Future Planning Directions for Primary Production and Rural Development

Future Planning

Directions for Primary

Production and Rural

DevelopmentSupporting Farmers and

Building Stronger Communities

Have your say

Your views are important. The Department is seeking feedback and comments from across the community. We want to hear what people think and whether there are further areas for improvement.

You can view the planning package for primary production and rural development and make a submission online at:

www.planning.nsw.gov.au/primaryproductionsepp

or by mail to the:

Director, Planning Frameworks NSW Department of Planning and Environment GPO Box 39 Sydney NSW 2001

Future Planning Directions for Primary Production and Rural Development

support the right to farm and protect rural land from

fragmentation and land use conflict

• ensuring that local environmental plans contain

the planning rules that relate to local agricultural

development, making them more accessible and easier

for farmers and communities to use

• expanding the range of development that does not

require planning approval, ensuring that standard

farming practices, or smaller-scale or short-term activities

in low-risk locations, can proceed without delay

• supporting farmers during drought, poor seasons

and following emergency events by allowing them

to take actions to preserve livestock without needing

council consent

• clarifying the application of existing rules for the

subdivision of rural land to ensure farmers continue to

have flexibility in managing their land both for primary

production and to make best use of an existing dwelling

on the property.

Summary of key proposalsThe planning proposals currently on exhibition include

important policy updates and improvements that aim to

support viable agricultural industries into the future and

make the day-to-day task of running a farm easier. These are

summarised below.

• the new State Environmental Policy will:

o allow the temporary feeding or housing of livestock

such as cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and goats, without

planning approval following drought, flood, fire or

similar emergencies, or for non-emergency purposes

such as agistment, weaning or dipping where the

activity occurs away from sensitive locations such as

adjoining dwellings

o support the emerging goat meat industry by identifying

that temporary goat depots do not require approval.

o allow marine waters aquaculture to occur in coastal

waters of the state

o retain an existing provision enabling the future

identification of state significant agricultural land

o ensure that small farm dams and maintenance and

emergency works to water infrastructure in identified

irrigation areas do not require approval

• standard local environmental plan provisions

will be updated to:

o clarify that farmers continue to have flexibility in the way

land can be subdivided for primary production, with

Current planning policiesDelivering a modern and simplified planning system

for primary production and rural development is a key

feature of the NSW Government’s Right to Farm Policy.

This recognises the importance of taking action to support

farmers that are following best practice and undertaking

lawful farming activities.

The Government is reviewing current State Environmental

Planning Policies to streamline planning and approval

requirements, particularly for low-risk, standard farming

and agricultural practices. Removing unnecessary

regulation will encourage investment, reduce the burden

on businesses and make it easier for farmers to get on with

the job of farming.

Future directionsThe NSW Department of Planning and Environment is

seeking community feedback on a package of proposals to

modernise and simplify the planning policies and rules that

apply to primary production and rural development.

Highlights of the package include:

• introducing a new, single State Environmental Planning

Policy, to replace the existing five policies and focusing

on targeted matters that require state-level direction

and guidance

• updating the requirements for future local environmental

plans to make sure that proposals to change land use

zones, minimum lot sizes or development controls must

The goal is to create at least 150,000 new jobs by 2019, with 30,000 in regional NSW, leading to a 30% growth in the value of NSW primary

industries by 2020.

IntroductionPrimary production is one of our biggest and most important industries. It contributes $56 billion every year to the national economy, with more than 85,000 Australian farming businesses in operation. The industry is an important provider of employment in a wide range of sectors, supporting strong, resilient communities. In NSW, primary industries put $12 billion into the state economy. Around 66,000 people in NSW earn their living from jobs in agricultural industries.

The industry is highly diverse, including plant cultivation, rearing animals for meat and other products, and production of fish and other water-based species such as oysters. The NSW Government is committed to supporting investment in the environmentally sustainable expansion of primary production.

The planning system has an important role to play in securing a strong future for the agricultural industry. A robust planning system is one that provides certainty, confidence and consistency, so that farmers can plan make investment decisions and adapt to challenges and emerging market opportunities.

council approval, to create lots less than the standard

minimum lot size rules, including new lots that may

contain an existing dwelling

o update the definition of “intensive agriculture” and

“feedlot” to remove references to the source and type

of feed used, and instead use plain English terminology

o improve the definition of “extensive agriculture”

to recognise that standard practices such as

supplementary or emergency feeding and temporary

penning of animals for weaning, dipping and similar

purposes, do not require council consent

o support small-scale operators by setting size and

locational requirements for a range of intensive livestock

purposes, which will mean that planning approval is

only required if a proposal is:

• Ministerial planning directions that set requirements for future local environmental plans will be revised to:

o support the Right to Farm policy

o prioritise efforts to avoid the fragmentation of

agricultural land and land use conflict.

50+head of cattle

200+animals

1000+more birds

200+pigs

20+breeding sows

a cattle feedlot or dairy (restricted) of 50 or more animals

sheep or goat feedlots of 200 or more animals

egg and poultry facilities of 1000 birds or greater

any sized commercial cattle, sheep or goat feedlot, dairy (restricted), pig farm or egg or poultry production, where the facility is located within 500 metres of a dwelling not associated with the development or within an environmentally sensitive area.

a pig farm of 200 or more pigs or 20 or more breeding sows

$12 billionNSW primary industries contribution to the economy

39,000agricultural businesses in NSW

66,000people employed in NSW agriculture industries

$8 billionvalue of NSW agricultural exports

42,000farms in NSW

2/3 area of the state

area of the state sustainably managed by NSW farmers