Yinnar South ratepayers say they have been left in the dark over a proposed Latrobe City Council zoning amendment they fear will prevent them from subdividing or building on their own blocks.
A Latrobe City planning amendment scheme to rezone areas across the municipality is proposing to back-zone Yinnar South from rural living to farming.
However, residents believe the changes have not been clearly explained even after attending council drop-in sessions.
Yinnar South landholders held a community meeting last week to learn about each other’s concerns and try to understand the potential impacts of the planned amendments.
The district is made up of a mix of larger and smaller rural lifestyle blocks. The rezoning would affect 1275 hectares in Yinnar South.
Beef grazier Norm Albutt owns 60 hectares that he was planning to subdivide to help fund his retirement, but fears the zoning changes will force him to pull the plug on these plans.
“I cannot see a benefit of this being back-rezoned. For me, this will stop future subdivision of my property, which was my retirement plan for when I bought this place in the ’90s,” he said.
“Other people are unclear about the implications for them, particularly if they want to build on smaller rural blocks, put up a granny flat, or rebuild if their house burns down.”
He said the rural living zone put in place in the 1970s had allowed many small blocks to be created in the area.
“Under this proposal, other areas in Latrobe City are being rezoned from farming to rural living to reflect small lot sizes.
“This is a direct contradiction of the proposed rezone in Yinnar South.”
A council report recommended the area to be back-zoned because the precinct was surrounded by forests and plantations, making it a high risk bushfire area, with steep terrain and limited road access.
“This is an incorrect statement, as we have a number of routes to get out of the community,” Mr Albutt said.
“We have excellent road access, we are only six minutes from Yinnar, and the fire risk is no greater than anywhere else.”
Latrobe city development acting general manager Gail Gatt said she was aware some Yinnar South residents were concerned but said council also received submissions in support of the project.
“The Yinnar South area is perfectly positioned to be able to benefit from the Rural Tourism Policy within the amendment with the potential niche farming, boutique accommodation, farm gate sales,” she said.
“This activity supports a diversified economy and job creation for a relatively untapped market within Latrobe.”
