Victorian Government
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Reforestation takes seed
Mount Macedon is undergoing a landmark reforestation project to restore native forests to former pine plantation sites. The project received $1.13 million funding through Victoria’s BushBank program. “The Mount Macedon Plantation Restoration Project is a huge win for our region,” Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said. “It’s helping to stop the decline of our native plants…
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Deer control to begin
The impact of increasing feral deer populations has put control of numbers in the spotlight. Parks Victoria will, this week, begin its night deer control program in Macedon Regional Park with licensed and professional shooting contractors. Deer are an introduced species and Parks Victoria recognises they “pose significant risks to native biodiversity, water quality, public…
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A first for the nation
Local First Nations groups across the region have welcomed the historic state-wide Treaty tabled in state parliament last Tuesday. It makes Victoria the first state or territory in Australia to introduce a bill of this kind in parliament and, if passed, will set in stone a permanent First Peoples’ Assembly under the name Gellung Warl,…
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Ngannelong speculation
Significant Treaty legislation introduced into the Victorian Parliament last week has re-ignited speculation in certain quarters about possible changes to the names of specific landmarks and waterways on state-controlled land. Could it be that the widely known phrase ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ eventually changes to ‘Picnic at Ngannelong’? Under the legislation introduced last week by…
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Riddell to double in size
A controversial development set to double the size of Riddells Creek has been approved by Victorian Government powers against local council and community wishes. The Amess Road development will create 1360 homes for 3808 new residents on 131.8 hectares, despite substantial push-back from Macedon Ranges Shire Council and residents. Last week, Mayor Dom Bonanno said…
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Riddells Creek to double in size
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has questioned the Victorian Government’s approval of an Amess Road development, to double the size of Riddells Creek, with little change. The proposal will develop 131.8 hectares to create about 1360 homes for 3808 new residents, but both local residents and the council were united on wanting better outcomes. “This decision…
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Wildlife road-strikes: A growing crisis in Victoria
Kerrie Allen, Mount Alexander Wildlife Watch If you’ve recently spoken about wildlife road-strikes, you’re not alone. The issue has become so widespread and distressing that a Parliamentary Inquiry is currently under way in Victoria. The reasons are obvious — rapid urban development and a booming human population have collided head-on with native wildlife habitats. In…
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Inquiry hears of burn out
Wildlife carers across the region are burning out amid increasing case loads and cost pressures, the Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into wildlife road-strike has heard. Local wildlife carers called for increased funding opportunities and reimbursement programs for wildlife rescuers, driver education, and funding for a range of road-strike prevention opportunities. “There are so many pressures with…
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Old school site “nearly ready”
More than a year overdue, newly renovated spaces at the Old Kyneton Primary School site are “nearly ready for community use”, Creative Victoria has revealed. Creative Victoria has provided an update on the project following probes for answers from Macedon Ranges Shire Council earlier this year. The Victorian Government invested $12 million in the Baynton…
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Drought takes a toll
Michael O’Sullivan can’t remember a period of drought as challenging as the one we are now experiencing. Together with his sons, Martin, John and Anthony, the Baynton farmer breeds sheep and cattle on close to 3000 hectares of grazing land. Like many other farmers, they have had to shed stock to survive. “I’ve been through…
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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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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…