Mount Alexander Shire
-

Bin bandit put on notice
Castlemaine Police are seeking information from the public following a series of incidents where rubbish and recycle bins were mowed down by a vehicle across the township. Leading Senior Constable Wayne Cairnes said Mount Alexander Shire Council contacted them regarding the incidents, which took place sometime overnight on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning on January 10-11 and…
-

MainFM celebrates Australian music
94.9 MainFM will be celebrating all the diversity and talent of homegrown artists with a full week dedicated to playing Australian music in honour of Australian Music Month. Celebrating everything that’s great about Australian music, listeners can expect to hear even more local content, special programs, interviews, retrospectives and playlists. “Ausmusic Week has always been…
-

Flood damage widespread
Roads were closed across Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges Shires as last Thursday’s rain event saw local creeks and rivers burst their banks and flood roads, footpaths, parks, reserves, and impact homes and businesses. Falls of 50-94mms were recorded around Castlemaine and Kyneton and surrounds. In scenes reminiscent of the devastating 2011 floods, Gingell and…
-

Pride choir welcomes newcomers
Lisa Dennis Castlemaine Pride Choir is inviting new members to join the friendly and inclusive local group. And the best news is that you don’t have to be a standout singer to join! All you need is enthusiasm and a commitment to learn their varied repertoire and work on your musical ability. The local LGBTIQ+…
-

Help shape a positive future
Lisa Dennis The Positive Ageing Advocacy Group is on the hunt for new members keen to make a difference in the lives of Mount Alexander Shire’s senior population. Inaugural PAAG chair, Marilyn Bennet, and her partner and fellow founding member, Ian Braybrook, have decided to step back from their roles to focus on their retirement…
-

Housing crisis hits home
Angela Crawford At 70 years of age, Joy Carroll is facing the prospect of soon being homeless. Joy rents a house in Harcourt but the owners have decided to sell up. She had wanted to buy the property but real estate agents quoted $200,000 above what she and the landlords considered a realistic valuation. “I…
-

$200k boost for vet clinic
Regional Community Vet Clinic has received a $200,000 grant from the state government via the Animal Welfare Grant program to establish regional Victoria’s first community vet clinic in Mount Alexander Shire. RCVC is a not-for-profit veterinary clinic and will provide the elderly, socially and financially disadvantaged in the community access to affordable preventative veterinary care…
-

Our organics are not ‘waste’
Transitioning to a localised economy is both pressing and exciting. As we learn of recycling industries in crisis, rising fuel prices and unaffordable lettuce, the YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) members scratch their collective heads, especially when it comes to removing food organics from landfill and increasing local food growing capacity. YIMBY composters are…
-

$120,000 boost for rail trail
Plans to develop the Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail have moved a step closer with the state government committing $120,000 to assist with crucial planning for the project. Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited Joyces Creek on Friday to announce the funding for a feasibility study at the foot of the now disused 1940 Joyces Creek Railway…
-

Nordic pole walking expands
Local nordic pole walking classes have really hit their stride, proving so popular they’re now being offered in Castlemaine, Harcourt, Newstead and Maldon. Volunteers have recently had their qualifications updated by the Nordic Academy and as a result are enthusiastic to offer this opportunity in more locations across Mount Alexander Shire. Healthy Heart of Victoria…
-

Nudge kids to eat well
All kids deserve access to healthy and delicious food in places where they learn and play. Vic Kids Eat Well is an exciting new state-wide movement focused on boosting healthy food and drink options in the places kids spend their time, including schools, outside school hours care, sports clubs, recreation facilities, council-operated facilities and more.…
-

Holiday park a finalist
BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park is a finalist in the 2021 Victorian Tourism Awards. Nominated in the Caravan and Holiday Parks category, it is the only Mount Alexander Shire tourism business and the only Victorian holiday park to reach the finals of the prestigious awards. Winners will be announced in Melbourne in early February. BIG4…

