Q&A - Support the growth of agriculture and regional economies

Q. Does an exemption approach mean constantly having to list things as an exemption as new types of practices/structures emerge?

A. The exempt development approach does require regular updates to the SEPP to respond to emerging practices. Suggestions for other approaches to future proof the process are welcome in submissions.

Q. Could buffers be coupled with the promotion of the offsets and credit schemes to formalise buffer areas?

A. This pairing has not been considered but may be worth exploring. Suggestions about how a credit scheme could work in association with buffers are welcome in submissions.

Q. Will the Strategy recognise the impact of non-agricultural uses in agricultural areas and consider requiringa nexus between a development and the agricultural land use to warrant consent?

A. The Strategy aims to support farmers diversify their incomes and promote the value of their products. The Strategy would like to promote better consideration of the impact of non-agricultural developments on agriculture that are not associated with on-farm diversification. This could be achieved through an Agricultural Land Use Planning Policy. Proof of a nexus between an agricultural land use and a non-agricultural land use could form part of the Policy or could be included in the standards or considerations for value adding developments on farms.

Q. Has the Department of Primary Industries looked at private native forestry as a farming activity? This is a significant issue requiring clarity and consistency in rural areas

A. Forestry is considered out of scope for purposes of the Agricultural Land Use Planning Strategy.

Q. Is the Strategy referring to buffers for further assessment i.e. odour assessment or buffers for development?

A. For the purpose of the Strategy the reference to buffers is a reference to the distance between an agricultural land use and an incompatible land use that is sufficient to ensure that any impacts of the agricultural land use do not adversely affect non-agricultural land uses. Buffers could be used as a trigger to require further assessment of potential impacts and it is hoped that the submissions will provide guidance on the best use of buffers in the planning framework.

Q. Is the purpose of the new ‘intensive horticulture’ definition to distinguish different crops or development types? For example, covered cropping?

A. The intention is to have definitions which recognise the different means of production. Intensive horticulture could refer to the production of crops in greenhouses.

Q. Will the Agricultural Land Use Planning (ALUP) Strategy consider the most efficient use of water in a catchment?

A. The ALUP Strategy is focused on the planning system. The planning framework is not linked to water harvesting and water rights and therefore water use is out of scope for this work.

A. The ALUP Strategy is focused on the land use planning framework. Issues relating to efficient water use in a catchment are not in the scope of the Strategy