Macedon Ranges Shire Council
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Connecting seniors
Physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, while essential to protecting older Australians who are particularly vulnerable to the virus, may be causing social isolation and loneliness. The Digital Connection for Seniors Project aims to support people over 65 in the Macedon Ranges to socially connect with family and friends using internet-enabled digital technologies. There has…
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Riddells Creek supermarket interest
Owners of a proposed Riddells Creek supermarket site have applied to extend their permit as they move to sell the land. Representing the applicants, Andrew McPherson addressed councillors at a submitters hearing earlier this month, seeking a two-year extension for 1-3 Station Street, with potential buyers “waiting in the wings”. The permit is for the…
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Shared trail on track
Construction on a Macedon Ranges shared-use trail will soon begin with the state government announcing $8.75 million towards the project last week. Woodend’s cycling community has welcomed the move following years of residents “crying out for more options” to cycle and walk safely between towns. Spanning about 23 kilometres, the Macedon Ranges Trails Project will…
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Rebates slash the cost of solar
Benjamin Franklin famously said that “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. Well, to that, I reckon we can add “electricity bills keep rising”, a point that’s increasingly top of mind as so many of us spend more time at home with the resulting increase in power bills.…
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Cost blowout for saleyards plan
A major cost blowout for Kyneton Saleyards upgrades has put pressure on Macedon Ranges Council to find additional funds to complete the project. A feasibility study of the two-stage plan for modernisation and compliance requirements projected a cost at more than $1 million, with an estimated payback period of 17-18 years, but stage one alone…
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Not up to scratch
Poor tree pruning has brought Powercor’s electric line clearance works to a standstill in the Macedon Ranges until the company and local council agree on a work plan.Powercor contractors were criticised for leaving trees damaged and unsightly at several locations across the shire during its bushfire mitigation program, prompting council intervention in January.Since then, council’s…
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TAKE THE MESSAGE SERIOUSLY
Authorities are urging people to take the self-isolation message seriously as Victoria steps up measures to flatten the curve in new cases of coronavirus. Victoria has entered stage three of its response, with people facing fines of more than $1600 for breaching social-distancing rules. Gatherings will be restricted to no more than two people except…
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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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What happens to our glass?
Glass separation has been key in simpler recovery of other recyclables like plastic, metal and paper in the Macedon Ranges, but not all are clear on what is to become of it once collected. Macedon Ranges Council introduced separate household glass bins earlier this month as part of its new four-bin system in response to…
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Macedon Ranges Council calls out ‘greenwashing’
Macedon Ranges Council has called out “greenwashing” in a push for a national ban on harsh fragmentable plastic products and mandatory product recycle labelling. Councillors have slammed “false advertising” on plastic products that are not fully biodegradable and will take their fight to the Australian Local Government Association’s national general assembly in June. They want…
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International Women’s Day: Rise, unite, resist gender inequality
International Women’s Day on March 8 is a day to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of gender-based bias and take action for gender equality. The theme for IWD 2020 is ‘I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights’. This year Mount Alexander Family Violence Prevention Network and Macedon Ranges Family Violence Network are organising a collective…