Too beautiful to lose...
New & Current Items
Last Updated 7/7/19
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Too beautiful to lose... |
CURRENT The State Government Has Not Delivered The Protection It Promised Macedon Ranges
(13/11/18 - SP) One step forward has been matched by two steps back. Macedon Ranges is not yet protected.
COMMUNITY CLIPBOARD See Directory
AROUND THE TRAPS / COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
CURRENT Brand New Forum for Ratepayers, Run By Ratepayers: CouncilWatch https://www.councilwatch.net.au (23/5/19 - C) A site set up on the principle that there is strength in numbers and collective voices. Council Watch File
Getting Riddell Right Website Now Up And Running www.riddell.org.au (21/5/13 -RA-CC) GRR kicks off fund-raising for VCAT supermarket case with "Supper and Songs" dinner on 29 June
Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network (19/11/08 - E) New website More...
Reminder From Planning Backlash (2/4/09 - P) Are you looking at www.marvellousmelbourne.org? More...
COUNCIL See Directory
COUNCIL & councillor performances Archive
2016 - 2020 Council
CURRENT RED ALERT The 2019/2020 Macedon Ranges' Budget Is A Secret Budget. Lots Of Council Spending But Almost No Information On How Much Money Will Be Spent On Each Item. What's going on? Critical Information Isn't There... And Neither Is Any Accountability And Transparency. (21/5/19 - C) No excuse whatsoever for this. A Council can't just say what it's spending on, it has to say how much each item costs and how it's going to pay for it. This Budget doesn't. That information must be provided, and the Budget re-exhibited. Budget file
CURRENT Action Required Plenty Of Questions Still Remain About The Future Of Hanging Rock And The East Paddock (14/11/18 - P) And boy, do they demand clear, comprehensive answers if State Government buys the East Paddock, before it buys it Hanging Rock file
Woo-hoo. Stunning Outcome For 2017/2018 MRSC Budget. What A Difference An Election Makes! (9/7/17 - C) New Councillors put changed priorities, and new savings, on the table Budget file
2017 Community Satisfaction Survey: Well, Look At That. The Community Is Saying There's A Problem With Population Growth In Macedon Ranges (9/7/17 - C) Plenty of work still to be done to lift satisfaction and standards, but the change of councillors already shows because this survey tells us the tide has at least stopped going out Survey file
MRRA Submission To The 2017/18 Council Budget (19/6/17 - C) We've asked for a $3 million error to be corrected Budget file
Outcome of Macedon Ranges 8 March Special Council Meeting For Rescission Motions (17/3/17 - C) Cr. Jukes' rescission motion, to reverse Council's decision to withdraw support for Council's expired equine strategy, was defeated 8-1. Cr. Mees' rescission motion to reverse approval of a 2 lot subdivision and 2 dwellings in Woodend, was carried Council Performance file Equine file
22nd February 2017 Council Meeting: Welcome To The World Of Changing Council Priorities (6/3/17 - C) Cr. Jukes lodges rescission motion against Council withdrawing formal support for the Equine Strategy - Special Council Meeting Wednesday 8 March, Gisborne, 6.00pm. Councillor Performance File Equine File
Decision To Allow Ed Sheeran Concert ON Hanging Rock Breaks Faith And Process, And Totally Disrespects The Rock (25/2/17 - C) Macedon Ranges Shire may have new councillors but this decision - apparently without approval from new councillors - shows the rot at Council still goes deep. Council Performances file Hanging Rock file
Woo-hoo. Our New Council Is Actually Asking Residents What They Think! Survey About 'What's Important To You' - Closes February 12, 2017 (23/12/16 - C) Feedback will inform the Shire's Council Plan. Council Plan file
2012 - 2016 Council
Last Council Meeting Of The Term Shocks: Mayor Says "What This Council Has Done, Can't Be Undone" (27/10/16 - C) It seemed a familiar enough pattern: yet another house in the Farming zone; 75% of the agenda items approved "en bloc"; a councillor or two absent; self-congratulations; CEO and staff executive praised, community criticised. Then came the pointers to where and what the rot is on council. Councillor performance file
Recent VCAT 'Red Dot' Decision About Existing Use Rights At Carlsruhe Reveals More Than Just Another Mistake At Council (15/9/16 - C) You will want to see this: Macedon Ranges Council employee found to not be a credible or reliable witness Council/Councillor Performance file Equine file
Council Strikes At The Heart Of The Ranges With Its Latest Hare-Brained "Economic" Plans For Macedon and Mount Macedon (15/9/16 - P) Keep it "small scale" at Mount Macedon? Deleted before the council meeting. Then our esteemed Councillor majority authorised officers to make more (unseen and unknown) changes before rolling out planning scheme amendments for these two settlements Macedon/Mount Macedon File
Council to go with Kyneton Airfield runway extension, despite now admitting it's not needed or planned for fire-fighting purposes. (23/8/16) MRRA's submission on the Kyneton Airfield Masterplan
Dire News: Macedon Ranges Falls To Urbanisation Of Rural Land As Amendment C110 Panel Says the Gisborne and Riddells Creek Rural Living Carve-Up - Which Puts Housing Estates In A Nationally Significant Landscape - Is OK (2/8/16 - P) Worse: Macedon Ranges Council has overturned the Panel's veto of rezoning and urbanising of rural land at Kyneton and Romsey and will go ahead regardless. This is what out-of-control looks like. Only the State government can stop it and save Macedon Ranges now. Rural Living file
Council In Denial About New Lows In Community Satisfaction With Its Performances, Blames Talk Of Rates-Capping. Still Not Listening To The Community Then... (19/7/16 - C) Community loss of confidence in Council is confirmed in falls in overall council performance, overall council direction, advocacy, lobbying, making community decisions, consultation, planning, and how council is handling business and tourism. Many 2016 satisfaction scores are the worst of this Council's term, and worse than the previous (2012) Council. Time to throw out this failed Council, and our CEO. Survey Archive file
Council Budget 2015/16 MRRA's Report: Mountain of debt and a deteriorating financial position Link
The Macedon Ranges Shire's Mayor & Officer Relationship (aka The Mayor's Affair) (25/3/14 - C) Too close for ratepayers' comfort? UPDATE (12/5/14 - C) The CEO's letter to MRRA in response to this article Mayor File
Special Feature Council Elections 2016: Candidate Assessments - who MRRA would and wouldn't vote for
Special Feature Council Elections 2012: Results, Candidates, Council, Preferences, How Votes Are Counted
Council Meetings
CURRENT Council Meeting Dates For July 2018 to June 2019 More...
council finances
Council Staff
Council Standards
Council Other Places
Council Projects & Services
CURRENT Council's "Shared Trails" Feasibility Studies. More Economic Development Priorities Pretending To Be Good For The Local Community And Environment (18/3/19 - C) Distinctly underdone and under-informed, the Studies reveal the proposed 60km of intrusive 3 metre wide bitumen trails are overwhelmingly about promoting tourism and cycling, and very little about genuinely caring about the local community's interests, heritage, environment, responsible use of ratepayers' money and risk. A double dose of reality is needed before going down this path. Submissions close 25 March. Trails file
CURRENT Council Calls For More Community Comment On Its "Protect Only The Most Obvious, Most Important" Landscape Assessment (18/3/19 - C) Er, good on Council for asking, but it would have helped if people knew about it, and whether any changes have been made to the original, 3-volume, abominable Assessment in response to last November's first round of comments. MRRA is assuming there are no changes. Submissions close 25 March. Landscape Assessment File
CURRENT MR Council's Controversial Draft Visitor Economy Strategy Is On Exhibition Over The Christmas Holidays. Submissions by 11 February 2019 (24/12/18 - C) Oh no, not another one being exhibited over Christmas! There’s always doubt about the intent of anything exhibited over Christmas, isn't there, and this is a good example of why. Tourism archive
CURRENT KYNETON AIRFIELD LOCAL LAW NO. 12 Is On Exhibition Until 7 February 2019 (24/12/18 - C) Another controversial document with consultation occurring over the Christmas/holiday period. A drop-in session will be held at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute on 17 January, 6.30pm. Ask councillors to extend the consultation time... Kyneton Airfield archive
Council Surveys
MAV
VLGA
Ratepayers Victoria INC
ENVIRONMENT See Directory
CLIMATE CHANGE / HELP THE PLANET
"Hell To Pay - Cities In The Age Of Default And Revolt" by Brendan Gleeson (24/9/06 - E) Published in 2004, this paper pulls no punches about what could happen if we don't heed the warning signs. More...
ANIMALS
COASTAL
EPA PUBLICATIONS
EDO
ENVIRO-EMAILS
EVENTS
FLOOD STUDY: GISBORNE
FRIENDS OF: FRIENDSNET
FIELD DAYS / OPEN DAYS
FUNDING
HELP THE PLANET
GM CROPS
LAND MANAGEMENT
LANDCARE
LANDSCAPES
CURRENT Council Calls For More Community Comment On Its "Protect Only The Most Obvious, Most Important" Landscape Assessment (18/3/19 - C) Er, good on Council for asking, but it would have helped if people knew about it, and whether any changes have been made to the original, 3-volume, abominable Assessment in response to last November's first round of comments. MRRA is assuming there are no changes. Submissions close 25 March. Landscape Assessment File
NATIVE VEGETATION
STORMWATER
STUDY TOURS
SUSTAINABILITY
TOXIC WASTE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
Are We All Rooned? Someone Asks The $64,000 Question: Should It Be An Ambulance Or A Fence? (23/8/06 - E) "The water issues continue to amaze me. I would not have thought we could come this close to the edge of the cliff without somebody thinking about the fence that might be built for the future..." More...
WEEDS & PESTS
WILDLIFE
CURRENT Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network (19/11/08 - E) New website More...
WIND ENERGY
MRRA See Directory
MRRA Submission to 2017/18 MRSC Budget (19/6/17 - C) We are asking for a $3 million error to be corrected Link
MRRA Submission (13/7/15) Hanging Rock Review Hanging Rock file
MRRA Submission (28/4/15 - P) Landscape Assessment Study: Round 2 Landscape file
MRRA Submission (12/12/14 - P) Macedon Ranges' Shire's "In The Rural Living Zone" Rural Living file
MRRA Submission On Metropolitan Strategy Discussion Paper (The New Melbourne 2030) (23/4/13-RA-P) It's a big document with many parts, but it's a worry when how Macedon Ranges will be protected isn't clear at all, we are told we must 'move away from regulation', priority is given to economics, and there is to be a new process to 'facilitate' creative and innovative investment projects - even when it isn't allowed by a planning scheme Click here
National Recognition For MRRA (19/10/09) MRRA to be included in Canberra's National Library Of Australia archive - in perpetuity! More...
MRRA Makes Submission On Council's Economic Development Strategy (21/8/09 - C) Room for improvement... More...
MRRA Makes Submission On Braemar Amendment (21/8/09 - P) It's worse than we thought... More...
MRRA Submission - President's VCAT Review Consultation Paper (13/7/09 - P) Please, go back to planning, get the lawyers out of it, and start healing rock-bottom public confidence More...
MRRA Submission On Environmental Regulations (30/5/09 - SG) We say, think about tomorrow, not just today More...
MRRA Submission On New State Residential Zones (30/5/09 - P) Association stands up for rural areas More...
MACEDON RANGES RESIDENTS SECRETARIAT LTD [MRRS] 2008
OTHER ITEMS See Directory
BUSINESS
EVENTS
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
POLITICS
PUBLIC INTEREST
PLANNING See Directory
AMENDMENTS
Town Structure Plan Amendments: C98 (Woodend), C99 (Kyneton) and C100 (Riddells Creek) Link
CURRENT Kyneton Movement Network Study 2016 - 2019. Submissions close 31 May 2019 (23/5/19 - P) Let's call a spade a spade. This dated Study is all (and only) about what's needed to implement the last Council's plan for accelerated growth: doubling Kyneton's population by building a new suburb south of the town. Kyneton Movement Network Study File
CURRENT The Macedon Ranges' Rural Conservation Zone Survey. Well, That's What It's Called But This Cut-And-Paste Survey Is About The Farming Zone And Economics Not Conservation (23/5/19 - P) Looks like you are only supposed to have access to this survey if you live in the Rural Conservation Zone in Macedon Ranges Shire. Rural Land File
CURRENT RED ALERT Action Required Proposed Amendment C129 - New Gisborne Business Park Rezoning Of Rural Living To Industrial And Commercial Zones (24/12/18 - P) Four Councillors thought it was OK to move this amendment to exhibition stage without any prior consultation with the community, five didn't. The amendment's surprise inclusion of 11ha of Commercial Zone in the New Gisborne Industrial Estate is a complete game-changer for the future of Gisborne and New Gisborne, with potential to split Gisborne into two commercial town centres. Don't miss your chance when at last the community gets to have a say on these proposed changes next February. Amendment C129 archive
RED ALERT Andrews Government Is "Getting Things Done" By Removing Prohibitions On Intensive Pig And Poultry Farming In Rural Conservation And Rural Living Zones, And Drinking Water Catchments, Across Victoria. Lost In Transit: "Making Things Fair" And "Delivering For All Victorians" (23/7/18 - P) Single-minded focus on economics allows thousands of pigs and poultry to be kept, and if you're next door in any rural or green wedge or urban growth zone, your rights to know about it, object and go to VCAT are being extinguished. Affects all rural and regional areas of Victoria, and Green Wedge and Urban Growth zones in metropolitan Melbourne. Pig and poultry business interests, and State government, are very happy. The rest, and the environment, can fade away. Intensive Animal Industries File
Amendments C114 (Macedon) and C115 (Mount Macedon). These are Implementing "Design Guidelines" To Protect Character?? Not on your nelly! (23/12/16 - P) How does this sound: zero front setbacks, two storey development, no preferred character, planning requirements able to be waived by council, street trees a minor consideration - in both towns. And this: a Special Use Zone at Mount Macedon allowing McDonalds, and 'pole signs', with "small scale" development deleted. That's what you are getting with C114 and C115. Macedon-Mount Macedon Archive File
Council Strikes At The Heart Of The Ranges With Its Latest Hare-Brained "Economic" Plans For Macedon and Mount Macedon (15/9/16 - P) Keep it "small scale" at Mount Macedon? Deleted before the council meeting. Then our esteemed Councillor majority authorised officers to make more (unseen and unknown) changes before rolling out planning scheme amendments for these two settlements Macedon/Mount Macedon File
Fateful, Terrible News: Macedon Ranges Falls To Urbanisation Of Rural Land As Independent Panel Says C110 Rural Living Carve-Up Around Gisborne and Riddells Creek - Which Puts Housing Estates In A Nationally Significant Landscape - Is OK (24/7/16 - P) But even worse, Council is not taking the Panel's 'no' to the rural living carve-ups in Romsey and Kyneton and is set to overturn the Panel's veto for those areas at next week's Council meeting. This is what out-of-control looks like. Only the State government can stop it and save Macedon Ranges now. Rural Living file
Panel Set For Amendment C110 - The Rural Living Subdivision Frenzy (9/3/16 - P) Council drops the panel hearing for C110 right in the middle of panel hearings for Woodend, Kyneton and Riddells Creek Structure Plans, AND the Protection Advisory Committee process
Pigs Still Flying and Council Still Lying About Amendment C84 (1/10/14 - P) Adoption of Panel recommendations - Council's nose just keeps getting longer C84 Council Performances
Independent Panel Report To Abandon Amendment C92 Overturned On Mayor's Vote (31/3/14 - P) 'Favours for mates' amendment to go to Minister - four Councillors not only know better, they even speak for the CFA! More...
ENVIRONMENT DEFENDERS OFFICE (edo)
FIRE
HERITAGE
HOUSING
HOUSES IN RURAL ZONES
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Application For 29 Dwellings (yes, 29) On 7,000 Sqm In Calthorpe Street, Gisborne (23/12/16 - P) 'Over-development' and 'out-of-character' have just reached new heights 22 Calthorpe St file
Woodend Residents Win VCAT Case Against Coles Express Petrol Station (24/12/15 - P) VCAT says 'no, no, no, not like that Mr. Coles Express' - how sweet it is Petrol Station file
Coles Takes Woodend Petrol Station Refusal To VCAT (10/8/15 - P) Details sketchy, but anticipate some form of action needed in September Petrol Station file
Yay! Macedon Over-Development Rolled By VCAT (13/4/15 - P) VCAT finds it difficult to understand Macedon Ranges' planning policy in Amendment C84 so sticks with the existing planning scheme to say 'no' to this truly awful, out-of-character over-development Macedon File
Uh-oh. A Resignation From Villawood (24/12/14 - P) What's going on with Stuart Bonnington? Villawood File
Woodend Estates. Woodend... What?! Is This A Retirement Village - Or Just A Whopping 300 Unit Residential Development Come Resort In A Rural Zone? (10/11/14 - P) Brochure says "it will be like living on a cruise ship". Yep, that description pretty much nails living on this floodplain. Woodend Retirement Village
Woodend Community Prevails As Council Rejects Villawood's Latest Development Proposal On 7 to 1 Vote (25/10/14 - P) Lone-voiced objector, Cr. Letchford again defends Villawood, calls Woodend community the "Town of No", and was the only vote for Villawood's application - until a division was called. Then he sided with the Nays and it became a unanimous 'NO'. Golf Course HIll/Villawood C84 Woodend Structure Plan
Massive Residential Development Planned For Golf Course Hill In Woodend (14/10/06 - P) There's movement at the station, or so the stories go More...
Who Is Behind The Massive Development Push At Woodend's Iconic Golf Course Hill? (17/4/07 - P) MRRA looks at who is behind Davies Hill Pty Ltd - the company selling land to Braemar and no doubt looking in future to rezone the current Farming zone clear the way for massive residential development It turns out that Woodend local lawyer Mr. HEP (Chinka) Steel, and local development consultant Paul Tomkinson are major players... More...
PLANNING: COUNCIL
MRRA Submission on Kyneton South Framework Plan (9/7/17 - P) This plan redefines the term "investigation" Kyneton South Investigation File
High Alert For Kyneton Area: Is Kyneton Being Set Up To Double In Size? Submissions close June 23 (19/6/17 - P) It's outrageous, sneaky and unacceptable. The “Draft Framework Plan – Kyneton South Investigation Area, May 2017” takes growth for Kyneton way, waaay past what the Shire's Settlement Strategy says, and silently balloons the town's boundary out towards Malmsbury and north towards the airfield. Haven't been told? Not what you want for Kyneton? Make a submission. Kyneton South file
Council Strikes At The Heart Of The Ranges With Its Latest Hare-Brained "Economic" Plans For Macedon and Mount Macedon (15/9/16 - P) Keep it "small scale" at Mount Macedon? Deleted before the council meeting. Then our esteemed Councillor majority authorised officers to make more (unseen and unknown) changes before rolling out planning scheme amendments for these two settlements Macedon/Mount Macedon File
Macedon and Mount Macedon Development Design Guidelines Out For Community Comment Until Sunday 5th June (24/5/16 - P) Spoiler alert! Mt. Macedon "commercial" area is expanded, and you are going to have to love the word "should" to think these guidelines mean (or do) anything good at all. You can help stop this and other Council economics and development madnesses - see "community action required" below. Macedon-Mt Macedon file
Woodend Township Structure Plan - Cr. Letchford Rescission Motion (9/6/14 - P) Pressure sees Councillor withdraw motion to overturn adoption of the Structure Plan File
PLANNING: FEDERAL
PLANNING: OTHER PLACES
PLANNING: PLANNING BACKLASH
PLANNING: STATE
CURRENT The State Government Has Not Delivered The Protection It Promised Macedon Ranges (13/11/18 - SP) One step forward has been matched by two steps back. Macedon Ranges is not protected. Protection Bulletin
CURRENT Macedon Ranges Draft Landscape Assessment Study On Exhibition (Submissions Close 18 November) (12/11/18 - P) There's some good in it (expanded Significant Landscape Overlays) but it makes the fatal mistake of saying delete Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 from Macedon Ranges planning scheme (reminiscent of the Brumby government's attempts to get rid of it), and doesn't do a damned thing for landscapes except the most significant ones. Nice going - not. MRRA won't be supporting it. Protection Bulletin
CURRENT Lightning Strikes Twice As the New Macedon Ranges "Statement of Planning Policy" Still Doesn't Make The Grade (10/9/18 - SP) Our hopes that the redraft of this document would set a benchmark for strong protective policy, clear directions and transparency for any future growth haven't been met. There's a world of difference, isn't there, between 'getting things done' and 'getting things done well'. If we have to have it, MRRA calls for changes first. Protection Bulletin
MRRA Calls PUBLIC MEETING In Response To The 'Less-Protection-Not-More' Draft Macedon Ranges Localised Planning Statement (29/1/18 - SP) It's a community meeting for residents from all parts of the Shire: Tuesday 13th February, 7.30pm, Gisborne Mechanics Institute, 8A Hamilton Street, Gisborne Protection Bulletin
MRRA Assessment Of Proposed 'Macedon Ranges' Protection: Legislation (Tick). Localised Planning Statement (Avoid! Avoid!) (11/1/18 - SP) The proposed Localised Planning Statement is worse than the status quo. It turns our small settlements into growth towns, diminishes heritage and environment values by singling out only State and National significance, and even removes existing policy protections from towns, rural land and environment. Pens at the ready - submissions to State government by 19 February. This Localised Planning Statement is not what the legislation says it should be, not what the Macedon Ranges Protection Advisory Committee recommended, not based on Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 - and it's not the protection we were promised. Protection Bulletin
UPDATE State Government's "Smart Planning" Project Lurches Into Its Next Step In "Simplifying" Victoria's Planning System - This Is A Comprehensive Dismantling Of The Planning System And Planning Schemes As We Know Them, With Further Changes To Come. Time for Submissions Extended To FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER (27/11/17 - P) These and other State government changes this year make it impossible to protect Macedon Ranges, as the government promised Smart Planning File
State Government Is Removing Existing Prohibitions On Pig, Poultry And Broiler Farms In Rural Conservation, Rural Living and Industrial Zones (31/10/17 - P) Worse, these uses won't even need a permit in the Farming Zone, and grazing is replaced with intensive 'supplementary feeding'. Thinking of moving to regional Victoria? Don't bother unless you can live with industrial animal production next door... Submissions close November 14 Intensive Animal Industries File Smart Planning File
State Government's "Smart Planning" Project Lurches Into Its Next Step In "Simplifying" Victoria's Planning System (31/10/17 - P) When it's full of weasel words like 'streamline', 'review', 'simplify', 'rationalise', 'lower risk applications' and 'modern planning scheme', and it's talking about reducing permit and performance requirements - WATCH OUT! And this next step - the review of the Victoria Planning Provisions (planning schemes) to make development approvals easier- is out for comment now. Submissions close 24 November Smart Planning File
State Level Changes To The Bushfire Management Overlay in State Amendment GC13 (31/10/17 - P) Who's in, and who's out of the overlay is changed, and some new planning provisions are introduced Fire File
State Government's "Smart Planning": First It Was The Horror Expansion of VicSmart, And Now It's The Shrinking Of The Victoria Planning Provisions. A Survey, Such As It Is, closes 10 July (9/7/17 - P) So far it has been an exercise in removing residents' rights and "simplifying" development into lower standards, accountability and transparency. This isn't on anywhere in Victoria, and we can't see how this "protects" Macedon Ranges at all Smart Planning file
"Alternative Futures For Melbourne's Peri-Urban Region" Project Launched: A Proposal To Restrict Loss Of Rural Land To Rural Living (28/4/15 - P) Go back to prescriptive planning and tenement controls to protect rural land Peri Urban file
POKIES
POPULATION
PUBLIC LAND
VCAT
SAYNOTO SUBURBIA See Directory
STATE ELECTION 2014 New Labor Government says it will protect Macedon Ranges - for good - with legislation based on Statement of Planning Policy No 8. We will keep you to that!
STATE ELECTION 2010 Macedon Ranges Get State Protection At Last - see MRRA Media Release
Say NO To Suburbia Home Page: Help Us Victoria!
Say NO To Suburbia Noticeboard
(Click to see items listed below)
MRRA CAMPAIGN FOR STATE LEVEL PLANNING PROTECTION
Macedon Ranges Needs You archive
Localised Planning Statement archive
(1/12/14) LABOR WINS LOWER HOUSE, PLEDGING LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION FOR MACEDON RANGES.
"Inappropriate development risks destroying the area. Labor will legislate to protect this iconic and historic region.”
"We will use SPP No. 8 as the basis for legislative protection."
"Labor's plan for the Macedon Ranges will provide the highest level of protection possible against inappropriate development."
"Under Labor, the beauty, heritage and unique characteristics of the Macedon Ranges will be protected for good."
We will be holding you to delivering that.
CURRENT The State Government Has Not Delivered The Protection It Promised Macedon Ranges
(13/11/18 - SP) One step forward has been matched by two steps back. Macedon Ranges is not yet protected. Protection Bulletin
CURRENT Plenty Of Questions Still Remain About The Future Of Hanging Rock And The East Paddock (14/11/18 - P) And boy, do they demand clear, comprehensive answers if State Government buys the East Paddock, before it buys it Hanging Rock file
CURRENT Macedon Ranges Draft Landscape Assessment Study On Exhibition (Submissions Close 18 November) (12/11/18 - P) There's some good in it (expanded Significant Landscape Overlays) but it makes the fatal mistake of saying delete Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 from Macedon Ranges planning scheme (reminiscent of the Brumby government's attempts to get rid of it), and doesn't do a damned thing for landscapes except the most significant ones. Nice going - not. MRRA won't be supporting it. Protection Bulletin
CURRENT Lightning Strikes Twice As the New Macedon Ranges "Statement of Planning Policy" Still Doesn't Make The Grade (10/9/18 - SP) Our hopes that the redraft of this document would set a benchmark for strong protective policy, clear directions and transparency for any future growth haven't been met. There's a world of difference, isn't there, between 'getting things done' and 'getting things done well'. If we have to have it, MRRA calls for changes first. Protection Bulletin
MRRA Submission to Macedon Ranges Localised Planning Statement (9/3/18 - SP) We said: Here's what's wrong (mmm... everything). Here's how to fix it. And here are maps of the settlement boundaries the community wants: the existing town boundaries with no investigation areas or expansion of towns. It's now or never for the government to stop being patronising, show it's not the growth-promoting ogre behind the LPS and its word is worth the paper it's written on. Protection Bulletin
(7/2/18 - SP) UPDATE Local resident Deb Dunn joins Professor Michael Buxton as guest speakers at MRRA public meeting Tuesday 13th February, 7.30pm, Gisborne Mechanics Institute, 8A Hamilton Street, Gisborne. Protection Bulletin
(7/2/18 - SP) UPDATE "Settle Woodend" group's excellent explanation of the Localised Planning Statement situation. Focus is on Woodend but all will find useful Protection Bulletin
MRRA Calls PUBLIC MEETING In Response To The 'Less-Protection-Not-More' Draft Macedon Ranges Localised Planning Statement (29/1/18 - SP) It's a community meeting for residents from all parts of the Shire: Tuesday 13th February, 7.30pm, Gisborne Mechanics Institute, 8A Hamilton Street, Gisborne Protection bulletin
MRRA Assessment Of Proposed 'Macedon Ranges' Protection: Legislation (Tick). Localised Planning Statement (Avoid! Avoid!) (11/1/18 - SP) The proposed Localised Planning Statement is worse than the status quo. It turns our small settlements into growth towns, diminishes heritage and environment values by singling out only State and National significance, and even removes existing policy protections from towns, rural land and environment. Pens at the ready - submissions to State government by 19 February. This Localised Planning Statement is not what the legislation says it should be, not what the Macedon Ranges Protection Advisory Committee recommended, not based on Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 - and it's not the protection we were promised. Protection bulletin
A Big Step Forward By State Government Towards Protecting All Of The Macedon Ranges Shire, But... (6/3/17 - SP) Council gets to write the protection policy. While our new group of councillors is much, much better than the previous group, the 'accelerated-growth-and-economic-development' obsessed administration hasn't changed... pdf version of MRRA report Protection File
Dire News: Macedon Ranges Falls To Urbanisation Of Rural Land As Amendment C110 Panel Says the Gisborne and Riddells Creek Rural Living Carve-Up - Which Puts Housing Estates In A Nationally Significant Landscape - Is OK (2/8/16 - P) Worse: Macedon Ranges Council has overturned the Panel's veto of rezoning and urbanising of rural land at Kyneton and Romsey and will go ahead regardless. This is what out-of-control looks like. Only the State government can stop it and save Macedon Ranges now. Rural Living file
Macedon Ranges Protection Advisory Committee Members: Names and Bio (20/1/16 - SP) Committee make-up has a strong environmental flavour Protection File
Terms of Reference for Macedon Ranges Protection Advisory Panel Released (8/1/16 - SP) Another welcome step towards protection, but where is the government's priority for Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 to be the basis for legislation? Protection 2015 file
'Protecting Macedon Ranges' Community Forum, Gisborne: Minister For Planning Impresses With Strong Commitment To Protect (24/11/15 - SP) Expert Panel to be appointed, community to have its say about legislation, what it values, and protection Protection 2015 file
State Government Is Holding A Community Forum In Macedon Ranges (6/11/15 - P) It's a winner because (1) the Minister for Planning will be there, (2) it's about legislation to protect Macedon Ranges and (3) it's about community Andrews govt file
MRRA Reps Meet Minister For Planning, Richard Wynne (27/4/15 - SP) Minister says he can't say it any clearer: Labor will legislate to protect this iconic and historic region. We will use Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 as the basis for legislative protection. That's what the government said it would do, and that's what it will do. Labor Protection file
2010 - 2014
UPDATE MRRA STICKERS: "ENDANGERED: Protect Macedon Ranges" and "Macedon Ranges: State significance, STATE PROTECTION" (23/11/14) You said slow growth, no suburbia, keep community feel, rotten council, endangered, protect: Keep Macedon Ranges Rural! See the stickers Note: If you would like stickers, please let us know
MRRA STICKERS: "ENDANGERED: Protect Macedon Ranges" and "Macedon Ranges: State significance, STATE PROTECTION" (20/11/14) Available in main towns between 10 am - 12 noon on Saturday 22nd Details See the stickers
MRRA Stickers: Stand Up, Show You Care, And Get That Message Everywhere: "Protect Macedon Ranges" (11/11/14) MRRA will be handing out stickers in the main towns over the weekend of 22 and 23 November More
Minister for Planning Says State Government Will Not Protect Macedon Ranges Before The State Election, and Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 Is Out-of-date, Old-fashioned (30/10/14 - SP) MRRA: If the government now thinks SPP8 is so out-of-date, so old-fashioned, it's the fault of the government which has had 4 years to fix it, and honour its election promise to put it in place as State policy. Now it's a broken promise. See LPS file report
High Alert Council Puts Another Nail In Macedon Ranges' Coffin: Its Rampant Rural Living Strategy Will Destroy Significant Landscapes, Clobber Gisborne (25/10/14 - P) Council quietly takes the next step in its economic development / equine / growth agenda: a sea of houses instead of sweeping rural views to Mount Macedon as you enter the Shire from Melbourne. This couldn't happen if we had Statement of Planning Policy No 8 as State policy. Rural Living File LPS
Macedon Ranges Needs You! Needs You file LPS file
The Good "People Of The Town Of No" Set The Record Straight (6/10/14 - P) Residents know it should be the Town of KNOW, not NO, you know... LPS file C89 Council Performances
Macedon Ranges' Last Defence Against Over-development Removed As Council Adopts Its Damaging Localised Planning Statement (1/10/14 - P) Outcome predictable, but Cr. Letchford 's derision of opposite community views went way past unacceptable LPS Council Performances
Put This In Your Diary: Council To Adopt Its Localised Planning Statement (Town Hall, Kyneton, Wednesday 24 September, 7.00pm) (23/9/14 - SP) Don't miss the 'brothers' dodging, spinning and pontificating as they sell the Macedon Ranges, their surrounds and what you value, down the river LPS file
MRRA Calls For Community To Reject Council's Localised Planning Statement: It's Not Statement of Planning Policy No. 8, And It's Not The Protection The State government Promised Us (13/7/14 - P) Get to Council's "information session" on Monday July 14, 6.30 pm, Gisborne Council Chambers and inform Council you don't support this Localised Planning Statement... LPS file Council Performances
DO WE HAVE YOUR FULL ATTENTION? "What You Value" SURVEY NOW EXTENDED TO JUNE 6 (1/6/14 - P) C'mon, guys, we can do better than the 200 responses Council says it has. New Direct Link to survey: Take the survey now File
MRRA Meets With Minister For Planning, Matthew Guy, June 22 (17/8/11 - SP) Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 to be State policy by end of 2011 More...
State Government Sets Up Peri Urban Planning Unit Within Department (13/4/11- P) First step towards making State Protection a reality for Macedon Ranges More...
Pre-2010
Council's Settlement Strategy: Submissions Extended Until End Of January 2011 (23/12/10 - P) There's still time to tell them to do it again... More...
Liberal / National Coalition Will Protect Macedon Ranges (20/11/10 - SG) After 11 years in the wilderness, a State level protection lifeline at last! Thank you... More...
'Committee For Melbourne' Thinks Macedon Ranges Is The Place For A Suburb (14/11/10 - P) CFM aspires to include Gisborne and Riddells Creek (and Macedon) into the Metro area More...
Macedon Ranges' Settlement Strategy Out For Consultation Until December 17th (14/11/10 - P) Don't be fooled into thinking this is either about, or good for, Macedon Ranges. And once again, all we are getting is over 477 pages of information, and crap consultation processes, just before Christmas. Now that's usually a sign something's wrong... More...
State (Labor) Govt's Regional Strategic Plan Puts Growth Agenda In Place For Macedon Ranges: Council Endorses Plan Without Community Consultation (13/8/10 - P) That puts around another 20,000 people and 7,000 houses in the Shire by 2036. And the State government's VC66 amendment has been put in place (also sans consultation) to implement it. Hello suburbia! More...
MR Settlement Strategy: Is Macedon Ranges Making The Decisions, Or The State Government? (29/6/10 - P) Meagre consultation, shabby process, a whiff of State government agenda and heaps of population growth should be ringing LOUD alarm bells More...
'Basic' Clarkefield: Push For Ad Hoc New Town By Cr. Geoff Neil Underscores Potential For Suburban Future (18/10/08 - SP) Needs to be more than just 'empty' land, Geoffrey More...
DPCD Orders The 'MACEDON RANGES POLICY' Removed From Our Planning Scheme (29/9/08 - SP) There's only one reason to do that: to open the door for suburbia More...
Council Votes To Call On The Minister For Planning To Introduce A RURAL ResCode (11/9/08 - P) Er, well done... More...
Hello, Hello, Hello - Where Did Statement Of Planning Policy No. 8 Go? (16/7/08 - P) Council's 'review' of Macedon Ranges' Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) and Local Policies sees the Macedon Ranges Policy dropped from the Macedon Ranges planning scheme. MRRA says, we want it elevated to State policy, not shredded More...
Planning Backlash Meets With Planning and Community Development Minister, Justin Madden (17/9/07 - SP) Metro and rural groups put issues forward - and MRRA was there More...
Planning Minister Hulls Puts Out Labor Planning Policy "Planning In Partnership With Local Communities" (23/11/06 - P) Mentions "Macedon" More...
MRRA Responds To Bracks Government's Advice That It Won't Be Protecting Macedon Ranges (31/10/06 - SP) MRRA media release says it all: think about what this government is doing - AND NOT DOING - for Macedon Ranges before you vote. More...
BRACKS GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WON'T PROTECT MACEDON RANGES (14/10/06 - SP) Nothing will save Macedon Ranges from becoming a suburb now More...
MRRA Asks For Meeting With Premier Bracks and Ministers Hulls And Thwaites (30/9/06 - SP) Please tell the Macedon Ranges' community exactly where the government stands on giving us back State level planning protection, says MRRA More...
A Sad, Sad Day For Macedon Ranges: Minister For Planning's Media Release Says His Government Protects The Beauty Of Mt. Macedon And Stops Suburbia Stretching Into The Foothills Of Mt. Macedon - That's Just Not True (3/9/06 - SP) Tells Dianne Hadden Macedon Ranges is already protected too. How can a Minister get it so wrong? More...
FEATURES
“From the Vision Splendid to The Vision Sullied” (25/6/05 – SP) A suburban, industrialized future for Macedon Ranges, home of Australian icons, Mount Macedon and Hanging Rock
The Urban Conversion: 'Victoria In Future' Growth Projections (29/4/05 - SP) The Hidden Agenda For A Suburban Macedon Ranges
THE NEED FOR PROTECTION
Growth Rates
Hidden Urban Agenda
Where Is Western Water's Newly Declared Macedon Sewerage District Taking Us? (16/7/06 - SP) Side-steps Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 to set a very different agenda for future development More...
Politicians/Parties
Fran Bailey, MHR McEwen
Ted Baillieu, Opposition Leader Shadow Minister for Planning
David Davis, Shadow Minister for Planning
Robyne Head, Liberal Candidate for Macedon
National Party
Greens Party
MACEDON RANGES' ISSUES
STATE ISSUES
STATE GOVERNMENT See Directory
FOI (FREEDOM OF INFORMATION)
GROWTH AGENDA
MINING
NATURAL GAS
POLITICIANS
PUBLIC LAND
ROADS
STATE ISSUES
NEW All-New Local Government Bill (Act) Is Still Being Changed - Comment Until 17 July
(7/7/19 - C) Councillors get even more stringent rules to keep them in line, but not council staff. Local Government Act file
Ombudsman's Report Into Transparency In Local Government Shines A Light Where The Light Hasn't Been Shining (23/12/16 - SG) Findings confirm the Macedon Ranges' community wasn't just whinging when it said the previous council lacked transparency and accountability. The ball-biter recommendation is that all council meetings should be (at least) audio recorded - including confidential meetings... and briefings! Ho, ho, ho, ho ho. Ombudsman File
TRANSPORT
VALUATIONS