COUNTRY towns could become death traps under a Victorian Government proposal to make timber plantations an "as of right" form of agriculture.
The Victorian Government's draft Timber Industry Strategy states that plantation operators should no longer be forced to obtain a planning permit prior to establishment.
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Western Victoria's Glenelg Shire has already condemned the move, arguing it would increase the fuel loads around many of its smaller towns.
Glenelg chief executive Stuart Burdack said towns such as Digby, Merino and Dartmoor were already dangerously close to plantations.
"We don't want to be alarmist, but it doesn't make sense to say it's (a plantation) like any other crop and allow it to be grown within 100m of someone's doorstep," Mr Burdack said.
The Department of Primary Industries draft strategy states: "We will amend clauses 35.07 and 35.08 of the Victorian Planning Provisions to remove the ability for planning authorities to require a planning permit to use and develop land for timber production in the Farming and Rural Activity Zones (eg. for plantations greater than 40 hectares)".
"This will achieve equitable regulatory arrangements consistent with other as-of-right crops in these zones."
Mr Burdack said trees were not like any other crop, as they had an impact on neighbours and catchments.
In the foreword to the timber industry strategy, Victorian Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said it "provides options to remove unnecessary barriers to investment in the plantation sector where more scale would help to support new processing investment".
Timber Towns Victoria, which is a local government association, has also aired its concerns arguing that planning permits for plantations should remain in place to ensure councils and the wider community had a say in their establishment.
Timber Towns president Malcolm Hole said councils needed to be able to assess the impact of plantations, harvesting and transportation on their roads and residents.
"It's of great concern to us that they are taking away councils' rights," Mr Hole said.
The draft strategy states that planning permits are not required, as the Code of Practice for Timber Production (2007) is already in place.
But Mr Hole said the planning permit system and code had worked well together.
Public submissions on the draft strategy close next Monday.
