Castlemaine Secondary College is one step closer to having state-of-the-art facilities completed at the school with the appointment of Y2 Architects to design the $11.75 million final stage of the school redevelopment.
Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards visited the school today to announce the appointment and discuss the project with staff and students. Read the full story in the Castlemaine Mail.
Architects announced at CSC
Bandido brothers give back
About 80 members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club gathered at the Cumberland Hotel in Castlemaine last Saturday for lunch to support the Parma for a Farmer campaign. See the full story in the Castlemaine Mail.
Another one bites the dust
In what seems to be becoming a regular occurrence another local building has been crashed into and a historic verandah post taken out. Leading senior constable Wayne Cairnes of Castlemaine Police said an accident occurred at 11am on Sunday at the Guildford Hotel. For details see tomorrow’s Castlemaine Mail.
Climate group leads letter campaign
A local climate change action group has launched a public letter writing campaign opposing new coal projects, and is urging everyone to join in.
The Central Victoria Climate Action Group held the first in a series of group letter writing sessions in Castlemaine on August 17 in the hope of stopping any new coal mines being developed in Australia – and particularly at stopping the so-called Adani mega mine in Queensland.
“We want to send a large number of letters to Lisa Chester’s to remind her that Labor does support action on climate change and both she and her boss Bill have to get off the fence and stop the Adani mine,” group spokesman Trevor Scott said. For the full story see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
Magpie juniors celebrated
Castlemaine Football Netball Club’s juniors contingent celebrated another successful season with their season break-up and vote count held at the CFNC clubrooms on Sunday, August 19. The CFNC Juniors wish to thank the players, parents, volunteers, officials and sponsors for making 2018 such a successful year and look forward to another great season in 2019. For all the award winners see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
Blade dominates in Queensland Championships
Local full bore target rifle shooter Blade Lacey devastated the opposition at the recent Queensland Shooting Championships held at the Duncan Range at Belmont, an outer suburb of Brisbane.
Competing in B Grade, Blade took all before him over eight days of what could be described as the marathon of target shooting. For the full story see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
100 goals!
Maldon’s Jamie Cox brought up the remarkable feat of a century of goals in a season in the final round of Maryborough Castlemaine Football Netball action on August 18.
Cox started the day needing just four goals for the milestone in the Maldon Reserves, following five double figure hauls in the first 15 rounds of the season. After getting on the board with two early goals, Cox gave the crowd what they were waiting for early in the second term, converting a free kick to raise the century. See last Friday’s Mail for the full story.
60 years for Legacy
With 60 good years to celebrate it was time for cake and congratulations for Castlemaine’s Legacy Group on August 17.
The group celebrated its 60th anniversary at the town’s RSL club rooms with a staunch turnout of members and friends. For the full story see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
Pick My Project
Castlemaine Library is one of the local entrants in the Pick My Project initiative. The library’s project idea is a simple one; it aims to fix the floor of the beautiful, historic building, install new carpet, and provide new, movable shelving and ‘way-finding’ signage for the entire library.
Castlemaine Library manager, Jess Saunders, says that the movable shelving would be of huge benefit to the way the spaces are used, enhancing flexibility and usability. For the full story see last Friday’s Castlemaine Mail.
In the local region 29 projects have been put forward by schools and community groups. We aim to feature some of those projects in the Mail over the coming weeks.
For more information on all the local projects and to vote visit pickmyproject.vic.gov.au, facebook.com/pickmyproject, or call 1800 797 818.
Got rhythm, can sing
While the world may have lost the Queen of Soul, the joy of singing gospel, jazz and blues is alive and raising the roof at Maldon’s Neighbourhood Centre.
Castlemaine’s Angela Mitten has already led two of her fortnightly gospel, jazz and blues singing sessions and there’s still two to go – one of them this Sunday.
For Angela, a longtime music teacher and local choir leader, the idea to try a few a capella sessions dedicated to the gospel, blues and jazz genres is a means to test the local waters. Full story in today’s Mail
Chewton project draws debate
Controversial new housing in Chewton’s Main Road can go ahead after winning the green light from local councillors at this week’s Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting.
Three new houses – designed to be modest, sustainable, environmentally friendly and affordable – are proposed for separate allotments at 174-182 Main Road, Chewton.
But the proposals all received objections with one of the houses proposed for crown allotment 185 at 180 Main Road attracting 52 objections – only one of which was later withdrawn.
At Tuesday night’s packed council meeting multiple Chewton residents stood up and addressed the meeting to oppose the developments, while intending residents of the new homes and other proponents also addressed the meeting to speak in favour. Get the full story in today’s Castlemaine Mail.
Surplus water must go to farmers ASAP
Surplus environmental water must be put on the market as soon as possible to help northern Victorian farmers struggling through dry conditions. We welcome advice from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) that it will be considering selling 10GL from the Goulburn regulated allocation.
If there’s surplus water in the system, the CEWH and the VEWH must work together to get it on to the market and delivered as soon as possible.
If it goes on the market in the next few weeks, our farmers still have the chance to get decent yields out of fodder production and potentially save their livestock.
Farmers in parts of northern Victoria are already facing that heart-breaking decision right now of selling off their entire herds, so it is vital to get any surplus water on the market as soon as possible before irreversible decisions are made.
I also call for a review of the thousands of megalitres of environmental water that is currently flooding the Gunbower forest.
I’ve urged Minister Neville to ask the VEWH and CEWH to re-examine the Gunbower environmental watering plan, which is due to continue throughout spring despite the dry conditions.
Environmental flows are supposed to mimic natural conditions but tipping thousands of megalitres into Gunbower forest while the rest of the surrounding countryside is so dry is doing the exact opposite.
We must question whether this is the most effective use of water when it could be used to grow fodder to support livestock farmers doing it tough.
Recent Federal Government changes have made it easier for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to trade water in a win-win for farmers and the environment where the revenue raised is put towards beneficial environmental works.
Steph Ryan, Shadow Minister for Water.
