Your input will shape the future of rural land in Alpine Shire

We have prepared the draft Alpine Shire Rural Directions Strategy to help protect valuable rural land and guide how rural land will continue to be used and developed in the future.

Across 2025, you shared feedback to help us better understand community priorities when it comes the use, development and protection of rural land across Alpine Shire.

You told us that:

  • Productive agricultural land and farming viability should be protected.
  • Non-productive and unviable farmland can be rezoned.
  • There is a need to address housing shortages for workers and families.
  • Agritourism and economic diversification should be supported.
  • Existing infrastructure needs to be improved while managing environmental risks.
  • Planning processes should be simplified along with flexible policies.
  • Growth should be balanced with preserving rural character.

View our Engagement Summary Report by selecting this link.

Vision and strategy directions

We have used the feedback you've shared to help shape the draft Alpine Shire Rural Directions Strategy. It sets out the following vision for rural land in Alpine Shire:

We understand that rural land use in the Kiewa and Ovens Valleys have evolved differently over time, with the Kiewa Valley reflecting more traditional farmland grazing, whilst the Ovens Valley demonstrating a fragmented approach associated with both mining and the tobacco industries.

For this reason, our draft Strategy places more emphasis on the Ovens Valley to plan for the fragmented settlements and clusters that have evolved over time.

However, we still strongly encourage residents of the Kiewa Valley to book time with a member of our Strategic Planning team to discuss thoughts, ideas, and concerns about our draft Strategy.

The draft Strategy also has six strategic directions that will guide actions in relevant townships:

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  • Environmental risks

    To avoid development in areas at risk of natural hazard to protect human life.

  • Natural resource management

    To identify, protect and manage significant natural resources so that they can be harnessed in a sustainable manner.

  • Rural settlement

    To direct future population and housing development in accordance with the defined future roles of service towns, rural towns, small settlements and rural localities.

  • Rural residential development

    To direct rural residential development to defined rural settlements and identified land of low agricultural productivity, while appropriately managing bushfire risk.

  • Rural industry and tourism

    To support appropriate non-agricultural uses in rural areas where these do not compromise agricultural production or landscape values.

  • Environmental and landscape values

    To manage use and development to protect the environmental and landscape values of Alpine Shire.

Summary of proposed directions

Select the name of each area below to read a brief summary of proposed directions for these townships.


The key proposed directions for Dederang & Mudgegonga include:

  • Retain Farming Zone,
  • Strengthen farmland protection,
  • Potential battery storage near existing facilities where suitable, and
  • Housing growth not currently recommended due to limited infrastructure.


The key proposed directions for Freeburgh include:

  • Apply Rural Activity Zone to areas of low agricultural productivity to allow suitable other uses, and rural residential development where bushfire risk can be managed,
  • Support incremental housing growth within existing township boundaries while protecting landscape character,
  • Enable tourism and diverse agricultural uses whilst minimising environmental and amenity impacts, and
  • Prevent further subdivision.


The key proposed directions for Harrietville include:

  • Potentially apply Rural Activity Zone in limited areas of low agricultural productivity,
  • Support tourism uses to help small farms diversify,
  • Allow incremental development within boundaries of existing township, and
  • Housing growth outside the boundary not recommended due to bushfire risk.


The key proposed directions for Merriang, Merriang South, and Myrtleford include:

  • Recognise rural economic cluster in policy,
  • Retain Farming Zone,
  • Potentially rezone land south and west of Buffalo Creek Road to Rural Living Zone, and
  • Prevent further subdivision due to bushfire risk by providing minimal lot sizes.


The key proposed directions for Wandiligong include:

  • Apply Rural Activity or Rural Conservation Zone to areas of low agricultural productivity to protect heritage and landscape, allow more flexible uses, and allow rural residential development where bushfire risk can be managed,
  • Support incremental development within existing township boundaries while protecting heritage and landscape character,
  • Enable tourism and diverse agricultural uses whilst minimising environmental and amenity impacts, and
  • Prevent further subdivision.

How can I get involved?

You can provide feedback on our draft Strategy by:

  • Registering to attend an in-person drop-in session.
  • Completing a survey online or by picking up a hard copy from our Council office in Bright or one of our Alpine Libraries in Bright, Mount Beauty, or Myrtleford.
  • Sending us your feedback in writing via email to info@alpineshire.vic.gov.au or by mail to 2-6 Churchill Avenue, Bright VIC 3741.
  • Talk to one of our Strategic Planners in person by calling (03) 5755 0555 or emailing info@alpineshire.vic.gov.au to arrange an in-person meeting.