Have your say on the draft Rural Land Use Strategy

Have your say on the draft Rural Land Use Strategy

Published on 16 July 2021

Macedon Ranges Shire Council invites the community to have their say on the proposed draft Rural Land Use Strategy between Monday 19 July and Monday 30 August 2021.

The draft Rural Land Use Strategy will help provide direction for the future use and development of land currently in the Farming Zone and Rural Conservation Zone to ensure the unique attributes of the land are protected.

The aim of the Rural Land Use Strategy is to: 

develop a vision for land currently in the Farming Zone and Rural Conservation Zone identify important values and features to be protected and enhanced respond to land use changes identify mechanisms to foster best practice land management promote economic development make recommendations on Planning Scheme changes required to implement the strategy.

Angela Hughes, Director Planning and Environment, emphasised that ongoing community feedback was an essential part of the process.

“Recommendations in the draft strategy are based on an analysis of the land, and the results of surveys previously conducted with residents and landholders,” Ms Hughes said.

“Council encourages residents and landowners to have their say on the recommendations in the draft strategy, which include changes to Planning Scheme controls including zones and overlays and will affect a range of land use and development opportunities in rural areas.”

Ms Hughes said that one of the primary purposes of the strategy is to ensure that agricultural land is available for farmers and other agribusiness operators to conduct business.

“Agricultural land is a finite resource, and we must ensure it is protected as it has an important role to play in the economy of the shire, as well as contributing to food and fibre production”, she said.

“The strategy seeks to provide farmers and other agribusiness operators with the certainty that they need to invest in and operate their businesses.”

Ms Hughes said that environmental and conservation policies remain central to the management of the shire’s rural areas.

“The Rural Land Use Strategy will ensure our important environment and conservation areas remain protected when considering future plans for how rural land can be used or developed,” she said.

“This draft strategy reinforces that new development in rural areas of the shire must concurrently deliver high quality economic and environmental outcomes.”

There are a number of ways you can have your say:

Submissions close Monday 30 August 2021. If you would like to receive updates as the project progresses, register here.