Victorian Government
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A frontline service for animals
For the past 10 years, Nikki Medwell has spent her days (and often nights) caring for sick and injured wildlife at the Red Box Wildlife Shelter – her rehabilitation sanctuary in Elphinstone. While the 60-acre bush block, located near Leanganook (Mount Alexander), was spared by the January bushfires, the impacts on the shelter were profound.…
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Restrictions remain for Lancefield
Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s bid to remove planning controls that have stymied Lancefield development has been rejected by the state government. Earlier this month, the council sought to remove the restrictive DPO24 that applies across about 150 acres of township land in three residential zones, impacting about 22 landowners. The planning tool intended to create…
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‘Race still on’ for Clarkefield
“Premature, insufficiently resolved, and not yet justified” is how Macedon Ranges Shire Council has described controversial plans to transform Clarkefield into a new township. The council has called for the development to undergo a full public hearing before an independent planning panel in its preliminary submission to the state government. The planning amendment in question,…
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Haste on Clarkefield plan “unreasonable”
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has called out the state government’s haste in its four-week consultation on a development planned to change the face of Clarkefield. At council’s meeting last week, Cr Jennifer Anderson revealed the council had been informally refused a time extension on its submission to the process. With submissions closing yesterday, MRSC has…
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Still in with a chance
The Kyneton and District Town Square Co-operative says it remains committed to securing community access to the Old Kyneton Primary School site after almost nine years of advocacy. Co-op board member Peter Henderson said the group was “very excited” to have been shortlisted as head tenant/lead operator for the site after submitting an Expression of…
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Clarkefield future in focus
A 2300-home development will change the face of Clarkefield if approved and now the Victorian Government has opened consultation. The move follows Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s calls for broad community awareness and input after the plans were referred to the state’s Development Facilitation Program. Draft Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment – C164macr proposes a new…
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Lancefield development ‘sterilised’
A group of Lancefield landowners are hopeful a lengthy planning battle restricting development may soon come to an end. Macedon Ranges Shire mayor, Cr Kate Kendall, has sought Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny’s urgent assistance to remove Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24 (DPO24) that has created almost the opposite outcome of its intent. Cr Kendall told…
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Kilkenny ‘please explain’
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is calling on Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny to explain removal of significant trees from Mount Macedon without notification. Parks Victoria has gained ministerial approval to remove snow gums and other vegetation to reinstate view lines to Mount Macedon Memorial Cross ahead of Anzac Day. Works began earlier this month without…
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Local MP to retire from politics
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas has announced she will retire from politics at the next state election, bringing an end to more than a decade in parliament. Ms Thomas, who has represented the seat since November 2014 and currently serves as Minister for Health, Women and Ambulance Services, said the decision came down to whether she…
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Commuters call for more carriages
Victoria’s free public transport initiative has now been extended until the end of May but overcrowding has prevented many regional travellers from using it this month. Premier Jacinta Allen announced free travel across April in response to limited fuel supply and rising petrol prices, as war continues in the Middle East. On Sunday, the Premier…
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3AW hosts visit Castlemaine, Harcourt
In a boost for local tourism businesses, 3AW Breakfast broadcast live from Shedshaker Brewery on March 16, celebrating autumn with a special show designed to encourage people back to the region. Supported by Visit Victoria, this live show saw hosts Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft showcase all there is to do and see in Castlemaine…
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Ranges questions housing targets
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is seeking clarity on how it will achieve its Victorian Government imposed housing target of 13,200 new homes by 2051. The state government set targets for each municipality last year and warned councils they would need to unlock land for housing or it would “do it for you”. At MRSC’s ordinary…