May 5th, 2023Chance for locals to shape future rural land use in Hepburn Shire

The Hepburn Shire Council is inviting residents to have a say on what’s important about the shire’s rural areas, what should be protected and enhanced through future planning measures. 

The invitation to complete a survey is part of the council’s move to develop an Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy as part of its strategic planning project titled ‘Future Hepburn’.

The Agricultural Land and Rural Settlement Strategy aims to safeguard local agricultural productivity and the biodiversity of rural land from inappropriate development and provide for the future planning of the shire’s small rural settlements to 2043. 

Residents are being invited to Complete a survey and tell the council what they value about living in a rural area, what they regard appropriate development to be, challenges and opportunities for rural-based businesses, land availability and more.

The survey will be open until Friday 12 May with printed surveys also available at local libraries or council hubs in the shire.