MANY Bega Valley Shire rural landholders have lost the right to concessional lot subdivisions on their land as a consequence being unaware of a state government decision to abolish concessional lot rights.

The State Environmental Planning Policy (Rural Lands) 2008 that was gazetted last Friday, May 9, removed the concessional lots subdivision provisions from the Bega Valley Local Environmental Plan 2002.

Ray Stewart of Mogilla, who lost his right to 13 concessional lots on his 253ha property, said "I only became aware of the situation when another party advised me of it a short while prior to the May 9 deadline.

"I tried to get my application in but just did not have sufficient time to complete all the necessary work.

"Other landholders are even worse off as they have already spent money on surveying and other requirements such as the preparation of plans.

"I do not consider that a small notice in a council community information page is sufficient notification of these sorts of changes.

"I am a regular reader of my local newspaper the Bega District News and there was nothing about it in the Public Notices, and even if there had been, it would not have been sufficient to ensure those who would be affected would be made aware of the situation.

"Everyone who would be affected by the change should have received personal notification from the state government or, at the very least, there should have been a major publicity effort."

"For many farmers the concessional lot entitlement was a form of superannuation, but they have now lost that.

"What we need to know now is whether any compensatory measures are being considered.

"This is another example of state government decision being slipped through," Ray said.

Bega Valley Shire Group Manager of Planning, Development and Environmental Services, Andrew Woodley, advised council of the change at Tuesday's Council meeting.

He said Council was no longer able to consider any development application for concessional lot subdivision received after close of business last Friday, May 9.

Development applications lodged before that date but not yet determined would be assessed under the provisions of BVLEP 2002 prior to amendment by the Policy.

"Council can proceed to deal with these as 'business as usual', including any subsequent applications for dwelling-houses," he said.

"Currently there are 46 undetermined development applications for concessional lot subdivisions with a total of 283 lots proposed."

Mr Woodley said the erection of dwelling-houses on Crown portions was still permitted with Council consent.

Sub-division for the purposes of boundary adjustment with (or sale to) an adjoining property owner for agricultural purposes was still permitted with Council consent - provided the land to be subdivided did not have a house on it.