“Blueberry farming can be very destructive to the surrounding waterways and the local environment, but it is not well policed by the EPA or the Council,” Lucy Shepherd, a local resident and one of the organisers of the upcoming meeting told News Of The Area.

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“It’s up to members of the public to come forward and voice their concerns,” she said.

“That’s what this meeting is about; to get the public informed and enlist support.

“Cashed up buyers from other regions, like Coffs Harbour and Bellingen, where the Council is making it harder to farm blueberries, are making their way into the Valley where land is cheaper and the Council rules on intensive agriculture are less restrictive,” Ms Shepherd said.

Rachel Mackenzie from Berries Australia told News of the Area, “There is a perception that blueberry farming is unsustainable, but it is a legitimate agricultural enterprise.

“We don’t support any growers not complying with the rules.

“Blueberry farming contributes around $400 million per year to the local economy in the Coffs region and employs many seasonal and non-seasonal workers bringing benefits to the local economy,” she emphasised.

Recently in the Coffs Harbour region a community action group managed to draw attention to water quality in Hearnes Lake where high levels of dangerous chemicals were discovered and blueberry farms were implicated.

An EPA spokesperson was not available for comment.

However, according to information supplied to News Of The Area, between 2021 and 2023, the EPA inspected 40 horticulture operations in the Woolgoolga area.

This led to 21 investigations resulting in operators being issued a total of fifteen penalty notices, seven official cautions, eight formal warnings and fourteen advisory letters for a range for water pollution and pesticide offences.

“As a result of this the majority of these farms have now installed wastewater capture and irrigation systems, upgraded or installed new pesticides storage enclosures, and engaged in better waste management practices on farm,” Rachel Mackenzie said.

One other consequence of the actions of community groups in the Coffs region has been the tightening of regulations on blueberry farmers by the City of Coffs Harbour (Council) and a requirement that farmers lodge a Development Application when adding to or establishing netting or polytunnel operations for intensive agriculture.

Farmers argue that netting and polytunnels are not permanent structures and requiring approval to add to existing operations is taking things too far.

Here in the Nambucca Valley, no such requirement is currently in place and land zoned for primary production is readily added to or adapted for blueberry farming without requiring approval.

Daniel Walsh, Manager Development and Environment with the Nambucca Valley Council, told News Of the Area on Tuesday that a report to Council is currently being prepared in which questions relating to intensive horticulture and intensive agriculture will be answered.

Mr Walsh hopes the report will be ready for Council’s next meeting.

The community meeting is open to all and plans to discuss issues pertinent to intensive agriculture in the area, such as pesticide and fertiliser run-off, water consumption and land usage.

It will be held at the Macksville Ex-Services Club at 6pm on 22 November 2023.

By Ned COWIE