ALMOST 18 months after being denied an intensive beef production permit to run Wagyu cattle on his Alexandra farm, David Blackmore says he’s still waiting for confirmation his right to farm will be protected once he relocates his operation.
In early October, the Animal Industries Advisory Committee (AIAC), a committee established by the Victorian minister for planning and minister for agriculture just 12 months earlier, released its final report which would set out “clearer rules to support property owners”, and get the “balance right between supporting our farming industries and the community”.
But Mr Blackmore said the report, which is heavily focused on “community expectations”, would make it “near impossible for farmers to farm”. “We desperately want to go back and set up another feeding farm, but the decisions we make, and the money we spend, would be at least a 20-year investment,” Mr Blackmore said.
“And how are we meant to know what community expectations will be in 20 years time?”
He said without knowing, they could end up in the exact same predicament they’ve found themselves in today. About five years ago, the Blackmores decided they’d set up their own sustainable eco-feeding farm, where they removed all cattle from the feedlot, and split them up onto 65 two-hectare paddocks.
Mr Blackmore was urged by the Murrindindi Shire to apply for an intensive farming permit, which he did, and in July last year, had denied.
“The councillors voted against granting the permit, not on the grounds that our farming methods contravened any regulations, but on the grounds that we contravened community expectations, and we affected the amenity and lifestyle of our neighbours,” he said.
Mr Blackmore initially decided to lodge a legal objection, but eventually withdrew it, following revelations that it would involve invasive investigations into his farming operations.
In February this year, the AIAC received 146 submissions at four public hearings, and used these to come up with 37 recommendations, which the government has reviewed and will work with local councils to implement.
Minister for agriculture Jaala Pulford said the new method would be a one size fits all approach.
“Global demand for Victoria’s food and fibre products is growing, and we’re making sure our industries have the support they need to expand, while considering the impacts of farming on people and the environment,” Ms Pulford said.
Despite being the catalyst for this change, Mr Blackmore said he hadn’t been consulted once during this process.
He’s returned his cattle to feedlots, and said despite causing significant disturbance, he’ll leave them there until he receives guarantee that his right to farm will be protected, whether that be at Alexandra, or elsewhere.
“We know what we want in a farm, we’ve just got to find it,” he said.
