Bland Shire Council will take its concerns about the Biodiversity Values Map, commonly referred to as the "pink maps", to the Local Government NSW Conference in Wollongong this November.
Councillors voted on Tuesday night to submit a motion calling on the NSW Government to expedite the review and reform of the maps and establish an oversight committee with equal rural and government representation.
Mayor Brian Monaghan said the issue was creating significant challenges for local landholders, with some farmers concerned about their ability to carry out normal farming activities on their own properties.
"Rural people must have a genuine say in decisions that directly affect their land, livelihoods and communities," Mayor Monaghan said.
"The current process does not provide a clear, timely or effective review pathway for affected landholders. An oversight committee would give the process the transparency and accountability it currently lacks."
Mayor Monaghan said Council wanted to see rural representatives involved in any review process.
"This is about giving landholders a voice and ensuring decisions affecting the bush include representation from the bush," he said.
The motion calls on Local Government NSW to advocate for the NSW Government to establish an oversight committee, supported by legal oversight, to progress the review as a matter of urgency.
Councillors also supported a Conference motion to lobby for State Government support of a program designed to build resilience and wellbeing for children and young people across the state.
Mayor Monaghan said the Resilience Project, which has been delivered in schools within the Bland Shire throughout this year, provides a practical, evidence-informed model to use consistent language and daily strategies to build positive mental health.
"Embedding the principles of The Resilience Project across all NSW schools would strengthen this work by providing a consistent, universal and practical framework that can be adapted across school communities and reinforced at home," he said.
"A statewide approach would help ensure that all students, regardless of location or school type, have access to simple and repeatable wellbeing practices that support resilience and positive mental health."
Mayor Monaghan said that independent research undertaken indicates that long-term participation in the School Wellbeing Program is associated with improved wellbeing outcomes, including higher life satisfaction, hope and coping skills, as well as lower reported indicators of anxiety and depression.
The motions will be considered by Councils from across NSW at the LGNSW Conference, scheduled for 22-24 November at the WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
