I AM dismayed to learn that South Gippsland Shire Council will no longer discount rates for Trust for Nature covenant holders. This is short-sighted. 

Landholders who place a covenant on their land are making a long-term commitment to contribute to biodiversity values which safeguard our quality of life, regional landscapes and tourism, water and air quality, soil and productivity, greenhouse gas sequestration, pest control and recreational values. 

Covenanted properties protect significant areas of unique vegetation on private land, augmenting public conservation parks and enabling viable populations of flora and fauna. Without these habitat areas, many of the birds, animals and plants that enhance our parks, roadsides, shelter belts, and even urban gardens will disappear.

I ask the Council to reverse their decision. Please do not axe the conservation Covenant rates rebate.

Landholders who manage and maintain covenanted habitat are providing ecosystem services that benefit us all. Rate rebates are a small incentive to lessen the costs they incur. South Gippsland Shire council should support this stewardship to protect our land. 

Kate Walsh, Koonwarra