Wollondilly Shire Council in New South Wales is considering implementing an innovative scheme to encourage peri-urban farmers to increase food production.
The concept of an Agricultural Enterprise Scheme (AEC) is being considered by Wollondilly Shire Council as a tool to support local farmers and drive agricultural investment in Wollondilly.
The proposed production-based scheme aims to encourage owners of non-productive, peri-urban land to convert to food-producing land.
The council believes the proposed initiative is a first of its kind worldwide.
It would also provide farmers on existing productive land an incentive to further invest in their business.
These farmers will earn saleable credits that will be held in a ‘bank’ where they can be purchased by developers to use to intensify already approved developments.
Modelled off the Sydney City Council’s Heritage Floor Space Scheme, the scheme is flexible in its application and will allow Council to determine the source zones and the amount of credits a farmer receives for a given crop.
The council will also be able to regulate developer’s actions when using credits by setting rates, target areas, and the degree of intensification.
Architect of the scheme, Ed Biel, said, “We need to have a more proactive approach to supporting farmers, because the provision of agricultural zoning alone will not ensure the ongoing sustainability of Sydney’s farmers.”
Mr Biel proposed that the scheme be rolled out to all peri-urban regions and will look to the University of Technology Sydney and Sydney Peri-Urban Network (SPUN) for support.
Executive Director of Wollondilly Shire Council and Member of SPUN, Ally Dench, said, the scheme is very promising, but it is important that proper legislative avenues are explored.
“The Agricultural Enterprise Scheme is cutting-edge and the first of its kind worldwide.
“Both Council and SPUN are supportive of this scheme, however when putting this scheme together we need to ensure that a number of factors are considered, one of these being legislative planning requirements.”
Council will assess the AEC scheme and put forward a recommendation to councillors on its feasibility.
The Rural Industry Liaison Committee will assist in the review and if the scheme is found to be feasible then Council will submit the proposal to the Annual Local Government Conference later in the year.
