Politics
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STAFF SPEAK OUT – Council employees detail impact of restructure
Former staff members of Macedon Ranges Shire Council have spoken out about what they describe as a disregard for employee mental health and wellbeing in the lead up to and during the recent organisational restructure of the council. The restructure included the dissolution of the Community Wellbeing directorate, reducing council’s four-tier structure to three. Council…
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Council CEO resigns
Macedon Ranges Shire Council chief executive officer Margot Stork has today resigned from her position. Ms Stork said she was proud of the many achievements of the past three years while leading the organisation, including major strategic work on the Statement of Planning Policy and Hanging Rock Strategic Plan, and delivering organisational reform. The mayor,…
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Democracy shift for Hepburn
The launch of a new ‘Community Voice’ group marks a new era of democracy in Hepburn Shire. Community Voice is a non-political grassroots movement that aims to shift the process of local government towards participatory democracy by encouraging continual community participation. Spokesperson Jen Bray said the results of the 2020 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey,…
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‘Stakeholders’ call for new candidates
A group of ‘concerned local stakeholders’ who believe the potential of the Macedon Ranges “is being constrained by current regional decision makers” has put out a call for new council candidates. Placing a classifieds advertisement in the Midland Express last week, the group stated it was “dedicated to supporting new councillors to bring innovative ideas…
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Elections will go ahead
Local government elections will proceed on Saturday October 24, despite some concern they have been compromised by COVID-19. Last week, Municipal Association of Victoria president Coral Ross said it was “incredibly frustrating” that the State Government had not listened to the sector and taken the common-sense decision to delay elections. “We have been calling for…
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Who will seek re-election?
Six of Macedon Ranges’ current nine councillors have confirmed they will seek re-election in October and one will bow out after serving 12 years. Roger Jukes, one of the longest serving current councillors, told the Express he would be “retiring from local government at this election” after chalking up three terms. “Although there is still…
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Farmers win in land battle
A fourth generation Springfield farming family has taken on the state government in a David and Goliath battle over land, and won. Backed by Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the Clement family succeeded at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in preventing fragmentation of farmland at 75 Clements Road, Springfield. The family donated the land as…
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Cyberbullying of council needs to stop
Macedon Ranges Council is calling for a crackdown on bullying and threatening behaviour online as abuse of staff and elected members increases. Councillor Jennifer Anderson called out the escalating behaviour at last Friday’s special meeting and sought greater cyber protection for local government employees and representatives. “Increasingly we are seeing people go to social media,…
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Macedon Ranges Council shake up – Redundancies expected in restructure
Council staff fear job losses as a major organisational restructure begins to shake up Macedon Ranges Shire Council. Chief executive officer Margot Stork confirmed last week the council was in the process of transitioning from four directorates to three. Hundreds of council staff will not know the full impact of the restructure for 10-12 weeks,…
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‘Declare a climate emergency’: XR
Local Extinction Rebellion protesters last month launched coordinated protest actions across the Macedon Ranges to demand immediate action on climate change. The actions took place as part of the statewide XR Rural Day of Climate Change Action on February 21 in the lead up to the Climate Justice Alliance’s Climate Crisis National Day of Action…
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Protection plan launched
The state government’s long-awaited plan to protect the Macedon Ranges from overdevelopment and urban sprawl was launched during a tour of the region by planning minister Richard Wynne last Thursday. Joining Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas, local indigenous elders and shire councillors at Blackhill Reserve, Mr Wynne launched the Statement of Planning Policy, a 50-year strategy…
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The road to change: Castlemaine youth speaks on climate change
Recently returned from participating in the worlds’ very first United Nations Youth Climate summit in New York, Castlemaine’s Harriet O’Shea Carre will be among speakers at tomorrow evening’s public climate information session in the Castlemaine Town Hall. Alongside Castlemaine’s Milou Albrecht and Callum Neilson-Bridgfoot, Harriet, 15, is one of the original instigators of the youth…