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

Table of Contents
1.    Executive Summary................................................................................................................5
2.    Introduction & Context ...........................................................................................................7
      2.1         Previous Planning Study .............................................................................................7
      2.2         Planning Scheme Review ...........................................................................................7
3.    Agriculture in Noosa Shire ....................................................................................................8
      3.1         Historical Production ...................................................................................................8
      3.2         Current Production......................................................................................................8
      3.3         Contribution to the Local Economy .............................................................................8
      3.4         Land Investment .........................................................................................................9
      3.5         Social Trends ..............................................................................................................9
      3.6         Networks ...................................................................................................................10
      3.7         Opportunities and Constraints for Agriculture ...........................................................10
      3.7.1       Climatic Considerations.................................................................................................. 10
      3.7.2       Land Management ......................................................................................................... 11
      3.7.3       Land Area ....................................................................................................................... 11
      3.7.4       Protein Production Chain ............................................................................................... 12
4.    State Policy Context .............................................................................................................13
5.    Land Evaluation Schemes ...................................................................................................23
      5.1         Early 1990s ...............................................................................................................23
      5.2         Previous Noosa Planning Studies ............................................................................23
      5.3         Queensland Government Evaluations ......................................................................28
6.    Queensland Agricultural Land Audit ..................................................................................33
      6.1         Current Agriculture ....................................................................................................33
      6.2         Potential Agriculture..................................................................................................34
7.    Size & Number of Rural Lots in Noosa Shire .....................................................................37
      7.1         Minimum Lot Sizes ...................................................................................................37
      7.2         Current Pattern of Lot Sizes .....................................................................................37
8.    Competing Values ................................................................................................................41
      8.1         Biodiversity & Nature Conservation ..........................................................................41
      8.2         Water Supply Catchment ..........................................................................................41
      8.3         Lifestyle Blocks and Rural Amenity ..........................................................................42
      8.4         Non-rural Businesses ...............................................................................................43
      8.5         Tourism and Outdoor Recreation .............................................................................43
      8.6         Extractive Industries .................................................................................................43
      8.7         Renewable Energy Farms and Carbon Offsets ........................................................44
9.    Complementary Activity, Value Adding & Dependencies .................................................46
10.   The Future of Agriculture in Noosa and the Broader Region ...........................................47
11.   Recommendations for the Planning Scheme ....................................................................49
      11.1        Strategic Component ................................................................................................49
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