Mond

Monday, 30 October 2006

SYKES: ROADSIDE NATIVE VEGETATION NIGHTMARE

Benalla Rural City residents feel that they are experiencing a nightmare as they try to understand the proposed Roadside Vegetation Management Plan.

Several have approached local MP Bill Sykes pointing out the impractical nature of the plan and the failure to give due consideration to fire risks and the right to farm.

Dr Sykes said, “The limitations on management of native vegetation on our roadsides are a nightmare.

The Bracks Government has again imposed impractical, ideologically motivated restrictions which will result in endangering people’s lives and unreasonable restrictions on adjoining landholders.

The Nationals opposed this legislation when it was debated in Parliament and now, as it is being implemented, local landholders are realising why The Nationals opposed the legislation.

There are three questions people are asking me which need to be clarified:

• Which of the vegetation impositions are actually required by the legislation?

• Which of the vegetation impositions are able to be imposed solely at the discretion of council alone?

• Are all of the impositions being proposed by council backed by the legislation?

These questions need to be answered as a start to an informed debate on the plan.

I am also advised that 92% of roadsides in the Benalla Rural City are classified as moderate or high conservation value with attendant strict restrictions on future management options.

This seems to be a very high percentage and I have observed that some roadside near my property has been assigned moderate conservation value without it having significant native vegetation.

Dr Sykes concluded, “This plan needs to be subjected to detailed scrutiny by the people whom it affects most – adjoining landholders, many of whom have a very considerable track record in conservation and revegetation of native vegetation.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989