensify for a notable Rochford equine property as Macedon Ranges Shire councillors went against the grain to grant a discretionary use permit. Councillors approved a second abode for a 30.43ha property at 556 Boundary Road, which falls within the Farming Zone with strict rules to limit fragmentation of agricultural land.…
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Black ban on Green
A key objector to a disputed Lancefield development plan overlay has been legally ordered to keep his distance from Macedon Ranges Shire Council offices. Lancefield resident Robert Green was slapped with a ‘declaration of prohibited person’ notice on June 12 relating to alleged disrespectful interactions with council officers. Awestruck by the allegations, Mr Green said…
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A face to the word
Young people in Kyneton got the opportunity to put a face to the word ‘refugee’ and hear first-hand of their experience during a special schools visit last Tuesday for Refugee Week. Kyneton’s Social Foundry brought with them Malaysian-born Richard and Riya, who now live in the Bendigo region and have pending refugee status in Australia.…
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Irrigation plan a silver bullet?
A plan to dispose of excess wastewater from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant has been hatched by Coliban Water in partnership with major trade waste producer, Hardwicks Meatworks. The project aims to prevent any further release of diminished quality water to the Campaspe River, following Coliban Water’s admission it had been forced to make unauthorised…
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Climate call continues
Castlemaine students are among the many Australians who continue to demand meaningful action to address climate change. And on Friday afternoon the local teens took their concerns to the streets yet again. This time at least 50 students including many from Castlemaine Secondary College took strike action, marching from their schools to Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal…
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A win for conservation – National Park recommended for the Wombat Forest
A Wombat-Lerderderg National Park and Cobaw Conservation Park will be created if the state government accepts recommendations released by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council on Friday. Tasked by the state government to conduct a two-year investigation into the forests of central west Victoria, VEAC’s final recommendations aim to restore the health of the forests. They…
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A Victorian first
Up on the hill in Harcourt, local fruit growers Katie Finlay, Sas Allardice and Merv Carr have been busily working to form new venture Carr’s Organic Fruit Tree Nursery. Growing their own rootstocks from seed and cuttings and then later grafting and budding an array of delicious fruit varieties onto them, they are now ready…
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Surprise $3M for new station
Riddells Creek firefighters are elated with the guarantee of a new $3 million station by 2021. On Sunday, local MP Mary-Anne Thomas announced a surprise addition to the initial $950,000 promised in the Victorian Budget 2019/20 for refurbishments. Brigade captain Tom Morley said the change in scope was “amazing news” and aligned with future plans…
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Sustainability success
Kyneton Secondary College year eight science students and their teacher met in the dark last Thursday morning at Kyneton Railway Station to make the trip down to Melbourne for the Sustainability Victoria Resource Smart School Awards at the MCG. The excited students were finalists in the awards and were delighted to hear directly from Minister…
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MasterChef’s Rock backdrop
“There is nothing more iconic than a picnic at Hanging Rock,” said MasterChef judge Matt Preston as he welcomed the television show’s contestants to the Rock to film a team challenge episode. The teams were challenged to create picnic baskets for 200 guests for the episode featuring guest judge Maggie Beer, which aired last Wednesday…
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Solar farm debate heats up
Concerns about loss of quality farmland, fire risk and visual amenity are among those driving longtime locals to object to a $195 million solar farm proposed for Baringhup. A Planning Panels Victoria directions hearing held in Castlemaine on Thursday marked the start of a process to determine if the 75 Megawatt solar farm gets ministerial…