Macedon Ranges Shire Council
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Farmers under pressure
Fourth generation Gisborne sheep farmer Tom Neal could be the last in his family to work the land. He doesn’t like to think that but admits it’s a possibility he faces as more and more challenges emerge for Victorian farmers. After months of drought and dry conditions across most of the state, the latest obstacle…
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Soil saviours gather at Sidonia
Another successful ‘Healthy Landscapes’ course has been run with record attendance from landholders attending from all over the region and an average of nearly 200 acres per participating property. This valuable course is designed to help landholders learn about managing their land starting with their most valuable resource, soil. Currently the region is experiencing an…
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Growing pains for Ranges wildlife
Joanna Beard It’s a crisp, June morning on the outskirts of Gisborne. Stolen glances of Mount Macedon and the comforting smell of woodsmoke are among the wintry delights here. But there’s something that distracts from the beauty. It’s the dead animals splayed along the roadside. Two eastern grey kangaroos, one ringtail possum, one crimson rosella…
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Levy topic still hot
Farmers and rural councils continue to push back against the Victorian Government’s controversial emergency services levy despite news of a reprieve for farmers. On May 30, the government announced it would cap its Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy at the 2024/25 rate for primary production properties for the 2025-26 financial year. Hitting pause for…
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Volunteers ‘priceless’
The winners of the Macedon Ranges Community Awards 2025 have been officially announced, with inspiring individuals and groups recognised for their contributions to the shire. Held at the Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday May 22 during National Volunteer Week, the event celebrated outstanding efforts across eight award categories, as part of a newly consolidated format…
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Riddell rec lights up
Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve can now be in play after dark following completion of significant lighting upgrades. The upgrade included three new 30-metre light towers built – and an existing mobile phone tower utilised for a lighting add-on – across a three-month construction period. Macedon Ranges Mayor Dom Bonanno expressed his excitement and gratitude at…
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Bright future for tennis
Another significant lighting upgrade – this time at the New Gisborne Tennis Club – is now completed, expanding opportunities for night-time competition and casual hits. Macedon Ranges Shire mayor, Cr Dom Bonanno, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas and user group representatives were among those at Ross Watt Reserve on Friday evening to officially mark the project’s…
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‘Hung out to dry’
ESVF tax going to hurt The Victorian Government’s controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund passed parliament last week despite heavy objection from CFA volunteers, farmers and rural councils. The more expensive ESVF tax replaces the Fire Services Levy and will be charged alongside council rates from July 1. While the tax helps fund vital emergency…
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War memorial swamped by tourists
Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Autumn Festival strategy to disperse tourists away from Macedon’s Honour Avenue did little to deter the thousands of tourists who rushed to the street over Easter. Honour Avenue is lined with 154 pin oak trees – each one honouring a soldier from the region who served in WWI – and is…
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Donated land in doubt
Descendants of Humphrey Dixon have challenged plans for retirement aged care living on land in Gisborne donated for community healthcare purposes. Benetas has applied to remove building restrictions on the land for its project through a combined planning scheme amendment (C147macr) and planning permit. The amendment seeks to rezone the land from its current Special…
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Vision for Lancefield Park
A vision for Lancefield’s key sporting precinct has been set in a new Lancefield Park Recreation Reserve Master Plan. The plan includes a 10-year action plan with more than 40 separate projects with short, medium and long-term priorities for implementation, and strategic direction. Some of those high-priority projects include a tennis clubrooms extension, Laurie Green…
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Amess Road fate close
The Riddells Creek community will soon have answers on the final direction of an Amess Road development that could change the face of their town. In October, the Minister for Planning referred both the application for a permit to build, and draft amendment C161 to the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme, to a standing advisory committee…