- Minister for Planning
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to permanently tighten controls to better protect Melbourne's green wedges against overdevelopment.
Consultation is now open for communities, councils, farmers and agricultural industries around Melbourne's green wedge and peri-urban areas to help identify and protect vital agricultural land.
This is part of the Labor Government's comprehensive review of outer-suburban and peri-urban land – which will improve land use and assist decision-making in these areas.
The Government has been undertaking technical work in partnership with Agriculture Victoria and Deakin University to provide an evidence base and inform criteria for identifying strategic agricultural land.
This includes compiling information on soils, landscapes, access to water, climate and versatility of land and under different climate futures.
Stakeholders and communities can now help shape those criteria to determine the land that should be classified as strategic agricultural land, so the Government can establish stronger controls in the planning system to support and protect these areas.
This work delivers on Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 and ensures that green wedge and peri-urban areas are carefully planned and managed to avoid irreversible land-use change and support their ongoing productivity.
Submissions can be made online through Engage Victoria or at a series of workshops which will be held in March and April.
To make a submission and for more information visit engage.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
"We said we would protect Melbourne's unique green wedges and that's exactly what we're doing."
"Once these areas are gone, they're gone forever – it's important we carefully assess these areas and preserve them for future generations."
As noted by Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes
"We're providing greater certainty for agricultural businesses to support long term growth, investment and innovation."
