PROTECT Our Farms, the grassroots organisation formed to fight restrictive planning controls in Mitchell Shire, is expanding its work to tackle broader challenges facing rural communities across North Central Victoria.
The group is inviting farmers, local businesses and rural residents to attend a community meeting at 7pm on Thursday, August 21 in the Pyalong Recreation Hall to have their say on local priorities and help shape practical action plans and strategies.
President Bill Chisholm, a former Mitchell Shire councillor, said the group’s past efforts to build awareness and unite landholders have 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.”
Mr Chisholm said that Protect Our Farms will now focus on four key areas: rural and pro-farmer policies, practical emergency management, environment and food security and stopping unfair cost shifting and government red tape.
“We want to make sure decision-makers at all levels of government hear from the people who know rural life best,”
Pyalong farmer, 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,” Mr Searle said.
“We know that when farmers and rural communities speak together, we get heard. We encourage everyone who cares about the future of our farms and country towns to come along, share ideas, and get involved.” Committee member, Therese Ryan said.
