Media Releases

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has called on the Planning Minister to immediately amend regulations banning helicopters from landing on farming land.
Mr Walsh warned Victoria’s response to the coming locust plague could be severely hampered by planning regulations which require farmers to obtain a permit if they wish to land a helicopter in a farming zone.
“John Brumby is full of talk about Labor’s war on locusts, but he is strangling the agricultural industry with red tape and impractical planning regulations,” Mr Walsh said.
“Labor has changed Victoria’s state planning scheme, effectively banning helicopters from landing anywhere in farming-zoned land without a permit, except in the case of an emergency.
“With locust eggs due to hatch across Victoria in coming weeks, these regulations could drastically reduce the ability of our farmers to control the expected plague.
“The Brumby Government says it has helicopters on standby to undertake surveillance and spraying of locusts. It must amend the planning scheme to make the rules the same for the state’s farmers.”
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition, the Victorian Farmers Federation and the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia had all separately raised the matter with the Planning Minister, yet no action had been taken.
“Labor’s helicopter ban is bureaucracy and red tape at its worst and the Minister must immediately take the necessary steps to allow helicopters to operate in farming zones for agricultural and firefighting purposes without the need for a permit.”
Mr Walsh said helicopters were integral to many larger farming enterprises.
“Farmers, particularly in western Victoria, have been using helicopters for more than a decade to spray, spread fertiliser, monitor livestock and transport people between properties.
“This work requires helicopters to take off and land in the safest and most practical location, rather than on a designated helipad.
“These senseless regulations are further proof that John Brumby has completely lost touch with the needs of Victoria’s farmers,” Mr Walsh said.