Shire sets sights on ‘dilapidated’ on-farm buildings: Farmers react

An old shed or house is common across Victorian farms, but one council is proposing a new law to require farmers to tidy up dilapidated buildings.

Farmers with unused wool sheds, unoccupied vacant houses and other disused buildings would be forced to maintain them to avoid neglect, if a new local law in southeast Victoria is passed. South Gippsland Shire Council’s draft General Local law 2024 requires all private property owners with buildings unfit for purpose or unoccupied to keep them in good condition “to avoid the appearance of neglect that is out of character with neighbourhood amenity”.

The law proposes an owner or occupier of private property which is unoccupied, or unfit for occupation or use must not allow that building to become dilapidated or further dilapidated.

It also suggests owners must take steps to prevent unauthorised access, and maintain “any building located on the private property in a state of good repair and appearance”.

A building as stated in the proposed law includes an outbuilding, fence, and “any other capital improvement on the land”.

An old shed or house is common across Victorian farms. But one council is proposing a new law to require farmers to tidy up dilapidated buildings.

South Gippsland lamb producer Neva Courts, from Strzelecki, said she felt existing local laws provided adequate coverage for extreme circumstances of neglect or dilapidation.

“My concern is council is now being more prescriptive than is necessary, which becomes a burden that’s onerous on farmers and landowners,” Mrs Courts said.

“It feels like it’s being rushed, and it would be great to have more consultation.”

South Gippsland Shire councillor and Foster-based livestock producer Scott Rae said the council had received feedback regarding the draft rules, and would now sit down with submissions.

“The general feeling in the farming community is … who doesn’t own what would be considered from petrified suburbs a dilapidated build?” Mr Rae said.

“Everyone has an old dairy, old houses that have reached the end of life … it’s very broad isn’t it?”

A South Gippsland Shire spokeswoman said the council received more than 300 submissions relating to the draft General Local law, which were being reviewed.

“Some of the submissions received were in relation to the dilapidated building clause,” the spokeswoman said.

The draft General Local Law will be presented by the council in March 2024.