Alpine Shire Council is developing a Rural Directions Strategy to provide direction on the future use and development of rural land, including rural settlements, across Alpine Shire.
In short:
- Rural landowners and users are invited to contribute to an Issues and Opportunities Paper, which will inform a Rural Directions Strategy.
- The Rural Directions Strategy will inform how rural land is protected, used, subdivided and developed in the future, and will include a review of current rural planning controls.
- There will be opportunities for community members to have their say through a 10-minute survey, as well as three in-person workshops and one online workshop in June.
- Engagement is open from Monday, 19 May to Friday, 20 June 2025.
- Have your say by visiting https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/alpine-rural-directions-strategy
Rural land is valuable to Alpine Shire’s economy and environment, generating $72 million in economic value in 2021 and supporting 10% of local jobs.
The Rural Directions Strategy will inform how rural land is used and developed, with a focus on balancing the need to identify and protect productive farmland and natural landscapes, while providing opportunities for emerging rural employment opportunities.
An Issues and Opportunities Paper has been developed to highlight key challenges and opportunities for rural land in Alpine Shire, which will be used to inform the development of a future Rural Directions Strategy.
The Paper is part one of two rounds of community engagement and focuses on areas where there is pressure between different uses - such as farming, tourism, industry, and housing.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, encouraged rural landowners and users, as well as other members of Alpine Shire communities, to contribute to the development of the Rural Directions Strategy by reviewing and providing feedback on the Paper.
"We understand that there can be pressure between the different uses of rural land and this is an opportunity to identify planning controls to help manage potential conflict," she said.
"By having their say on the Issues and Opportunities Paper, rural landowners and users can identify areas that have significant value and put forward ways to support appropriate land use and activities."
The Rural Directions Strategy will help Council:
- Protect areas with important agricultural and landscape value;
- Support rural settlements with appropriate land use and activities;
- Identify locations for existing and emerging rural employment;
- Explore ways to strengthen the rural economy; and
- Review current rural planning controls and propose changes, where needed.
Community members can help shape the Rural Directions Strategy by filling out a survey, joining both in-person and online workshops in July, or putting forward a written submission to our Strategic Planning team.
Online
- 6pm - 7pm
- Tuesday, 10 June 2025
- Link will be emailed upon registration
Dederang
- 10.30am - 12.30pm
- Wednesday, 11 June 2025
- Dederang Recreation Reserve Multipurpose Room
Porepunkah
- 6.30pm - 8.30pm
- Wednesday, 11 June 2025
- Porepunkah Hall
Myrtleford
- 2pm – 4pm
- Thursday, 12 June 2025
- Myrtleford Senior Citizens' Centre
The engagement period is open now until Friday, 20 June 2025.
Community members are encouraged to have their say and register online by visiting https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/alpine-rural-directions-strategy.