AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS SET
PATHWAY FORWARD

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will take action to give farmers greater confidence about managing land use conflict and the transition to renewable energy based on the findings of two key reports by the State’s Agriculture Commissioner.

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the Government will take evidencebased recommendations from each report to drive practical change for the future of the sector.

“We appointed Daryl Quinlivan as Agriculture Commissioner in 2020 to address the immediate pressure that land use issues were having on our farmers, solidifying the Liberals and Nationals’ commitment to supporting their right to farm,” Mr Saunders said.

The NSW Government has already acted on a number of recommendations from the Commissioners first report, Improving Prospects for Agriculture and Regional Australia in the NSW Planning System, including:

 Consulting on a draft State Significant Agricultural Land map to better identify this valuable land; and,

 Establishing a Paddock to Planning forum to share experiences and ideas about how to manage land use conflict.

In response to the Commissioners first report, Mr Saunders said Daryl Quinlivan would chair a newly created Farm Practices Panel to support industry to redevelop their agricultural codes of practice to ensure quicker resolutions to land conflict issues.

The Commissioner’s second report provided advice on managing the growth of renewable energy projects in regional NSW.

“Renewables will play an important role in providing reliable, affordable energy supply in the future, but we know this important transition needs to be done in a way that minimises disruption to our agricultural sector,” Mr Saunders said.

“We take land use conflict associated with renewable energy developments on agricultural land seriously. These are complex issues that warranted consideration across government and given the importance for landholders, we are determined to get these policy settings right for the long term.”

In line with the Commissioner’s recommendations, the NSW Energy Corporation will work with relevant agencies, farmers and landholders, to:

 Publish best practice standard agreement templates for agreements with landowners hosting renewable energy projects or living in close proximity to these projects;

 Investigate concerns raised by landholders about fire and risk insurance as a result of living in the vicinity of renewable energy projects; and,

 Investigate improvements to the planning system to address farm management practices, including managing pests and weeds.

“We want to ensure we get this renewable energy transition right for everybody but especially for farmers and regional communities – which is why we will investigate the Commissioner’s recommendations on key issues of concern to the agricultural sector,” Mr Saunders said.

NSW Agriculture Commissioner Daryl Quinlivan said the review received 130 individual submissions from a range of people, businesses and industry associations.

“This review was prompted by potential land use conflict emerging within regional communities as the share of renewable energy in our electricity supply mix continues to grow,” Mr Quinlivan said.

“It’s clear the transition to renewable energy has broad community support in regional NSW, but my report raises some of the policy setting considerations to address potential land use conflicts – particularly when population growth and distribution changes, and there is an increasing need for development of renewable energy facilities and associated infrastructure.”