General News
7 December, 2024
Concerned residents take their voices to Parliament steps
Natimuk residents Doctor Felix Ritson and Dr Ashlee Hendy made the trek to Melbourne recently to meet with an advisor to the Minister for Environment, Steven Dimopolous at Parliament House.
"We felt they (the Minister's office) was seeking information and perspective from the community locally, so we did our best to provide that, noting we aren't elected representatives of Natimuk, just residents, to provide information about the closure impacts on our town," Dr Hendy said.
"We asked questions such as, if the Minister's Office was conducting economic and social impact studies on the potential outcome of the implementation of the draft plan.
"We talked about the concerns people in our community have about these impacts, businesses, house prices and functioning of things like the kinder and school, loss of professional staff and the loss of CFA volunteers."
Dr Hendy said she felt the Minister's staff were genuinely interested to inform themselves in the matter and they appeared to present as 'ill-informed' at this time, but wanting to expand their knowledge.
Admitting the draft plan was made before carrying out a step that was vital - community consultation - Dr Hendy said it was extremely frustrating.
"I think that is creating a lot of fear in the community because this is our future, it's our livelihood and our wellbeing," she said.
"And it does feel like people in the city, a long way from us, in their offices, are making decisions that have enormous impacts on individual’s lives, and that is what we are attempting to highlight to them."