DEVELOPING a strategy towards genetically modified (GM) crops between all Riverland towns is “vital”, according to a local council.
Renmark Paringa councillors passed a motion at last month’s general meeting to seek community opinion as to whether GM crops should be permitted in the council area.
Renmark Paringa director corporate and community services Tim Pfeiffer said Riverland councils would need to take the same approach in allowing, or maintaining a moratorium, on GM crops in the region.
“The mayors discussed this together about a fortnight ago,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“They discussed the fact it would be good to take a regional approach to it and I think it’s vital we take a regional approach to it.
“However, we still need to consult as individual councils before we bring the results of that consultation back… so we’ll undertake a thorough and full consultation as a result.”
Amendments to the State Government’s GM crop legislation allowed individual councils six months to apply to keep the ban in place.
Mr Pfeiffer advised locals wanting to provide input to research GM crops through online resources.
“It’s going to be up to individuals to find that evidence,” he said.
“We’re not imposing this law, we’re just the ones who are consulting on it.
“Go back to PIRSA or SARDI to extract evidence that is relevant to GM crops before you make a decision.
“It’s the sort of decision we only get to make once… so we need to make sure we’re properly engaging our people and they have a decent voice in the matter.”
More information on GM crops in South Australia can be found by visiting the PIRSA website (www.pir.sa.gov.au/primary_industry/genetically_modified_gm_crops).