2019-02-18 GC Agenda Att 1 to Item 8 - Draft Environment Strategy

Strategy 3: Adopt sustainable agricultural practices
Target: By 2030, 80% of all grazing land achieves best practice management for agriculture.

Over the last four decades increased fragmentation of agricultural land has resulted in significant
pressure on rural land productivity in Noosa Shire. Since the late 1970s new hinterland residents
have acquired land for lifestyle purposes, rather than primary production. This trend is starting to
abate as small scale farming becomes more popular and local markets grow.

Unsustainable land uses and agricultural practices can result in both reduced productivity of the
land and increased downstream impacts. Overstocking in small allotments reduces the
percentage of ground cover and increasing erosion hazards, and the potential for sedimentation
into waterways.

Historic clearing has exacerbated the risk of landslips in very steep land, where deep rooted native
vegetation has been replaced by shallow rooted grasses for cattle. Revegetation, carbon farming
and farm forestry reduce these threats to an extent.

More intensive horticulture and animal industries can result in increased nutrients and
contaminants flowing into waterways if management systems, fertilizer and pesticide application
are not matched to soil type, crop needs and the proximity to waterways and wetlands.

Sustainable agriculture reduces land degradation and the downstream impacts of food and fibre
production, while improving the social and economic outcomes to farmers and the local
community. Producers adopting best management practices can increase the carbon stored in our
soils, improve the water quality buffers around our waterways and wetlands, and increase habitat
and timber production while reducing erosion risks.

To be sustainable an agricultural enterprise needs to:
   •      make the most efficient use of non-renewable and on-farm resources
   •      enhance environmental quality and conserve the natural resource base upon which
          production depends
   •      integrate natural and biological cycles and controls, while maintaining on-farm
          biodiversity, and the health of wetlands and waterways
   •      manage land use to avoid mobilising sediment by not overgrazing, preventing stock
          from accessing waterways, and minimising soil disturbance during crop rotations.

Our local food value chain is adapting with a number of new entrants practicing free-range, pasture
fed, regenerative and organic farming techniques. Some are also focussed on market-garden scale
production while others are branching out into cooperative farming ventures. The entry of new
players has seen the emergence of locally-branded and artisan food production in the Noosa
hinterland.

Local farmers’ markets, restaurants and consumers are increasing the demand for a range of
locally produced higher value dairy products, grass fed and free-range meats, subtropical fruits,
vegetables and macadamia nuts. Local food production means residents can reduce the food
miles in their diet and this also makes our local supply chains more resilient. However, research
shows that most new entrants require considerable training and support to achieve the goal of
sustainability.


Noosa Shire Environment Strategy                                                              Page 32