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

The State has released guidelines, including model codes, to assist Local Governments with
integrating the state interest into planning schemes. The State Planning Policy Interactive
Mapping Tool9 shows areas to be protected:

       Important Agricultural Areas are defined as “land that has all of the requirements for
       agriculture to be successful and sustainable, is part of a critical mass of land with similar
       characteristics and, is strategically significant to the region or the state”. A representation
       of the Important Agricultural Land Areas in Noosa is provided on Map 1. It includes land in
       the southern part of Noosa Shire around Black Mountain, Ridgewood and Doonan as well
       as a small number of properties to the north west of Kin Kin.

       Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) – Class A and Class B in Noosa is also included on
       Map 1. It includes much of Noosa Shire and is discussed further in Section 45 of this study.

As shown on Map 2 there is some disparity between the extent of the ALC – Class A and Class B
and the part of Noosa Shire traditionally considered good quality agricultural land (currently
mapped as Agricultural Land Conservation Area in the planning scheme). Of more concern
however are overlaps with:

•       areas of remnant vegetation requiring protection for biodiversity values such those mapped
        in the planning scheme as Environment Protection, Environment Enhancement or Riparian
        Buffer (refer Map 3) where clearing of land for farming practices would not be supported
•       areas requiring protection for water quality where agriculture is assessable development
        and must meet Seqwater Development Guidelines: Development Guidelines for Water
        Quality Management in Drinking Water Catchments (refer Map 4)
•       land already committed to other purposes such as land within the Urban Footprint, Rural
        Living Area or already developed for rural residential purposes (refer Map 5).

Council has the opportunity to refine mapping to ensure it reflects the role and importance of
agriculture to this local area.




9
 This is accessible at http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/about-planning/spp-mapping-online-
system.html
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