Planning policy changes will determine future of agriculture

NSW residents have just a few weeks left to have their say on a new planning policy designed to reduce squabbling over how land is used.

A new policy will control agriculture on the Central Coast. Picture: Andrew Cooney Photography.

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NSW residents have just a few weeks left to have their say on a new planning policy designed to reduce squabbling over use of agricultural land.

Under a new statewide proposal, five previous planning policies will be rolled into one overarching document to control intensive agriculture, aquaculture, farm dams — and agriculture on the NSW Central Coast Plateau.

Among the stated aims of the document are reducing arguments over land use and providing a flexible approach to new farming methods like intensive agriculture and horticulture.

The document said conflicts over noise, smell, and other issues were becoming more frequent as urban areas came closer to farming areas or when new kinds of more intensive agriculture set up in “traditional” farming areas.

Mangrove Mountain poultry farm. Picture: Mark Scott

The main change for the Central Coast seems to be that rather than having it’s own rules as it has in the past, the Central Coast’s $150 million agricultural industry will now be covered by the statewide mega policy.

Central Coast deputy mayor Chris Holstein said council staff would be briefed about changes under the new policy and would bring a report to council ahead of making a submission.

“The protection of our agricultural land on the Somersby Plateau is imperative — it is an asset we can’t lose — we can’t compromise,” Cr Holstein said.

Chris Holstein, agriculture is vital.

Scot MacDonald, have your say.

“If they are rolling a range of documents up — if they are bringing a lot of documents together — then the devil will be in the detail — and the detail will be that as issues are brought together some things will be lost.”

Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Scot MacDonald said the proposed changes were in line with Central Coast Regional Plan directives “to support priority economic sectors and sustain and balance productive landscapes”

“These changes will help ensure planning proposals affecting rural land are properly assessed and provide greater certainty to farmers on the types of activities that will require development consent.

“Primary production is vitally important to the Central Coast and the food manufacturing industry” Mr MacDonald said.

Submissions on the new policy proposal are open until December 18.