In all Victorian planning schemes, a planning permit is required to use and develop land for a poultry farm. A planning permit can be applied for in the following zones:

• Farming Zone
• Rural Activity Zone
• Green Wedge Zone
• Green Wedge A Zone
• Rural Conservation Zone
• Rural Living Zone
• Urban Growth Zone.

The establishment of a new poultry farms, including low density mobile outdoor poultry farms, are prohibited in all other zones.

When is a planning permit required for a low density mobile outdoor poultry farm?

The requirement for a planning permit may apply to any of the following:

• existing low density mobile outdoor poultry farms that do not have a permit and that do not have existing use rights (see Clause 63 of all planning schemes)
• establishing a new low density mobile outdoor poultry farm
• expanding an existing low density mobile outdoor poultry farm to increase its capacity (including increasing size in terms of poultry numbers or adding more poultry production area).

In addition to zone controls, there may be other provisions of a planning scheme (for example, overlays and particular provisions) that have additional planning permit and development requirements, such as approvals to remove native vegetation and works approval. Applicants are encouraged to check with their council about whether other approvals are needed at the planning stage.

What information should be submitted with a permit application?

The following list provides planners with the information they should expect from a low density mobile outdoor poultry farm planning permit application.

Property Identification Code

All poultry farms with more than 100 poultry, including low density mobile outdoor poultry farms, must have a Property Identification Code (PIC), that assists with traceability and biosecurity.

A. Property and locality plan

A property plan showing:

• property boundaries and dimensions of the site
• paddocks where poultry will be kept
• sheds, including housing used for the raising of young birds prior to them being old enough to range outdoors, or any packing sheds (for egg production if appropriate)
• location of any other farm infrastructure such as feed storage areas
• farm bores, dams and other water supply sources and waterways
• mortality management area
• significant slope and other topographic features, remnant vegetation and areas prone to erosion
• areas prone to flooding
• internal and external roads.

A locality plan showing:

• distances to dwellings in a separate ownership and other sensitive uses (including dwellings under construction or approved by a planning or building permit to be constructed)
• distances to waterways from poultry paddock boundaries
• suitable scale and dimensions.

A suitably scaled and dimensioned property and location plan, including distances, should not require the employment of a consultant or surveyor. It can be developed using readily available resources such as free online mapping programs such as Land Channel. http://www.land.vic.gov.au/

B. Description of the proposal

A brief written description that details:

• proposed number of poultry to be kept (including offspring and the number of poultry to be kept across various production stages)
• the production system including:

– the raising of chicks

– the range area and number of poultry paddocks

– management, packing and storage of eggs (for egg farms).

• design of the poultry housing, fencing, feeding and water infrastructure
• design and details of housing for the raising of young birds prior to ranging (if applicable)
• the prepared feed for poultry and where it will be stored
• management of dead birds/spent hens
• a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) that demonstrates how nutrients will be managed and ground cover maintained
• strategies to minimise the risk of predators, pests, rodents and wild birds
• the planning zones and any overlays applying to the land.