The Beagle Editor
The Eurobodalla has been dealing with the area's Rural Lands Strategy for some time; certainly ever since Councillor Innes got elected in 2012. Many Rural Lands owners and dwellers had expectations to do things legally on their lands encouraged by words of some of the councillors over the last six plus years. Council submitted it's "finalised" list of recommendations based on "public consultation" to the State government's Department of Planning supported by councillors. These recommendations seem to have supported the expectations of some of the Shires Rural Land owners and occupiers and got up the noses of others It has now been several months and nothing has been heard since of the submission. Has the "final" "done and dusted" Eurobodalla Rural Lands Strategy been given a reasonable hearing and consideration by the Government yet. Why is it taking so long to approve? Why are there ongoing public meetings protesting the RLS and why do we see Shadow Ministers down here holding public meetings about the RLS and listening to the community concerns about the RLS. It appears that is is a long way from being a "done deal". Perhaps its time our Mayor and Councillors gave a public explanation in detail about what’s occurred and why it’s still unresolved and whether the submission containing the Council’s/ Councillor's recommendations are likely to be supported or require amendments. Lots of people are asking the same questions and realising that the RLS isn't signed off by the Minister and coming up to a State election might not be as it could become an election issue as was raised in the interview with the Mayor last week on ABC South East radio. There's a huge groundswell of opposition within the community. Even the local Nature Coast Marine are getting behind it saying "More clearing and grazing threatens the water quality of our rivers, lakes and wetlands - bad for the marine environment. The removal of environmental protections threatens the character of our landscape and the tourist income our area depends on.It's not yet a done deal. It's with the state government now and there's still a chance to stop it. You can learn more and sign a letter to the government at a meeting tomorrow, Sunday 18 November, 2.00pm Captain Oldrey Park, Broulee" Maybe the Mayor and her councillors should go along and have a listen to what is discussed because it appears that the Department of Planning, the OEH, the RFS, the DPI and Marine Parks are very interested.
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