Updates to Land Use Terms – changes to Victorian Planning Provisions

The Minister for Planning has approved Amendment VC159 after considering the Land Use Terms Advisory Committee report. Amendment VC159 introduces changes to the Victoria Planning Provisions by:

• introducing new land use terms;
• revising the definition of land use terms; and
• change where land use terms are nested.

The changes intend to provide greater clarity to planning application assessments. A key message coming out from these changes is that planning is starting to better recognise the value of the tourism and sustainability sectors.

Watch this space – possible future movements

Also wanting to flag that the Committee recommends the Minister for Planning to:

• Review whether there is merit in defining Brewery, Distillery or Chocolate factory and other similar uses, which have a tourism orientation and an industry orientation. – noting that Brewery falls within industry or potentially manufacturing sales, which would be subject to permit in the Farming Zone and prohibited in Commercial 1, Township and Green Wedge Zones
• Consult with rural councils on the need for a definition for Rural workers’ accommodation and whether the accommodations should be: permanent or temporary, movable or fix, self contained or not self contained, just for the specific farm or for a wider rural area;
• Review whether there is merit in broadening the definition of Primary produce sales to support agritourism; and
• Review whether the prohibition on Caravan and camping park in the Rural Conservation Zone

It is worth reading. For more details, please go to https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/428826/Land-Use-Terms-Advisory-Committee-Report.pdf