News
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Anti-logging protesters hold up effort
Anti-logging protesters tied to a Romsey contractor’s machinery have hindered bushfire response in Gippsland. VicForest called on Brad Meyer to aid firefighting efforts last week but six of his machines, including two bulldozers and a harvester, were blocked by protesters at his Toolangi logging coupe. “We wanted to help with fire efforts but our machines…
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Locals join fire fight
Local firies joined the fight at Bunyip State Park and Gippsland firegrounds last week. A Macedon Ranges strike team with firefighters from across the district was in force, as well as crews from Harcourt and Campbells Creek and CFA members from Castlemaine and Newstead. The strike team comprised members from the Coliban and Mountain brigade…
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Dramatic palettes
Creative Castlemaine couple Rosie McKenry and Bruce Mitchell have notched up the sort of travels many would envy. In their upcoming exhibition this inspired duo share much of what they’ve loved most about some of our planet’s most powerful landscapes. Earth’s Shapes and Colours: Australia and Beyond is the title of this new exhibition opening…
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Residents vow to fight
The residents of Kyneton’s oldest street are readying their pitchforks to greet council contractors planning to dig up their street’s heritage bluestone guttering. Macedon Ranges Shire Council has plans to dig up and relay the bluestone gutters in a new configuration along the east side of Edgecombe Street where the bluestones were the first to…
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Planning pigsty?
No piggery has operated in Monegeetta for 10 years yet locals remain restricted by its planning triggers and are demanding answers. Neighbours to the former Monegeetta Piggery on Chintin Road are facing unnecessary red tape when seeking to make changes to their properties, which has cost them time and money. Macedon Ranges Shire Council introduced…
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Women celebrate
A festive crowd picnicked, danced and celebrated in Castlemaine’s Botanical Gardens to mark International Women’s Day on Friday. The event featured a lineup of live music acts and raised more than $500 for a literacy and life-enrichment program run by the Friends of Castlemaine Library for local prisoners at Tarrengower women’s prison in Maldon. “You’re…
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Advocates for women
Half the Sky – How to Change the World is a powerful book that will make its way into the hands of many in the Macedon Ranges as part of International Women’s Day. The book explores barriers to gender equality for women across the world and each local Neighbourhood House has five copies to circulate,…
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Kyneton collaboration – Songwriter brings in artist on new single
Home-grown singer/songwriter Taylor Sheridan has his first chance to chart in Australia with the release of his new single Nothing wrong. Opening with lyrical honesty and building throughout to a tribal heartbeat, the song explores relationships and was inspired by the bitter-sweetness of saying goodbye to someone you love. “The music I have written and…
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Chooks in my back yard
Do you want to know about keeping chooks in your back yard, but don’t know who to ask? Pipers Creek Landcare, with specialist assistance from Kyneton District Poultry Club, will conduct a chook workshop with an emphasis on family fun for new people to the area both on rural blocks and in town. Talk one-on-one…
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Working together to protect waterways
On a dry hot summer day last Wednesday, citizen scientists, government agencies, landcare and a platypus ecologist worked together collecting water samples from 20 sites along the Coliban and Campaspe Rivers. The focus of the day was to identify critical refuge areas where platypus can survive during the dry periods. Last Wednesday the lack of…
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Buddhist temple refused
A Buddhist temple and assembly hall has been refused for Gisborne South following strong community backlash. Macedon Ranges Shire councillors voted 7-2 in favour of the 52 objectors who aired concerns surrounding loss of amenity, neighbourhood character, increased traffic, sewerage and impacts on local waterways. The Lao Buddhist Society of Victoria’s application sought to build…
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Power to community – Woodend wind energy project gets go ahead
A community wind energy facility at Woodend has been given the go ahead following the state government’s approval of a planning scheme amendment to facilitate the project. The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group is developing the community energy park project, which is expected to include wind turbines, solar panels and battery storage. The project will help…