Opinion & Perspectives
12 October, 2025
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Beautify town and councils on climate
Here's some thoughts you've had on various subjects across the region.
Beautify the town ... thanks for interest
WHAT is written here, is my personal opinion, it does not necessarily reflect the views of other members of Beautify Charlton.
I have kept this as brief as possible.
Further to my Facebook post of about 12 months ago, this is to formally advise Beautify Charlton as a program has come to an end.
It had been an 8-year process which I am sorry to say never reached the heights it was intended to.
It would have, given half a chance.
There was an enormous of amount planning, detail and volunteer effort involved.
Despite our group being fully invested in the program for this time, we never had the chance to really show our wares, to deliver our vision, and for all to see the positive impacts the program would have had on the town.
That impact was vital because Charlton is seriously challenged, the same as all our towns.
The Buloke Shire unfortunately never truly shared that vision, or grasped why it was so important. In a collaborative relationship, there has to be a fair dinkum approach from both sides.
The Shire undoubtedly have their view.
I have mine, and it is certainly best for me to get out of the space and allow clear air for others.
Our town is stuck in an impasse. The Shire have proven over a long period of time, they have been unable to present the complete thoroughfare suitably.
That negatively impacts both in the retail sector, and in the wellbeing space of our community.
Both are critical to the future and the relevance of any country town. Sadly, our community driven group was unable to fill the void.
The Shire no doubt have their issues. Staff morale and turnover being one of them. Read into that what you will but those problems start at the top.
In my view, the Shire have failed Beautify Charlton, and therefore Charlton, in understanding what community engagement and communication really require.
In our region I had never been a fan of Shire amalgamation. It has delivered our towns bureaucracy, and we deserve better.
Floods included, Charlton fared no better under the Buloke Shire than it would have fared under the old Charlton Shire.
Amalgamation driven from Spring St, from both sides of politics, is unfortunately something we are stuck with.
I wish Ric, Wes and Darren all the very best.
I wish you the full investment of energy, thought and consideration from the Shire, and open, honest and timely communication from them. And I wish you positive outcomes.
Thanks to all who backed, worked on, and supported Beautify Charlton.
Robin McRae
Charlton
Let councils speak freely on climate
IN BULOKE and across regional Victoria, farming communities are facing an unprecedented wave of development—wind farms, solar installations, transmission corridors, and mining proposals.
These projects are arriving fast, often with minimal consultation and maximum disruption.
And yet, the Municipal Association of Victoria’s recent submission to the Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy seems more concerned with controlling the message than listening to the people most affected.
The MAV calls for “consistent messaging” and warns of reputational risk when councillors express views that diverge from official climate policy.
But this approach risks turning councils into echo chambers—where elected representatives are discouraged from raising legitimate concerns about how climate action is being rolled out on the ground.
Local government is meant to be the voice of the community. In Buloke, that voice is asking hard questions: Why are transmission lines cutting through productive farmland? Why are decisions made in Melbourne & Canberra without meaningful local input? Why are communities expected to absorb the impact while others reap the benefits?
Silencing these questions by labelling them as “misinformation” or “off-message” is not just undemocratic—it’s dangerous. It breeds resentment, erodes trust, and undermines the very climate goals we’re trying to achieve.
Yes, councils have a role in supporting climate action. But they also have a duty to represent their communities, challenge assumptions, and advocate for fair outcomes.
Councillors must be free to speak openly, especially when state-led projects clash with local priorities.
It’s worth noting that in the Buloke Shire Council Budget for 2025–26, allocates some $23,800 to the MAV as a membership fee. That’s a significant investment of ratepayer funds.
Yet MAV’s submission reads less like a reflection of council views and more like a directive on what councils should say.
Did MAV consult Buloke—or any rural council—before making this submission? If not, it raises serious questions about representation and accountability.
Perhaps it’s time for councils to reconsider their membership in organisations that speak over them rather than for them.
Climate policy without community consent is a recipe for backlash. If MAV wants to support councils, it should start by defending their right to speak—not by managing their message.
Let’s empower local voices. Let’s protect democratic debate. And let’s ensure that climate action is not just top-down policy, but bottom-up progress.
Daryl Warren
Donald
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