Business paying for paper impasse

A FORMER Yarra Ranges councillor is calling on Yarra Ranges Council to put their Ethical Paper Pledge decision back on the agenda.
Clive Larkman, who runs a nursery business in Yarra Ranges, said the decision had a great impact on the Yarra Glen community which stood to lose the economic benefits of the VicForests relocation.
Mr Larkman said small business was doing it tough and added that business communities needed their councillors to work with them to help them survive tough economic times.
His comments came as theYarra Glen Chamber of Commerce stepped up its criticism of the councillors for not consulting with it and acting against the good of the town.
The chamber was last week part of a coalition of five Yarra Ranges’ business chambers which supported a vote of no confidence in the council.
“They can’t take back what they’ve done, but they can change their stand; they can review it and make a decision that is in the community’s interest,” Mr Larkman said.
The Local Government Act supports his proposal.
A spokesperson for the Department of Planning and Community Development said while it was doubtful a motion could be cancelled if it had been acted on, a new motion could be introduced.
“A council may be able to pass another motion which alters its previous decision on the issue, by taking into account the consequences of the action already taken,” she said.
Meanwhile, VicForests CEO David Pollard has told the Mail, Yarra Glen is the logical and desirable place for any future relocation of offices and would bring much-needed jobs and income into the town.
He said the VicForests board supportted the State Government’s stand on refusing to continue relocation talks while the council’s name is on the Wilderness Society’s EPP.
Yarra Ranges Council is refusing to budge on its decision with mayor Terry Avery telling The Mail last week “it’s a dead issue … there’s nothing more to be said.”
The matter is not going away however.
There is increasing pressure for the EPP matter to be reintroduced to council to provide an opportunity for all the stakeholders to place their case.
VicForests has indicated they would put their case if the EPP was to come up at council again, and environment groups are also stakeholders who would be likely to make a submission.