News
-
Heritage questioned in cross tree clearing
A dispute has emerged between the Victorian National Parks Association and Parks Victoria over woodland clearing works at Mount Macedon, with differing interpretations of the heritage basis for the project. The controversy centres on vulnerable snow gum removal near the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross, which Parks Victoria says was undertaken to restore views associated with…
-
More than just a free shower
A collaborative effort between Mount Alexander Shire Council, Dhelkaya Health, The Salvation Army Castlemaine and other agencies has enabled the Salvos to host a mobile shower truck in Castlemaine. The custom-built mobile shower trailers bring dignity directly to communities, but offer more than just a free shower — they provide a full wrap-around service of…
-
Local designers edged out
Two local skatepark designers have questioned Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s decision to award the redevelopment contract for Kyneton Skatepark to a large Melbourne-based firm. Kyneton designer Darren White of Baseplate and Woodend designer Wade Trevean of EastbyWest – the team behind the successful Lancefield and Romsey skateparks – said they were bitterly disappointed their quote…
-
An artist, a rockstar and the Archibald
Castlemaine artist Ned Middleton is a bit of a music buff, and while Tim Rogers’ band the Hard-Ons isn’t really his cup of tea, Ned was happy to have the chance to paint the legendary rock star for an entry into the Archibald Prize. After two sittings, a lot of research and guidance from his…
-
Clarkefield future in focus
A 2300-home development will change the face of Clarkefield if approved and now the Victorian Government has opened consultation. The move follows Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s calls for broad community awareness and input after the plans were referred to the state’s Development Facilitation Program. Draft Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment – C164macr proposes a new…
-
Lancefield development ‘sterilised’
A group of Lancefield landowners are hopeful a lengthy planning battle restricting development may soon come to an end. Macedon Ranges Shire mayor, Cr Kate Kendall, has sought Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s urgent assistance to remove Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24 (DPO24) that has created almost the opposite outcome of its intent. Cr Kendall told…
-
Park powered down after theft
Copper wire thieves who targeted Lancefield Park Recreation Reserve last week disrupted the facility’s power supply and cut off broader town telecommunications. Committee of management secretary Bill Balcam said the discovery of about 100 metres of stolen power cable was made at the reserve early last Monday morning. “They came in and ripped out the…
-
Head-on crash on Calder
A 20-year-old Mildura man is facing serious criminal charges after leading police on a chase that ended in a crash on the Calder Freeway at Kyneton last Friday night. The man evaded police for a traffic offence before driving down the wrong side of the freeway – heading south in the north-bound lanes – when…
-
Tour a sustainable home
Composting toilets, electric vehicles and air-tight homes: what does it mean to live sustainably and why are more people making the change? If you ask Clare Claydon or Kerryn Burgess why they transformed their homes for sustainable living, they’ll tell you it was to improve their environmental impact, and that the long-term savings are also…
-
Urgent calls for safety upgrade
Two school children struck by cars and injured within a week of each other at Woodend have prompted calls for urgent road safety measures. The incidents occurred at Romsey Road on April 21 and April 28 when children were walking home from school. Both children required medical care and one was taken by road ambulance…
-
A transformation of the CBD
Works to transform the heart of Castlemaine’s CBD are now under way and are expected to be completed by mid-2027. The $12.1 million redevelopment of Frederick Street has drawn mixed reactions from residents, though the mayor Cr Toby Heydon has described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create a safer, greener and more connected town…
-
Trials to future-proof farming
New trials are under way to prepare the farming sector for future resilience, and change is on our doorstep. Langley Vale Farm is among 26 trial sites for the North Central Catchment Management Authority’s Climate Positive Farming Initiative. The initiative is working directly with farmers across the catchment area to help them better manage variable…