Queensland's best cropping land protected from today

Queensland's best agricultural land is officially protected from today with the State Government's strategic cropping land legislation coming into effect.

Natural Resources Minister Rachel Nolan said the start of the Strategic Cropping Land Act 2011 was an historic event and an Australian first.

"Today we see the beginning of landmark legislation that will ensure Queensland's strategic cropping land is protected for future generations," Ms Nolan said.

"I am extremely proud of this achievement as it demonstrates the State Government's commitment to sustainable growth in Queensland.

"The challenge for Queensland is to ensure economic growth and development across all industries, and this includes ensuring that the agriculture sector maintains its most precious and scarce resource-its strategic cropping land.

"This framework strikes a balance between agriculture, mining and urban development to help maintain the long-term viability of our food and fibre industries, and supports economic growth for regional communities."

Ms Nolan said the Queensland Government had undertaken extensive consultation with key stakeholders throughout the development of the strategic cropping land framework.

"The Strategic Cropping Land Advisory Committee, which includes key resources, agricultural and urban development groups, will advise on implementation issues and contribute to the two-year review of the legislation," Ms Nolan said.

"I will also work closely with the newly formed Science and Technical Implementation Committee to ensure that the soil science, integral to the legislation, is implemented to achieve the aim of the policy.

"Right across Australia we are seeing conflict between mining and agriculture and Queensland is the first government to act.

Ms Nolan said the Bligh Government had developed comprehensive legislation to scientifically identify the state's best quality agricultural land, protecting it from mining and other activities that would permanently alienate it.

"Coming into force today, this legislation means that our best land, notably but not only, on the Darling Downs, in the Lockyer Valley and in Central Queensland's golden triangle, will now be protected for agriculture forever. "

She said the legislation had been the subject of detailed consultation with local governments, agricultural groups and miners and that its commencement today was a very significant event.

"While the opposition might be running around trying to convince people the government is out of puff, the truth is this government developed and legislated Australian first agricultura l protection legislation while they did nothing.

"That groundbreaking legislation comes into effect today."

Ms Nolan said today also marked the beginning of the Strategic Cropping Land Regulation 2011, which supports the Act, and the initiative's State Planning Policy, which is designed to ensure local government planning and development assessments are considered under the Act.

The Act, Regulation and State Planning Policy form a legislative and planning framework to protect strategic cropping land from resource and urban developments that lead to permanent impacts or diminished productivity.

Strategic cropping land applications can now be officially submitted to the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

More information is available on the DERM website at www.derm.qld.gov.au

Finance, Natural Resources and The Arts
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
30/01/2012
Queensland's best cropping land protected from today

Permanent Link: Queensland's best cropping land protected from today
Publish Date: 30 Jan 12

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