Environment & planning

Changes to Rural Law Online

Please note that the information on Rural Law is no longer being updated. For up-to-date information on environment and planning laws, search the Victoria Law website or follow the links on this page. Each link will open in a new window.

Emergency services and assistance

For information about emergency relief management and emergency services in Victoria, see:

• Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner

For current emergency information and information about preparing an emergency plan and kit, see:

• Victoria State Emergency Service

Bushfires

For information about bushfires and about assistance for people affected by bushfires in Victoria, see:

• Bushfire Legal Help
• Country Fire Authority
• Department of Sustainability and Environment – Fire and other emergencies

Drought

For information about drought and about assistance for people affected by drought in Victoria, see:

• Department of Primary Industries – Drought assistance in Victoria
• Office of Water – Drought assistance
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests – Drought assistance
• Centrelink – Drought assistance or phone the Farmer Assistance line on Freecall 1800 050 585

Floods

For information about floods and about assistance for people affected by floods in Victoria, see:

• Bushfire Legal Help
• Australian Bureau of Meteorology – Victoria flood information
• Victoria State Emergency Service – FloodSafe

Disaster relief

For information about government disaster relief in Australia, see:

• Australian Government Disaster Assistance – Victoria
• Australian Government Disaster Assistance – General information

Chemicals and fertiliser

For information about laws related to the use of chemicals in Victoria, see:

• Department of Primary Industries – Chemical use
• Department of Primary Industries – Agricultural chemical use

For information about laws related to the use of fertilisers in Victoria, see:

• Department of Primary Industries – A guide to Victorian fertilisers
• Department of Primary Industries – Fertiliser regulation in Victoria

Fishing

For information about obtaining a licence to fish, fishing locations, and rules about fishing in Victoria, see:

• Department of Primary Industries – Go fishing in Victoria
• Department of Primary Industries – Recreational fishing guide
• Parks Victoria – Fishing guide

Hunting

For information obtaining a licence to hunt, locations where hunting deer, game bird, duck and quail is allowed, and rules about hunting in Victoria, see:

• Department of Sustainability and Environment – Victorian Hunting Guide

Native vegetation

For information about rules when dealing with native vegetation in Victoria, see:

• Department of Sustainability and Environment – Native vegetation

Controlling vermin, pests and weeds

• Department of Primary Industries – Managing risk when controlling vermin
• Department of Primary Industries – Noxious weed and pest management
• Australian Government – Weeds in Australia
• Department of Primary Industries – Noxious aquatic species in Victoria

Planning law

• Department of Planning and Community Development – A guide to the planning system

Pollution control

For information about laws on water, land and noise pollution in Victoria, see:

• Environment Protection Authority Victoria

Land care

For information about your rights and responsibilities when managing land, and information about soil conservation, see:

• Department of Environment and Sustainability – Victorian Landcare Gateway
• Department of Primary Industries – Land degradation in Victoria