The administrators of the Wangaratta council in north-east Victoria will decide today whether to go ahead with the latest version of a controversial rural land strategy.

The council’s administrators said the document hoped to strike a balance between individual property rights and protecting rural industries.

They said it looked to provide development clarity and stop conflicts in land use across the municipality.

It arose from a dumped 2012 plan which was heavily criticised for rules which restricted building in the farming zone.

Reviewing the strategy was a key priority when the council’s administrators were appointed in 2013.

The revamped strategy would retain the existing rules but rezone a number of areas.

Parts of Glenrowan, Oxley and Milawa would be changed to ‘rural living zones’, while some areas not used for agriculture would be marked for conservation.

The head of the administrators, Ailsa Fox, has asked ratepayers to put the old document aside and assess this one on its merits.

She said the new plan took into account Victorian Government changes in 2013 and could support farming, allow more tourism and encourage population growth.

The administrators will meet today to decide whether to make any changes before releasing the plan for public comment.