A decision about the rural zonings in which horticulture should be permissable without consent was deferred for the third time at last week’s Nambucca Shire Council meeting.
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The decision came after Valla farmer Jane Cooper detailed an irrigation licensing issue between herself and neigbouring blueberry growers.
“There is no visual flow in Deep Creek and still pumping continues,” Ms Cooper said.
“Calls to the Department of Primary Industries about non-compliance to their license have been all but ignored. Blueberries are big business and should be DA approved and monitored.”
While the council has no compliance role in water, Cr Susan Jenvey said the council should look at having an advocacy role in how some industries are carried out in the valley.
She said the blueberry industry in particular was an intensive user of pesticides and fungicides and separate controls in the Local Environment Plan were needed to deal with this.
Cr Janine Reed said the entire horticulture industry needed to be examined, not only blueberries.
Returning to the question of whether consent was needed in R5 zones, Cr Brian Finlayson said a 15 acre lot should not be treated the same as a two acre lot when it came to issues of land use conflict.
“If you live in a rural area, you can’t be surprised of rural activities take place,” he said.
Council staff had recommended that consent be required in the R5 zone, given the primary intent of this zoning was residential development.
The matter was deferred pending further consultation the blueberry and other horticulture industry representatives.
Cr Rhonda Hoban was the lone dissenting voice: “While we consult, others can get their businesses going” she said.
