VICTORIAN councils, planners and the state’s peak farming group have welcomed a State Government decision to set up an advisory committee to look into the state’s planning laws.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford said the new Animal Industries Advisory Committee would report on how the planning system could support the establishment and expansion of productive, competitive and market-responsive animal industries in Victoria.
“Agriculture is at the heart of Victoria's economy,” Ms Pulford said.
“We need to support this critical $11 billion sector to grow and prosper into the future.
"The new Advisory Committee will ensure we have the right laws in place to support this growth, and make life easier for our farmers by reducing red tape."
She said the new committee would report on changing farming practices and efforts to boost production, while looking at ways the planning system could be updated
Eminent town planning expert RMIT’s Professor of Environment and Planning Michael Buxton said the establishment of the committee was a positive step.
Professor Buxton said it would allow the issues to be considered at a state government level.
“It allows proper consideration of issues, across both planning and agricultural portfolios,” Professor Buxton said.
He said it was likely RMIT would put in a submission to the committee, to consider broader planning concerns it had examined in its research.
And Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Touhey said determining definitions of what was intensive and extensive agriculture was a good step forward.
“We need to get that sorted, so people can get on with their business,” Mr Touhey said.
“We have the opportunity to talk to the committee and get our viewpoint across.
“ The Government is listening to us – most of the time – I made the point to the Premier (Daniel Andrews) we are the biggest stakeholder and he needs to talk to us, which he is doing quite frequently.”
The decision to set up the committee was made in conjunction with plans to ‘call in’ the intensive farming permit, for David Blackmore’s Alexandra Wagyu beef farm.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne will now make a decision on the intensive farming permit, rejected by Murrindindi Shire Council.
“Planning laws need to keep pace with changes to farming, we are making sure rules around farmland underpin one of Victoria's most vital industries,” Mr Wynne said.
"Calling in Mr Blackmore's case is the first step in my assessment, which I will make with advice from the planning department.
“I will not pre-empt the final outcome.”
Mr Blackmore said the decision was a “huge relief” – but the decision on the permit would not be made until the advisory committee reported back to the Minister, in early December.
“He is not going to make this decision until they have this consultative committee report; it’s a reprieve, nothing more than a reprieve,” Mr Blackmore said.
But he said it was a huge relief not to have to take the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
He said he'd been told a hearing could take up to a year to resolve.
“This last 12 months has been horrendous, let alone having to go through it for another 12 months," Mr Blackmore said..
He changed his farming methods about five years ago.
He estimated that his farm, which employed 10 people, injected $3 million into the the Murrindindi economy, and another $3 million to the Victorian economy, each year.
But the change in farming methods, which was supplemented by mixed feed rations brought in from outside, brought objections about increased dust, noise, traffic, smells and birdlife.
In June, Murrindindi Council rejected its own advice – from its planning officers - who recommended Mr Blackmore's operation continue, subject to stringent conditions.
Professor Buxton said it was highly unusual for a Planning Minister to “call in” an application
“I think the existing planning system would have resolved this effectively, had it been allowed to go ahead.”
But he said letting the matter go to to VCAT would have meant there was less opportunity to canvass broader planning concerns, with the government.
“It’s a political solution, it removes it from legal system,” Professor Buxton said.
It also came as the Bass Council rejected an application for the 1000 head Yo You cattle barn and milk processing plant, at Kernot, south Gippsland.
In refusing the proposal, council said the development did not sit comfortably within the natural landscape of the area.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Kimberley Brown, said council considered the size of the proposed cattle barn and milk processing plant in its decision.
She welcomed the setting up of the advisory committee.
“Consistent with council’s resolution, we will be writing to the Agriculture Minister to request engagement on sustainable intensification,” Cr Brown said.
“We’ll also be inviting Minister Pulford to visit Bass Coast and meet with our councillors to discuss our experience with Yo You’s planning application in Kernot.”
The Animal Industries Advisory Committee will submit its report to Mr Wynne and Ms Pulford on December 1, 2015.
