Council voted on Wednesday night against applying the Department of Local Government for permanent approval of the levy.

The Greens’ Cr Clark said public submissions had been ignored.

“After an exhaustive community consultation period including eight public forums in various parts of the shire and the receipt of 79 written submissions, 70 of which were in favour of making the levy permanent, council has baulked at the formal approval to submit the application,” he said.

“I am extremely frustrated that Council has wasted resources going out to the public to seek their view on making the environment levy permanent, then chooses to completely ignore community support for the Levy.”

Cr Whipper labelled the decision a “travesty of justice”.

“They all support the environment levy, they just don’t want to vote for it,” he said.

“They keep talking about the environment and last night they all had the opportunity to put their money where their mouth was,” Cr Whipper said.

Since the introduction of the Environment levy in 2000, a series of ongoing environmental projects have been undertaken.

These projects were aimed at improving bushland and waterways, as well as restoring the shire’s biodiversity.

Cr Clark said the levy had been the catalyst for achieving restoration of public reserves and had received thousands of dollars in matched funding from government sources.

“It is a slap in the face both for the community and the many volunteer groups and individuals who have contributed thousands of hours of work,” he said.

Crs Whipper, Clark and Graham McLaughlin voted for the motion.

Mayor Duncan Gair said the present term of the levy had more than three years to run and perpetuity did not mean it would be in place “forever and a day”.

“It means we don’t have to go back to the Minister every year,” he said.

“There are plusses and minuses of both approaches.”

The Mayor also questioned whether an application for approval in perpetuity would weaken Council’s case for the state government to return waste levy income to local projects.

“Nobody is opposed to the levy,” he said.

“Councillors Whipper and Clark have an obvious and passionate view on the environment. They should be congratulated for that,” Cr Gair said.

“It may be a little unfair for Council to be painted in a light that shows it is not interested in the environment.”