LOCAL PROVISION INDIGO PLANNING SCHEME

21.04-2 ECONOMY

21.04-2-1 Agriculture

Overview

The Shire’s economy is predominantly based around agriculture, which generates about $60 million (1995/96) worth of produce per year. The agricultural economy also generates 25% of the north east region’s agricultural produce.

While beef cattle and dairying are the largest value commodities in the Shire there is a wide range of agricultural product produced within the Shire. There is also substantial potential for further diversification, processing and the linking production to tourism in viticulture and horticulture.

The Shire has three major high quality agricultural areas that will continue to be an ongoing strength of the Shire’s economy. These areas all have special attributes that produce high value and high quality products. They are the: ƒ Rutherglen viticulture area, acknowledged world wide for its quality and range of fortified wines. ƒ Kiewa River Valley, a highly productive dairy area that supports the Murray Goulburn Factory at Kiewa Tangambalanga. ƒ Stanley horticulture area, a unique area of Victoria that has attributes of red soils found at high altitude, which combine to produce high quality apples, berries and nuts.

The continued use of land zoned for rural production is paramount to the economic future of the Shire. Across the Shire there is great variability in land capability and production potential. Consequently the concept of a uniform minimum lot size is not appropriate for the Shire. Indeed much of the Shire already comprises lots less than 40ha as a result of subdivisions made during the gold rush era. Further subdivisions in the rural area, particularly new lots less than 40ha, should facilitate productive use of land and ensure sustainable practices in respect of the resource base.

The Indigo Shire currently plays a limited role in timber production in the State’s north east. The plantations established within the Shire support the processing of timber for mills located at Albury-Wodonga, Benalla, Wangaratta, Tumbarumba and Myrtleford. Opportunities exist for Indigo Shire to increase its level of timber production and contribute to this significant industry in north eastern Victoria.

A significant element of Council's economic development strategy is to provide for high quality residential and rural living environments and the expansion of tourism. Both these strategies are based on the quality and presentation of the Shire’s rural and township heritage and the quality of the Shire’s landscapes. Plantation timber production should not prejudice the Shire’s economic assets, including heritage, significant landscapes and high quality agricultural land.

Issues

ƒ The significance of high quality agricultural land and the need to protect this resource. ƒ Broadacre grazing and crop production areas need also to be supported and protected because of their economic significance.

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ƒ The high number of existing Crown Allotments within the rural area and continued pressure for housing development. ƒ Need to accommodate non-agricultural uses that can conflict with established agricultural and horticultural land uses. ƒ Need to encourage further diversification into new agricultural products. ƒ Legitimate demand for smaller lots (<40ha) related to intensive agriculture and/or rural production. ƒ Potential for large scale plantations to impact on the quality and presentation of the Shire’s rural and township heritage, landscape quality, classified National Trust landscapes and high quality agricultural land.

Objectives

ƒ To facilitate more intensive use and diversified use of rural land for higher value products including horticulture, intensive animal husbandry and farm forestry, which are compatible with surrounding farming practices. ƒ To ensure that the use and development of rural land is both compatible and complementary to agricultural activities. ƒ To encourage agricultural diversity and promote opportunities for new farming enterprises. ƒ To allow subdivision of rural land which facilitates the ongoing rural use of land. ƒ To encourage the establishment of small-scale plantations (<40ha) on previously cleared agricultural land integrated with farming systems and in locations which are capable of providing road infrastructure requirements to this industry. ƒ To promote processing and value adding industries to be located within the Shire. ƒ To ensure that timber production and harvesting is not incompatible with the Shire’s economic base, including heritage, significant landscapes and high quality agricultural land. To identify suitable locations for rural living. ƒ To ensure that drainage, run off and catchment management issues are considered in relation to new uses and developments.

Strategies

ƒ Support high quality agricultural land in the Kiewa Valley, Stanley Horticultural Area and the Rutherglen Viticulture Area. ƒ Direct rural living and hobby farming developments into established and/or fragmented areas around Allan’s and Osborne's Flat, Wooragee, Fighting Gully and Barnawartha. ƒ Supporting plantation establishment in appropriate areas as a means of developing an alternative timber resource to native forests. ƒ Support the retention of the Shire’s heritage assets and significant landscapes as important economic and cultural assets. ƒ Encourage small-scale forestry (<40ha) to: - reduce environmental problems associated with erosion and clearing of native vegetation; - produce high quality and high value raw material as an opportunity for local businesses to value add to this material to meet niche market.

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ƒ Encourage the establishment of the Renewable Energy (Biodiesel) and Rendering Facility in Plemings Road, Barnawartha.

Implementation

Zones & Overlays

Application of the following zones and overlays:

ƒ Rural Zone to all agricultural areas, generally providing for 40ha subdivision size, but allowing variation in lot size according to the agricultural requirements of the proposed use. ƒ Requirement for a planning permit to be obtained for timber production greater than 40ha in those areas of the Rural Zone covered by the Significant Landscape Overlay 1 (Lake Hume), Significant Landscape Overlay 2 (Rural Landscape), Environmental Significance Overlay 1 (High Quality Agricultural Land) and land identified in the incorporated document "Classified National Trust Landscapes applying to the Shire of Indigo 1998". ƒ Rural Living Zone to acknowledge hobby farm areas of the Shire at Yackandandah, Beechworth and Barnawartha and provide new areas at Wooragee and Fighting Gully. ƒ Environmental Rural Zone to freehold land located in the Stanley Forest area. ƒ Rural Floodway Overlay to identify land within the 1 in 100 year flood along the Murray and Kiewa and Ovens Rivers, to protect waterways and water quality. ƒ Land Subject to Inundation Overlay to identify land subject to inundation to protect urban areas from the flooding effects of rivers and creeks. ƒ Environmental Significance Overlays to : - protect high quality agricultural land in the Kiewa River Valley and Stanley horticultural area; - control drainage works within the Black Dog Creek catchment that may lead to increasing flood levels or redirection of flood waters. ƒ Special Use Zone Schedule 2 Renewable Energy (Biodiesel) and Rendering Facility to recognise and provide site specific controls for the purposes of developing and using the site for biodiesel production and rendering.

Local policies

Implementation of the following local policies:

ƒ Land use, development and subdivision in rural areas policy- to ensure compatibility between new uses and development in rural areas and the existing grazing, dairying and horticultural industries. ƒ Landcare and catchment management policy - to assist in the implementation of the principles of Landcare and catchment management when considering the use and development of land. ƒ Fire hazard policy - to ensure that new uses and development do not increase the risk of fire and to ensure that that appropriate fire services to habitable buildings are provided. ƒ Rural living policy - to specify the requirements for any future development or rezoning of land for Rural Living purposes. ƒ House lot excisions policy- to set out the matters for consideration in any house lot excision proposal.

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ƒ Timber production policy – to guide applications for planning permit for timber production. ƒ Rural dwelling siting and design guidelines policy - to specify matters to be taken into account in the layout and development of rural land. ƒ Development adjoining the Murray River, Lake Hume and Lake Moodemere policy – to ensure water quality and visual amenity are not prejudiced by inappropriate development. ƒ Effluent disposal and water quality policy – to apply to the development of land not serviced by reticulated sewerage.

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21.04-2-2 Tourism

Overview

Indigo Shire forms part of the region covered by the Legends, Wine and High Country Regional Tourism Development Plan. Tourism development within the Shire is strongly based on heritage, the wine industry and the quality of the rural landscapes. It boasts a range of exceptional tourism products; from the well-known Rutherglen wineries, to the historic towns of Beechworth, Chiltern and Yackandandah to the quality food establishments and range of accommodation. The region includes foothills, valleys and plains with diverse landscapes and great natural appeal. Significant rivers include the Murray and the Kiewa. Major water bodies catering for fishing, boating, water skiing and canoeing include Lake Hume, Lake Mulwala and Lake Moodemere.

The collection of significant buildings and places associated with the gold rush era, agriculture and the wine industry combine to give Indigo Shire one of the State’s greatest concentrations of built heritage. All towns contain a large number of heritage buildings and places, many of which are of State significance. Beechworth is a particularly fine example of a Victorian gold town, with an almost intact streetscape.

Rutherglen’s mainly family vineyards represent generations of winegrowers, while a long tradition of wine events have implanted the region strongly on community consciousness in Victoria. But the strength of the region also lies in its potential for quality wines, its role as a producer of fortified wines, reflected in an international reputation for muscats and tokays.

The quality of the landscape setting is a great tourist resource. The value of the landscape within a number of areas of the Shire is high, evidenced by the classification applied to large areas by the National Trust (Victoria). The Protection of the visual quality and significance of the prominent hills, slopes and extensive open landscapes is a key goal of the Shire. The Region’s natural assets are protected by a number of National and State Parks and by extensive areas of State Forest and other public land eg. Stanley Forest, Chiltern Box Iron-bark National Park.

The region’s proximity to Melbourne and to the routes travelled by interstate and international visitors, give it access to the fastest growing sectors of the Australian tourist industry. Whilst visitor expenditure is difficult to gauge, a conservative figure of $40 million per annum is estimated. This does not account for the multiplier effect of tourism and subsequent income generated in the local economy. This highlights the significance of tourism as a major industry within the Shire.

Whilst there is an established tourist industry, the challenge is where to apply resources for the greatest benefit. Building on existing successful products, creating new opportunities or tapping new markets are all options. There is opportunity to build a future tourism product around the quality of the environmental experience and the scenic qualities of the region. There is scope for greater integration of the Shire’s attractions and the formalisation of tourist trails and routes related to wine and food industry. Opportunity also exists for development of an export-based agricultural industry in NE Victoria to complement a tourist industry featuring food and wine.

Issues

ƒ Lack of public transport throughout the region and the difficulties for those without their own car. ƒ Urban visitor management, particularly traffic and parking conflicts in town centres at peak visitor periods eg. Beechworth.

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ƒ Competition for the wine industry from wineries closer to Melbourne. ƒ The need for effective tourism signage and a reliable accessible visitor information service ƒ The need to enhance and protect the Shire’s natural assets as non-renewable resources essential to the long-term sustainability of tourism as an industry. ƒ The need to identify, record and conserve significant Koori cultural sites within the municipality ƒ The need to ensure that new tourist development is sensitive to existing heritage buildings, streetscapes and rural landscapes within the Shire.

Objectives

ƒ To facilitate further development of the Shire’s recreation and tourist attractions and facilities, whilst protecting the environment, the landscape and the amenity of the Shire and its residents. ƒ To develop an integrated Visitor Information Centre network throughout the Shire. ƒ To encourage a diverse range of tourist activities and facilities in appropriate locations, consistent with identified themes ƒ To encourage and provide for a greater number of local and interstate overnight visitors and to increase their average length of stay in the region. ƒ To optimise employment and economic benefits to the Shire’s residents from appropriate recreation and tourism developments. ƒ To facilitate resolution of existing problems or deficiencies in tourism infrastructure, through coordination between government departments and other relevant authorities, councils and local tourism bodies.

Strategies

ƒ Broaden the diversity of interpretative facilities through the Heritage Precinct project in Beechworth and the Rutherglen Wine Interpretation Centre. ƒ Strengthen the role of Yackandandah, Allans Flat, Stanley, Wahgunyah and Chiltern as part of the region’s historic product, increasing the extent of interpretation of the settlement and its history ƒ In conjunction with the local aboriginal community member, identify opportunities for interpreting the Aboriginal heritage of the Shire. ƒ Encourage new enterprise investment and existing business growth.

Implementation

Zones and Overlays

Application of the following zones and overlays:

ƒ Public Conservation and Resource Zone to protect and conserve the historic, natural and cultural values of the Shire’s environmental assets. ƒ Public Park and Recreation Zone to recognise areas for public recreation and open space Significant Landscape Overlays to protect the visual quality of landscapes identified by

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the National Trust, landscapes surrounding Lake Hume and other identified significant rural landscapes. ƒ Heritage Overlay to conserve and enhance heritage places of natural or cultural significance. ƒ Environmental Significance Overlays to recognise and protect conservation attributes of Lake Moodemere.

Local Policies

Implementation of the following local policies:

ƒ Aboriginal Cultural Heritage policy – to identify and conserve sites and objects of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, in consultation with the local Aboriginal community. ƒ Development adjoining the Murray River, Lake Hume and Lake Moodemere Policy – to ensure that the development of land abutting these resources is carefully assessed, particularly with regard to effect on water quality, effluent disposal and visual amenity of the landscape. ƒ Classified National Trust Landscapes Policy – to ensure that landuse and development within classified areas is compatible with the landscape and heritage values identified in the incorporated document Classified National Trust Landscapes applying to the Shire of Indigo, 1998.

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