FORMER Wangaratta deputy mayor Paul O'Brien has urged the city's administrators to put the latest rural land strategy on hold until councillors are returned late next year.
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Mr O'Brien was elected to council in 2012 with opposition to the previous strategy one of his key election commitments.
His opposition was shared by Noel Amery and Dr Julian Fidge, who were also elected three years ago.
The council was sacked less than 12 months later, but not before succeeding in putting the previous strategy on the back-burner.
The city's administrators headed by Ailsa Fox will re-visit the strategy on Tuesday night.
"The state government released new planning guidelines and zones for Victoria 18 months ago," Mr O'Brien said.
"Why does this council and administrators think it needs to do something more? There is enough bureaucracy now in planning.
"It begs the question what the real agenda with this rural land strategy is.
"It is unbelievable non-elected administrators are poking their noses into this.
"Ask Ailsa Fox would she like to see overlays put on the Fox family farms to protect the views.
"Why doesn't council seek public consultation before releasing any strategy?
"The process is flawed."
Mrs Fox's family operates a farm in the Alexandra area.
A review of the strategy has been carried out by council management staff taking into account revised rural zones introduced by the state government in 2013.
Mr O'’Brien said public consultation should have been held before the strategy was updated and considered by administrators, Mrs Fox, Rodney Roschellor and Irene Grant.
Re-visiting the strategy was one of the major goals of administrators when they were appointed following the former council's sacking in September 2013.
"Once again the community is going to be put through unnecessary trauma for no real benefit," he said.
Mr O'Brien is from Greta and hasn't ruled out a return to council.
