Q&A - Reduce and manage land use conflict

Q. The Community Justice Centre (CJC) sounds like a great idea but councils have little contact with the organisation. Has the CJC delivered workshops/training for Councils regarding their services?

A. CJCs do, on request, provide presentations to councils on their services, process, outcome and cases studies. CJCs however do not provide training presentations on skill development in mediation and conflict resolution.

In submissions it would be great to hear about your experiences with CJC particularly if the service was used to resolve agricultural land use conflict or if a lack of information about their services is a barrier to you using them.

Q. Is there an option to have guidance and education material for people living in rural areas near agricultural enterprises?

A. The Department of Primary Industries has a Living and Working in Rural Areas Handbook which is currently being revised. The public is encouraged to include in their submission any specific changes they would like to see to this handbook.

Q. Why does agriculture need a specific alternative dispute resolution (ADR) pathway?

A. Agricultural disputes can be very technical in nature, as such there is would be benefit in the matter being presided over by someone with expertise and experience in agriculture. The need for agricultural specific ADR mechanisms has been identified in other jurisdictions including in the US, Canada and Queensland.

The public is welcome to comment on whether agricultural expertise is a necessary component of a dispute resolution structure.

Q.Why is it a problem that neighbours raise concerns about development proposals? Shouldn’t the agricultural sector accept that this is part of the development process?

A. Part of the ALUP Strategy will have an education component. It is important to balance the rights of all stakeholders involved in a complaint. The aim of the ALUP Strategy will be to resolve issues consistently and quickly so operators have certainty within the parameters of the planning system.

Q. Can you provide additional information on the Wollondilly Rural Industry Community Advisory Committee (RICAC)?

A. The RICAC provides local producers and stakeholders an opportunity to discuss issues directly with Council and to develop initiatives to sustainably support agriculture in the region, and in turn opens a channel for Council to address potential issues with agricultural production on behalf of the community. An additional benefit of the RICAC is the opportunity for symbiotic education between farmers and community representatives on what farm activities are normal according to industry best practice, what are tolerable by sensitive receptors, and where the nexus of these lies.

More information is available on the Wollondilly Shire Council website: www.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/council/meetings/council-committees-and-advisory-groups/council/rural-industry-liaison-committee/

Q. Does the Ontario Normal Farm Practices Protection Board model only relate to a development that does not require consent?

A. The Ontario Normal Farm Practices Protection Board deals with all nuisance complaints such as odour, noise, dust, flies, smoke, light and vibrations. The Farming and Food Production Protection Act (1998) that establishes the Board does not differentiate between developments requiring consent or not.