state government
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STATE FIRST TREATY BID
The Dja Dja Wurrung People of central Victoria have become the first traditional owners to seek to negotiate a local treaty with the state government. Under Victoria’s Treaty Negotiation Framework, traditional owner groups can negotiate their own treaties, which will reflect aspirations and priorities for their local areas. DJAARA (the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal…
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Council votes to sell
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will sell Hanging Rock’s East Paddock to the state government with conditions aimed at securing community priorities. Retaining public open space in perpetuity and ensuring any development on the East Paddock is consistent with protecting the natural, cultural values and views of the site will be vital to any agreement. Ensuring…
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Early morning anger: commuters speak out
Fed up Castlemaine commuters have slammed the early morning passenger train service to Bendigo as totally unreliable and are demanding answers from the state government and V/Line. Workers, students, apprentices and those unable to drive themselves are among many locals who say the 7.54am train service from Castlemaine is supposed to get them to Bendigo…
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$3.2M to sports precinct
The multi-million dollar Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct has been boosted by a guaranteed $3.2M from the state government. “This is a project of state-wide significance, one that can hold state-wide and national events,” district MP Mary-Anne Thomas stated on Friday on site at New Gisborne. The $3.2M via the Growing Suburbs Fund will help…
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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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SITE SALE STALEMATE: Value of Hanging Rock’s East Paddock in dispute
Question hangs over the true value of Hanging Rock’s East Paddock as Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the state government draw lines in the sand over its sale. The council rejected an offer made by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning in May, which it described as “significantly below” council’s own valuation of…
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Victorian Solar Homes rebate program overhaul urgently needed
Jo Kaptein, manager of the MASH and Hepburn Solar Bulk Buys The MASH community solar bulk-buy team was all ready to go on August 1, at 9am prompt at four locations including Castlemaine and New Gisborne, to help bulk-buy participants submit their application for the state government’s $2225 Solar Homes program rebate. We’d done the…
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Container deposit push builds
Mount Alexander Shire councillors and executive staff are among those strongly supporting the push for a container deposit scheme in Victoria, with the state Greens expected to this week introduce legislation aimed at establishing the scheme. Recycling has become a hot button issue in Victoria after major processor SKM went into liquidation, forcing many councils…
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Protection promise that rocks
A re-elected Labor state government plans to purchase Hanging Rock’s East Paddock. Long championed by the community, the move is expected to give greater protection to the precinct, and its views, which was threatened by a development proposal five years ago. Planning Minister Richard Wynne last week pledged $3 million to purchase the land and…
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Heat over CFA sale move
Local firies are fighting to halt the shock sale of the Romsey Group Headquarters. Group officer Ralph Hermann said the bombshell news had left brigade members baffled as the decision appeared to be made in Melbourne CFA headquarters without proper consultation at a local level. The old courthouse at Stawell Street has served the brigade…