by Emma Ballingall

Never previously inclined to attend a rally, Lardner Park chief executive officer Craig Debnam declared "today is the day when this community must be heard."

Mr Debnam, one of six submitters at Wednesday's meeting, spoke strongly of the impacts "this insane cash grab" would have on the farming community.
"Stop pushing regional people to the breaking point," he said.
Standing for farmers, CFA and volunteers, Mr Debnam called the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund an "absolute disgrace."
"It's time to send a message to state government to axe this tax," he declared. "Enough is enough. Stop wasteful money on city projects and asking regional communities to bail you out."
Ric Nicolson said the "tax in disguise" offered Baw Baw Shire councillors a chance "to shine as moral champions" and show the shire "has some grit and won't be a walkover."
"Today we're asking you as the representative councillors to stand with the farmers and not just be a tax collector for the state government," Mr Nicolson asked.
"If we get more shires standing together in this cruel, lopsided tax, we'll have more success."
Mr Nicolson said farmers were asset rich but cash poor and already struggling with the worst drought conditions since 1967.
"The farmers, who are the backbone of our community, are feeling the brunt of this new tax," he said.
Drouin South resident Helen Case, who rents on a dairy farm, said this was bigger than a farmer and firefighter issue.
"This room should be full of everyone in Baw Baw Shire," Ms Case said. "I don't think people are aware of the extent of how much this impacts everyone."
Concerned of cost of living rising further, she said "there isn't a single family in this shire who won't be impacted."
"They don't want people to see how big it is in case we do get angry," Ms Case said. "And I want everyone to get angry."
Lorraine Box, representing Labertouche Agriculture Solutions, warned local agriculture was in a "really dire situation" due to dry conditions and "we don't know when that's going to change."
"The farmers are the greatest support of our district," Ms Box said. "When things go wrong, they do all trickle down and affect each and everyone."
She said local farmers had no feed and some had no water, warning of mental health concerns.
Ms Box said the added impost on council to collect the tax "just seems all sorts of wrong."