About

Linda Martin-Chew

The Rural Planner provides specialist planning advice with a focus on sustainable agriculture and positive environmental outcomes. 

Founder Linda Martin-Chew (B.Sc., M.A., MPIA) has more than 15 years professional experience as a planner in local government and a deep understanding of the requirements of councils in Melbourne’s peri-urban and rural regions. She is also recognised in Victoria as an advocate for planning reform to support sustainable, ethical agriculture.

Prior to studying rural and regional planning, Linda spent 10 years as co-owner of a 24ha property in Central Victoria, breeding commercial Angus cattle. She also bred, raised and produced high performance Hanoverian horses.

Now Linda’s time is divided between her role as a strategic planner in local government and her own consultancy, which specifically focuses on assisting peri-urban landholders.

“Land-use planning is just one regulatory consideration, but it can be a critical barrier for new agricultural businesses. The Rural Planner is here to help new, expanding and diversifying businesses and landholders negotiate the planning approvals process.”

“When I first began meeting peri-urban farmers and producers, I could see they were wanting to make a positive impact in agriculture, yet every single one of them had a story to tell about difficulties with planning,” says Linda.

“That’s what led to the establishment of the consultancy.”

Linda co-founded Plan-it Rural Pty Ltd in 2015 to assist landholders and to advocate for more regulatory and policy support for farmers in the peri-urban context. 

This work continues, now within the solo consultancy, The Rural Planner.  

“Land-use planning is just one regulatory consideration, but it can be a critical barrier for new agricultural businesses. The Rural Planner is here to help new, expanding and diversifying businesses and landholders negotiate the planning approvals process.”

  • “We couldn’t recommend Linda more highly. Without her expertise and knowledge, we certainly wouldn’t be where we are today operating our winery with a producer’s license here in Tooborac. Councils have an unspoken language which we found extremely difficult to decipher but Linda has the experience and understanding of exactly what Councils want, and how to present it, to gain the best possible result.”

    Adam and Pip Foster, Syrahmi

  • “I'm currently building my family home in Trawool, Victoria. This property was a tricky project from a planning perspective due to the proximity to the Goulburn River and other significant overlays. If not for the brilliant work from our planner Linda Martin-Chew, we would not have achieved our desired outcome. Linda’s knowledge of the planning requirements and the thinking behind them was the key.”

    Alan Richardson, General Manager – AFL Football Performance, Melbourne Football Club

  • "Working with Linda probably saved the project, as I was overseas a lot and had to place plenty of trust in her ability to problem solve and to represent me in negotiating the process with Council. On my return, it was simply the best solution to let Linda continue to lead the process where, on more than one occasion, she saved me valuable time and money. Linda is my ‘go-to’ for any further planning developments on my property."

    Stuart Jordan, Serenity of Heathcote Glamping Park, Victoria

  • “Peri-urban agriculture often involves small-scale proposals which cannot support the expensive reports and plans that regulators see with urban applications. Knowing Councils’ likely assessment requirements, and being prepared to support clients in keeping costs low, is an important part of my work.”

    Linda Martin-Chew