Macedon Ranges Shire Council
-
Tree trim too far
Powercor has apologised for powerline tree maintenance taken a step too far in a heritage area of Lancefield. Residents lodged complaints with the company following the annual maintenance works in Dunsford Street last week, which is home to magnificent aged horse chestnut trees. Resident Deb Dunn said she was devastated to see about 70 per…
-
Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve upgrades given go ahead
A major cost blowout will not stop two pavilion upgrade projects for Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve from getting underway before the 2020 game season. Macedon Ranges Council agreed to allocate $20,000 from its Public Open Space Financial Reserve and to run a $462,099 short-term budget deficit to fund the project. Reserve user groups have spent years…
-
Macedon Ranges councillors split on Farm Zone bid
Plans to support a small-scale speckle park cattle breeding pursuit in Woodend North have been knocked back. The application sought to develop a house and large shed at a 6.2-hectare Russells Lane property to manage six cows and their offspring. The plan detailed land management works to rehabilitate the degraded land but ultimately failed in…
-
Cuts to home support services in Macedon Ranges
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will scrap at least three home support services in response to ongoing Commonwealth reforms across the aged care and disability services sector. Meals on Wheels and the Home and Community Care Program for Young People will cease by mid-2020, and supported home maintenance and home modifications will end by July 2021.…
-
Public glass recycling skip bins on the way
Public glass recycling skip bins will be installed across the Macedon Ranges as the council continues to explore solutions to the current recycling crisis. The council has endorsed plans to remove glass from the current mixed recycling household bin collection service and to investigate introduction of a fourth glass-only bin service for the shire. The…
-
Tower call answered for Woodend
A community call has been answered in Macedon Ranges Council’s rejection of a proposed phone tower at the entrance to Woodend. The plan would have seen a 33-metre Optus tower built at the town’s train station near the Christian Street/Corinella Road intersection. Councillor Jennifer Anderson gained unanimous support for her motion to refuse the tower…
-
Glass key in solving state recycling crisis
Macedon Ranges’ answer to Victoria’s recycling crisis could provide some relief for several councils struggling since the closure of recycling processor SKM. Council will not only consider adding glass collection to its recycling service, but also the establishment of sorting and processing infrastructure with potential to service beyond the shire’s needs. The ambitious move addresses…
-
$60M apartment-style aged care proposed for Gisborne
A proposed $60 million development at Gisborne aims to introduce apartment-style aged care living by 2023. The plan follows amalgamation of Macedon Ranges Health and Victorian aged care provider Benetas in 2018. Benetas spokesperson Bruce Webb said diverse ageing services and retirement living in the region was particularly important considering population forecasts. “Population in the…
-
Macedon Ranges urgent call to remove glass from recycling bins
Recycling will go to landfill if Macedon Ranges residents do not heed an urgent call to remove glass from recycling bins. The council has sought recycling alternatives since the closure of its processor SKM Recycling with assurances efforts would continue but was forced to send several loads of recycling to landfill last week. Macedon Ranges…
-
Runway plan scrapped
Plans to extend Kyneton Airfield’s main runway to the south for fixed-wing aircraft have been scrapped in the latest draft master plan for the site. The move intended to facilitate aerial firefighting operations, as cited in the abandoned 2016 draft master plan, but early investigations met with disinterest from potential users and exposed problematic positioning.…
-
Plan endorsed, doubts remain
The Macedon Ranges has moved a step closer to receiving high level protection for its sensitive landscape as the first gazetted distinctive area and landscape in Victoria. The Statement of Planning Policy was endorsed at Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s ordinary meeting last Wednesday in a 5-2 vote after it was sent back to the state…
-
Council acts on wastewater
Growing concerns over Coliban Water’s releases of low-quality wastewater into the Campaspe River have been relayed to the Minister for Water, Lisa Neville. Last week Macedon Ranges Shire mayor, Cr Janet Pearce and CEO Margot Stork met with representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and ministerial staff at Ms Neville’s Melbourne…