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

The Rural Futures Background Study provided a commentary on the issues for the rural areas of
the Sunshine Coast Region and background information for the preparation of a Rural Futures
Strategy. It identified a number of opportunities for the rural economy, including:

•      Taking advantage of the good quality soils, conducive climate and proximity to markets to
       diversify and trial new agricultural enterprises
•      Building on the existing relationship between restaurants and producers and growing
       products particularly in demand (this may include expansion of aquaculture industry,
       diversification of poultry industry, and other gourmet meats as well as herbs, Asian greens
       and more unusual or difficult to find vegetables).
•      Increasing the local consumer demand for local produce
•      Expanding on food production and food processing capabilities
•      Focussing on healthy foods
•      Promoting organic/low spray/best practice production
•      Supporting niche, small and specialised food ventures
•      Increase plantation and farm forestry for sustainable local timber production
•      Utilise carbon trading initiative to establish native vegetation on degraded areas not suitable
       for other agriculture
•      Opportunities for increased animal husbandry including breeding of stud bulls, breeding
       and training of horses and breeding of domestic pets (as well as breeding and raising
       livestock for food production).

This document and the feedback from the community informed the preparation of the Sunshine
Coast Rural Futures Strategy endorsed in April 2013, largely an economic development strategy
for the hinterland.

The Rural Land Use Planning Background Study specifically reviewed the way the planning
schemes regulated development in the rural areas of the Sunshine Coast. It highlighted a number
of instances of arguably over-regulating rural production in the Noosa Plan.

Following review of over one hundred submissions, recommendations were made to the drafters of
the Sunshine Coast planning scheme, and these same recommendations were considered in
proposing amendments to the Noosa Plan in 2014.


Strategic Cropping Land and Regional Planning Interests
The Strategic Cropping Land Act 2011 (SCL Act) was introduced in recognition that the State’s
important cropping land was being lost and further threatened by a range of non-agricultural uses.
These competing land uses include resource developments, such as mining and coal seam gas
projects, and urban expansion. The Act sought to protect land that is or is likely to be highly
suitable for cropping due to a combination of the land’s soil, climate and landscape features.

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines developed an electronic trigger map for Strategic
Cropping Land that was prepared using the Class A Agricultural Land and Versatile Cropping Land
data as well as the 1999 Queensland Land Use Mapping Program (QLUMP) data identified as
productive for agriculture or plantations. The trigger map is illustrated in Figure 9 with the bright
green depicting SCL.




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