Candidates invited to join the conversation

Those who have nominated for next month’s City of GreaterShepparton council elections have been invited to join a conversation about responding to climate change.

The invitation is from the organizer of those who gather Beneath the Wisteria in Shepparton’s Maude St Mall, Robert McLean.

“Our response to climate change is,” Mr McLean said, “is unquestionably the most pressing issue facing our community and it is of absolute importance that our council is aware of the complications and be working to build our city’s resilience”.

The next gathering Beneath the Wisteria is planned for 11:30am on Saturday, September 29.

Mr McLean said personal invitations had not been extended to individual candidates, rather it was hoped all those who have nominated would simply join the conversation.

“We are not expecting, or do we want, a ‘stump speech’ from anyone, rather we would like them to be a part of the general conversation about how the city should, and could, respond to our changing climate,” Mr McLean said.

Australia, and particularly the south-eastern corner, including the Goulburn Valley, is considered to be something of the “canary in the coal mine” for the world in relation to climate change.

Mr McLean said that the impact of the world’s changing climate will be felt first, and worst, in our small part of the world and so it was incumbent upon our councillors to be of a mind, and intent, to prepare our community to deal with the unfolding dilemma.

Saturday’s conversations Beneath the Wisteria are at the northern end of the mall, are absolutely free, open to the public and along with an open mind, those intending to attend should bring a folding chair.