Shire of Augusta-Margaret River chief planner reassures farmers ‘nothing to fear’ from biodiversity strategy

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has pledged that the farming community and landowners need not fear a proposed local biodiversity strategy. The strategy, which will now go out for further consultation, was a key action in the shire’s corporate business plan and was listed among shire chief executive Andrea Selvey’s key performance indicators for this year. A council report described the strategy as a key policy developed in conjunction with a consultant after the shire secured a $20,000 WA Local Government Association grant for half of the cost thanks to State Government natural resource management funding. “The local biodiversity strategy identifies key priority local natural areas and details strategic direction and actions, with the vision to ‘implement a nature-positive approach for best-practice planning and operations for biodiversity protection, supporting community, landholders and partnership initiatives’,” the report said. “The strategy will foster community stewardship of local natural areas and embed the consideration of biodiversity as standard in all decisions and activities of the shire. “The strategy has been prepared following consultation sessions with community and stakeholders, as well as input by staff members.” But at last Wednesday’s council meeting the southern farming community roundly rejected claims around consultation. Dissent during deputations included concerns State Government-produced maps identified private farming land for further conservation action, with wildlife corridors and talk of land management sparking farmers’ concerns. Those farmers and their supporters have aired their concerns on social media, which included allegations the shire could demand land swaps from affected property owners. Under questioning from shire president Julia Meldrum, shire regulatory services manager Matt Cuthbert refuted interpretations that the policy also foreshadowed further steps that could lead to farmers having reduced say on what occurred on their own land. “It is not regulation,” he said. “It is not rules. It doesn’t affect land use. It doesn’t change zoning.” Ms Meldrum asked further: “There’s no legal or statutory weight to this strategy?”. Mr Cuthbert said councillors could refer to the policy if they chose, which sparked complaints after the meeting from farmers questioning why the strategy was developed at all. Just 48 submissions were received on the strategy during a four-week run on the shire’s YourSay consultation hub and public meetings were held, including one in Augusta, while in-house workshops were also conducted.