“We were delighted two councillors showed up and did a very good job,” he said.

“We expected the councillors would put their hands up and do what they’re told.”

He maintained the family would not sell the land to council, and foreshadowed more land acquisitions in the future.

“If the council are allowed to get away with this, it’s just open slather,” he said.

Mr Carter hinted further legal action was possible.

7.30pm: Councillors vote 6:2 in favour of the public acquisition overlay, paving the way for the forced sale of the Carters’ land. 

Chants of “keep fighting Carters” ring out in the gallery.

Crs Metcalf and Hoskin vote against the proposal.

 7.25pm: Cr Fyffe: “What we need to remember is we are setting a blueprint for our community over the next 10, 20 years, particularly for economic development.”

“All in all I think it’s time we approved the public acquisition overlay, we continue negotiating with the family so that we can reach an amicable decision.

“We need to have a responsibility for our future generations to make sure we are on the front foot as a council and a region.”

7.20pm: Cr Alden said the acquisition has been a significant issue to grapple with.

“The business park aligns with strategic priorities our other councils as well as ours,” she said.

Cr Alden too not given an extension of time.

Cr Metcalf said she was baffled the Carter family did not choose to engage with the councillors over the issue.

“I cannot support the compulsory acquisition,” she said.

Cr Julie Hoskin during her speech was not given further time by other councillors to continue her argument.

 7.10pm: Cr Williams: “When I first came to council I was not convinced of its location, much has changed since then.”

“The business park could boost manufacturing and export opportunities

“This provides an opportunity to grow the jobs and grow the value and provide an opportunity to our region to grow.”

More interjections from the public gallery. 

“It is an offence to be ejected from this meeting,” Cr O’Rourke said.

A gentle(ish) reminder but the heckler leaves voluntarily.

Cr Williams again.

“It actually value adds north west Victoria. This provides opportunities for our children.”

7.05pm: Cr Julie Hoskin poses a question to chief executive officer Craig Niemann: “Does the council intend to compulsorily acquire land neighbouring the Carters’ farm as a buffer zone for the industrial park?”

A further question from Cr Hoskin raised concerns whether the council wanted to acquire the rest of the Carters’ farm. 

“How can anyone have confidence something of this magnitude won’t be a disaster?”

The public acquisition overlay relates to 313 hectares. The Carters own around 800 hectares.

Mr Niemann said that wasn’t the intention of council at this stage.

7.00pm One member of the public gallery is close to being ejected as Cr Matt Emond said: “We do have a demand for industrial land, that’s just a fact.”

“Based on current take up rates, what’s left is 10 years (of industrial space in Bendigo). 

“There have been some wonderful letters of support from the Mount Alexander and Loddon Shire.”

6.50pm: Cr Rod Fyffe: “Yes this is a contentious subject and the idea of land acquisition is a contentious one across the state.”

“It’s the responsibility of this council to provide for the broader community.” 

Fair bit of heckling from the crowd during Cr Fyffe’s speech as he’s continually interrupted. 

“If we are to create a community, a real community, we need to create jobs.

“No one wants to compulsory acquire anything. We as a responsible council need to pursue what is best for the community.

“In this instance we have no option left.

“We need to do this albeit reluctantly and with a heavy heart.”

Gallery firing up here.

6.40pm: Mayor Margaret O’Rourke, discussing some of the information that has been circulating around the Marong business park.

“I know there has been a lot of discussion which has focused on why this site – why the council has pursued this site,” Cr O’Rourke said. 

“We’ve received a letter from the Carter family, suggesting council were unlawfully elected in 2016. 

“A council is not the appropriate forum to raise legal issues.

“No one on this council has a conflict of interest.

“Bendigo manufacturing is growing and contributes $2.25 billion into our economy.

“Council has to decide on how it is going to source funding for the project.

“We currently don’t have enough land to meet the (industrial) demand.

“The issue before council is whether or not to proceed with the project.”

6.35pm: Councillors adopt the draft budget 2018-19, opening it up for public submissions. 

6.30pm: On the draft budget, Cr Jennifer Alden said the financial plan would activate areas of the city centre and improve the region’s waste disposal facilities.

Cr Williams said his highlights were funding for sporting facilities, including Elmore recreation reserve, Epsom Huntly recreation reserve.

Cr Metcalf  said there was always more project than dollars. 

“Waste has to pay for itself. Unless we change our habits as a community this (extra charges) will continue to increase,” she said.

Read more: Waste charges jump in conservative budget

Cr Wrigglesworth said the ever tightening purse strings and increased community need made it difficult to balance a budget.

Cr Fyffe said the budget was one councillors had spent a lot of time on, thanking the community for their input thus far.

“We’ve probably had requests for $250 million worth of capital works projects. There are a lot of capital works and they all cost money,” he said.

The council will spend about $40 million on capital works in 2018-19, a significant drop on previous years.

6.15pm: Council asked whether they support primary producers in the region? Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said ‘yes’.

6.00pm:  Mayor Margaret O’Rourke asks the packed gallery for respect during the debate, referring to the decision to place a public acquisition overlay on the Carters’ land.

5.55pm: Standing room only in the town hall, as supporters of the Carter family move inside to hear how the council will vote.

5.50pm:  Councillors and members of the City of Greater Bendigo executive team have arrived at the town hall to cries of ‘shame’ from the crowd. The councillors and executive team made their way through the group and into the building. They were escorted by police. 

5.30pm: The group has now moved across to the Bendigo Town Hall, where tonight’s council meeting will be held.

5.15pm: Members of the Carter family say they are heartened by the show of support ahead of tonight’s meeting.

“We are hopeful this show of support will make council change their mind, because they can see the community is behind us,’’ Tamrie Carter said.

“It shouldn’t be this way.’’

The family has had numerous phone calls and messages of support and people have written letters to council on their behalf.

5pm: A crowd is building outside the City of Greater Bendigo offices, as councillors prepare to attend tonight’s council meeting.

Protesters are calling on councillors to vote down a plan to place a public acquisition overlay on 313 hectares of land owned by the Carter family at Marong.

Members of the Carter family are among those gathering.

EARLIER: THE future of the Carter family farm at Marong could be decided at a council meeting on Wednesday night.

City of Greater Bendigo councillors will vote on whether to place a public acquisition overlay on the 313 hectares of land.

Council wishes to turn the parcel of land into a business park west of the city.

The Carters have farmed the land for more than 100 years.

Bendigo council has maintained the area of land it wishes to acquire is well positioned and will boost manufacturing in the region, in addition to providing 3500 jobs for the municipality.

The council made an offer to the Carters earlier this year, which was rejected.

Carter family supporters have started gathering outside the City of Greater Bendigo offices and will move to the council chambers ahead of the meeting.

This has been a long-time issue – the project has been in the works since 2002.

​​Follow all the updates from tonight’s events, here:

In 2009, 88-year-old Neville Carter spoke at the Addy about the farm that his father had started after returning from the First World War.

“You have to be able to have some say over your land,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned we should keep it - we have worked our whole life to get it.”

In 2010, years of fighting with the City of Greater Bendigo hit boiling point when the family forced council officers and contractors off their property.

The fight for council to access the property ended up in the Supreme Court – but the hearing was abandoned after the Carters gave council permission to access the land for certain investigations.

In 2016, an independent panel found there was insufficient justification for the City of Greater Bendigo to compulsorily acquire properties in Marong to build a planned industrial park.

Now, in 2018, the battle has continued for both sides.