News
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Planning powers at risk
Planning powers could be overridden if local councils do not co-operate with the Victorian Government’s latest housing targets to reach 2.24 million new homes by 2051. Macedon Ranges Shire is expected to accommodate an additional 13,200 houses by 2051 in updated plans released last week. It is an additional 500 homes on what was initially…
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High street suffers all-time low
Local business owners have blamed exorbitant rent prices for Kyneton’s vacated shopfronts, which have been visible in the town centre for the past two and a half years. On a small stretch in High Street, 12 commercial buildings are empty or have ‘for lease’ signs displayed on them, and a further store is set to…
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Acclaimed artists unite
Audiences are in for an extraordinary evening of virtuosity, passion and musical storytelling when world-renowned classical artists, violinist Yamen Saadi and pianist Simon Tedeschi, perform at the Castlemaine Town Hall on March 17. Saadi, a virtuoso violinist and the youngest-ever concertmaster of the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, will make his first-ever Australian tour, bringing his…
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Clean up at the res
Local fishers, environmentalists and community members are joining forces on Sunday March 2 for a Clean Up Australia Day event at Upper Coliban Reservoir near Kyneton, ensuring this vital waterway remains healthy and pristine for future generations. Organised by the OzFish Campaspe Loddon Chapter and Kyneton Angling Club, the clean-up will take place at the…
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Parking, parrots and potential fires
Mount Alexander Shire Council is seeking a permanent speed reduction along a one-kilometre stretch of Golden Point Road at Chewton to address road safety issues at Expedition Pass Reservoir. Following on from the article ‘An accident waiting to happen?’ (published in the Express on January 7), which outlined community concern about haphazard parking along the…
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Kyneton Tigers issue statement
Kyneton Football Netball Club has finally issued a statement following a week of media attention on the club and its culture. Late last year, the senior women’s football team defected from the club to form its own stand-alone club as the Kyneton Eagles Women’s Football Club. Last week in the media, allegations were reported that…
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Coles opens in Romsey
About 120 people braved the cold last Wednesday morning to witness the opening of a new Coles shopping centre in Romsey. The event began with a Welcome to Country and was followed by speeches from McEwen MP Rob Mitchell and store managers. Mr Mitchell noted it was a positive inclusion for Romsey as it had…
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Outsiders drive up crime
Police from across the Macedon Ranges held a forum at the Gisborne Mechanics Institute last Thursday to discuss statistical crime rates in the region relative to the rest of Victoria. Thirteen police members were joined by 20 members of the public, all of whom were armed with specific concerns and had the opportunity to speak…
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Castlemaine, Southwest USA
Liam Neeson was seen filming his new film The Mongoose in Castlemaine last Thursday and Friday, marking his third film made in Victoria in the past four years. Neeson plays the role of Ryan ‘Fang’ Flanagan, a war veteran who is running from the law for a crime he didn’t commit, and leads the police…
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Vereker takes on SuperUte Series
Kyneton’s Brad Vereker will join Western Sydney Motorsport for the 2025 Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series launching this weekend. Vereker made his Tyrepower V8 SuperUtes debut at Darwin last year and is keen to take on the series with experience behind him. “After doing two rounds last year to get a taste of the series, it’s…
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Cattle handling workshop a hit
The Kyneton Saleyards hosted a free event last Friday for local animal handlers to upskill their management of cattle. About 50 people attended the event, from large-scale and hobbyist cattle farmers to council rangers, to learn different aspects regarding cattle such as interpreting their behaviour, safe and efficient vaccination techniques and cattle yard design. Candice…
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Push to release road plans
Chaos at Woodend’s notorious Urquhart Street and High Street intersection has been flagged in parliament. Liberal Northern Victoria MP Wendy Lovell has called for the Victorian government to prioritise upgrading the intersection. Ms Lovell spoke in parliament to expedite the upgrade by releasing the design plans for consultation, and committing to fund the works. “The…