Murrindindi Shire Deputy Mayor Cr Leigh Dunscombe continues to come under fierce personal attack, following a unanimous vote of Councillors to reject a planning permit application related to a cemetery at Kinglake.

Cr Dunscombe has emphasised that the permit rejection was not to deny a cemetery at Kinglake, but to stop what was regarded as an inappropriate process.

Cr Dunscombe said the Kinglake Cemetery Trust had not undertaken sufficient community consultation, there had been no public meetings, and that there had been insufficient public information.

“He won’t represent us, he doesn’t get paid enough to do it,” said one member of the public at the Kinglake Ranges, Castella and Toolangi Community Page on Facebook.

Another resident said: “I (and others) feel the Council should have done more to assist and support the Trust, who are a group of volunteers, while the Council is a paid body elected by us to lead this community and work with our local groups.

“They were trying to get planning zoning changed so they don’t have to consult with the community or put plans on display. This is why the council voted against it,” they continued.

Some locals discussed the possibility of supporting another local candidate for the Kinglake Ward seat at the 2020 election.