Attentive audience at South Gippsland Council meeting

RECENT consternation about aspects of South Gippsland Shire Council’s draft Local Law 2024 document and proposed changes it contains, resulted in a substantial increase in public interest at Wednesday’s council meeting compared to any other such meetings this scribe has attended.

People chose to still come to the meeting when it became apparent the Local Law matter wasn’t on this month’s agenda, with the public consultation period now closed but feedback still being processed.

Just over 360 submissions were received, demonstrating the tremendous interest the proposed local laws have generated.

Councillors at the November meeting expressed delight at the full public gallery and the respectful manner in which attendees conducted themselves.

People mostly listened intently through the more than an hour and a half session.

“There’s been lots of conversation about the local laws but I don’t want your engagement to stop there,” Cr Clare Williams told those who came to check out the council proceedings, encouraging them to have their say on other matters.

Cr Mick Felton thanked everyone present in the gallery for turning up.

He encouraged people to work with him and the other councillors.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Cr Felton said, adding that his mobile number and email address are readily available.

Some community members have expressed concerns they weren’t made aware in a timely fashion of the opportunity to provide feedback on proposed local laws and have suggested notifying all ratepayers by letter of such important information.

Cr Felton addressed that suggestion at the council meeting, detailing the prohibitive cost of doing so and the waste of ratepayers’ funds that would entail.

He advised people to register for council’s electronic ‘In the Know’ newsletter.

“It’s up to you to be involved,” Cr Felton stressed.

With much of the recent angst in relation to proposed local laws focused on potential negative impacts for those in the South Gippsland Shire’s agricultural sector, Cr John Schelling spoke of the importance of that industry to the area.

He said councillors recognise what farmers bring to the region.

“We need to ensure we keep looking after them,” Cr Schelling declared, a sound of acknowledgement audible from the gallery in response.