Implementation plans > Green wedges > Actions > Action 6

Action 6
Maintain access to productive natural resources and an adequate supply of well-located land for energy generation and infrastructure

Farmland and natural resources such as sand, minerals and stone are important assets for the future development of metropolitan Melbourne and beyond.

The sustainable use and development of these resources is in everyone’s long-term interest, as is the development of appropriate infrastructure to meet community demand for energy services. Electricity demand and consumption continues to grow across Victoria due to the increased use of air-conditioning, the rising population, and economic growth. While Victoria’s main sources of energy are brown coal for electricity generation and natural gas, emerging technologies such as wind power and the construction of more localised generation plants raise questions about community health, safety and environmental impacts. Any new facilities must consider the important issues of adequate separation from residential areas and the off-site effects of infrastructure.

Melbourne 2030 aims to protect those natural resources, energy production facilities and related infrastructure located in rural areas from displacement and encroachment by incompatible uses.

Update resource mapping
Lead agent: Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Much is already known about the region’s resources, soil types, rainfall, forests and agricultural land, but more research is needed. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will continue its program of identifying areas within the region where updated mapping of current and potential productivity of land resources is required.

Protect natural resource-based industries and energy infrastructure
Lead agent: DOI
The Port Phillip region ranks second highest in the State in terms of the value of agricultural production. This advantage embraces a variety of intensive and broadscale farming enterprises including market gardening, viticulture, beef and dairying. Victoria already has an impressive export record for many of its clean and green products that are processed in regional cities or Melbourne.

Timber production also makes up part of the region’s output, either through logging of State forests or plantations.

Ensuring that our energy infrastructure is not compromised is essential to the success of industry and our way of life.
As new methods of producing energy are developed, such as wind farms, or new energy infrastructure is established near to urban areas, including gas-fired generators, there will be corresponding concern in the community about the impact of these developments.

To ensure the long-term capability of resources and infrastructure, DOI will undertake an assessment of planning policies and planning provisions to ensure that there is adequate protection for established natural resource-based industries and energy infrastructure against competing and incompatible uses.