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

1. Executive Summary
Historically, Noosa Shire was founded on an agricultural economy. Timber, beef and dairy cattle,
as well as vegetable and tree crops, have all contributed significantly to the economy, the
landscape and the local heritage.

Today the economic role played by agriculture has decreased. In part this can be accounted to
significant changes within agricultural industries such as the closure of butter factories,
deregulation of the dairy industry, closure of timber mills and sugar mill. However the nature of
agricultural production has also evolved and the focus in peri-urban areas like Noosa is
increasingly on smaller, niche or boutique agribusinesses, many of which include value adding and
complementary activities. Landholders put considerable effort into resource management and
regenerative practices with considerable support and information available from local and on-line
networks.

Consumer expectations are also shifting with an increasing number of people willing to pay a
premium for locally produced fresh foods including organic fruit and vegetables and free range or
pasture fed meat products.

Noosa’s Local Economic Plan has identified Rural Enterprise as a priority sector moving forward.
It suggests that Noosa is already well known for food with a growing number of boutique
producers. The increasing demand for clean, green sustainably produced local food and
beverages would suggest there are opportunities to build on the local agriculture sector and
establish a premier food and beverage brand.

The attractiveness of the Noosa hinterland has led to it accommodating an increasing number of
residents drawn to the rural lifestyle but with no farming interest. The biodiversity values of the
hinterland are greatly appreciated and clearing of bushland for new pastures or orchards is
generally unsupported, especially considering there are already many underutilised cleared
properties.

Population growth as well as differing values can lead to conflicts within the rural setting and
careful planning is required to protect the rights of primary producers while preserving the amenity
and biodiversity of the hinterland. Likewise intensive rural pursuits have the potential to diminish
the lifestyle expected by residents of the hinterland.

Since the early 1990s various pieces of state and local planning regulation have sought to protect
the agricultural industry and particularly protect agricultural lands or other resources on which
agriculture depends.

The purpose of this study is to examine the context and role of agricultural uses in Noosa Shire
and to establish their potential significance for the Shire’s future. It examines the capacity of rural
lands to support agricultural production and the extent to which land should be protected for that
purpose and activities encouraged.

This report specifically brings forward recommendations for the next planning scheme.

The Strategic component of the planning scheme should acknowledge the value of agriculture to
the Noosa Shire, not just in terms of production but in terms of heritage and amenity. It should
reinforce the sentiment of the State Planning Policy in protecting the long term agricultural capacity
of the hinterland and particularly good quality agricultural lands. However the strategic framework
must also acknowledge other values within the hinterland, for instance the importance of
biodiversity, landscape and ecosystems.

The clean, green credentials of the Noosa brand dictate that farming enterprises, particularly food
production should take a more environmentally sustainable and potentially boutique approach to
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