News
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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…
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A slice of Trentham’s pub past
A slice of Trentham’s pub past was captured for the last time before it was dismantled earlier this month as its owners prepare for a fresh start. Chris and Victoria Perry purchased their Victoria Street property in 2017 and the old Ogdens Forest Hotel building was part of its charm. The couple had plans to…
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Montessori preschool’s plea
Parents and educators are racing time to boost enrolments and save Macedon Ranges Montessori Preschool from potential closure. For almost 40 years the preschool has offered an alternative early education experience but the cost-of-living crisis and state government’s new free kindergarten offering have impacted the not-for-profit organisation. Preschool committee member Moya Grech said enrolments had…
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OAM for healthcare champion
It takes courage, education and passion to transform a country’s approach to maternal child health services. They’re key ingredients to Samantha Turner’s success in changing lives of women and children in countries across the world through her volunteer and advocacy work. The Macedon resident was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the…
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Breaking barriers
When Luz Restrepo received an email telling her she had been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the multicultural community of Victoria, the Maldon resident thought it was spam! “It’s incredible. I feel so proud. I am the only Latina this year and I think in the history of…