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

•      Alluvial blue gum flats dominate to the north of Cooroy, around Lake Macdonald,
       Cootharaba and on lower lands between Cooran, Pinbarren and Pomona.
•      At the very north of the Shire Como has a mix of mixed open forest, softwood vine scrub
       and tall open forests
•      To the north of Cooran, west of Kin Kin there are (closed) rainforests.
•      Ringtail Creek and Cooroibah have a combination of mixed open forest, coastal sand
       dunes, tall open forests and Blue gum, ironbark and bloodwood.


5.2    Potential Agriculture
Using a method of matching biophysical and socio-economic data with the requirements of each of
the above ALUCs, agricultural potential has been mapped for cropping and horticulture, for native
forestry and for grazing.

For each ALUC, the potential area for expansion was overlaid on current land use. This information
can be used to identify areas where there is significant potential for increased production and to
help plan for the expansion of certain industries at a local scale.

While the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries advise that it could be as a result of incomplete
soil data for Noosa area, the mapping shows very little potential for broadacre cropping, annual
horticulture, perennial horticulture or sugarcane. It also shows no potential for intensive livestock
with the exception of a patch at Doonan (which being throughout a rural residential estate is
unlikely to be realised).

It shows very little potential for hardwood plantation forestry, however shows potential for softwood
plantation forestry, particularly around Pinbarren, Black Mountain and south west of Cooroy.

The State suggests considerable potential for marine aquaculture in areas to the west of Boreen
point extending down through Cooloothin and to the east of Ringtail Creek as shown in Figure 5.
Spots of potential are also shown near Lake Cooroibah and Tewantin. One of these properties has
been purchased by Noosa Council for conservation purposes and some others are also of interest
for long term conservation protection. Some of the properties are low-lying affected by flood
hazard or with riparian values. Therefore it is uncertain how much aquaculture would be realised.




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