A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on the statutory basis for priority agricultural areas and the steps taken to protect them from non-agricultural development. The Minister for Agriculture and Food redirects the question to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.

AnsweredQoN 820Legislative Council
Asked
25 September 2007
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

AGRICULTURE - PRIORITY AREAS
I refer to priority agricultural areas. I understand that those areas are land with high agricultural capability because of their agricultural production, their soil and site characteristics and also areas that have adequate high quality water to maximise the agriculture potential. (1) What is the statutory basis for priority agricultural areas? (2) What steps has the minister taken to ensure that priority agricultural areas are not lost to blue gum plantations, urban development and other non-agricultural uses? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) I think the core of the question was: what is the statutory instrument that can provide for the identification of those priority areas? It may be a little surprising but the statutory instrument would be the planning legislation. The means of identification of those high priority areas to the extent that I think I understand the honourable member’s question will be under a statutory planning policy. It used to be called SPP1-11. It now has a different number; I think it might be 2-1 now. It allows the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure to identify particular areas of land - for example, the Swan Valley or a piece of land adjacent to the town of Margaret River where it is deemed necessary to keep vineyards in a place close to town - that need to be protected as high-value agricultural land to the extent that they cannot be rezoned and developed for other purposes. If the member was to ask the question on notice of the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, he would get a more precise answer. It falls within the planning legislation, and I think the particular instrument used to be called SPP1-11.
(1) What is the statutory basis for priority agricultural areas? (2) What steps has the minister taken to ensure that priority agricultural areas are not lost to blue gum plantations, urban development and other non-agricultural uses? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I think the core of the question was: what is the statutory instrument that can provide for the identification of those priority areas? It may be a little surprising but the statutory instrument would be the planning legislation. The means of identification of those high priority areas to the extent that I think I understand the honourable member’s question will be under a statutory planning policy. It used to be called SPP1-11. It now has a different number; I think it might be 2-1 now. It allows the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure to identify particular areas of land - for example, the Swan Valley or a piece of land adjacent to the town of Margaret River where it is deemed necessary to keep vineyards in a place close to town - that need to be protected as high-value agricultural land to the extent that they cannot be rezoned and developed for other purposes. If the member was to ask the question on notice of the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, he would get a more precise answer. It falls within the planning legislation, and I think the particular instrument used to be called SPP1-11.
(2) What steps has the minister taken to ensure that priority agricultural areas are not lost to blue gum plantations, urban development and other non-agricultural uses? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I think the core of the question was: what is the statutory instrument that can provide for the identification of those priority areas? It may be a little surprising but the statutory instrument would be the planning legislation. The means of identification of those high priority areas to the extent that I think I understand the honourable member’s question will be under a statutory planning policy. It used to be called SPP1-11. It now has a different number; I think it might be 2-1 now. It allows the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure to identify particular areas of land - for example, the Swan Valley or a piece of land adjacent to the town of Margaret River where it is deemed necessary to keep vineyards in a place close to town - that need to be protected as high-value agricultural land to the extent that they cannot be rezoned and developed for other purposes. If the member was to ask the question on notice of the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, he would get a more precise answer. It falls within the planning legislation, and I think the particular instrument used to be called SPP1-11.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) I think the core of the question was: what is the statutory instrument that can provide for the identification of those priority areas? It may be a little surprising but the statutory instrument would be the planning legislation. The means of identification of those high priority areas to the extent that I think I understand the honourable member’s question will be under a statutory planning policy. It used to be called SPP1-11. It now has a different number; I think it might be 2-1 now. It allows the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure to identify particular areas of land - for example, the Swan Valley or a piece of land adjacent to the town of Margaret River where it is deemed necessary to keep vineyards in a place close to town - that need to be protected as high-value agricultural land to the extent that they cannot be rezoned and developed for other purposes. If the member was to ask the question on notice of the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, he would get a more precise answer. It falls within the planning legislation, and I think the particular instrument used to be called SPP1-11.
(1)-(2) I think the core of the question was: what is the statutory instrument that can provide for the identification of those priority areas? It may be a little surprising but the statutory instrument would be the planning legislation. The means of identification of those high priority areas to the extent that I think I understand the honourable member’s question will be under a statutory planning policy. It used to be called SPP1-11. It now has a different number; I think it might be 2-1 now. It allows the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure to identify particular areas of land - for example, the Swan Valley or a piece of land adjacent to the town of Margaret River where it is deemed necessary to keep vineyards in a place close to town - that need to be protected as high-value agricultural land to the extent that they cannot be rezoned and developed for other purposes. If the member was to ask the question on notice of the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, he would get a more precise answer. It falls within the planning legislation, and I think the particular instrument used to be called SPP1-11.

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