North East Country has been built on generations of farming. From cattle and sheep to vineyards, orchards, grains and fresh produce, our region plays an important role in supplying food, supporting local jobs and sustaining regional communities.

Planning decisions shape the future of our towns, farms and communities for generations. Once productive farmland is covered by industrial development, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to restore it to its previous agricultural value.

One major project can change a district. Several major projects in the same area can change the future of an entire region.

Every planning decision made today becomes part of the legacy we leave for tomorrow. The choices we make about land use, agriculture, infrastructure and regional development will shape North East Victoria for decades—long after today's debates have passed.

Regional communities are more than dots on a map. They are made up of families, farmers, small businesses, schools, sporting clubs, volunteer groups, health services, local jobs and people who have invested their lives into the places they call home.

Protecting the environment is not separate from protecting farming communities. In North East Country, healthy waterways, native vegetation, productive soils, wildlife corridors and working farmland are all connected.

Australia's transition to renewable energy is one of the most significant infrastructure challenges of our generation. Fair Go for North East Country supports this transition. However, we believe the success of renewable energy will ultimately depend on where projects are built, how they are planned and whether local communities are genuine partners in the process.

Every community has something no planning report, satellite image or desktop assessment can fully capture—local knowledge.