Since Mansfield Shire Council began its consultation with the Merrijig community over the Delatite Valley Plan, the topic has captured people's attention and it has ignited their imagination.

The results have not always been positive.

When the draft plan was released for feedback, some locals turned to erecting signs of protest on their Merrijig properties.

"Keep Merrijig a community," one sign read.

"Save Merrijig," read another.

Housing estates amounting to several hundred houses, industrial and commercial developments, damage to the Delatite river and erosion of the area's rural charm and natural beauty have been the focus of protests delivered through a series of handwritten signs.

Some locals went as far as to protest Mt Buller's commercial interests' influence over Merrijig's future.

Many individuals have taken to community pages and the Mansfield Courier's letters to the editor to oppose the plan.

A divisive matter, the draft plan has caused disquiet and disharmony in the Delatite Valley.

But Mayor Cr Steve Rabie along with council insist the plan will reflect the entire community's wishes once it is finished, calling for those spreading misinformation to stop and to engage with the process.

Keen for the plan to reflect the wishes of the local community, council has held three information sessions; an online workshop held on 23 July, a drop-in session in Mansfield on 28 July and an in-person workshop in Merrijig on 8 August.

The three events were attended by approximately 50 members of the community.

Council representatives also attended a gathering hosted by the Delatite Valley Association at the Hunt Club in Merrijig on 19 August in which the draft plan was discussed with around 70 members of the community.

Council says that, along with the 50 attendees of the community sessions it has run to invite feedback, it has now received approximately 80 written submissions on the draft plan via Engage Mansfield and email.

Council also says that it received more than 60 responses to its ‘share your vision’ survey held in 2024, which informed the development of the draft plan.

Recently Mayor Cr Rabie was featured in a video posted to Mansfield Shire Council's social channels telling the Merrijig community that the Delatite Valley Plan belongs to them and not the council, saying that the community needs to continue make its voice heard through the correct channels during the consultation period to make sure the plan represents the community's wishes for the area.

“A community plan like this one helps us to establish what the community needs and expects now and into the future," Mayor Cr Rabie said.

"It sets us up to be able to go forward with funding requests from other levels of government to help the community to get what they really want.

“We have always recognised and protected the significant overlay of the Alpine approaches.

"We’re trying to protect the rural landscape from being carved up by people who want to live around the area and who can only do that by buying farmland and putting housing on it.

"We’ve already seen this happen.

"The only way to prevent this is to create appropriate and intentional housing where it won’t carve up the view, and where the community supports it.

"This is what we are asking – how can we develop this area strategically and in line with community needs?

“We have completed Community Plans at Bonnie Doon, Goughs Bay and Merton already.

"After the Delatite Valley Plan, we’ll go out to Jamieson and partner with the community there to develop a community plan.

"We are investing in our outlying communities and one by one, working with communities to make sure their needs are met now and into the future.

“We want to protect the valley landscape and views to the mountains.

"To protect these views, we need your views.

"We are listening.

"After this consultation period, we’ll present it back to the community, making sure we get it right."

Go to engage.mansfield.vic.gov.au to guide the Delatite Valley Plan.