Bendigo council has postponed a planned community meet and greet at the Marong Family Hotel next week after a fiery council meeting on Wednesday, during which they voted to progress the forced sale of land owned by the Carter family.
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Councillors had scheduled to host a listening post at the pub on April 26, where residents could come and have dinner with them, but after receiving a police escort to the council meeting as protesters were outside the town hall, they have reconsidered.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said a new date would be set in the coming months.
“Following last night’s council meeting and the emotion tied to council’s decision regarding Marong Business Park, it is best to postpone the dinner,” she said.
Councillors were heckled from sections of the public gallery on Wednesday as they debated whether to press ahead with the forced sale of the Carters’ land.
Last week the council announced it was taking the bold step of meeting residents at local pubs to share a meal, as part of a new rural communities engagement push.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said at the time the idea was to make councillors more accessible to residents in a more informal setting to discuss local issues.
“All councillors will be invited to attend and it will be a good way for residents to meet councillors other than those representing their ward,” she said.
The dinners, which will be treated like listening posts, are expected to take place every few months. Councillors and residents will pay for their own meals and drinks.