Macedon Ranges
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Hospitality hit hard
Labour market shortages and COVID uncertainty are placing strain on Macedon Ranges’ hospitality industry. Many have successfully pivoted to takeaway models during COVID lockdown periods but some have been forced into temporary closure and are struggling to keep staff.Those reliant on Melbourne and tourism trade have also taken a financial hit during last week’s state…
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Councils sign on to renewables
Macedon Ranges, Mount Alexander and Hepburn are three of 46 state councils to sign on to the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia. The Victorian Energy Collaboration, led by Darebin City Council, will provide 45 per cent of all Victorian Councils’ electricity requirements with 100 per cent renewables, reducing greenhouse emissions…
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Sweet smell of success
When the Whiteman family moved from inner city Melbourne to rural Chintin in the Macedon Ranges in 2018, they had no plans to become leaders in the lavender oil industry. With a desire to create a sustainable, mixed farming enterprise, Stuart and Sonia set about planting 12,000 plus lavender plants at Chin Chin Farm with…
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Dogs of the vines
Our 2021 Wine Trail magazine is out now and has some gorgeous four-legged ambassadors we’d like to share. Among the many ‘dogs of the vines’ featured, Lily and Clive have the job at Coliban Valley Vineyard of chasing pesky birds out from under the protective netting. Needless to say Lily and Clive, english pointers who are beautifully…
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Man enough to speak up?
Tradie and mental health advocate Jeremy Forbes is encouraging Macedon Ranges locals to share their thoughts on what it means to be a man in 2021. He has thrown his support behind new research project The Human Code that looks at men’s mental health specifically within the Macedon Ranges. Mr Forbes said Macedon Ranges had…
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Fire restrictions to end
The Fire Danger Period will end at 1am on March 22 in the Macedon Ranges and at 1am on March 29 in Mount Alexander Shire. CFA acting assistant chief fire officer Mick Hembrow said that with milder weather, cooler nights and a return of green to many paddocks, the timing was right to remove the…
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Ranges residents save tonnes from landfill
Macedon Ranges residents have helped save 8492 tonnes of organic waste from landfill since Macedon Ranges Council’s four-bin service was introduced last year. The new Food Organics Garden Organics bins were rolled out last February and the organic waste collected has been turned into nutrient-rich compost used on farms, parks and gardens across the state.…
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Sign of the times
Macedon Ranges is assessing its tourism signage to improve visitor experience with an increase in tourists to the region. The council is encouraging feedback on signage for towns and places of interest and submissions are open March 12. “Tourism signage is a powerful tool for communities to develop a strong brand for their region, and…
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Locked in love
A wedding on the brink of disaster was rescued when Macedon Ranges locals rallied to bring forward the date to beat the state’s snap lockdown. Planned to marry at Macedon’s Lawson Lodge Country Estate on February 13, Laura Tillotson and Adrian Seccombe could not bare to postpone for a second time. The Hawthorn couple had…
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Farm build rights gone?
Landowners in the Macedon Ranges will lose their existing rights to build a dwelling on 40ha or more in the Farm Zone under a state government proposal to protect farmland. It is one of the controversial elements in Planning for Melbourne’s Green Wedges and Agricultural Land Consultation Paper aimed to protect agricultural land within 100km…
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Man airlifted after Hanging Rock fall
Paramedics have airlifted a man involved in a fall from the summit of Hanging Rock this morning. The man in his 20s was assessed at the scene for suspected upper body injuries after falling about four metres. Local SES members were called to assist with the rescue and got the man to a small plateau…
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Hollywood comes to the Ranges
Liam Neeson’s new Hollywood action film will feature a slice of the Macedon Ranges. Works began last week to temporarily transform Macedon Reservoir for the $43 million film Blacklight, which is written, directed and produced by Ozark co-creator Mark Williams. Three days of filming will take place this week for the film that has been…