Protect Our Farms was formed in 2023 after Mitchell Shire Council proposed a significant landscape overlay, which members advocated against, suggesting it would impact more than 400 properties and almost 10 per cent of the land in the region.
The group was recently host to a community meeting to drive membership, expand its reach and refine its key objectives.
Held on Thursday, August 21, the meeting attracted an attendance of about 120 people, with state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall and a number of other local councillors present.
While ‘farms’ is in the group’s title, president Bill Chisholm said it was all of rural and regional Victoria that he and other members were fighting for.
“Currently there is a considerable divide between rural/regional and metropolitan Melbourne on many levels, but especially in thinking,” he said.
“Whether fire prevention, wild dogs, requirements of food production, sustainable environmental outcomes; rural communities feel that they are not being listened to, as most political power rests in metropolitan seats.”
Protect Our Farms has formed four precise focal points to shape its future, including:
- Rural and pro-farmer policies;
- Practical emergency management (for which the group recently drafted a discussion paper for member feedback);
- Environmental and food security; and
- Stopping unfair cost shifting and cutting government red tape.
“Government red tape takes many forms, especially the time taken to bring projects to a conclusion,” Mr Chisholm said.
“This includes the pass-on costs and the many unnecessary hurdles required to be met.
“I think if you talk to the average home builder, you will get a good idea of the numerous problems in this field. But I am capturing only a tiny segment of the problem.
“The distinct lack of the ability of bureaucracy and governments at all levels to listen is a major problem.”
A spokesperson said the Victorian Government would continue to invest in the state’s regional communities.
"We’re focused on what matters most — delivering real help with the cost of living, backing frontline services and staff, and ensuring that every dollar makes a real difference to families in regional Victoria,” the government spokesperson said.
"We know the real difference our frontline services make to regional communities — that’s why we’re investing more in our regional hospitals, schools, road and rail.
“We’re on the side of regional and rural Victorians, and only Labor can be trusted to deliver the services they rely on.”
Mr Chisholm’s experience, having served as a local councillor as well as living locally, informs his advocacy efforts, driving him to push the government for better outcomes for the region.
“The right for rural and regional communities to get a fair deal, especially on infrastructure spending (motivates Protect Our Farms),” he said.
“Personally I drive on country roads and am horrified at the lack of maintenance.
“One of my other big concerns is, I have been a CFA member for over 50 years. Victoria is currently in a far worse space regarding major fire events than prior to Black Saturday. We are just not learning.
“There is definitely large support out there, as our growing membership base can testify. I hope we can make a real difference in bridging the divide between urban and rural, and achieve a better breakdown in infrastructure spending.”
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