Opposition planning spokesman Matthew Guy and Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills discuss the concerns of localfarmers Bob Sanders and Leo Koelewyn. 53269_01
By Russell Bennett
YARRA Ranges farmers are irate over planning department red-tape.
Farmers across the valley from Three Bridges to Monbulk are livid that delays in planning permits are costing them money and produce.
The six growers joined to air their grievances to Opposition planning spokesman Matthew Guy and Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills.
Wandin North apple grower Peter Burgi said some farmers were building sheds and putting up netting to protect their produce, ignoring the legal requirements for permits.
“It’s because the farmers are too frustrated with the wait,” he said.
“They just can’t afford not to put up protection because they’re losing produce and therefore money.”
Mr Burgi said he was disappointed in government from local to federal levels.
“No level of government is willing to stand up and help us,” he said.
“Under these circumstances there’s no way we can compete with the larger-scale farming operations.
“They’re running riot.”
A sticking point for the farmers at the meeting was that much of their land lies in green wedge areas.
Silvan fruit farmer Steve Chapman proposed the notion of a farming zone to help growers on green wedge land in their standard practices.
“For example, every time we start our sprayer, neighbours down the back complain despite the fact they’re 500 metres away,” he said.
“All the issues like that are just making it really hard to farm at all around here.”
Mr Guy said the State Government created issues for farmers by not having an ‘urban interface’ – a zone between operational farming and urban or more residential areas.
“Farming isn’t a nine-to-five job, it’s just not that simple,” he said.
“And farmers can’t even get out because they can’t subdivide their green wedge land.”
Monbulk nurseryman Leo Koelewyn laid the blame for local growers’ problems at the planning department’s feet.
“I think I speak for most of us when I say we’d be happy to pay a consultant or town planner to get the wheels in motion (for permits),” he said.
“A couple of grand for that is nothing in the scheme of things.”
