The Local

10-12-2024

This is one of my fav Clunes walks. It’s a slight adaptation of a loop walk that appears in a newly released brochure detailing several choice walks and saunters in and around the Clunes township. More on that later.

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World-first robotic hand to help cultivate baby corals for reef restoration

27-11-2024

A world-first soft robotic ‘hand’, developed by researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, could revolutionise the delicate, labour-intensive process of cultivating baby corals in laboratories, offering a groundbreaking approach to coral restoration efforts.

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Council scoops $92,949 circular economy grant

24-11-2024

The Hepburn Shire Council has received a $92,949 Circular Economy Organics Council Fund grant from the state government.

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Fossil sawfly discovery 16 million years in the making

02-11-2024

A team of Australian researchers has described a new species of now-extinct sawfly from an extremely well-preserved fossil found in central NSW.

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Glen, about the house

28-10-2024

Healthy trees growing in their native habitat rarely suffer seriously from insect attack. The trees’ in-built defences and the insects’ natural enemies provide a balance.

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Big Aussie bird count happening now

16-10-2024

The Big Aussie Bird Count is happening again and there's still time to be involved in the nation-wide citizen science event which helps gain a birds' eye view on how our feathered friends are faring.

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Pests, partnerships and people power at the biodiversity seminar

03-09-2024

There is still time to grab a ticket to the Wimmera Biodiversity seminar that is back for its 27th edition with the theme 'Pests, Partnerships and People Power'.

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Hepburn Shire hands out $80,111 in grants for landcare, biodiversity

21-08-2024

The township of Trentham hosted a celebration late last week for recipients of grants aimed at improving biodiversity and environmental health throughout the Hepburn Shire.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

18-08-2024

It’s curious how long you can live with an iconic slab of national mythology sitting on your doorstop and never actually go check it out.

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Super cute additions at local wildlife park

31-07-2024

Keepers at the Ballarat Wildlife Park say they're delighted to welcome eight koala joeys this season.

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Get buzzy: world bee day happens tomorrow

19-05-2024

Tomorrow, May 20, marks the seventh annual World Bee Day, and this year’s focus is on the vital role bees play in global food production.

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Applications open for Ballarat’s nature stewards program

23-02-2024

Applications are now open for the City of Ballarat’s third Nature Stewards program, where community members can discover new exciting ways to learn and care for nature.

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Walks of the Central Highlands

17-02-2024

If there’s just one walk to take visitors on while in the Creswick area, this would have to be it.

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Keep encounters with flying-foxes fleeting this summer

08-01-2024

With Grey-headed Flying-foxes travelling great distances to find food, Victorians may be encountering these vulnerable visitors in backyards and public places, prompting some warnings from DEECA.

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‘Become a nature steward’: council invites locals

05-01-2024

The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting local residents to participate in an upcoming Nature Stewards course.

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Win for conservation in the Wombat Forest

22-12-2023

Late last month the Victorian Supreme Court granted an injunction to stop VicForests timber harvesting operations in a coupe known as ‘Silver Queen’ in the Wombat State Forest. This replaces the interim injunction that has been in place since September.

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Walks of the Central Highlands…

10-12-2023

Today we’re tackling a short sharp little gem of a walk known as The Cork Oaks Track.

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Wildlife camera monitoring field day

22-11-2023

Keen local field naturalists, citizen scientists and anyoneone who appreciates getting out in the forest is being invited to join an upcoming wildlife monitoring event being hosted by the Victorian National Parks Association.

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The Local Podcast July 17, 2023

16-07-2023

The Local crew talk about what to expect in the upcoming edition of The Local

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Help save the critically endangered Plains-wanderer

21-05-2023

Volunteers are needed for the Plains-wanderer song meter program and while Hepburn Shire locals do not live in its habitat they're being invited to get involved to help save the critically endangered species.

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Foraging free: where the wild food is found

12-05-2023

Fancy a wild pine mushroom risotto? A crisp dandelion and wild brassica salad? Or an elderberry cocktail perhaps?

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Glen, about the house…

18-04-2023

From the time Peta and I took over the drought-ridden property that became our home, we were determined to “practise what I preached” in all my writings and broadcasts - throw away those chemicals and let nature take its course.

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Landcare And Junior Landcare grants up for grabs

06-04-2023

A total of $4.4 million in grants is on offer to help volunteers and the next generation of Victorians in caring for the state’s precious environment and biodiversity.

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Magical birds, joyful singing & art exhibits

31-03-2023

DAYLESFORD artist and musician Vanessa Craven has just published a children’s colour picture song book, Birds in My Tree: The Magic of Birds and the Joy of Singing.

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‘Citizen scientists’ sought as hunt for shark egg cases launches in Australia

28-03-2023

Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, is calling on citizen scientists to find and record egg cases washing up on Australian coasts so researchers can better understand egg-laying sharks, skates and chimaeras.

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Glen, about the house…

05-03-2023

One of the joys of having a fully organic, chemical-free garden is the amazing number of wildlife, both avian and and microscopic.

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Stronger El Niño could cause irreversible melting of Antarctica

26-02-2023

New research led by scientists at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has shown that future increases in the strength of El Niño may accelerate the irreversible melting of ice shelves and ice sheets in Antarctica.

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Glen, about the house

08-02-2023

La Niña - there’s that fearsome name again. La Niña is certainly...

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Best astronomy image yet of supernova remnants

27-01-2023

Led by researchers at Macquarie University and Italy’s National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), a portion of our Galaxy has been imaged in detail so great, we may be able to answer long-standing questions about the Milky Way’s stars.

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Plastic munching microbes may help solve our recycling riddles

17-01-2023

Microbial communities already treat the food waste in your compost bin. In the future, could they treat your plastic waste too? A new article released by the CSIRO suggests they may well.

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Farewell La Nina …

14-01-2023

Climate models indicate La Niña is on the way out, with El Niño conditions expected later this year

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Scientists discover shark graveyard at the bottom of the ocean

20-12-2022

Scientists on CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator have made some exciting finds during recent voyages, including collecting a specimen of a new species of shark and discovering a shark graveyard in the deep ocean.

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Census time for Australian pollinators, but they need our help

18-11-2022

It’s census time for Australian pollinators, but they need our help

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Pick me, pick me!

14-11-2022

Hi. I’m Bella and I’m a desexed female tri-colour kelpie-border collie cross.

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The Pollinator Project – Seed Balls

12-08-2022

Seed balls consist of the seed of one species or a variety of different species rolled within a ball of clay. For the Pollinator Project, we have chosen to add a native plant soil and compost mix to the clay providing nutrients and protection for the seed during throwing and sowing!!!

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More trees for Riddells Creek

27-06-2022

Approximately 400 new trees will be planted on nature strips in Riddells Creek in the coming months as part of Council’s annual tree-planting program.

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Wombat Hill lecture

26-05-2022

THE Taylor and Sangster Lecture will be held by the Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Daylesford at Stanbridge Hall, Daylesford on Friday, June 17 at 7.30pm.

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Glen about the house

26-05-2022

Winter proof your precious house plants

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Glen about the house

09-05-2022

There are many garden plants, especially vegetables and fruits, with either an interesting history concerning how they came to be grown in our own backyards or, more importantly, how they found their way into our kitchens.

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Easter musings from St Andrews Creswick

08-05-2022

Easter musings from St Andrews Creswick

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Fun autumn challenge with Parks Victoria

19-04-2022

As the seasons change and autumn brings fresh air and an explosion of warm colour to the Victorian landscape, now is the perfect time to get outdoors and discover new experiences across the state.

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Breakfast with the Birds

31-01-2022

North Central Catchment Management Authority’s Breakfast with the Birds is back for another year.

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Looking back at 2021: June

17-01-2022

In our June 21, 2021 edition we looked at the storm damage from the June 8/9 storm that wreaked devastation across the region. Images courtesy of Daylesford Spa Country Railway and Sandy Scheltema.

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One million fish bound for Lake Eppalock

31-12-2021

Recreational anglers will soon have one million chances to reel in a fish at Lake Eppalock with a record stocking for the waterway in the coming months.

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Recreational fishing tourism strategy

30-12-2021

The State Government has released its Victorian Recreational Fishing Tourism Strategy showcasing the diverse, year-round fishing opportunities on offer across the state.

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state-of-the-art mushroom farm

29-12-2021

The State Government is putting the safety of workers first, with new support for automated technology at a state-of-the-art mushroom farm at the Parwan Employment Precinct.

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Victorian Landcare awards

28-12-2021

Victoria’s dedicated Landcare and environmental volunteering champions were celebrated at the 2021 Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony for their outstanding work in caring for the state’s environment and biodiversity.

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Responding locally to climate change

17-12-2021

The Victorian Government is empowering the Macedon electorate to prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change following the development of a new community-led adaptation strategy.

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Being prepared the key to summer safety

09-12-2021

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Launch of the Grampians Community Power Hub

26-11-2021

The Grampians Community Power Hub, led by BREAZE Inc, was officially launched on Friday bringing together community members, those working on the hub and the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio.

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Six-month anniversary for storm recovery

01-12-2021

Macedon Ranges Shire Council invites residents to join Dr Rob Gordon for a lunchtime webinar reflecting on the six months since the 9 June storm, and the reactions that people may still be experiencing.

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Six-month anniversary storm recovery session

28-11-2021

Macedon Ranges Shire Council invites residents to join Dr Rob Gordon for a lunchtime webinar reflecting on the six months since the 9 June storm, and the reactions that people may still be experiencing.

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Recycle soft plastics at your local transfer station

23-11-2021

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is conducting a six month soft plastics recycling trial with local recycling company, Victorian Regional Recyclers.

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Help shape the future of biosecurity in Victoria

22-11-2021

Victorians are being called on to take the lead in strengthening their state’s biosecurity system by nominating to join Victoria’s Biosecurity Reference Group.

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AWARD WINNING WORK IN VICTORIAN BIOSECURITY

21-11-2021

Agriculture Victoria has been recognised at the 2021 Australian Biosecurity Awards for its outstanding work in biosecurity.

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FREE GREEN WASTE DISPOSAL

15-11-2021

Residents can dispose of green waste for free at our three transfer stations in Creswick, Trentham and Daylesford throughout November

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Stories of the Storm

14-11-2021

SANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series showcases stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.

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Power lines jeopardise World Heritage bid

13-11-2021

Power lines jeopardise World Heritage bid

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Flowers of joy

08-11-2021

THE shopfronts of Daylesford and surrounds will come alive later this month with 120 beautiful floral installations designed to celebrate spring and move towards a better future.

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footage from June 2021 storm-affected properties

03-11-2021

Over the past few months, Bushfire Recovery Victoria has been capturing video footage from June 2021 storm-affected properties which have registered with BRV’s clean-up program. They include Central Highland local Paul Ulrik.

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Hey honey!

KYNETON resident, and founder and CEO of Sweet Justice, Claire Moore, has received the inaugural Rotary Melbourne Environmental Sustainability Award in recognition of her work to support and protect the honey bee population.

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Water future

WORK is under way on the next Central Highlands Water Urban Water Strategy.

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GDTA guidebook for walks and bike rides

MOST people heading out into the bush for a walk or a mountain bike ride don’t have all day, so the Great Dividing Trail Association has produced a new guidebook, consisting of walks and bike rides within the Daylesford region, all short enough to complete in four hours.

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Business recovery support for agriculture industry

The Victorian Government is fast-tracking the road to recovery for agriculture and food supply chain businesses in rural and regional Victoria.

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Creswick trails update

The planning work is continuing on the Creswick Trails Network, a project which will see delivery of 60km of mountain bike paths and a trailhead at Creswick, with council expecting to begin works next year.

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Proposed renaming of Jim Crow Creek

Hepburn Shire Council is working with project partners, Mount Alexander Shire Council, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation trading as DJAARA, on the proposed renaming of Jim Crow Creek to Larni Barramal Yaluk.

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Stories of the Storm

SANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series aims to showcase stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.

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BlazeAid: Ready to help but hit by red tape

WHEN the Black Saturday Fires ripped through Kevin and Rhonda Butler’s farm at East Kilmore in 2009, their immediate concern was the safety of their sheep.

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European wasps on the wane, or are they?

29-03-2021

ONE of the more pleasant things about autumn, once the crowds have evaporated after ChillOut, is taking advantage of the remaining few weeks of daylight saving to head into town in the cool of the evening for a wander.

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Around the house with Glen

18-01-2021

Making the most of a fruit harvest If you are among the lucky ones with a good home crop or access to lots of stone fruit this season, there are more ways than making jam to preserve them for long-term use.

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Ray Spencer – Creswick’s own forestry pioneer

23-11-2020

DR RAY Spencer has worn many hats over the years. A Creswick local, he travelled the world as a forestry and urban planning professional with his young family and later as an internationally renowned forest industry expert.

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Snakes on the move

28-09-2020

AS THE days become warmer, snakes are starting to emerge from their winter hibernation to bask in the sun and search for food and a mate. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Senior Wildlife Management officer Belinda Cant said sunny weather also meant it was more likely people would encounter a snake.

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