Macedon Ranges Council to commence $3 million worth of works at Hanging Rock

Macedon Ranges Council is to start $3 million worth of works at Hanging Rock with a priority on building picnic shelters in the council-owned East Paddock.

The Macedon Ranges Leader reported that the works were confirmed after concern was raised that $2 million in Regional Development Australia (RDA) funding could be lost if not completed by January 2017.

The Council is a confirmed ongoing partner in a committee of management of the reserve following a Victorian Government review and that committee will work on a masterplan of the precinct.

The new masterplan will also be developed with the consideration of a recently ratified Environmental Management Plan.

Mayor Graham Hackett explained “we look forward to working with interested groups and the community to ensure we can build on this success and ensure the Hanging Rock precinct has a vibrant and sustainable future.”

The Council is also set to review the role name and membership of the Hanging Rock Development Advisory Committee (HRDAC) on the recommendation of Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville.

Hanging Rock has proved a controversial topic in the Macedon Ranges after a Council report floated the possibility of attracting private investment that may have taken the form of a major tourism facility in 2013.

Entertainment promoter Frontier Touring has run several concerts at the East Paddock site, with the Cold Chisel concert in November last year estimated to have provided $4 million in wider economic benefit to the region.

November also saw Frontier Touring becoming the first-ever Australian company to earn the title of Top Independent Promoter (International) at the Billboard Touring Awards.

Frontier Touring Managing Director Michael Gudinski describing the win as "such an honour to be recognised as the leading independent international promoter by Billboard”, adding “even more significantly, we are the first-ever Australasian promoter to receive this award."

Gudinski went on to acknowledge "Frontier is fiercely independent and we pride ourselves on our ability to hold our own in an increasingly globalised business. In the past year, we have toured some of the greatest talent in music today, and I'm so proud of how our Frontier family has continued to set the bar higher and higher for concert promoting in Australia and New Zealand."

10th August 2015 - FRONTIER TOURING NAMED THE NUMBER ONE CONCERT PROMOTER IN THE WORLD

20th May 2014 - DEAL AGREED TO PREVENT HANGING ROCK DEVELOPMENT

11th August 2013 - LEISURE BENEFITS FROM FEDERAL ELECTION FUNDING COMMITMENTS