JULY 10, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Residents cry fowl By Esther Lauaki
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A fine slice of food lore A Kyneton chef will share his back-to-basics approach in an upcoming workshop. Food lovers will fashion their own wooden cooking utensils before using them to make traditional pork pies at the tools of the trade workshop in Kyneton this month. Damian Sandercock, owner of the Piper Street Food Company, said his love of the humble pie came from his mother’s northern English roots. “Pork pies are very much a traditional workers lunch eaten by farmers, pastoralists, miners who would take them in their pockets,â€? he said. A ‘tools of the trade’ pork pie workshop will be held on July 28, with various other courses scheduled through to October. Mr Sandercock’s food philosophy is centred on sharing. “Dad was a qualified chef and formally trained ‌ mum was trained from the heart,â€? he said. “As busy as they were, we would always take the time to sit around the table and have dinner as a family. “Sharing is a very important part of food and cookery. “People bothered to take the time to teach me as a kid and there’s an obligation to pass that knowledge on.â€? Details: piperstfoodco.com
(Joe Mastroianni)
Residents are calling for the state government to overturn new reforms to pig and poultry farming that they believe threaten the protection of the Macedon Ranges. The government announced sweeping agriculture reforms in recent weeks to simplify the planning process for animal producers across the state. The changes, which would come into effect in September, include new land use definitions, changes to planning schemes and new planning regulations around grazing animal production, intensive animal production, pig and poultry farms and hatcheries. Under the reforms, farmers would be allowed to rear 100 chickens and 10 emus or ostriches without a permit or up to 10,000 chickens with a permit. Pig farmers would be permitted to have up to about 1600 pigs provided they are 400 metres from a residential zone. Macedon Ranges Residents Association secretary Christine Pruneau said the reforms would remove the bans on pig and poultry farms in rural conservation and rural living zones that protect the ranges. She said the association’s main concern was that the new simplified permit process removed the requirement to give public notice and the opportunity for residents to object. “Hundreds of pigs are potentially allowed,� Ms Pruneau said. “But you have no say, even if you live in sensitive and rural residential areas or towns with a farming zone next door. “These changes leave the environment, our amenities and democracy worse off. “We want the reforms overturned because these changes are completely incompatible with the shire’s and community’s values.� Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said it was about getting the “balance right� between advancing the agricultural sector and safeguarding the environment. Agriculture minister Jaala Pulford said the new reforms would bring clarity to land use planning definitions and would balance the needs of agricultural businesses with environmental protection and the community. “These important reforms will help farmers and agricultural businesses make more flexible and informed decisions to better manage their business priorities alongside any environmental and community amenity concerns,� she said. Information sessions will be held at 11 locations across Victoria starting this month. Information: bit.ly/2lXO1EJ
Esther Lauaki
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