Macedon Ranges Shire Council has axed its controversial draft Rural Land Use Strategy.
Councillors voted unanimously in support of a recommendation not to progress the strategy last week following 177 community submissions.
The strategy proposed a swathe of rural land changes including rezoning large areas of farmland that would restrict primary producers who wish to diversify their agricultural focus.
Farmers who united against the changes to form the Macedon Ranges Agriculture Alliance are relieved at the council’s decision, said chairperson James Walsh.
“The MRAA did not think the strategy was the right thing for the shire. Members are ecstatic with the news that it will not proceed in its current form,” he said.
“We’re pleased that the council has listened to the community feedback. If the council can continue to work with landholders we will be able to develop improvements.
“We’ve got beautiful environment and landscapes in the Macedon Ranges and the MRAA understands the strong focus on protection but it cannot be at a loss to existing farming. We are in a strong position for food production but we need to do it in a balanced way. One can’t outweigh the other.”
The strategy had also proposed rezoning other pockets of rural conservation to farm land and introduction of a rural activity zone that would allow for accommodation, restaurants and convenience stores. This zone was earmarked for land in the shire’s northeast between Woodend, Tylden and Malmsbury.
Councillors struggled to back the draft strategy for community consultation in 2021 with a split 5-4 vote in favour of its release following four years of development. At the time, some councillors identified what they called “glaring mistakes” in the document.
Last week, the council’s recommendations noted that a significant amount of background work, research and community feedback had been captured as part of developing the draft strategy, which sought to update the shire’s inaugural 2002 Rural Land Strategy.
Council also noted that a state government review – the Planning for Melbourne’s Green Wedge and Strategic Agricultural Land project – and certain bushfire considerations both remained unresolved, potentially overlapping some parts of the strategy.
Mayor Annette Death said it was pleasing to see the high level of engagement from the community on the strategy, with council being thorough and considered in its review.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved for their input and note that this will form invaluable feedback and research for any future work,” she said.
“We acknowledge that the strategy will no longer proceed, particularly while there is still work happening beyond our scope that could ultimately impact it going forward.”
Any future work on rural land use and development would be progressed as a new project, and would be subject to council approval as part of any future Council Plan and/or budget process.
