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Liberals To Improve Planning For Rural Land

A Liberal Government will protect the ‘right to farm’ and restore clear rights of land use, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today.

By Phillip Davis - 17th August 2006 - Back to News

Across country Victoria, the introduction of Backs Government ‘Rural Zones’ has resulted in loss of land values and great confusion about how particular parcels of land can be used and developed.

Would-be retirees have had their dreams of building a home on their chosen piece of land shattered with the elimination of pre-existing zones.

These zones have been introduced without consultation with local government, in many cases have gone against the wishes of local councils, land capability studies have not been undertaken and landholders have not been notified.

"A Liberal Government will protect valuable farmland and stop further Government translation of new zones," Mr Davis said.

"We will restore local government authority for zoning provisions, publicly report on the economic impact of the new zones and rewrite the zonings to re-establish appropriate land use opportunities.

"Up to $100,000 will be made available to each relevant council to undertake land capability studies to determine the extent of high value farmland needing protection, and will encourage application of buffers between farming zones and urban zones.

"It is also important for Government to acknowledge the difference between small lot and broad acre farming in rural zones and restore value to landowners."

"We will also allow councils to use discretion in allowing all other uses within the farming zone, relaxing the current prohibition."

Mr Davis said country Victorians were furious the Bracks Government had implemented the new Rural Zones without listening to the wishes of local government in the affected areas of the landholders themselves.

"A Liberal Government will not keep landowners in the dark, committing to make consultation mandatory with any future rural re-zoning," he said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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