Macedon Ranges Shire Council
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Riddells Creek to double in size
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has questioned the Victorian Government’s approval of an Amess Road development, to double the size of Riddells Creek, with little change. The proposal will develop 131.8 hectares to create about 1360 homes for 3808 new residents, but both local residents and the council were united on wanting better outcomes. “This decision…
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Drainage problems stall street works
Romsey’s Stawell Street upgrade planned for completion in June has hit a snag and is now expected to continue into September. Works began on May 12 for reconstruction of the 130m sealed road section between Main Street and Pohlman Street, footpath kerb and channel, raised safety platform, Pohlman/Stawell Street intersection upgrades, and drainage improvements. Macedon…
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Gisborne “outer suburb” fear
Gisborne residents have raised the alarm over urbanisation risk in plans to increase the approved 768-lot Ross Watt Road development by 93 homes. Developer ID_Land seeks to add an 8.998ha residential village with 220 units, manager’s residence and village amenities in the north-west of the site. A ‘trade-off’ would be a reduction in the standard…
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Councils hamstrung, wildlife inquiry reveals
New technologies and ideas have emerged to reduce wildlife road-strike, but councils are hamstrung by limited finances and autonomy, Macedon Ranges Shire Council says. “Residents want councils to act more quickly with more resources to do a whole range of things: put in electronic responsive signage, underpasses, overpasses and narrow roads,” chief executive officer Bernie…
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Inquiry hears of burn out
Wildlife carers across the region are burning out amid increasing case loads and cost pressures, the Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into wildlife road-strike has heard. Local wildlife carers called for increased funding opportunities and reimbursement programs for wildlife rescuers, driver education, and funding for a range of road-strike prevention opportunities. “There are so many pressures with…
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Hotel site to housing?
Could big changes soon be on the cards for the old Romsey Hotel site? A planning application was lodged last Monday for a 10-lot subdivision at the 90-94 Main Street address. The property also fronts 1 William Street and 94 Barry Street. Macedon Ranges Shire Council confirmed receipt of the application, which is currently being…
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Macedon Ranges councillor dies
Macedon Ranges Shire councillor, Christine Walker, died late last week. Fellow South Ward councillor and mayor, Dom Bonanno, said today the news had left him and many others in shock. “I have spoken with Christine’s husband Andrew and on behalf of the council, offered our deepest collective condolences and any support the family may need…
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Contractors sought
An expansion of the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct in New Gisborne is now out to tender, with designs progressed and contractors invited to submit their proposals. The $17 million second stage will double the current indoor and outdoor offerings across the 15-hectare site either side of Barringo Road and north of Hamilton Road. On the…
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Policy to target AI use?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping industries and Macedon Ranges Shire Council will soon consider a new purposed policy to catch up. An Artificial Intelligence Policy is intended to “set clear direction for the safe, effective and innovative use of AI, support compliance with relevant legislation and guidelines, and build community trust”. Last week, Cr Kate…
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Anzac events in a spin
“Macedon Ranges council bureaucrats should hang their heads in shame” for decisions putting two local Anzac Day services in a spin, Bill Bates told the Express. The Malmsbury Anzac Day coodinator said he was “still shell-shocked” the council had refused $2500 for traffic management funding essential to run the town’s service. Last week, both Malmsbury…
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New Telstra mobile coverage
Telstra has expanded 4G and 5G mobile coverage throughout Kyneton, with a series of new mobile sites now delivering improved connectivity. A new 4G and 5G mobile base station at the showgrounds has been switched on and will support an additional 10 5G small cells that were recently rolled out through the area. Telstra regional…
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Old school site “nearly ready”
More than a year overdue, newly renovated spaces at the Old Kyneton Primary School site are “nearly ready for community use”, Creative Victoria has revealed. Creative Victoria has provided an update on the project following probes for answers from Macedon Ranges Shire Council earlier this year. The Victorian Government invested $12 million in the Baynton…