The Brighton Council needs to explain to Tasmanian parents and students why it does not support the Jordan River Learning Federation school farm.
This valuable educational facility is very popular within the community and offers students important hands-on learning.
Brighton Council wrote to the Department of Education in April to advise that the maintenance of farm animals on the Jordan River Learning Federation school farm property was not consistent with council by-laws.
The Department sought special permission from Brighton Council to maintain the current school arrangements. But this was rejected by the Council.
It has now issued a notice requiring the relocation of the animals, effectively shutting the school farm down if a new mutually agreeable site cannot be found in a short timeframe.
The Liberal Government has significant concerns about this, and I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Council to discuss the future of the farm.
The Liberal Government believes school farms are valuable to both schools and their wider communities, as they provide important hands-on learning for students and a pathway to employment opportunities.
My focus now is to ensure that no students will be disadvantaged as a result of this move by Council.
I take a very dim view of Council's action on this.
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