Council’s Environment Strategy – Advance notice of revised draft & feedback process
Posted on 17 June, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Shire has announced that they have prepared a new draft of their Environment Strategy 2015-2025, which is revised version following feedback upon the first draft in April and May 2015. The revised draft will be available on the council’s website for one week from the 2 July 2015.
As announced on the council’s website, Jason Taylor, Council’s Director of Sustainable Development says:
“We’re offering community members the opportunity to learn about how their ideas and feedback have been integrated into the strategy.”
“A strong message during the consultation process was the importance of recognising and placing greater emphasis on community partnerships and how they help meet the Shire’s environmental goals.”
Community members and organizations have been invited by the council to pre-book a timeslot to meet with staff and discuss the revised strategy. Sessions are available between 3.00pm and 7.00pm on Thursday 9 July 2015.
Further details, including instructions on how to book a timeslot, are available on the council website (Click here).
The Environment Strategy was open for public comment for a number of weeks during April and May. There were a series of community forums held across the Shire. The draft is now open for further comment. It is very important to be proactive rather than complaining as a way forward.
Hi folks,
Can anybody see where this “community consultation” is going?
Firstly, the revised document will only be available from Friday 2nd of July until Thursday 9th of July, and then BLIP! It’s gone.
Secondly, the community, can discuss our views on the document with Council staff, by appointment, from 3pm til 7pm of the 9th – no other times. This seems unreasonable. It is the last day for objections and a working day if you are in the workforce . Then KLONK! End of community consultation…
Thirdly, consider Jason Taylor’s statement above for the real meaning of their position :
“A strong message during the consultation process was the importance of recognising and placing greater emphasis on community partnerships and how they help meet the Shire’s environmental goals.”
Really? Council’s community partnerships are important in so far as they help meet the Shire’s environmental goals?! Definitely not how the Shire’s Community Consultations help reach the COMMUNITY’S ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS.
Fourthly, in the Council’s document there are no defined strategies or action plans – as there had been in the Council’s 2013 Document – none of which have made an appearance in the current Environment Strategy Document: the word GOAL does not appear anywhere. The document is a statement of positive intention with very few specifics. Citizens can but applaud or grumble but cannot make useful comment, criticism or suggestion and there is nothing specific, short or long term, to comment upon in what is essentially a goal-free playing field.
In other words, we are expected, through the community consultations, to assist the Council reach their UNSTATED Environmental Goals.
So here are two questions about this whole process laid out by Council and staff?
A] is this the product of total incompetence? Or
B] is this a carefully laid, and deceptively structured, plan to put the environmental issues through a faux consultation process which allows the Council and Staff the maximum flexibility to pursue their own goals and those of private interests – but allowing them to state at every juncture “But, we fully consulted the community on these issues…!”
Well said Carlo,
It does seem there is no sincerity on the councils part to really consult.
I’m concerned about rumours of a plan to raise concrete walls along Barkers Ck,
A large flood is likely to flow over these walls regardless. This expensive plan would reduce the conservation value of the creek and create issues down stream.
A more sensible approach would be to plant grasses and trees in the catchment areas upstream on a large scale. This would increase biodiversity, reduce flood impact and store carbon.
Unfortunately, a similar process of faux consultation occurred over the sale of the old gaol.
It does seem that we are being presented with the illusion of consultation.