NAMBUCCA Valley Council has voted to require DAs for intensive horticulture operations in the region.

The motion was resolved by five votes to four at Council’s general meeting on Thursday, 14 November.

Over 100 people attended the meeting, with standing room only in the Chambers and more than 30 onlookers in the hall outside, anxiously awaiting the results of the vote.

Nambucca Environment Network (NEN) group organisers were particularly thrilled with the result, cheering and dancing outside the Chambers following the vote.

The contentious issue was first raised in Council more than six years ago, but came to a head last year with a spate of blueberry farms popping up at speed across the Nambucca Valley.

Community complaints have revolved around spray drift, water usage, chemical run-off, the unsightly appearance of farms, land-clearing, worker exploitation and neighbourhood conflicts in what they see as a poorly regulated industry that offers little benefit to the wider community.

Several farming groups spoke out against the measures however, arguing the proposed requirements were “onerous” and would limit investment in agriculture in the region.

Due to “the importance and potential implications of the issue”, as well as having limited time to consider the 83 submissions, Mayor Gary Lee moved to defer a decision on the proposal but was unable to secure the votes necessary for his motion.

Newly-appointed councillor Tamara Castle supported the motion to defer the decision.

She explained she had only had a meeting with Council staff two days earlier and had had little time to consider submissions received and the facts of the matter.

Deputy Mayor James Angel and Cr Troy Vance also supported Mayor Lee’s motion to defer.

Councillors Simson, Jenvey and Jones have been public and vocal supporters of regulating the industry through changing the Council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP).

The casting vote on the original motion (whether to implement the changes) appeared to fall to Cr Jane Smith, who told NOTA she had been in two minds on the issue, debating the pros and cons of the proposal for much of the week prior to the meeting.

“Does horticulture require a DA?” she said.

“Do I think there’s an impact on the environment: yes.

“Is there an impact on the economy and is there a social impact: yes.

“So we require a DA. What that DA requires is for another day.

“Is this already regulated? It has been in the hands of all these organisations and authorities and you come to today and we are still talking about it,” she told the Council before voting for the changes.

The amendments to the LEP will now be referred back to the Department of Planning where the Planning Minister holds the final say.

Subsequently, should the amendments be adopted, the draft Development Control Plan (DCP) controls will be “tweaked” as required before being placed back onto public display.

By Ned COWIE