2016-07-12 - Item 12 - Att 1 - Agriculture and Agricultural Land in Noosa Shire

In 2010 Sunshine Coast Regional Council released a Strategy containing climate change
predictions for the region6. In broad terms this predicted the following between now and the year
2100:

          Fewer cold days and more hot days with associated shifts in annual and seasonal means
           and extremes;
          A decline in average annual rainfall volumes;
          Seasonal shift with rainfall increasing in winter but decreasing in other seasons;
          More intense rainfall events with increased potential for flooding
          An increase in the number of severe storm events
          An increased risk of large hail storms
          More frequent and longer lasting droughts
          Increased risk of bushfire

Climate change is already impacting on agriculture in the shire with increased heat stress in dairy
cattle, reduced horticultural productivity from seasonal fluctuations and increased soil erosion from
storm events. Best practice adaptation measures such as minimum till farming, breed and cultivar
selection are likely to be able to offset these impacts for the life of the planning scheme. While this
poses obvious threats to sustainable agriculturee it may also present opportunities. For instance it
might improve the local prospects for production of tropical fruits that have traditionally been grown
further to the north.


2.7.2      Land Management
While agricultural activities have some level of impact on the natural resources relied upon for their
production, contemporary farming practices generally seek to minimise these impacts and advance
sustainability of the resource base. This means that where appropriate native vegetation is
retained, water resources are well managed, soils are protected from degradation and loss, and
the use of synthetic agro-chemicals (such as fertilisers and, pesticides) and other chemicals are
minimised wherever possible.

Agriculture that relies on agricultural soils requires that the soil has suitable fertility, structure, water
holding capacity, drainage capacity, and sufficient depth. Some areas such as steep slopes may
be too erosion prone to sustain horticulture and are better left vegetated.

Horticulture production is generally limited to land where soil depth, structure and fertility are
suitable for cultivation of horticultural crops and the reliable source of irrigation water is available.
Annual crops such as vegetables and many cut flowers require soils suitable for regular cultivation.
Orchard developments (e.g. fruit or nut trees or olives) are suitable for a wider range of sites and
soil types including slopes.

Vegetation management is a critical component of sustainable agriculture, particularly in its
contribution to biodiversity, protection of soils and management of water tables. Ideally farmers will
locate farming production on the most suitable parts of their property while retaining native
vegetation on parts best suited for conservation.

There are numerous examples within the Shire where commercial agriculture occurs on a site also
registered as Land for Wildlife or with a Voluntary Conservation Agreement over parts of the site
with fencing separating cattle from bushland or wetlands.

Local assistance is available on optimum land management practices. As mentioned earlier,
Noosa & District Landcare works with landowners in areas of horticulture, vegetation management
and ecosystem restoration.


6
    Sunshine Coast Climate Change and Peak Oil Strategy 2010-2020, Chapter 2.
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