Agriculture Victoria Planning and Advisory Service
In December 2021 the Victorian Government announced the Agriculture Victoria Planning and Advisory Service.
The Agriculture Victoria Planning and Advisory Service (the Advisory Service) is part of the Planning for Agricultural Growth initiative which supports easier, faster and smarter agricultural planning for Victoria.
If you would like to access the Advisory Service, please send your enquiry via email to agvic.planning@agriculture.vic.gov.au
What is the Agriculture Victoria Planning and Advisory Service?
The Advisory Service consists of five advisors with specialist knowledge of Victorian agricultural farming systems to assist council planners and landholders to navigate the planning permit application process for agricultural developments.
The Advisory Service provides agricultural planning advice across all agricultural sectors including but not limited to dairy, pigs and poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, horticulture and grains.
The service provides independent and trusted advice to council planners and agricultural landholders on planning rules and requirements for the establishment of a new agricultural development or expansion of an existing agricultural business.
It understands the on-farm planning challenge faced by agricultural landholders including small-scale producers through to large commercial operations.
What assistance can the Advisory Service provide council planners?
The Advisory Service is available to support regional and rural council planners to navigate efficient planning for agricultural developments.
Assistance for council planners includes:
- Participating in pre-application meetings with landholders and planning authorities to guide them on agriculture land use planning requirements.
- Undertaking technical review of agriculture land use planning applications received via Section 52 Notice from councils.
- Assessing planning applications against relevant legislation and providing written independent advice back to council.
- Providing peer support, learning events through regular Planner Forums, and online resources to build the agricultural expertise of planners.
- Helping planners understand and stay up to date on Victorian Codes of Practice and agriculture land use planning requirements to deliver timely agricultural planning outcomes.
What assistance can the Advisory Service provide agricultural landholders?
The Advisory Service provides advice on agriculture land use planning for developments across major agricultural sectors including pigs, goats, dairy (cattle, sheep, goat and camel), feedlots (cattle, sheep and goat), poultry (meat, eggs and hatchery), horticulture and grains. It can also provide advice on rural workers accommodation.
Assistance for agricultural landholders includes:
- Linking agricultural landholders to their council planning department and participating in pre-application meetings with council and other planning authorities to guide them on agriculture land use planning requirements.
- Linking agricultural landholders to the relevant Victorian agriculture Codes of Practice and planning information.
- Providing information on how to consider environmental and amenity requirements in planning applications.
- Providing access to farming systems information and experience via Agriculture Victoria’s extensive state-wide network.
- Linking farmers to information and online tools, including Agriculture Victoria’s Navigating Farm Developments online planning tool.
What happens when I contact the service?
Enquiries received by the Advisory Service are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and allocated to:
- A member in the Advisory Service; or
- Other farming systems technical specialists within Agriculture Victoria; or
- The Responsible Authority such as local council or a planning authority.
Funding
The Advisory Service receives funding from the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Regulatory Reform Incentive Fund and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s Agricultural Planning and Advisory Service for Victorian Councils project.
More information
Find out more: