Living Together in Rural Victoria

What to Expect Every year more and more people are choosing to escape the big city hassles and live or buy a holiday retreat in rural Victoria. It's little wonder either – Victoria’s regions offer some of the best scenery anywhere, and a quality of life that’s difficult to match. But the ever-increasing popularity of rural residential living is presenting challenges for many rural communities:productive farming land is increasingly being subdivided into residential-scale acreages; and the needs and expectations of some rural residents aren’t matching those of landholders who operate commercial farming enterprises. Agriculture is continually developing to encompass much more than a traditional notion of picturesque pastures of livestock and crops. In the face of rising production costs farmers can only maintain their income by either increasing the size of their farm or by increasing their productivity per hectare. Intensifying agricultural operations usually means adopting new technologies, implementing innovative practices or changing the types of crops grown. This way, farmers can produce higher yields from the land and continue to produce better quality products. These new practices can often be the cause of complaints from neighbours, for example:changing from grazing animals to intensive horticulture may mean noisy bird-scaring devices are used as the crops mature ready for harvesting; crops such as grapes may require night-time harvesting to maximise their fruit quality; frost fans are commonly used in some areas to minimise the risk of frost damage during the night.

It is important for new residents to be aware that farmers are doing these things to remain viable and competitive; and the trend towards intensifying agricultural activities will undoubtedly continue.

Further details are included in the Information Sheet on Legitimate Rural Land Management Activities.

Other Impacts

Commercial farming can be noisy, dusty and odorous at various times of the year and the management of crops and livestock can also have a big impact on the way the landscape looks.

The most common impacts on the rural environment as a result of agriculture include:

• Noise – including machinery, pumps and animal noises – especially during weaning;
  
  
• Odours – from intensive animal industries, abattoirs and some fertilisers;
  
  
• Dust– as a result of unsealed roads, soil preparation or harvesting activities, and natural causes;
  
  
• Farm chemicals – are widely used in modern farming with rigorous controls and application training. Issues of concern to neighbours include spray drift and health effects;
  
  
• Roads – expect to share the road with slow, heavy vehicles and livestock, and be prepared for the road surfaces in rural areas to be less predictable than in the city (Further details are included in the Information Sheet on Roads, animals and vehicles);
  
  
• Changing scenery – pastures can be turned into crops and orchards and new farm buildings can appear, changing your view and the nature of rural views. (Further details are included in the Information Sheet on Landuse planning and subdivision rules);
  
  
• Pests and weeds – in becoming a rural landowner you assume the responsibility of weed and pest management on your land. (Further details are included in the Information Sheet on Managing weeds and animal pests).

• Do your research before you buy.
  
  
• Have realistic expectations, and be aware that the expectations of your neighbours might be very different from yours.
  
  
• Be prepared for some hard work – controlling pests and weeds can be time-consuming and expensive.
  
  
• Understand that the nature of the rural industries that exist in your area are likely to intensify over time.
  
  
• Consider the potential impacts this might have on the future enjoyment you gain from rural property.
  
  
• Be prepared to meet the unexpected on rural roads, and be prepared for some inconvenience.
  
  
• Be aware that commercial farmers have a right to carry on their farming operations in accordance with local land planning provisions and other regulations.
  
  
• Be aware that most farmers operate to an industry code of best management practice.
  
  
• Be aware that most agricultural industries have short, but busy times during the production cycle that may involve increased levels of noise, dust, odours and other impacts such as increased road traffic.
  
  
• Investigate local planning provisions that govern landuse in your area and understand the sort of rural industries that can legitimately ‘move in next door’.
  
  
• Resolve disputes by talking to your neighbours, not your lawyers.
  
  
• Work out cooperatively ways to manage or minimise the impacts that concern you.

• Be well informed before you make your purchase decision and make sure you are able to live with the reality of agricultural production impacts in your area.
  
  
• Be prepared to get involved in your local landcare group, and other local clubs.
  
  
• Joining the Country Fire Authority is a good way to gain an understanding of the local area.
  
  
• If your area is zoned for rural industries, you can’t expect to greatly influence the farming activity.
  
  
• Plant wind breaks and vegetation to provide buffer zones between your neighbours to interrupt wind-driven dust, reduce noise and reduce the risk of chemical spray drift.
  
  
• Talk to your neighbour about the impacts you may be experiencing and see whether there are any ways you can work together to reduce them.

Your local Council
Department of Primary Industries	136 186
Environment Protection Authority	(03) 9695 2700
Vic Roads	13 1171
Rural Dispute Settlement Centre	1800 658 528 (country callers) or (03) 9603 8370 between 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays).
Victorian Farmers Federation	03 9207 5555
Rural merchandise store
Livestock agents
Real estate agents
Local residents

• Department of Primary Industries
• Rural Law Handbook

• Environmental Protection Authority
• Victorian Farmers Federation
• Rural Dispute Settlement Centre
• Country Fire Authority
• Real Estate Institute of Victoria

• North East CMA
• Goulburn Broken CMA
• North Central CMA
• Mallee CMA
• Wimmera CMA
• East Gippsland CMA
• West Gippsland CMA
• Port Phillip and Westernport CMA
• Corangamite CMA
• Glenelg-Hopkins CMA