Hon. P.G. Pendal asks about the government's endorsement and actions regarding a report on protecting agricultural land from urban sprawl, particularly in Chittering, Gidgegannup, and Toodyay. The government confirms its support and outlines the development and implementation of a State Planning Policy to address the issue.

AnsweredQoN 1282Legislative Assembly
Asked
27 November 2001
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

(b) does the Government endorse the contents of the report in that planning laws should be used to protect agricultural land from encroachment from such factors as urban sprawl; (c) what action has been taken on the report since the closure of the comment period on 10 April 1998; and (d) what action, if any, is being taken to protect near city agricultural land from urban encroachment in such areas as Chittering, Gidgegannup and Toodyay?
(c) what action has been taken on the report since the closure of the comment period on 10 April 1998; and (d) what action, if any, is being taken to protect near city agricultural land from urban encroachment in such areas as Chittering, Gidgegannup and Toodyay?
(d) what action, if any, is being taken to protect near city agricultural land from urban encroachment in such areas as Chittering, Gidgegannup and Toodyay?
(b) Yes. Where an agricultural area has been identified as being of State/regional or local agricultural significance then these areas should be appropriately zoned in planning schemes and protected from incompatible uses. (c) Upon closure of the comment period in April 1998, it was resolved by the Western Australian Planning Commission to prepare a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) to guide planning by local governments. A draft of the policy, Statement of Planning Policy No. 11 - Agricultural and Rural Land Use Planning Policy, was prepared and advertised for public comment for a 5 month period ending in March 2000. The Western Australian Planning Commission has since modified and adopted the policy and it has been referred to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the Minister for Agriculture for noting. (d) The Department of Agriculture is working with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and local governments in the preparation of planning strategies and schemes or scheme reviews to ensure that areas of State/regional and local agricultural significance are identified and protected in planning schemes. For example, both Departments have provided information and assistance to the Shire of Chittering which is proposing an Agricultural Resource Protection zone in its new planning scheme.
(c) Upon closure of the comment period in April 1998, it was resolved by the Western Australian Planning Commission to prepare a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) to guide planning by local governments. A draft of the policy, Statement of Planning Policy No. 11 - Agricultural and Rural Land Use Planning Policy, was prepared and advertised for public comment for a 5 month period ending in March 2000. The Western Australian Planning Commission has since modified and adopted the policy and it has been referred to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the Minister for Agriculture for noting. (d) The Department of Agriculture is working with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and local governments in the preparation of planning strategies and schemes or scheme reviews to ensure that areas of State/regional and local agricultural significance are identified and protected in planning schemes. For example, both Departments have provided information and assistance to the Shire of Chittering which is proposing an Agricultural Resource Protection zone in its new planning scheme.
(d) The Department of Agriculture is working with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and local governments in the preparation of planning strategies and schemes or scheme reviews to ensure that areas of State/regional and local agricultural significance are identified and protected in planning schemes. For example, both Departments have provided information and assistance to the Shire of Chittering which is proposing an Agricultural Resource Protection zone in its new planning scheme.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
19 February 2002
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
84 days
(a) The Government supports the basic principle that productive agricultural land should be protected. However it also recognises that there is a need to provide land for other rural and urban uses that are of benefit to the community.
(b) Yes. Where an agricultural area has been identified as being of State/regional or local agricultural significance then these areas should be appropriately zoned in planning schemes and protected from incompatible uses.
(c) Upon closure of the comment period in April 1998, it was resolved by the Western Australian Planning Commission to prepare a Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) to guide planning by local governments. A draft of the policy, Statement of Planning Policy No. 11 - Agricultural and Rural Land Use Planning Policy, was prepared and advertised for public comment for a 5 month period ending in March 2000. The Western Australian Planning Commission has since modified and adopted the policy and it has been referred to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure and the Minister for Agriculture for noting.
(d) The Department of Agriculture is working with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure and local governments in the preparation of planning strategies and schemes or scheme reviews to ensure that areas of State/regional and local agricultural significance are identified and protected in planning schemes. For example, both Departments have provided information and assistance to the Shire of Chittering which is proposing an Agricultural Resource Protection zone in its new planning scheme.

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