2016-06-07 - Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                                 7 JUNE 2016



5                        PLANNING STUDY ON AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL LAND
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                               Principal Strategic Planner, Rowena Skinner
                                     Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                                ECM/ Subject/ Rural Planning

Attachments                          1.   Agriculture and Agricultural Land in Noosa Shire 2016 (78 pages –
                                          supplied separately to this agenda – 2 hard copies available in the Councillors’ room)



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.


RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Strategic Planner to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 7 June 2016 and endorse the study “Agriculture and Agricultural Land
in Noosa Shire 2016” for the purpose of informing the new Planning Scheme.


REPORT
This report presents to Council a planning study into Agriculture and Agricultural Land in Noosa
Shire. The planning study represents an update of an earlier study prepared in 1995 and it
considers contemporary opportunities and challenges for agriculture in Noosa. The purpose of
the planning study is to inform the new planning scheme. It makes recommendations on how the
planning scheme can facilitate rural enterprises as a priority sector, advance the State’s Planning
Interest in Agriculture and protect the amenity and environment of the Noosa hinterland.

1.                       State Planning Interest

The State’s planning interest in Agriculture is that planning protects the resources on which
agriculture depends and supports the long-term viability and growth of the agricultural sector.
The State’s interest in Agriculture is advanced through the following policies:

                       Considering the strategic economic significance of important agricultural areas by
                         promoting and optimising agricultural development opportunities and enabling increased
                         agricultural production in these areas.

                       Protecting Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Class A and Class B land for sustainable
                         agricultural use by:
                         (a) avoiding fragmentation of ALC Class A or Class B land into lot sizes inconsistent with
                               the current or potential use of the land for agriculture;
                         (b) avoiding locating non-agricultural development on or adjacent to ALC Class A or
                               Class B land; and
                         (c) maintaining or enhancing land condition and the biophysical resources underpinning
                               ALC Class A or Class B land

                       Facilitate the growth in agricultural production and a strong agriculture industry.

The State’s expectation is that Local Governments will incorporate and integrate these policies
through their planning schemes.


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