Jaidyn Kennedy
The Little River Action Group (LRAG) and Grassy Plains Network have received a Community Environment Recognition Award from Environment Victoria.
The groups were awarded for their successful campaign against Pacific National’s proposed freight terminal.
LRAG president Adrian Hamilton said the award goes beyond the protection of Little River.
“If that site had been changed into heavy industry, it would set a precedent for the rest of Victoria,” he said.
A large part of the LRAG’s fight was to preserve the integrity of the town and lifestyle of residents.
He said the freight terminal would have changed the town dramatically.
“Most people moved here to get some space and be in a semi-rural area that is commutable to Melbourne or Geelong,” he said.
“Changing the aesthetics would be monstrous from a community perspective, but also from an environmental and ecological point of view as well.”
While much of the battle played out in front of the eyes of the nation, a great deal of the group’s struggle happened away from the cameras.
“People would have no idea the amount of work and effort that individuals put in,“ Mr Hamilton said.
“I was probably doing 20 hours a week.”
Describing the dispute as a “David versus Goliath Battle,” community engagement got to the point where crowds spill into the streets during weekly meetings at the town hall, according to Mr Hamilton.
The period of uncertainty was also the cause of a great deal of anguish for residents, according to the group’s president.
“There was a lot of mental stress, a lot of people were just breaking down and sobbing,” he said.
“We actually had a committee member assigned to mental stress.”
Despite accomplishing what they set out to achieve, Mr Hamilton said the group is not entirely complacent and will continue to hold monthly meetings.
