A regional Victorian council wants to pass laws restricting residents from riding motorbikes on rural properties.

Key points: South Gippsland Shire Council is planning local law changes that would regulate recreational motorbike use and waste disposal

South Gippsland Shire Council is planning local law changes that would regulate recreational motorbike use and waste disposal Residents have described the changes as "bizarre" and unnecessary

Residents have described the changes as "bizarre" and unnecessary Under the laws, motorbikes will be banned on Sundays and outside the hours of 7:00am and 6:00pm

The South Gippsland Shire Council wants to introduce the changes in 2020, but residents have labelled the proposed laws 'oppressive' and said there has been a lack of consultation.

Steve Riley has lived in South Gippsland all his life, and runs a 300-cow dairy farm in Nerrena, south east of Leongatha.

Mr Riley said the proposed changes do not meet community expectations.

"I was just flabbergasted that they can make some of these proposed rules and regulations without any consultation," he said.

One of the proposed laws Mr Riley labelled as "just bizarre", is heavily-regulated use of recreation vehicles, such as motorbikes.

If legislated, the council would ban the use of motorbikes on Sundays and outside the hours of 7:00am and 6:00pm, aiming to reduce noise.

Landowners would also need to apply for permits to operate recreational vehicles at all, unless the property was deemed to be a commercial farm.

Mr Riley said the use of motorbikes is central to rural living, and a very popular recreational activity for young people in the region.

"It's life skills. You learn how to ride bikes, you learn how to fish, you learn how to drive a car, you learn how to fall over and pick yourself back up," he said.

"I was a kid once, and I really enjoyed growing up riding motorbikes around and enjoying the lifestyle and freedom that [the council] are trying to stop."

Farmers concerned laws increase red tape

Farmers are concerned the recreational vehicle amendments will make their jobs harder.

Sarah Prime brought a 40-acre property in March 2018 which they use for a smaller scale farm.

Ms Prime's home is only a short drive from the township of Mirboo North and is classed by the council as being in a 'rural activity zone'.

Sarah Prime in a paddock with her cattle in Mirboo North. ( ABC Gippsland: Jane McNaughton )

She is concerned the noise restrictions will affect her ability to contribute to the farm.

"I get home from work at six, we do most of our farm work after-hours — so it's a can of worms, that's for sure," she said.

"It's just adding levels of bureaucracy for no real purpose."

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Ms Prime said she was also worried about changes to waste removal laws.

Under the proposed legislation, transportation of rubbish would be banned unless the vehicle was built for purpose.

This means conveying general waste, manure, animal remains or "offensive matter" with a tractor, or in the back of a ute, will be outlawed.

Ms Prime said restricting farmers ability to remove dead animals from paddocks shows the council's lack of understanding of agriculture.

"I don't want foxes, I don't want to bring vermin into the area, not just for me but my neighbours," she said.

Ms Prime said no farmers wanted to lose livestock but it was part of farming.

"It's not the right thing to just have that sort of thing [dead livestock] just sitting around, you need to dispose of it," she said.

"If this happens on a Friday night, do I have to wait for council on Monday?"

Government appoints council administrators

In July, the Victorian Government appointed administrators to run the council which was dismissed earlier this year.

A State Government inquiry into the council found "a high level of councillor conflict" was impacting the council's ability to perform.

Ms Prime said the council should focus on fixing itself before demanding sweeping legal changes to the region.

"Before you start making comments about how someone else's house looks, make sure you're own's in order," she said.

"There is a lot of housework that needs to still be done internally within the council."

In the 2019 Community Satisfaction Survey, more than half (54 per cent) of ratepayers reported to be "very dissatisfied" with the council.

Mirboo North resident Brad Snell said he had considered moving out of the region.

"I'd almost be happy to change shires, and I wouldn't be the only person to say that," he said.

Brad Snell and daughter Olivia with her motorbike. ( ABC Gippsland: Jane McNaughton )

Mr Snell launched a petition against the proposed law amendments.

"The reason there was so much support for my petition … was a lack of transparency, and that just screams to me a lack of connection with the community," he said.

Mr Snell's main objection is to the recreational vehicle ban, as his family rides motorbikes.

"My daughter is starting to ride. For me it's more than an individual pursuit, it's a pursuit for our family," he said.

"Producing law after law and regulation after regulation, it's not how people want to live in a rural environment."

Mr Riley said the council should be more focused on issues that actually matter to residents.

"Me and my wife probably pay over $20,000 of rates every year and the roads are absolutely stuffed out here," he said.

"It's a joke really, I think if they sent more guys out fixing the pot holes instead of writing rules I think they'd get a lot further.

"It's obviously up to us now to make a scene about it, [but] it's disgusting, it's taking away people's rights and their freedoms."

A council spokesperson said the South Gippsland Shire has been encouraging residents with objections to the laws to submit a formal complaint directly to them by January 10, 2020.