General News
14 March, 2023
Farm work accommodation approved
CORANGAMITE Shire Council approved a planning permit for farm worker accommodation at Glenfyne.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council approved a planning permit for farm worker accommodation at Glenfyne.
The application was approved at last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council despite the application receiving one objection.
Shire manager planning and building services Aaron Moyne said the dwelling would be used to provide farm worker accommodation associated with an existing dairy farm.
“The landowner and family currently live within an existing shed on the property without the required planning and building approval,” he said.
“Their plan is to build their own house on the property and a building permit was issued by a private building surveyor for the construction of a dwelling on December 22, 2022.
“The dwelling will be located on the larger part of the property and no planning permit is required.
“A farm shed associated with the dairy farm and approved dwelling has recently been built on the property.”
Mr Moyne said council received one objection to the permit application with key issues raised including:
Loss of agricultural land;
Need for the dwelling;
Use of the existing shed;
Future use of the site and property; and
Amenity impact.
Mr Moyne said the proposed dwelling would be used to provide on-farm worker accommodation associated with the existing dairy farm.
“The landowner/applicant has previously lost a farm worker given the lack of available accommodation and is seeking to provide a dwelling to attract a new farm worker to support the continued farm operation,” he said.
“This may be a single person or family who will live on-farm.
“As the applicant frequently works away, they need an employee on-farm to monitor and continue the operation of the farm.”
The dwelling will be located 338 metres from the western property boundary of Digneys Bridge Road and 77 metres from the southern lot boundary.
Mr Moyne said the dwelling would be single storey and incorporate three bedrooms, kitchen and family area, lounge, bathroom and ensuite.
“While the outcome will result in a dwelling on a lot less than the 40 hectare FZ minimum, it is considered that the dwelling is required to support and associated with agricultural production, enabling the continued operation of the dairy farm,” he said.
“Worker accommodation and housing more broadly is in limited supply in Corangamite Shire and where a balanced outcome can be achieved which supports and protects long-term agricultural production, while providing a new housing opportunity, the approval of a permit would be warranted.”
Councillor Kate Makin said availability of accommodation was “critical for key worker attraction”.
“I know personally that farmers haven’t had holidays because they can’t find workers,” she said.
Cr Laurie Hickey agreed and said it was an “important issue”.
“In the national milk pool we’ve dropped from 9.1 billion litres down to 8.5 billion litres and I believe a lot of this is to do with labour shortages,” he said.
“I think this is a good way to continue to have agriculture and dairy farming in this area.”
“I don’t think any of the objections stand up in this case,” Cr Geraldine Conheady said.
“It’s a tiny amount of agricultural land being lost and there is a demonstrated need.”