The Planning and Environment Amendment (Agricultural Land and Food Security) Bill 2026, introduced by Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy, would establish a framework for identifying strategic agricultural land and require the agricultural impacts of major developments to be properly assessed.
Mr McCurdy said farmers in the Ovens Valley were increasingly being asked to contend with major projects and planning decisions that could permanently change the way they farm.
“Our farmers aren’t opposed to development; they simply want a fair say and confidence that the people making these decisions understand what is at stake,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Whether it is renewable energy projects, transmission infrastructure, urban expansion or other major developments, productive farmland cannot be treated as an afterthought.
“Once good agricultural land is fragmented, disrupted or taken out of production, we can’t simply replace it.
The Bill would require consultation with Agriculture Victoria on significant planning decisions, ensure agricultural expertise is represented on advisory committees and inquiry panels, and strengthen rehabilitation requirements through mandatory bonds and ongoing monitoring.
It would also establish a public register to track the cumulative impact of development on agricultural land.
“Protecting our agricultural land is about protecting the future of farming in the Ovens Valley and the food and fibre industries that underpin our regional communities,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Farmers deserve a planning system that recognises the value of their land and gives them a genuine voice in decisions that affect their livelihoods.”
