Paul May - 22 May 2018

Paul May made the below comments at the Ordinary Council Meeting 22 May 2018.

My name is Paul May. I am a resident of South Durras and coordinator of the South Durras Landcare Group.

I am also the Chairman of the Eurobodalla Landcare Network which is the ‘umbrella’ organisation representing the individual Landcare groups in the Eurobodalla Shire.

Currently we have twenty seven active groups in the Shire, comprising hundreds of volunteers. In the 2016-2017 year these volunteers performed more than 10,000 hours of environmental work to maintain and enhance the natural values of land in the Eurobodalla Shire. Most of our Landcare groups carry out their work on public land in their local area.

The changes to the Eurobodalla LEP 2012 implied in the new Rural Lands Strategy Planning Proposal directly impact the land that our groups have been caring for since the beginnings of this voluntary work back in the 1980’s.

The very limited exhibition period and minimal public notification of the Proposal means that many of ours members will not be able to consider and comment on the proposed changes.

This is a real insult to the many volunteers who have given so much over the years to protect the environment of the Eurobodalla Shire.

Today we are requesting that the exhibition period be extended and that greater public consultation be conducted on this matter.

Paul W May
22/5/18