Current Status

Submissions

The submission period for the Rural City of Wangaratta’s Draft Rural Land Strategy closed on Thursday, 30 June 2011.  

Outcomes of the Public Meetings

A major consultation process has been conducted with one-on-one consultation sessions and public meetings.  During April and May public meetings were held at Whorouly, Springhurst, Moyhu and Wangaratta.  There was acknowledgement that farming should be protected in the farm zone.  Other comments received were generally around the following points:

• 250 hectare minimum  for the ‘as of right’ construction of a dwelling in the farming zone is too large, one size fits all approach won’t work;
• extending the Rural Conservation Zone will disadvantage many landowners for little benefit;
• the Strategy will impact property valuations, superannuation plans and succession planning;
• restrictions on proposed dwellings in conjunction with grazing is too severe;
• the Strategy undervalues the contribution  of part-time farmers with off-farm income; and
• the impact on rural communities requires a social impact assessment to be undertaken.

Meeting with the Minister for Planning

The Mayor, Cr Anthony Griffiths and Chief Executive Officer, Doug Sharp, together with, Tim McCurdy, Member for Murray Valley and Bill Sykes, Member for Benalla, met with the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, to seek clarification on his position with regard to the Draft Rural Land Strategy.  The following outcomes were noted:

• the Minister said he will not support a 250 hectare minimum for the ‘as of right’ construction of a dwelling in the farming zone;
• did not offer an alternative and encouraged Council to work through other options, in consultation with the community;
• does not support discontinuing the Draft Rural Land Strategy and has no opinions on the other elements of it; and
• would prefer Council to continue with the process and respond to the issues as part of the review.

Future

Review

Council is currently assessing all comments and submissions as part of a review

Agriculture and Agribusiness Advisory Committee

It has become evident that a need exists for a formal mechanism through which issues affecting the agricultural sector can be heard and considered.  To provide this Council has established an Agricultural and Agribusiness Advisory Committee. 

The Committee will not only advise on the future development of the Draft Rural Land Strategy, but provide Council with ongoing advice on such matters as:

• strengthening and developing the agricultural base;
• agricultural land and water use issues;
• policy and planning in relation to agriculture and agribusiness;
• emerging opportunities, challenges and risks to the agricultural sector; and
• strategic development of the Wangaratta Livestock Exchange complex.

Review Timeframe

The most likely timeframe for the review of the Draft Rural Land Strategy is:

• development of a revised draft strategy in consultation with the Agricultural and Agribusiness Advisory Committee – September / October 2011;
• Council consideration and exhibition of the revised draft strategy – November 2011 - January 2012; and
• Council resolve a position on a revised Draft Rural Land Strategy – February 2012.

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