Small Rural Lots Project

1. Small Rural Lots Project MAV Rural Land Use Planning Forum by Natalie Reiter and Erica Birchall 30 November 2012

2. SRL: VISION & GOAL • The purpose of this project: • To document, as an ongoing resource for Councils, a report that: • Provides an understanding of how small lots should be managed through reference to the State Planning Policy Framework. • Understand how small lots are being managed differently; where they are being managed well and move councils toward better practices (through capturing the knowledge of the sector). • Identifies issues faced by Councils associated with managing small lots through planning scheme and permit processes. • Identifies best practice approaches, outlining when, how and in what circumstances they should or could be applied. • Reviews all 8 interface, 11 regional and 38 rural council planning schemes to identify current approaches to managing small lots.

3. SRL: Vision & Goal • The purpose of this project: • Why? • Councils identified they require additional support when assessing planning permit applications for dwellings on small lots, particularly when assessing whether a dwelling is reasonably required for the operation of agriculture. • Out of scope: • Changes to the VPP • Project is based on existing VPP

4. SRL: Methodology • Methodology: • How should they be managed – review of planning scheme and policy • How are they managed – survey, review of council planning schemes, VCAT and PPV • What are the issues facing their management – workshop, survey and research • What are some of the tools Council’s currently use and could use – workshops and investigation in to how similar issues are dealt with elsewhere • Council Engagement: • Survey of Council Officers – all but one of the rural Councils responded • Issues workshop – state-wide workshop to confirm issues • Series of regional solution workshops – 6 regional workshops with Council officers and Councillors in attendance • Discussions with Planning Panels Victoria and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

5. SRL: Opportunity Themes • The issues and options workshop identified the following opportunity themes: • Communication/Education • Process/Policy • Approvals • Enforcement

6. SRL: Key Issues • Key Issues identified: • Existing settlement pattern and precedent • Agricultural change and variability • Determination of whether dwellings are reasonably required • Managing expectations – land use and development rights • Delegation of decision making within local government • Applications for development of existing small rural lots • Applications for creation of new small rural lots

7. SRL: Key Issues • Key Issues identified: • Declining regions vs growth regions • Policy guidance • Consistency of Policy Interpretation by Council Officers • Implications of not allowing dwellings • Enforcement Issues • Process

8. SRL: Actions • Actions identified for addressing small rural lots include: • Existing settlement pattern and precedent • Agricultural change and variability • Determination of whether dwellings are reasonably required • Managing expectations – land use and development rights • Delegation of decision making within local government • Applications for development of existing small rural lots • Applications for creation of new small rural lots

9. SRL: Actions • Actions identified for addressing small rural lots include: • Declining regions vs growth regions • Policy guidance • Consistency of Policy Interpretation by Council Officers • Implications of not allowing dwellings • Enforcement Issues • Process

10. SRL: Key Findings • Some of the key findings arising from this project include: • Farm advisory group; • Local planning policies; • Checklists; • Conditions; • Lending and ATO tax benefit.

11. SRL: Questions • Where to now? • Access to the report and resources? • Any other questions?