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

Table of Contents
Glossary............................................................................................................................................5
Executive Summary .........................................................................................................................6
1.      Introduction & Context ...........................................................................................................9
        1.1          Previous Planning Study .............................................................................................9
        1.2          Planning Scheme Review ...........................................................................................9
2.      Agriculture in Noosa Shire ..................................................................................................10
        2.1          Historical Production .................................................................................................10
        2.2          Current Production....................................................................................................10
        2.3          Contribution to the Local Economy ...........................................................................10
        2.4          Land Investment .......................................................................................................11
        2.5          Social Trends ............................................................................................................11
        2.6          Networks ...................................................................................................................12
        2.7          Opportunities and Constraints for Agriculture ...........................................................12
        2.7.1        Climatic Considerations.................................................................................................. 12
        2.7.2        Land Management ......................................................................................................... 13
        2.7.3        Land Area ................................................................................................................... 1413
        2.7.4        Protein Production Chain ............................................................................................... 14
3.      State Policy Context .............................................................................................................15
4.      Land Evaluation Schemes ...................................................................................................25
        4.1          Early 1990s ...............................................................................................................25
        4.2          Previous Noosa Planning Studies ............................................................................25
        4.3          Queensland Government Evaluations ......................................................................30
5.      Queensland Agricultural Land Audit ..................................................................................35
        5.1          Current Agriculture ....................................................................................................35
        5.2          Potential Agriculture..................................................................................................36
6.      Size & Number of Rural Lots in Noosa Shire .....................................................................39
        6.1          Minimum Lot Sizes ...................................................................................................39
        6.2          Current Pattern of Lot Sizes .....................................................................................39
7.      Competing Values ................................................................................................................43
        7.1          Biodiversity & Nature Conservation ..........................................................................43
        7.2          Water Supply Catchment ..........................................................................................43
        7.3          Lifestyle Blocks and Rural Amenity ..........................................................................44
        7.4          Non-rural Businesses ...............................................................................................45
        7.5          Tourism and Outdoor Recreation .............................................................................45
        7.6          Extractive Industries .................................................................................................45
        7.7          Renewable Energy Farms and Carbon Offsets ........................................................46
8.      Complementary Activity, Value Adding & Dependencies .................................................48
9.      The Future of Agriculture in Noosa and the Broader Region ...........................................49
10.     Recommendations for the Planning Scheme ....................................................................51
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