Macedon Ranges Shire Council
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Bid to protect Gisborne avenues of honour
Unregistered avenues of honour in Gisborne and New Gisborne are at risk as the towns reshape for population growth. Several of the 100-year-old oak trees have already been lost to road widening and duplication works over the years and residents fear more may be lost with no protection, while development and changes to road networks…
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Macedon Ranges Council urged to drop glyphosate
Macedon Ranges Council has been urged to drop its use of potentially harmful glyphosate-based herbicides. It is one of many councils that continues to use glyphosate weedkillers such as Roundup to manage parks and roadside weeds despite the chemical coming under fire for its possible link to cancers. Pushing for change, Kyneton local Lyle Green…
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Woodend intersection dubbed a ‘lesson in irresponsible planning’
A notorious Woodend intersection has been dubbed “a lesson in irresponsible planning” as it moves up Macedon Ranges Council’s priority list. Users of the High/Urquhart Street intersection have reported an alarming number of ‘near misses’ and say it’s the result of “development not done right”. They contend with main street congestion, a confusing layout with…
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Rise, unite, resist
This year’s International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25 saw 80 community members attend the Macedon Ranges Family Violence Network launch of its 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The event was held at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute reserve in what was a strong show of support for respecting women…
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Dog ban for Mount Gisborne Reserve
Dogs will be banned from Mount Gisborne Reserve, beginning next year, in a bid to protect its native flora and fauna. The unanimous vote came as Macedon Ranges Shire councillors endorsed the Council Dog and Cat Order 2019 – Domestic Animals Act 1994. The order introduced requirements for dogs to be on-leash in public places,…
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Gisborne’s heritage at risk
Some of Gisborne’s earliest heritage could be at risk in the latest plan to upgrade the Kilmore and Melbourne Roads intersection. The $12.5 million state government upgrade aims to improve traffic flow and deliver safer pedestrian crossing facilities but design may threaten to remove a historic bluestone bridge and significant trees at the town’s gateway.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…