IN THE absence of any effective action by the authorities, the victims of Wonthaggi’s environmental audit overlay disaster have taken action into their own hands.
They have called a public meeting for 2pm Saturday, May 11 at Wishart Reserve, opposite the Bass Coast Shire Council offices at which a resolution will be put and a representative group formed.
Notice of the meeting was posted on the ‘Wonthaggi Residents Affected by the Environmental Audit Overlay’ Facebook page by Wonthaggi property owner, Sam Brotheridge, and endorsed by the group.
“Hi all, our public meeting will be held at 2pm on Saturday May 11,” Mr Brotheridge said, initially setting the venue off Inverloch Road, but at the urging of contributors to the page, the site for the meeting will now be Wishart Reserve, for better access and more parking.
It wasn’t lost on the group that the meeting will be outside the Bass Coast Shire Council offices, providing the ideal backdrop for the media coverage they are hoping to secure.
“The goal of the meeting is to agree every resident and landowner in the whole of the North East Precinct has joined the group and we are one voice.
“If approved at this meeting, we are now all standing together as one group,” Mr Brotheridge suggested.
“We will then vote through a show of hands to elect a local as the face of our group.
“Our group mission statement, to be approved by our group through a show of hands, will be as follows: “Remove the Environmental Overlay of each individual title of land in the North East Precinct at no cost to the title owner in a timely manner.
“Once the group is formed, we will write a letter and it will be sent to the Shire, VPA, Planning Panels, media and the Victorian Planning Minister.”
The members of the group were asked to reply with their support which soon followed.
“Please tell all your neighbours. Please could all think if they have the ability and time to be the nominated spokesperson for our group,” Mr Brotheridge noted.
“If someone knows the media, please inform them of our public meeting. Thank you for your time, let’s work as one group.”
Keep up to date by following the Wonthaggi Residents Affected by the Environmental Audit Overlay Facebook page here
