East Gippsland Shire Council's Agriculture Sector Advisory Committee (ASAC) met in last month with a focus on highlighting increasing pressures on the region's agricultural sector and reinforcing the need for stronger coordination, evidence-based advocacy and industry collaboration.

East Gippsland's farming communities are facing real and growing pressures, from pest animals to rising input costs, and Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said committees such as ASAC play an important role in ensuring those issues are heard.

"This committee plays a vital role in ensuring the voices of farmers are heard and that the challenges facing the sector are brought to the table," Mayor Cr Jodie Ashworth said.

"We are committed to backing that work through strong advocacy and coordination, and ASAC provides an important link between Council and one of East Gippsland's most significant industries."

Pest animal management was a key focus of the meeting, following Council's recent release of the Pest Animal Management Advocacy Paper. Representatives from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Agriculture Victoria provided an update on current practices, limitations and areas of responsibility. Members shared strong feedback on the escalating impact of pest animals on farm productivity and wellbeing, calling for a more coordinated cross-tenure approach and proactive management across both public and private land.

The committee also discussed Council's proposed plantation position paper, focusing on the economic implications of land use change and community concerns regarding the expansion of timber plantations.  

Members highlighted the importance of robust economic analysis to better understand the impacts on agriculture, regional employment and future land use.

Broader industry challenges were also raised, including rising fuel costs and their impact on farm productivity and profitability. The committee emphasised the need to gather local evidence to support targeted advocacy on input costs, while also discussing emerging opportunities for industry diversification and regional job creation.

Key priorities and next steps

The committee provided the following advice to Council:

• Facilitate stronger coordination on pest management by connecting agencies and landholders
• Support ongoing stakeholder engagement and information sharing
• Progress a plantation position paper informed by broad industry input
• Assess economic impacts of land use change across the region
• Strengthen advocacy on rising fuel costs through industry evidence
• Monitor and support emerging initiatives such as the Game Meat Hub Pilot
• Share key reports, including the Livestock Exchange review outcomes, once finalised.

ASAC brings together representatives from across the agriculture sector, including farmers, industry bodies and government agencies, helping ensure Council's decisions are informed by those working in the industry every day.

The Committee will continue to meet throughout the year, with updates on these priorities to be shared with Council and the community as work progresses.