2016-06-07 - P&E Agenda - Item 5, Attachment 1 - Agriculture and Agricultural Land Study

Planning protects the resources on which agriculture depends and supports the long-term
viability and growth of the agricultural sector.

In making or amending a planning scheme and designating land for community infrastructure, the planning
scheme is to appropriately reflect the State interest by:

(1)    considering the strategic economic significance of important agricultural areas by promoting and
       optimising agricultural development opportunities and enabling increased agricultural production in
       these areas, and

(2)    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, and

       (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, and

(3)    protecting fisheries resources from development that compromises long-term fisheries productivity
       and accessibility, and

(4)    facilitating growth in agricultural production and a strong agriculture industry by:

       (a)     considering the value and suitability of land for current or potential agricultural uses when
               making land use decisions, and

       (b)     considering the planning needs of hard-to-locate intensive agricultural land uses, such as
               intensive animal industries and intensive horticulture, and

       (c)     locating new development (such as sensitive land uses or land uses that have biosecurity
               risks for agriculture) in areas that minimise potential for conflict with existing agricultural uses
               through the provision of adequate separation areas or other measures, and

       (d)     considering model levels of assessment and including agriculture development codes (or
               similar development assessment requirements), and

       (e)     facilitating opportunities for mutually beneficial co-existence with development that is
               complementary to agriculture and other non-agricultural uses that do not diminish
               agricultural productivity, and

       (f)     considering the infrastructure and services necessary to support a strong agriculture industry
               and associated agricultural supply chains, and

       (g)     protecting the stock route network from development (both on the stock route and adjacent)
               that would compromise the network’s primary use or capacity for stock movement and other
               values (conservation, recreational).




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