READ IT HERE   but in summary:



SWEEPING reform of Victoria's planning system has delivered greater flexibility for farmers but eased the way for more housing and commercial development in rural and green wedge areas.

Key among the changes are the weakening of Bracks government rules, aimed at protecting farmland, that had restricted new dwellings to farms of at least 40 hectares.

 Mr Guy's reforms give councils flexibility to allow more than one dwelling on farm properties and reduce the minimum size of rural living lots (hobby farms) from eight to two hectares

 ''Once again individual councils will have responsibility to make sure correct planning decisions are made,'' Cr Gale said. 

 Mr Guy's reforms encourage farming on Melbourne's urban fringe by removing the requirement for a planning permit for agriculture in green wedge areas. 

 Important detail remains unclear, including the minimum lot size for development in green wedges. A previous condition that residential development could only occur on a property of a minimum lot size of 40 hectares has been deleted in the new green wedge zones. 

Comment:  The rules have changed again.  

I hope for the better for Coldstream.