Rural Postcodes Review (NNF 2017/128)

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) have advised of new procedures for seeking re classification of rural postcodes.

The advice, and appropriate links, are shown below for the information of members.

The department recently completed a review of how rural postcodes are assessed for reclassification. Industry participants can now apply for a rural postcode reclassification by completing the ‘Application for rural postcode reclassification’. Eligible applications are reviewed in the order they are received. When applications are submitted, we advise the client the assessment may take up to ninety days. We no longer review applications on an annual basis.

For a rural postcode to be eligible to undergo a review, it must meet the minimum requirements as follows:
•             must be adjacent to a metropolitan area, or a port that is determined under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to be a first point of entry into Australia (relative to the air or sea or air pathway)
•             must not have a council land zoning classification that relates to farming, forestry, primary production or identifies the area as national parks, nature reserves or waterways (you can find this information on your local councils website).

Applications are not automatically approved. You can follow the link to find the application for rural postcode reclassification form and further information on postcode classifications. You can check postcode classifications in the postcode classification search.

We trust this information will be of assistance.