News
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Taylor tops the charts
Macedon Ranges singer/songwriter Taylor Sheridan has soared to the top of several charts with his self-produced debut album, Troubadour. On June 14 the album reached Number 1 on the Aria Country Album chart, Number 1 on the Australian Independent Album chart, Number 4 on the Aria Australian Album chart, Number 1 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter…
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Riddell ready to fight
Pressure is mounting for the state government to reject the Amess Road Precinct Structure Plan that would trigger substantial development of Riddells Creek. A public meeting last week saw the town’s community centre reach capacity with residents ready to fight the plans for a second time. The current proposal has increased lots slightly on the…
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Chewton chillout playlist
The recent, and highly controversial, speed reduction on the Pyrenees Highway in Castlemaine has inspired the Chewton 50 Chillout Spotify playlist. Featuring more than 100 songs and more than 10 hours of listening, it is sure to help drivers ‘chill out’, have a laugh and sing along, during the extra drive time to and from…
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Screening saves lives
Maldon’s CFA Captain Sean McCubbin has spent the last few months fighting more than just fires. The Maldon CFA Captain learned of his latest battle when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in April. “You often think you’re bulletproof, but you’re not,” Sean said. A rushed trip to the hospital after a seemingly ‘normal day’…
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Growth target set for state
Macedon Ranges Shire is expected to accommodate an additional 12,700 houses by 2051 in the Victorian Government’s latest draft housing targets. Last week Premier Jacinta Allan announced the draft targets for each local government area in the Housing Statement as part of a vision for Victoria’s next 30 years. The Premier said Victoria had the…
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Groundbreaking explorer earns OAM
Being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to adventure and exploration literature was “gobsmackingly unexpected” for Mount Alexander Shire resident Robyn Davidson. Best known for her solo trek across the Australian desert in 1977 with only four camels and a dog for company, Robyn told the Express that the 2700km journey…
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Push to fix signal box
Residents are eager to see the clean-up of vandalism and graffiti at Kyneton Railway Station’s old signal box. Kyneton Horticultural Society members have spent the past few months working on tidying existing gardens in the station area and flagged the damage with V/Line. “It is in a current state of decline as a result of…
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Riddell plans with minister
A planning scheme amendment and development application that could dramatically change the face of Riddells Creek is now with the Minister for Planning for review. Public submissions opened last Monday for plans that would facilitate stage one of the Amess Road Precinct Structure Plan with a 182-lot subdivision. Last year Riddells Creek residents rallied in…
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Feral deer forum
Feral deer have been spreading across the state for decades and are now emerging as a serious issue for the central Victorian community. Feral deer can have a devastating impact on nature, farmers, foresters, gardeners and are a danger to road users. A forum is being held in Malmsbury on Sunday June 30 to raise…
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Petition on green waste
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will begin charging residents to drop off green waste and co-mingled recycling at its resource recovery facilities from July 1. Local resident Kate Kendall manages a 20+ acre farm and as an affected ratepayer has created a petition to call on council to reevaluate its decision. “This change will negatively impact…
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Uncovering scandal and tragedy
Actor and writer Stephen Curry, famously known for his role in the iconic film The Castle, recently made his way to Chewton for the SBS series Who Do You Think You Are? Born and bred in Melbourne, Stephen, with his wife and two boys, recently moved to rural Victoria. With his boys fast growing up,…
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Teen faces fight of his life
Ashton Choothesa was entering his final years of high school, working and volunteering in his community, and planning an overseas adventure when he suddenly had to put everything on hold. The Castlemaine 17-year-old’s world changed when he was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year. He is now two weeks into an intensive…