Technology
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Kyneton network upgrade boost for solar systems
Rooftop solar systems in the Kyneton district will operate better following an intensive program of works by electricity distributor Powercor over the next two months. Targeting areas with high levels of rooftop solar penetration, the Solar Hotspots Program will improve export capacity and reduce tripping of solar systems that can otherwise be caused by voltage…
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Be technology savvy
A free mentorship program being offered in Castlemaine and surrounds aims to take the fear factor out of using digital technology for those lacking confidence in the digital communications space. With communication technology assuming greater importance than ever during the pandemic, the Be Connected digital mentorship program aims to ensure nobody – particularly older residents…
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Rebates slash the cost of solar
Benjamin Franklin famously said that “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. Well, to that, I reckon we can add “electricity bills keep rising”, a point that’s increasingly top of mind as so many of us spend more time at home with the resulting increase in power bills.…
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Constant interruption to ADSL internet
Residents of Ashbourne and Woodend are struggling to work and study from home during lockdown with constant interruption to their old technology ADSL internet service. Congestion on the Mount Macedon mobile tower that services the district has impacted mobile data use, especially in the outlying area to the east and south-east of Woodend. Some residents…
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Town powered down
Malmsbury business operators have suffered through an extraordinarily bad run of power outages this past summer. On seven occasions since November, traders experienced power outages at some of their busiest trading times. The outages have been the result of severe weather combined with the use of bushfire mitigation technology installed at electrical substations in areas…
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NETWORKS DOWN
Residents across the region vented their anger last week with mobile phone services disrupted from Tuesday to Thursday and power outages during Friday’s 40-degree heat leaving many sweltering. Seven days of planned works to the Kyneton area mobile phone network were abandoned on Friday after Telstra reassessed their suitability going into the day’s forecast heat…
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Northern exposure – Take a tour of dream eco home at Woodend
Having spent 30 years looking after a very old weatherboard house in Rosanna, Lindsay and Geoff Cumming knew exactly what they wanted in building their dream home in Woodend – an energy efficient design that would also allow them to “age in place”. Four years ago the retired couple found an unusual axehead-shaped block and…
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Tower call answered for Woodend
A community call has been answered in Macedon Ranges Council’s rejection of a proposed phone tower at the entrance to Woodend. The plan would have seen a 33-metre Optus tower built at the town’s train station near the Christian Street/Corinella Road intersection. Councillor Jennifer Anderson gained unanimous support for her motion to refuse the tower…
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Powercor’s new Kyneton depot
Construction is underway on a new $10M Powercor depot at Kyneton. The facility is being built on the same road as the existing one – at 44 Redesdale Road – but will be significantly larger. The depot will have improved office facilities, storage areas for equipment and fleet, and will support the future expansion 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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Tower proposal revisited
A proposal to construct a new Optus telecommunications tower at Castlemaine’s Wesley Hill is set to be revisited. The revised proposal would see the tower moved about 100-200 metres inside the reserve and away from nearby homes. Those impacted, however, say that the tower is now closer to residents in Railway Avenue who may be…
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Baringhup solar hearings begin
State planning panel hearings for the proposed 75 megawatt Baringhup solar farm began yesterday and will continue today at Maldon’s Bill Woodfull Reserve. Planning Panels Victoria is conducting the series of three hearing dates with the final hearing date next Tuesday, July 23 at Baringhup. The first two days including today are for Res Australia…