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

2.7.3    Land Area
The historical fragmentation of the rural areas has created a large number of smaller properties
which effectively rule out some uses but facilitate others. Various produce such as ginger,
strawberries, hydroponic vegetables and cut flowers can be grown quite profitably on small lots.

Traditional Queensland cattle grazing relies on very large land areas however case studies have
shown successful models of rearing smaller numbers of pasture fed beef cattle. This high
value“boutique” beef is increasingly popular with consumers and the local restaurant industry
would potentially be an ideal market.

The Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning in 2012
acknowledged the typical minimum area required for a commercially viable dairy operation is about
100 hectares, with a trend toward increasing farm size7.


2.7.4    Protein Production Chain
The Queensland dairy industry is so tightly controlled by the limitations of existing milk quotas the
establishment of new commercial dairies is most unlikely unless it was for a value-add product
other than domestic milk supply.

Country Noosa recently commissioned research into the local beef industry with a view to
increasing sustainable production from grazing lands (both existing and under-utilised land
resources)8. This research found that a majority of locally produced beef is meeting the growing
consumer preference for relatively chemical free pasture-fed meat and that opportunity existed to
develop a local beef production system focussed on the local/regional food market.

Opportunities also exist for free range poultry, pig farming and aquaculture assuming the scale is
appropriate for its setting and the production chain is in place.

Given the strict guidelines necessary for meat processing, it is not legal for primary producers to
process their own meat for sale. Accredited meat processing operations are complex and
represent substantial investment. The nearest meat processing plant taking beef cattle is in
Gympie however there is nowhere in the vicinity of Noosa that processes pigs.

It is unlikely that individual producers could meet the accreditation requirements for commercial
slaughtering and processing on-farm and nor would it be feasible to meet these standards with a
mobile operation. Additionally the various infrastructure and locational requirements for such
operations make them difficult to locate. Criteria would include convenient access to the highway,
reticulated water and a buffer distance from sensitive environments (such as waterways) and
urban settlement.

There is considerable distinction in facilities for poultry compared to larger meat animals and it
would be most unlikely one plant could achieve accreditation for both.

Intensive animal husbandry, such as high density poultry farms, feedlots and piggeries have
repeatedly been opposed by the Noosa community. While smaller scale intensive, free range
systems may be consistent with the desired outcomes for our rural landscapes, larger industrial
scale enterprises are considered to be inconsistent and will not be supported in Noosa Shire given
the focus on lifestyle and environmental sustainability.It is unlikely that such uses would be
supported in Noosa Shire given the focus on lifestyle and environmental sustainability.


7
 Mary Valley Economic Development Strategy addresses the dairy industry in some detail.
8
 Dr Brian Stockwell, Watershed Australia (2015) Noosa Beef & Local Food System Research: Project
Report & Action Plan
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