Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages Initiative
Local people. Local ideas. Local action.
✔️ 8 towns involved
✔️ 4 Activation Plans delivered
✔️ 3 Plans in progress
✔️ 1 to be funded
✔️ Local Town Teams forming
✔️ Projects happening on the ground
What makes a village thrive?
Great shops and cafés? Welcoming streets and public spaces? Events and experiences? A strong sense of community?
Absolutely. But behind all of these are people who care about their town and are prepared to have a go.
The Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages Initiative brings residents, businesses, community groups and local doers together to identify opportunities, turn good ideas into action and make our town centres even better places to live, work, visit and belong.
And everyone can play a part.
Click the button below and tell us which town you are in and we’ll connect you with your local Town Team.
How did the Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages Initiative begin?
It started with a simple idea:
What could happen if we brought passionate people from across the Macedon Ranges together and asked them to imagine an even better future for our towns and villages?
In March 2024, Tourism Macedon Ranges Inc brought together around 60 local doers, business and community representatives from across the region for the first Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages workshop.
Facilitated by placemaking specialists Village Well, the workshop explored what makes our towns and villages special, the opportunities we share and what we could do together to make our town centres more vibrant, welcoming and successful.
From that workshop came the Macedon Ranges Regional Vision and Roadmap.
But the Regional Vision was only the beginning.
The next challenge was to take those big regional ideas back into individual towns – and turn ideas into action.
From a Regional Vision to local action
Every village is different.
What works in Romsey may not be right for Malmsbury. What matters to Riddells Creek may be different from what matters to Kyneton or Gisborne.
That's why the Thriving Villages initiative is locally led.
Each participating town brings together residents, businesses, community groups and local doers for a high-energy Town Centre Activation Plan workshop.
Together they explore:
What do we love about our town?
What could make it even better?
What opportunities are we missing?
What could we change or activate?
What are the ideas we could actually make happen?
Those ideas are brought together into a Town Centre Activation Plan – a practical roadmap of opportunities and projects that the community can progressively tackle.
Then comes the most important part. We start doing.
How the Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages Initiative works
1.Bring people together
A diverse group of local residents, businesses, community organisations and doers share ideas and opportunities.
2. Create the plan
The workshop ideas are developed into a Town Centre Activation Plan – providing a shared direction and practical ideas for action.
3. Find the doers
People interested in particular ideas come together around projects they care about.
4. Start with achievable projects
Rather than waiting for everything to be perfect, teams look for opportunities to get started and build some early wins.
5. Build momentum
One project leads to another. More people become involved. New partnerships form and bigger opportunities become possible.
6. Keep going
The Action Plan isn't a document that sits on a shelf. It becomes a living list of opportunities that the community can continue to revisit, prioritise and deliver.
Think big. Start small. Get moving.
From ideas to action
Thriving Villages isn't just about creating plans. It's about making things happen.
Across the Macedon Ranges, local teams are already turning ideas into visible projects and every plan reflects the ideas, personality and opportunities of its own community.
And these projects demonstrate something important: You don't always need to wait for someone else to improve your town.
Sometimes a small group of passionate people, a good idea and a willingness to have a go is enough to get something started.
The journey so far
What began as a regional workshop in 2024 is now growing into a network of locally led projects across the Macedon Ranges.
Every plan reflects the ideas, personality and opportunities of its own community.
Have your say - Gisborne
What would make Gisborne's town centre even better?
The Gisborne Town Centre Activation Plan project is now underway – and we want to hear from the people who know Gisborne best.
You.
What do you love? What could be better? What is missing? What is the one idea you would love to see happen?
Your ideas will help inform the Gisborne Town Centre Activation Plan and the opportunities explored by the local team.
Have your say - Kyneton
What's your big idea for Kyneton?
Kyneton already has plenty of character. The question is – what could make it even better?
Residents, businesses and community members are invited to contribute ideas to the Kyneton Town Centre Activation Plan.
Big ideas. Small ideas. Fun ideas. Practical ideas.
You don’t need a title. You don’t need to join a committee. You just need an idea.
The Thriving Villages Initiative is about bringing together people who want make a positive difference in their town (and have fun doing it!)
You might be a business owner, student, retiree, artist, tradie, parent, community helper or simply someone who loves where they live.
You can:
Contribute an idea.
Join a project.
Offer a skill.
Help for an hour.
Lead something.
Or simply connect with other people who care about your town.
There is room for everyone who wants to help.
Ready to get involved? Connect with your local Town Team and find out what's happening in your town or village.
The Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages Initiative has been made possible by the support of the following partners:
The Macedon Ranges Thriving Villages project is an initiative of Tourism Macedon Ranges Inc.