THE NSW government is launching a new right to farm policy which Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair says will ensure farmers “can get on with the business of farming”.
The policy is the seventh in a list of 15 commitments made in a memorandum of understanding with NSW Farmers in the lead up to the March state election.
Mr Blair said the policy protects the balance between NSW’s $12 billion primary industries sector and residential expansion.
“We want to protect those who have been in our regional communities for generations and underpin that right to farm,” he said.
“You cant have someone move into an area where an industry has been operating on for a long time and all of a sudden start complaining about odour or noise.”
Primary producers need more education about the issues, Mr Blair said, including understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
The policy includes measures to give farmers a working understanding of existing protections for farm enterprises, Mr Blair said.
State planners need to know more about agriculture to ensure agriculture enterprises can get on with the job, according to Mr Blair.
“This is about educating planning decision makers,” he said.
“We (Primary Industries) will assist to make sure we provide maps and so on to show where key ag industries are located.
“Primary Industries will work with planners to ensure incorrect zonings aren't put over certain areas.”
However, Mr Blair cautioned against the urge to rigorous new regulations.
“It’s a tough balancing act and we don’t want to be too prescriptive,” he said.
Government will develop regional plans that identify priorities for growth and provide direction on managing land use conflict
- Right to farm policy
“Some farmers need flexibility for their operations and they can’t be locked in, so at the moment we are going down the education path.”
New laws would be created if the new policy doesn’t deliver the necessary bite, Mr Blair said.
“We make a clear commitment – if we need to legislate, we will.”
Right to farm policy
- Baseline data and monitoring of land use conflicts
- Increase certainty for those exisiting agricultural land uses
- New regional plans to protect key farm areas
- Consultation with local councils to address conflict hotspots
- Planning focus on agricultural production
- Ongoing reviews of environment planning regulations
- Education campaign about primary production
- Commitment to deliver new laws if necessary
