Posted 23/3/07

 

Macedon Ranges Shire presents:  VERI

 

The Voluntary Environmental Resource Inventory (VERI) - A Voluntary Land Sale Vendor Statement

 

VERI is a tool kit for prospective vendors to describe environmental condition of their land prior to sale.

 

 

Macedon Ranges Shire Council has developed a Voluntary Environmental Resource Inventory that can be used by land sale vendors as a tool for presenting information on the environmental characteristics of their property. 

 

VERI can either be included as part of their ‘Vendor’s Statement’ provided under Section 32 of the Sale of Land Act, or it can simply be provided to potential land purchasers as an information supplement (without binding legal implications).   Land purchasers can also request that vendors complete a VERI as part of their land sales negotiations.

 

The key functions of VERI are to:

  1. Reduce the transfer of environmental problems from one owner to the next;
  2. Reward vendors for good environmental management by highlighting excellent environmental endeavour;
  3. Give the potential purchaser some background knowledge and questions to ask the vendor;
  4. Improve land and water resources in the Shire;
  5. Provide information and a guide for property acquisition;
  6. Provide a means to factor environmental and sustainability considerations into land purchase negotiations, by giving people a tool to evaluate natural resources and therefore value them more accurately.

VERI focuses on improving the exchange of information during land sale transactions.  Vendors with well-managed land for sale will be able to promote their hard work and the environmental qualities of their land.

 

In conjunction with other information sources, such as the recently released ‘Caring for Country’ book, the VERI is an initiative to get land purchasers to ask detailed questions of land vendors so they can get an understanding of potential land management problems, especially weeds.  Over time the VERI should help stimulate investment in sustainable land management as a way to secure higher property values, with concurrent benefits for the natural environment.

 

Note: Macedon Ranges Shire Council only provides the VERI document.  There is no Shire involvement in assessing properties.  The Shire does provide reference materials such as mapping information, or the "Caring for Country" Book.

 

This is a new initiative and we are seeking any comments or suggestions on how the VERI can be improved or promoted.  There is an evaluation form included with the VERI document.  Email or phone comments are most welcome (Ph 03 5429 9659).

 

The VERI is freely available from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council website and can be used by any land vendor interested in promoting the environmental characteristics of their property or by land purchasers seeking a better understanding of a property or land management issues in general.

 

Link to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council Website to find out more or to download the VERI:

http://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=1538&h=0

 

Link to the 'Caring for Country' page:

http://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=1482&h=0

 

 

 

 

The VERI is a project identified in the Macedon Ranges Shire’s Weed Strategy 2005 and is a key component of Council’s "Tackling Weeds on Private Land" project which is funded by a grant from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, with support from the Department of Primary Industries.