June 24th, 2024Just sayin’…

By Donna Kelly

I had some time last week so I did a bit of a Google around about farmland and farm zones. I realise there are experts just waiting on Facebook but instead I went to the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

Anyway, I found some interesting words and thought I would share them. From a guide for planning authorities about the strategic work required to apply the different zones, the purposes and features of each zone and where they may be applied.

I might have cherry picked a little, but it was a long read. And I only get this little column so I have to be sparse with words. Here goes:

“The rural areas of Victoria accommodate a range of farming, residential, industrial and commercial uses and contain many of the state’s significant natural resources, such as native vegetation, minerals and water. They also provide important resources for recreation, tourism and timber production.

“The suite of rural zones for Victoria: recognise the state, regional and local importance of farming as an industry and provide greater protection for productive agricultural land: discourage ad hoc and incompatible use and development; and recognise and protect rural areas that are environmentally sensitive.

“Victoria’s changing rural landscape requires planning authorities to think strategically about their farming areas and rural settlement patterns, so that sustainable farming is promoted and potential conflicts between farming and other land uses are avoided.

“Sound strategic planning for rural areas is essential to ensuring that land use and development achieves the planning authority’s vision and strategic objectives for an area.

“It can help ensure that: farmland and farming industries of state, regional or local significance are protected; future use of existing natural resources, including productive agricultural land, water, and mineral and energy resources, is sustainable; scarce resources, such as water, are protected; existing visual and environmental qualities of rural areas are protected; and conflicts between farming and other land uses are avoided.

“(Any) strategy should include an assessment of: the physical attributes of the land and its capacity to support productive agricultural uses including soil type, climate, vegetation cover, access to water, slope and drainage; agricultural trends in the area, including agricultural productivity, changes in farming practices and processes, and farm investment patterns; and the natural resources and environmental features in the area and their importance including flora and fauna, significant habitats, wetlands, scenic landscapes and sites of archaeological or cultural significance.

“(A) farming zone – a zone that is predominantly focussed on protecting and promoting farming and agriculture.

“Farming Zone Purpose: To provide for the use of land for agriculture; to encourage the retention of productive agricultural land; to ensure that non agricultural uses, including dwellings, do not adversely affect the use of land for agriculture; to encourage the retention of employment and population to support rural communities; and to encourage use and development of land based on comprehensive and sustainable land management practices and infrastructure provision.”

And I think that just might be my submission to council. Thanks Department of Planning. Done. Just sayin’…