The Buchan Hall was yesterday at capacity with farmers upset at the East Gippsland Shire Council’s proposed 13.98 per cent hike on farm rates.
The farmers from Buchan, Orbost and surrounding areas had come to voice their anger at the rate hike being mooted in council’s draft budget.
East Gippsland Shire councillors, John White and Sonia Buckley, both farmers themselves, were in attendance.
Cr White told the crowd that if the draft budget remained unchanged following a period of consultation with the community, then he and Cr Buckley wouldn’t support it. 
He intends on proposing a motion at the next council meeting dealing with the budget that the council revert back to last year’s rating system.

IMAGE: Local farmers, Rob Jenkins and Peter Camilleri, outside the Buchan Hall following yesterday’s farmers meeting to voice objections to East Gippsland Shire Council’s draft budget farm rate proposal. K186-7288.