Agriculture is valued

FIRSTLY, thank you to the people of South Gippsland for their enthusiastic engagement with councils’ draft local Laws feedback process which has now closed.

Having stood on the outside of council as a community member presented with some very un-workable and un-palatable draft proposals during the last local law amendments attempt by council administrators, I do know this has been very confronting to many in the community.

Community engagement is an essential process that ensures the public can voice their opinions and have them heard and considered.

Your submissions, emails and online feedback forms will help guide Council officers and Councillors to deliver a final set of local laws that will consider our Agricultural communities concerns and operational realities yet still be suitable for our wider community and their amenity,

We expect something will likely be ready for the next steps by mid December 2023.

And whilst I’m here I would like to correct the narrative I have seen widely in letters to various papers and on social media about the South Gippsland Councillor Group.

Yes, I was the one who spoke to the item in the October meeting and made a clear statement that it needed a good looking at by the community.

But in the case of my fellow councillors sometimes it’s not what you say but what you don’t say that speaks a volume.

I am pleased to say I am part of an intelligent group of councillors from varied life experiences and career backgrounds which I believe is a fine reflection of the community they represent.

There have also been those who questioned the understanding of Agriculture within the councillor group.

There is more than a majority of Councillors who either were raised on farms of various types or are currently engaged daily in their own cattle studs, beef and sheep production or Silviculture ventures, and the balance are more than aware of the value of agriculture to our region.

Once again, I thank you for your interest and engagement on this subject and look forward to the next steps in this process, and don’t fear if I’m concerned with what is presented, I will again speak up.

Cr. Scott Rae, South Gippsland Shire Council