A proposal to remove two mature gum trees at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve oval as part of the reserve’s new draft master plan is raising objection from local residents who say the gums are valuable natural assets.
This week they told the Castlemaine Mail they’re also concerned that axing two mature elm trees in the central reserve has also been mooted as part of the plan, saying all of the trees concerned deliver a wide range of benefits for people, climate and wildlife and the proposal should be reconsidered.
“I’ve had confirmation from the council that these two large old gum trees are to be removed by the shire at the Camp Reserve as part of their Camp Reserve draft master plan,” one of those concerned, Mount Alexander Wildlife Network’s Nikki Sutterby said.
“These large old native trees currently have at least three large birds nests in them plus the potential for many more hollow nests for native birds.
“I’m asking whether a proper environmental assessment has been done because all sorts of native species like bats and possums live in trees like this, not to mention the fact they’re the only old growth gums I can see in the reserve. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail (Friday, August 30, 2019)
‘Too good to go’: residents oppose tree removal plan
CSC works underway
Works have commenced on the final stages of the Castlemaine Secondary College redevelopment. Did you catch the story on the planned works in last Friday’s Mail?
We will also have an update in Tuesday’s Midland Express.
Demolition works have commenced on the old buildings and residents are urged to avoid the site over the next two weekends, August 24-25 and August 31-Sept 1, as asbestos removal works are carried out.
Plans afloat for shipwrecked spring ball
This year’s a big one for the annual Castlemaine Community House Spring Ball.
Set for Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal on Saturday October 12 the annual over-18s fixture heralds the stirrings of spring and this time it’s celebrating its quarter century.
Organisers have floated a potential-packed theme for this year’s ball – Shipwrecked. See today’s Mail for the full story.
Broadway coup
Castlemaine has carried off a musical coup as it prepares to host the Australian premiere of Broadway’s Bright Star.
Locally based theatre company Three’s A Crowd is getting set to stage the acclaimed musical with eight shows opening Friday September 20.
But before Bright Star’s Aussie stage debut happens at the Phee Broadway next month local audiences are in for an entree treat with a special fundraising show tomorrow evening serving up a feast of Broadway musical hits. Full story in today’s Mail Friday, August 16, 2019
Magnificent Seven
Now on show at The Taproom, The Magnificent Seven packs a punch.
Featuring seven large-scale works by established Taradale artist Phillip Head, it portrays seven iconic musicians – Jimi Hendricks, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Robert Johnson and Brian Jones, who all died young – at or about 27 – thereby joining the famed “27 Club”.
Since launching at Castlemaine’s Shedshaker Taproom bar earlier this month The Magnificent Seven has been hogging the limelight with a number of the works quickly snapped up. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail.
Solar farm hearing: Local farmers speak up
Baringhup farmers have told a state planning panel the site proposed for the Baringhup solar farm is strategically valuable agricultural land that’s only likely to become more valuable for farming as climate change impacts into the future.
Fourth generation Baringhup farmer Peter Baker was among eight Baringhup locals to present to the panel during a well attended final day of hearings held at the Baringhup Hall this week.
Mr Baker vigorously disputed earlier evidence presented to the panel by an expert witness for the applicant, Res Australia, who had agreed that while the land was quality agricultural land it was not significant or versatile and there was no irrigation available to enhance its importance. Full story in today’s Mail …
Council vote for clean energy deal
Mount Alexander Shire Council has pitched its support squarely behind a significant move toward buying 100 per cent renewable energy as part of a power purchase agreement currently being explored by 39 councils state-wide.
At the council’s meeting in Castlemaine on Tuesday night councillors unanimously voted in favour of committing to buying 100 per cent renewable energy via the proposed Local Government Power Purchase Agreement (LG PPA) that is currently being developed with the 39 participating councils now asked to formally indicate their intention to commit prior to a clean-energy purchasing tender process. Full story in today’s Mail …
Countdown on to doco film fest
Man Booker Prize winning writer Richard Flanagan and celebrated environmental activist Bob Brown will be among special guests at next week’s Castlemaine Documentary Film Festival.
Featuring 12 acclaimed documentary films screened over three days at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal, the niche festival is enjoying a growing profile evident in pre-event ticket sales that are three times as strong as last time, notes the festival’s artistic director, Emmy-Award winning filmmaker Geoffrey Smith.
Now in its fifth year, the festival opens next Friday with a special “green carpet” event celebrating young climate strikers both local and global with the world premiere screening of the documentary Youth Unstoppable in its updated version that includes footage of Castlemaine’s own student climate strikers. Full story in today’s Mail … Friday, July 12, 2019
Recognition award for Uncle Rick
Local aboriginal elder Uncle Rick Nelson has received an aboriginal recognition award, presented at the NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Awards last Friday.
The awards night, ran by the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC), was held in Bendigo . See the Castlemaine Mail for more.
Not so chonky with chainsaw
While many sculptors labour with chisel, rasp or file, Rius Carson prefers to make art using a chainsaw.
Next up the Eppalock artist sands, then paints – often in vibrant hues, creating sculptural pieces influenced by first nation indigenous art movements globe-wide.
He’s even created his own term for his particular genre of work – “chonkism”.
“It’s a term I created about 20 years ago in reference to how I make art,” says Rius who, when not creating art, does professional soil testing for a living. Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail 05.07.19…
Solar farm plan sparks concerns
Residents in the Ravenswood South area are worried a proposal for a new solar farm to be built there may have negative impacts for them.
In recent weeks an application to develop the solar farm, powerlines and substation has been lodged with the Mount Alexander Shire Council.
The application proposal PA158/2019 is now listed on the council’s Greenlight online facility for planning applications. Get the full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail.
Boost for the shed
Flushed with a sense of occasion, a new loo and brand new welding bay were launched at Castlemaine Men’s Shed late last week.
The two useful new additions come about after the local shed successfully applied for a federal Building Stronger Communities grant.
Shed president Brian McCormick said the shed was prompted to lodge the application following a suggestion from the office of federal MP for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters.
“Lisa rang us and said would we like to put an application in.” Full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail …