2019-06-11 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Environment Strategy

Strategy 3.3: Adopt sustainable agricultural practices


Target                                                       •    enhance environmental quality and conserve the
                                                                  natural resource base upon which production
By 2030, 80% of all grazing land achieves best practice           depends
management for agriculture.
                                                             •    integrate natural and biological cycles and controls,
Over the last four decades increased fragmentation of             while maintaining on-farm biodiversity, and the
agricultural land has resulted in significant pressure on         health of wetlands and waterways
rural land productivity in Noosa Shire. Since the late       •    manage land use to avoid mobilising sediment by
1970s new hinterland residents have acquired land for             not overgrazing, preventing stock from accessing
lifestyle purposes, rather than primary production. This          waterways, and minimising soil disturbance during
trend is starting to abate as small scale farming becomes         crop rotations.
more popular and local markets grow.
                                                             Our local food value chain is adapting with a number
Unsustainable land uses and agricultural practices           of new entrants practicing free-range, pasture fed,
can result in both reduced productivity of the land and      regenerative and organic farming techniques. Some
increased downstream impacts. Overstocking in small          are also focussed on market-garden scale production
allotments reduces the percentage of ground cover            while others are branching out into cooperative farming
and increasing erosion hazards, and the potential for        ventures. A significant opportunity exists to further grow,
sedimentation into waterways.                                diversify and drive production from our urban organic
                                                             waste streams. The entry of new players has seen the
Historic clearing has exacerbated the risk of landslips      emergence of locally-branded and artisan food production
in very steep land, where deep rooted native vegetation      in the Noosa hinterland.
has been replaced by shallow rooted grasses for cattle.
Revegetation, carbon farming and farm forestry reduce        Local farmers’ markets, restaurants and consumers are
these threats to an extent.                                  increasing the demand for a range of locally produced
                                                             higher value dairy products, grass fed and free-range
More intensive horticulture and animal industries can        meats, subtropical fruits, vegetables and macadamia
result in increased nutrients and contaminants flowing       nuts. Local food production means residents can reduce
into waterways if management systems, fertilizer and         the food miles in their diet and this also makes our local
pesticide application are not matched to soil type, crop     supply chains more resilient. However, research shows
needs and the proximity to waterways and wetlands.           that most new entrants require considerable training and
                                                             support to achieve the goal of sustainability.
Sustainable agriculture reduces land degradation and the
downstream impacts of food and fibre production, while       Council seeks to promote collaborative action to ensure
improving the social and economic outcomes to farmers        that, as a community, we support farming enterprises
and the local community. Producers adopting best             that preserve the agricultural land resource, conserve our
management practices can increase the carbon stored          natural assets, improve water quality and maintain our
in our soils, improve the water quality buffers around our   rural character and scenic amenity. Council has a key
waterways and wetlands, and increase habitat and timber      role in building partnerships with industry and community
production while reducing erosion risks.                     groups to grow local produce for local consumption,
                                                             connect local supply chains and build landholders'
To be sustainable an agricultural enterprise needs to:       capacity for sustainable agriculture.
•    make the most efficient use of non-renewable and
     on-farm resources



                                                                                                                           33