Whole Farm (Property) Planning

Our Whole Farm (Property) Planning short course is designed for people thinking of buying a lifestyle block or larger farm on which Local Government Planning permission is required. You will learn how to make a Property application through the development of a Whole Farm Plan. This includes both State and Local Government planning requirements, land use, native vegetation, mapping and Council expectations that will make your application successful.

Our Melbourne Polytechnic staff have the planning, technology and application expertise to guide you through the process.

The course is delivered over six Saturday sessions at our Northern Lodge Training Centre.

Whole Farm Planning short course is suitable for:

• Participants wanting to understand the rural Whole Farm (Property) plan process prior to submitting an application with their local council.
• Participants who want to expand on pre-existing knowledge and be made aware of pitfalls and opportunities.
• Participants wanting to establish a new farm or modify existing businesses requiring land use and infrastructure change.

Topics covered in our Whole Farm Planning short course:

• What you need to know before you make an application to save extra expense and rework.
• What are your obligations to prepare a plan and deliver on it.
• Understanding the property, soil, its potential uses and State and Local Government planning expectations.
• The native vegetation and cultural heritage areas that may require fencing-out, revegetation, weed and erosion management and your relevant obligations.
• How you might determine what you can do with the land now and what can be done when you apply soil restoration techniques.
• Prove a working business model and sustainable agricultural model based on the capacities of the land you have or want to purchase.
• Work through a planning application.
• Consider timing of implementation, works required and associated costs.
• How to handle a request for modifying your application if required.

Course outcomes for Whole Farm Planning short course:

• Participants will have gained the skills and knowledge to choose the right land, successfully work with the existing soils and restore degraded land types to ensure successful enterprises.
• A Certificate of Completion will be issued at the conclusion of the course.
• Participants can work on their individual applications and/or find solutions for current planning problems.
• All classes are held face to face at the Melbourne Polytechnic Eden Park Farm campus with access to equipment and technologies that will build understanding of how successful soil/paddock restoration and landscape management can occur.

Requirements

No prior knowledge or experience required.