Victorian Government
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Native forest logging to end
The state government has announced it will bring forward the end of native forest logging to January 2024. The end date will be accelerated from 2030 to the start of next year through additional $200 million of measures announced in last Tuesday’s State Budget. The move has been welcomed by the Victorian National Parks Association.…
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Stakes high for forests
In the same week that the Victorian Government announced permanent protections for Victoria’s three new national parks, the government also flagged new penalties for anti-logging protesters. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, last Thursday announced $4 million to establish the new boundaries for the parks, which will be created by linking existing…
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Vet clinic goal gets big boost
Eve Lamb Efforts to establish a low-cost veterinary clinic at Campbells Creek received a big boost on Friday, with the announcement of a $200,000 grant from the state government to kick-start the vision. A determined team of locals have joined forces to see the concept for the new Regional Community Vet Clinic become reality. Their…
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New offer for Rock paddock
Will Macedon Ranges Shire Council agree to sell Hanging Rock’s East Paddock and at what cost? The public can soon weigh in as a new offer from the Victorian Government has emerged to purchase the community asset. Council’s acting director of corporate and community, Gina Lyons, said the proposed sale price was yet to be…
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$500,000 to fix soccer ground
There’s plenty of elation and excitement with the news that $500,000 has been allocated towards better irrigation and drainage at Kyneton’s Barkly Square, the home of Kyneton District Soccer Club. Last week the Victorian Government’s Community Sports Minister, Ros Spence, announced $500,000 for Barkly Square was one of 10 applications approved in the third round…
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Restrictions to ease on Friday
With hospitalisation numbers and community transmission decreasing and more than half of Victorians aged over 16 now vaccinated with three doses, a number of common-sense restrictions and recommendations in place during the state’s Omicron surge can be safely eased. From 6pm tomorrow, as part of new pandemic orders to be signed by the Minister for…
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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.…
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Rock home in doubt
Hanging Rock Cricket Club may be forced to move from its long-held home at Hanging Rock Reserve if a draft masterplan released by the state government is implemented. Under the plan, released last week and now open for community consultation, the cricket, petanque and tennis clubs will be moved offsite to enable the relocation of…
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Rock paddock still in talks
No agreement has yet been reached on the sale or transfer of Hanging Rock’s East Paddock to the state government. Valuation talks around the council-owned site have not been abandoned despite differing views, Macedon Ranges Council CEO Bernie O’Sullivan indicated last week. “The council continues to work collaboratively with the state government on its desire…
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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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Learner drivers back on the road as restrictions ease
Shanti Steventon-Lorenzen is gearing up to new freedom after gaining her ‘Ps’ with a little help from TAC and CHIRP Community Health in Castlemaine. The TAC L2P program has been running through CHIRP for five years, and it helps young learner drivers attain their probationary licence. The program matches them with trained volunteer mentors to…
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OVER BUDGET AND POORLY PLANNED
The state government’s controversial roadside wire rope barrier project faces a major cost blowout and has been less effective than promised. Victoria’s auditor general has found the project is eight months late, poorly planned and maintained, and already nearly $100 million over budget. Wire rope barriers were installed along 20 of the most dangerous highways…