JANUARY 20, 2015 \ MACEDONRANGES.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Bees need a little leg-up
(Shawn Smits)
Beekeeper Jim Sansom is rapt with the health of his favourite little workers, even though things aren’t quite as healthy on a global scale. The Newham apiarist says last autumn was particularly difficult for local beekeepers, but the climate since then has been more bee-friendly. Mr Sansom, a retired geography teacher who caught his first swarm as a boy in 1954, has been a partner in Edgecombe-based Blackhill Apiaries for almost two decades. He says the small-scale honey operation is poised for a bumper year. ‘‘It’s purely climatic. Last autumn was particularly bad, but the past spring was really good.’’ Blackhill produces about a tonne and a half of honey each year, most of it being sold at local farmers markets. Mr Sansom says bees worldwide are in dramatic decline, spelling disaster for agriculture and food supplies. ‘‘Pollination is the main issue. The claim is made that 60 per cent of stuff on supermarket shelves depends on pollination.’’ He says people should consider building a backyard hive. Groups like the recently formed Woodend Bee Friendly Society are there to help. ‘‘Poor old bees are up against so much with disease, loss of habitat and pesticides,’’ Mr Sansom says. JIM SANSOM
Matt Crossman
Real estate trends up By Matt Crossman Real estate investors are flocking to regional areas, with interest in Kyneton particularly strong. New data released by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria reveals Kyneton was among the state’s top six areas for rental growth in the year to September 30. The rental yield figure for three-bedroom homes in Kyneton – the proportion of rental income derived from the value of the property – was 4.4 per cent, up 2.9 per cent.
Wendouree, Mildura, Echuca, Alfredton and Corio also made the list. REIV chief executive Enzo Raimondo said regional centres already had very few vacancies and the rental market was tightening even further. ‘‘While a further fall in the vacancy rate is unwelcome news for those looking for a place to live, for investors it means continuity of tenancy and the likelihood of a pool of would-be tenants from which to choose,’’ he said. Kyneton’s Connallys Real Estate principal
Mark Watson said the rental market was definitely growing. ‘‘At this time of year, vacancies can be up a bit because there are always people changing jobs and moving,’’ Mr Watson said. ‘‘But normally, demand for rental properties is much greater than supply.’’ PRD Nationwide Kyneton branch manager Helen Jens said the agency had just three properties available for rent last week. ‘‘Interest in this town is certainly growing,’’ Ms Jens said. While acknowledging it was a touchy subject,
she said more development might be needed soon. ‘‘There are some plans for future subdivisions, but we’re a bit short of land at the moment.’’ Kyneton rentals range from about $200 to $600 a week, but most fall within the $330-$350 bracket. Mr Watson said the house sales market was also reasonably solid. The median house price in the Macedon Ranges increased 10.1 per cent in the past year to $545,000, with the largest growth being in Woodend (up 21 per cent) and Kyneton (8.5 per cent).