The recent elections have returned some former councillor-farmers to local government and also elected some new ones.
In Greater Shepparton, a current farmer has been elected to the council for the first time in about 20 years.
Tallygaroopna dairy farmer Geoff Akers was elected in the Pine Lodge Ward and a former dairy farmer, Kieron Eddy from Undera, was elected in the Lower Goulburn Ward.
Speaking to Country News after his election was confirmed, Cr Akers said he was not elected to represent solely the farming community, but was interested in supporting small businesses and small communities.
He said his experience in the dairy sector (he is a former chairman of Dairy Australia) would better inform his decision-making on council.
“We need to look at community engagement for small communities and I hope to have a close look at that.
“I think it is important that agriculture is represented around the council table in Shepparton.
“Greater Shepparton relies on agriculture, heavily. We have a number of challenges for agriculture and horticulture, and council needs to be across them.”
Cr Akers said the council probably needed to take some action to make the area more attractive to new investors.
He said the council should also be cognisant of water issues for the region.
Cr Eddy was a dairy farmer about 10 years ago and said he would be an advocate for the rural sector.
He said he was interested in water issues and he described water buybacks for the Murray-Darling Basin as a scam.
At least three councillors on the new Campaspe Shire Council are farmers.
According to the last census, Greater Shepparton agricultural production had a gross annual value of $729 million and eight per cent of jobs were in agriculture.
VFF president Emma Germano said the VFF had previously observed unfair rate increases for farmers in many areas, often driven by sudden and unexpected increases in the valuation of farmland.
“How can farmers be expected to run their businesses when they face huge and unexpected increases in their rates,” Ms Germano said.
“These rate increases bear no relationship to the farmer’s production or income,.
“The situation is simply grossly unfair. While in many areas farmers are funding an increasing proportion of the council’s revenue, they are not receiving a fair share of council services.
“By using differential rating, councils can adjust the cents in the dollar rates payable to even out fluctuations and ensure a fair distribution of the rates burden across land types.”
The VFF believes that to achieve this each council should spell out its approach in a comprehensive rates strategy.
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