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 Persistent land use conflict and outdated regulation for animal production industries has hampered growth in the sector and led to adverse environmental and public health outcomes.
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 is now consulting on the proposed reforms to gather the views of interested Victorians via the Engage Victoria web platform. This consultation will ensure that community and industry expectations are met with these proposed regulations. Consultation is open now until 22 April 2024.
How to participate
Agriculture Victoria is seeking your feedback on the new regulations to ensure they meet community and industry expectations.
Create an account on Engage Victoria to provide feedback on the proposed Clause.
We strongly encourage you to provide your feedback by answering the questions and uploading a short submission detailing your thoughts on the reforms and how they may or may not impact you.
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.
Click on the Follow button on Engage Victoria to provide your email address to be notified of project updates and future opportunities to provide feedback. You can unsubscribe from email updates at any time.