Engage Victoria public consultation

New planning regulations for animal industries

Victoria’s animal industries are significant contributors to the state’s economy, employing around 37,900 people and contributing to over 50 per cent (more than $9 billion) of Victoria’s total value of agricultural production. Persistent land use conflict and outdated regulation for animal production industries has hampered growth in the sector.

Agriculture Victoria has developed a proposed new set of planning regulations for the establishment and expansion of animal production facilities in Victoria. Through careful planning, Victoria’s animal production facilities can be located, designed and managed to support continued industry growth and ensure environmental and community expectations are met.

These proposed planning regulations have been drafted to support best practice developments while balancing economic, community and environmental outcomes. The Victorian Government has worked closely with industry, community, and technical experts to co-design the reforms. The proposed Clause is to be incorporated into the Victoria Planning Provisions and will provide a more streamlined mechanism to address animal production related planning permits.

The Clause will bring about several significant innovations and benefits for investors, the community and the environment, including:

• Simplifying planning for investment and best practice development,
• Improving planning assessments with newly developed scientifically calculated parameters,
• Providing better guidance to support public amenity and environmental outcomes,
• A risk-based approach to the protection of the environment and the public.

Agriculture Victoria has now completed the consultation on Engage Victoria. This consultation provided community and industry the opportunity to share their expectations on the proposed regulations.

Next steps

Agriculture Victoria will consider feedback collected during the Engage Victoria public consultation in the finalisation of the proposed Clause.

A report summarising the feedback received through the Engage Victoria consultation will be made available on Engage Victoria and on the Agriculture Victoria Planning Hub.

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