News
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Depot going gangbusters
The Mount Alexander Animal Welfare Op Shop Empawrium has recently launched a new venture – a Furniture Depot. The new offering utilises the expansive space in the basement of the existing Johnstone Street Op Shop building and has four-fold benefits – assisting community members to find a new home for their furniture and household items;…
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RANGES ROADS AMONG WORST IN STATE
Two Macedon Ranges roads have ranked among the state’s worst in a country road survey while satisfaction on local roads has hit a new low. Last week, RACV’s My Country Road Survey revealed Tylden-Woodend Road from Woodend to Tylden, and Kilmore Road from Monegeetta to Gisborne, ranked second and third respectively in most safety complaints.…
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Strong Gisborne rep in mumpreneur awards
Gisborne mums, Meagan Upsher, Katrina Wurm, Carmen Hofman and Kat Buttigieg, have all been named as finalists for the 2024 AusMumpreneur Awards. Their businesses, Macedon Ranges Aqua Aerobics, Stress Free Super Mum, Oakfield Designs and Macedon Ranges Mumma, are represented across a wide range of categories: Fitness Business, Coaching, Personal Business, Regional Business, Women’s Champion,…
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Plans released for Lancefield Park
Lancefield’s community is growing and so too are demands on local sporting and recreation facilities with limited funding. A new draft Lancefield Park Master Plan aims to create a map for the future of the town’s much-loved park. Plans include long-awaited expansion of Laurie Green Pavilion, cricket practice facilities, improved access and lighting. Lancefield Park…
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Experience of a lifetime
In the early hours of this morning, many Macedon Ranges residents sat up to see Lauretta Hanson and her two Australian teammates compete in the 158 kms women’s road race at the Olympic Games in France. Hanson, a 29-year-old professional rider who grew up on a farm at Fern Hill, went to Tylden Primary School…
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Gisborne’s changing face
Gisborne’s future will include apartment living and transit-oriented development in New Gisborne with a view to preventing urban sprawl. Last week Macedon Ranges Shire Council adopted the long-debated Gisborne Futures Structure Plan to shape the town’s next 30 years. The plan introduces a protected settlement boundary aimed to preserve rural landscapes and maintain rural breaks…
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New plans for Kyneton?
Car parking in Kyneton could be removed to make way for cycling lanes, and key commercial roads reduced to speeds of 30km/h. These are just some of the ideas explored in Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s draft Kyneton Urban Design Framework. The document is now open for public comment and has already raised some concern among…
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No confidence in executive
The Victorian Ambulance Union last week conducted a vote of no confidence in the Ambulance Victoria executive. The VAU conducted an SMS poll of its AV members and asked if they endorsed a request that the Minister for Ambulance Services take urgent action to appoint new management that will be able to build and maintain…
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‘Bureaucratic madness!’
Six years ago, Castlemaine resident Hilary Finch bought a small red-flowering gum to replace a dead tree on her nature strip. She lovingly tended the tree, watering its roots regularly during the hot summer months and ensuring its survival in dense soil. The beautiful native, while small, is thriving. The street in which Hilary lives…
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Local Landcare heroes celebrated
Founding member of Golden Point Landcare Group, Marie Jones, has been awarded the prestigious Joan Kirner Landcare Award. Marie was one of several local residents recognised for their contributions maintaining and restoring the natural environment at the 2023-2024 Victorian Landcare Awards at Marvel Stadium on July 18. The Joan Kirner Landcare Award honours a long-term…
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Costa in my back yard
ABC’s Gardening Australia program paid a visit to Castlemaine last Tuesday to meet a group of innovative composters. Program host Costa Georgiadis explored the gardens of ‘Yes In My Back Yard’ members Mikaela Beckley and Sarah Newsam. The film crew also followed the composters as they collected kitchen scraps from their neighbours. “It was very…
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Dice rolled on gambling policy
Legal advice has terminated plans for Macedon Ranges Shire Council to categorically oppose new electronic gaming machines at its owned and managed sites. MRSC’s stance on pokies applications formed part of its draft Gambling Harm and Prevention Policy, which has since undergone changes and been deferred. Legal advice highlighted concerns with having a predetermined position…