Your vision: Roads, rubbish, rates or climate change?

NEW South Gippsland Shire Councillor Scott Rae, a farmer from Foster North, is determined the shire doesn’t just hear from the usual suspects when developing its all-important ‘Community Vision 2040.

In fact, the lack of engagement with the agricultural community is what drove his decision to attend last Friday’s store cattle sale in Leongatha, to promote a Community Vision survey, and why he ran for council.

Cr Rae said it was the agricultural community which contributed the lion’s share of rates and, directly or indirectly, employed the most people in the area.

“They need to be encouraged to engage with this, to tell us what they think,” he said at the store sale, in the midst of handing out survey cards to approaching farmers.

“A lot of people here would have no idea what the survey is about, and a survey is only as good as the information you collate.”

Cr Rae followed up the visit with a letter to the farming community (see this week’s letters).

“I understand you have fences to fix, sheep to shear, calves to mark, cows to milk, cows to AI, paddocks to cut, rake and bale, weeds to spray and a full schedule visiting and celebrating with family now we can freely gather again.

“But seriously, I now need you to urgently step up and devote some time to our future direction as a community.”

He was talking about the South Gippsland Shire’s ‘Community Vision 2040’ which will set the foundation for the Council Plan 2022-2025 and will ensure actions undertaken by Council are guided by community aspirations now and into the future.

So, if you think local action on climate change is more important than achieving a promised program of road maintenance and construction you need to tell the council.

If you think sporting facilities, land for housing and dogs on leashes is the priority, you have to say so.

If you think the shire has taken on too much, that they need to downsize and cut rates, or at least be fully transparent about what they are doing; now’s your chance.

AS well as getting out to meet the community at markets and town-centre pop-ups, and establishing a community reference group, the shire is asking for your feedback online at: https://yoursay.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/vision

Once the Community Vision is accepted, the council will move on to developing its ‘Council Plan 2022-2025’, the document that pretty much guides everything the new council wants to achieve.