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

        Glossary
         Agricultural land classification (ALC) is a land evaluation scheme used by the
Queensland Government, based on the suitability of land for specified agricultural uses. It rates the
ability of land to maintain a sustainable level of productivity. It rates the ability of land to maintain a
sustainable level of productivity, based on the factors of soil, topographic and climatic limitations.
The classification ranges from A to D.

        Good Quality Agricultural Land (GQAL) is a 2-class system in which land is considered
either good-quality agricultural land or not. GQAL is capable of sustainable agricultural use without
causing land degradation or degradation to other natural resources. GQAL is assessed based on
ALC but varies depending on the circumstances of an area (for instance Class A land is always
considered to be GQAL, where agricultural land is scarce Class B land will also be considered
GQAL and better-quality class C land may be considered GQAL where pastoral industries
predominate.

        Organic Agriculture is a form of sustainable agriculture that produces food and fibre
without the use of artificial fertiliser or synthetic chemicals. Certified organic producers will also
foster broader on-farm conservation through environmental management and rehabilitation.

       Priority Agricultural Areas (PAAs) are areas of regionally significant agricultural
production that are identified in a regional plan. There are no PAAs identified in the current South
East Queensland Regional Plan.

Sustainable Agriculture is a primary production system that reduces land degradation and the
off-site and downstream impacts of food and fibre production and improves the social and
economic outcomes to farmers and the local community by adopting best management practices
that:
    •       make the most efficient use of non-renewable and on farm resources;
    •       enhance environmental quality and conserving the natural resource base upon which
            production depends;
    •       integrate natural and biological cycles and controls, while maintaining on-farm
            biodiversity, and the health of wetlands and waterways;
    •       minimise the use of harmful agro-chemicals; and
    •       safeguard animal welfare.

       Strategic Cropping Area (SCA) is an area of regional interest under the Regional
Planning Interests Act 2014 (RPI Act). The SCA consists of the areas shown on the SCL Trigger
Map as strategic cropping land.

       Strategic Cropping Land (SCL) provided for in the (now repealed) Strategic Cropping
Land Act 2011, is land considered to be highly suitable for cropping because of a combination of
the land's soil, climate and landscape features, with no or little limitations to production.

       Versatile cropping lands is a 2-class system in which land is considered either versatile
cropping land or not. It is assessed based on the combination of crop requirements and the
physical limitations of the soil type. Where the soil properties meet a crop requirement, the crop is
deemed suitable. The greater the number of suitable crops, the more versatile the land.




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