Sunbury & Macedon Ranges

Glenn Fisher The future of the former Victoria University Sunbury campus at Jacksons Hill is in the hands of the state’s planning minister after a last-ditch submission by Hume council to add more planning controls over the site. Lat week, council voted unanimously to send a letter as its submission on Draft Amendment C283hume, which will rezone the 13-hectare piece of land from public use to mixed use and pave the way for it to be sold off for housing.

By Tara Murray New Rupertswood coach Kevin Barker refound his love of cricket when he returned to the Gisborne and District Cricket Association club. Having started his career at Rupo, Barker played at a number of different clubs including Victorian Premier Cricket. He returned to the club where it all started in 2023 and has become a key part of the club and what it is aiming to achieve.

Glenn Fisher The push to build a walking trail along the Melbourne-Bendigo railway line connecting Sunbury’s Blind Creek Reserve with Skyline Reserve is still bubbling along. Despite the Sunbury Family History and Heritage Society being unsuccessful in its bid to include the Sunbury Viaduct Trail in Hume Council’s 2026-27 budget, council decided at its 13 July meeting to push ahead with initial assessments for the project.

Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group is hosting a screening of the multi-award winning documentary film ‘The Story of Plastic’ in recognition of Plastic Free July. Following the screening, a panel of industry and community representatives will discuss local actions and solutions to plastic pollution. Guests are then invited to enjoy a light, plastic-free afternoon tea.

Starting this Sunday, tap and go technology will be rolled out on over 2,500 buses across the state. The rollout will happen in stages, with routes in Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour, Geelong, Traralgon, Warragul, Berwick, Cranbourne and the Yarra Valley switching on from this Sunday 19 July. By 26 July, the entire bus network across Melbourne will have the tap and go capability.

The Sunbury Lions have locked in Matt White as its coach for next year’s Ballarat Football League season. The Lions announced on social media that White would continue on next season as coach. “In his third season as head coach, Whitey has worked tirelessly since his arrival to return our great club to the top end, taking our seniors to their first grand final appearance in nearly 10 years in only his second year in charge,” he said.

Sunbury Road motorists are being urged to add their voices to a campaign advocating for the road’s duplication. Hume council has issued a call for residents to join its advocacy campaign, noting Sunbury Road needs to be duplicated between Bulla-Diggers Rest Road and Melbourne Airport, to improve safety, reduce congestion and future‑proof the key regional route. “Sunbury Road is at breaking point – congestion and safety issues keep piling up,” council said.

Glenn Fisher Having your short film selected as one of only 15 to be showcased in Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s annual Top Screen program is one thing. But ending up as the winner of the 2026 People’s Choice Award and scoring a ticket to next month’s Melbourne International Film Festival is next level.

Macedon Ranges artist Daniel Butterworth has been a finalist in all the major portrait and figurative prizes, his observations and emotions seemingly bursting from the canvas through his brush work and subject matter. Landscape by the Painter is a new exhibition of Butterworth’s observations of the landscape around all Australian states, and the series is now on display in Campaspe Mill Gallery’s inaugural exhibition in Kyneton.

Just weeks after being inducted into the Bowls Australia hall of fame last month, Club Sunbury’s Carla Krizanic will be inducted World Bowls hall of fame. Krizanic will join an elite list of international icons recognised for their outstanding achievements and lasting contribution to the sport, further strengthening Australia’s presence in the global honour roll.