Intensive Plant Agriculture Discussion Paper and Draft Rural Lands Chapter 5

Intensive Plant Agriculture Discussion Paper and Draft Rural Lands Chapter 5

Council is currently reviewing and updating its Local Growth Management Strategy – a key document that governs how we plan for population growth over the next 20 years while protecting valuable environmental and agricultural land as well as neighbourhood character.

As part of this review, Council has prepared draft Chapter 5 Rural Lands to explore options to reduce land use conflicts in rural areas; and to provide a strategic approach to the management of rural lands within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.

This Chapter is accompanied by an Intensive Plant Agriculture Discussion Paper and an Intensive Plant Agriculture Land Use Overview Table that explores issues and options in relation to managing intensive plant agriculture.

Feedback on the options within the Discussion Paper will help inform the final Rural Lands Chapter of Council’s revised Local Growth Management Strategy.

The Intensive Plant Agriculture industry in Coffs Harbour has grown significantly over the past ten years. The industry brings a recognised economic benefit to the community however can also involve a range of activities that can lead to land use conflicts. The Discussion Paper therefore identifies a range of options to reduce impacts from intensive plant agriculture, and to minimise land use conflict.

The options within the Discussion Paper include:

• working with Industry and Government to achieve best practice in the intensive plant industry;
• introducing planning controls;
• improving education and awareness about this land use; and
• undertaking further research into the impacts associated with this land use and available mitigation measures.