One of the big issues in this debate is about grazing rights; horses and other grazing animals that people reasonably wish to keep. Council/Planning have consistently pushed the line that this will not be affected by Amendment C101 'ad nauseam'.

And I quote - Can I graze horses on my land?

“You can still graze horses on your land UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT C101 - there are no changes.

Grazing of all forms is an important economic and recreational activity within the Nillumbik Green Wedge. For this reason Council encourages responsible animal and land management.
Council runs courses on managing horses on private properties that provides you with practical information to improve the health of your horse, protect your land, save time and save money.
In 2015, some residents within the Shire raised concern with Council's perceived failure to enforce the planning scheme in relation to grazing on private land.
Council investigated the issue and concluded that it does not have the power under the planning system to address the issue.
If any changes were to be made to grazing rights this would need to be an entirely different process to the ESO. A separate consultation process would have to be undertaken. There are no plans to conduct this piece of work AT THIS POINT IN TIME.”

There have been many comments on our site and others, where this is Council’s fallback position ... we apparently have no need to worry, or do we? It is in council’s interest to play down resident’s concerns about this. Yesterday I had a call from a local resident – on considerable property – who had a planning officer at her property, and telling her that she NEEDED a permit to keep a horse. The officer then went on to say that she NEEDED a permit to fence her paddock – which has been a grazing property for many years. THIS LANDOWNER IS NOT REQUIRED BY ANY AMENDMENT, LAW ETC. TO REQUIRE A PERMIT TO KEEP A HORSE OR TO FENCE HER PROPERTY.

This is already happening out there in the rural areas of this Shire and Amendment C101 hasn’t even gone to Panel yet! We cannot trust this Council or put our faith in it when we are told one thing in writing, and what we are being told in writing, when in reality right here, right now, the opposite is happening.

By Karen Egan via Facebook

Photograph by Jamie Sordello via Instagram