Macedon Ranges Shire Council
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Queer Art Prize decided
The celebration of the That’s So Gay Queer Art Prize on Sunday at The Old Auction House in Kyneton was full of laughter, great music and friends. It was a close call but the judges managed to decide the winner of the inaugural queer art prize as Christos Linou for A Stich in Queer Time.…
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Flooding frustration
Eight years of flooded roadways and lagging action to remedy poor drainage has taken a toll for Martin Eden. The owner of Kyneton’s Eden Lodge equine stabling and swimming complex has had to pause operations many times over the years following heavy rainfall. His property is located at the corner of Beauchamp Street and Campaspe…
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Respite decision ahead for carers group
Amy Hume The future of a proposed respite day care centre for dementia patients in Macedon Ranges will be determined next week. MacGregors Farm proposes short-term, day respite care for up to 15 early-stage dementia patients living at home. It’s a project that has been years in the making for Woodend Lifestyle Carers Group, which…
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Resurgence of ‘wild swimming’
The Campaspe River in Kyneton is the place to be for “wild swimming” this summer, according to local residents. Kyneton local Dave Allen said the town had a long history of people swimming in the river and he was pleased to see its resurgence. “There is nothing more wonderful than seeing a bunch of kids…
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Family forced to put funeral on hold
A Carlsruhe family was left devastated over Christmas after having to put a funeral on hold for almost three weeks. Garry Birrell died on Christmas Eve and had reserved a pre-paid plot in the Carlsruhe Cemetery next to his mother’s grave but his family was alerted on Christmas Day that burials in existing pre-paid plots…
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Rubbish mars the marshland
Angela Crawford A New Gisborne resident has raised the alarm over a large amount of debris and rubbish polluting the Gisborne Marshlands. The resident said he suspected the debris had been blown into the marshlands from a nearby housing construction site during recent strong winds. “The last big wind saw large amounts of broken polystyrene…
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Sharing knowledge across time
“Dear 2072” begins the inscription that will sit beside the time capsule buried last week at Kyneton Primary School. “This time capsule holds a snapshot of the natural treasures of the Greenhill to Black Hill biolink in 2022. We share our knowledge of this time, to help inform the future. “It is our hope that…
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Rural land plan axed
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has axed its controversial draft Rural Land Use Strategy. Councillors voted unanimously in support of a recommendation not to progress the strategy last week following 177 community submissions. The strategy proposed a swathe of rural land changes including rezoning large areas of farmland that would restrict primary producers who wish to…
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Spiky friend saved
An echidna was rescued from a prickly situation in Hutton Street, Kyneton, last Tuesday. The echidna was found wandering the car park between the Macedon Ranges Shire Council offices and court and the nearby busy roadway. MRSC director of planning and environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said council staff acted quickly help the echidna to safety. “There…
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‘Rural identity not for sale’
Amy Hume Riddells Creek residents challenging the density of a residential development say the rural identity of their town is not for sale. The developer-led precinct structure plan includes the development of 131.8 hectares north of Amess Road identified for future growth. Residents say changes to the plan increase the development beyond the 1290 lots…
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Intersection upgrade ahead
Amy Hume Macedon Ranges Council is advocating for ‘prompt’ delivery of safety improvements to Woodend’s notorious Urquhart-High Street intersection, which could be up to seven years away. The works are a ‘medium-term’ project in the draft Woodend Integrated Transport Study with a four-to-seven year timeframe. Council’s director of assets and operations, Shane Walden, said the…
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Housing green light for Riddell
A hotly debated 10-unit development for Riddells Creek got a green light at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week. Plans for the 4551sqm site at 4 Richardson Street had been disputed for overdevelopment and inconsistency with neighbourhood character. The proposal had council officer approval but community dissent sparked an online campaign and 17…