Macedon Ranges council has rejected a planning permit for a hunt club in Baynton East, following objections from locals and Northern Victorian MP.
In a decision released on April 12, council said the proposal was contrary to policies surrounding strategic land use, settlement planning, protection of agriculture, rural housing, design of buildings in rural areas, the farming zone, and objectives in its planning policy.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said she was grateful the council listened to the community and chose to reject the proposal.
“I was contacted about the [club] in January … by concerned locals who lived nearby,” Ms Purcell said.
“[I was] asked to put in an objection and I did that, and I know many locals [also] did.”
“We were very grateful to see the council listened and chose to reject [the proposal].”
Ms Purcell said these hunt clubs are expensive and exclusive, and she is prepared to keep fighting against the latest proposal.
“We are fully aware that this might not be the end of it and [we] are prepared to keep opposing no matter where they are established,” she said.
Ms Purcell said she would like to see Victoria invest in immunocontraceptives to control the population of introduced species, which are often hunted by these clubs.
“That stops foxes [and other animals from] being able to breed, [it] hasn’t been used here but has had success overseas,” she said.
“We need to control their population but [hunt clubs] isn’t the way… It has no impact other than being cruel for the sake of being cruel.”
Zoe Moffatt
