Protect Our Farms was formed initially to contest the shire’s plans to introduce landscape overlays which the group believed would place heavy burdens on rural property owners.
The group convinced the shire to make changes to the overlay, and since the election of a new council, no further action has been taken.
Protect Our Farms is now broadening its focus to embrace rural issues in municipalities in north-central Victoria, including Bendigo, Strathbogie and Mitchell.
President Bill Chisholm said the group’s past efforts to build awareness and unite landholders had laid a strong foundation for protecting farms and rural livelihoods into the future.
“Protect Our Farms has proven there is real strength when rural people come together with one voice,” Mr Chisholm said.
“We started by pushing back against planning rules that threatened farming, and now we’re broadening our focus to tackle the bigger issues that keep putting pressure on our farms, families, and rural towns such as the new Emergency Services Tax.”
Protect Our Farms will now focus on rural and pro-farmer policies including practical emergency management, environment and food security and stopping unfair cost shifting and government red tape.
The group is inviting farmers, local businesses and rural residents to attend a community meeting at 7pm on Thursday, August 21 at Pyalong Recreation Hall to have their say on local priorities and help shape practical action plans and strategies.
“We want to make sure decision-makers at all levels of government hear from the people who know rural life best,” group member Phil Searle said.
“Protect Our Farms already has more than 100 members and continues to grow as more people stand up for the future of local farms and rural communities.
“This meeting is a chance for the community to tell us what matters most — and for us to turn that into strong, clear advocacy that gets results”
Protect Our Farms is a non-partisan, grassroots group that works with all sides of politics and treats everyone with respect.
“We know that when farmers and rural communities speak together, we get heard,” group member Therese Ryan said.
“We encourage everyone who cares about the future of our farms and country towns to come along, share ideas, and get involved.”
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