News
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Ring in the new year with free travel
Metropolitan and regional trains, trams and buses will be free from 6pm tonight until 6am on New Year’s Day. V/Line travel within Victoria will also be free as well as on long-distance services arriving in Melbourne after 6pm New Year’s Eve. Free travel extends to the first V/Line service from Melbourne to any Victorian destination…
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Garden the fire-wise way: Woodend brigade shares tips
Woodend Fire Brigade’s new fire-wise garden has opened and members have shared tips for anyone seeking to take a similar approach. Located at the front of the station, the garden was a combined effort of members including removal of hazardous trees and careful planning and design. The garden also offers the community landscaping ideas in…
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Gisborne bridge fight to planning panel
The fight to protect Gisborne’s Bunjil Creek bridge, bluestone channel and significant trees will progress to an independent planning panel. Last week Macedon Ranges Council revealed the Department of Transport had denied any heritage value of these features that are threatened as intersection works on Kilmore Road continue. The $12.5 million upgrade was a Labor…
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Meeting labelled a sham
Campaspe River landowners have labelled a Coliban Water community meeting held via zoom last week a “sham”. The meeting was advertised as being held to discuss a proposed Environment Protection Authority licence amendment in relation to discharges of wastewater from the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant to the river, but participants were not given any detail…
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Turning waste to work
A Castlemaine business is setting a groundbreaking example by re-using its industrial waste, reducing the volume of material going to landfill and creating a valuable new product to boot. At its factory site in Castlemaine’s Fitzgerald Close, Like Butter makes furniture and, keen to do the right thing by the environment, it recently started a…
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Santa touches down
Santa and his elves greeted more than 100 school children with Christmas gifts in Romsey last Thursday, delivered not by a sleigh but by a Powercor helicopter. The visit was a way to say thanks to the community, which has supported Powercor’s aerial vegetation inspection and vegetation cutting programs throughout the year. The helicopters have…
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Jazz talent returns home
US jazz talent Gemma Sherry has returned home to Castlemaine for the holidays and is planning to do some gigs in Daylesford and Melbourne next month to promote her latest album Music To Dream To. Sherry told the Express it was great to see her family after two and a half long years. “It’s been wonderful to spend…
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Hall’s hefty facelift
The eight-month restoration of the historic Kyneton Town Hall is set to be completed this month. Mayor Jennifer Anderson said the Mollison Street building was one of the most substantial regional shire halls in Victoria. “The municipality of Kyneton was founded in October 1857 and the history of Kyneton Shire Hall is one of fascinating…
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Check off that Christmas list
Castlemaine traders will be open late again this Friday evening as part of two late night shopping nights that have been coordinated by Business Mount Alexander and supported by Mount Alexander Shire Council in partnership with the Castlemaine Fringe Festival and local businesses. Business operators will be open until 8pm providing the perfect opportunity to…
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Theatre co moves in
After years of having no fixed abode, Castlemaine Theatre Company has finally secured a new base to call home. Last week marked the final big shift of wildly assorted props, costumes, sets and equipment to the former Castlemaine College campus at Etty Street. For years these items have been scattered about, stored in members’ garages…
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A little French tête-à-tête
Friday mornings mean just one thing for a growing group of Castlemaine locals – time for a little French tête-à-tête. Originally from France, Delphine Laboureau-Ormancey is a dual citizen who last year returned to Guildford after a 20-year absence. The French language teacher and tutor has now introduced regular weekly French chat and coffee sessions…
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New arts hub for Lancefield
Metal sculptures, local landscapes and botanical art are among the works to be discovered at Lancefield’s new gallery space. Opened last week, the gallery on High Street features the diverse work of 10 artists from Lancefield and surrounds. Artist Sharon Pappas said when Lancefield Neighbourhood House offered the location for a gallery, many were excited…