State's best food producing land will be protected for future generations

The Queensland Government has released its plan to protect the State's most valuable food producing land for future generations.

Under the Protecting Queensland's strategic cropping land policy framework, mineral resources in the state's best agricultural areas will not be developed where they permanently alienate the land.

Strategic cropping land will be defined as land on which soil quality, topography and seasonal rainfall combined enable more than one quality crop to be grown on a commercial agricultural basis.

The Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade, Stephen Robertson said new legislation will be introduced and Trigger Maps have been published that identify exactly where the state's quality farming land is located.

"We have taken the decision to protect Queensland's precious food producing land and provide food security for future generations," Minister Robertson said.

"It's all about getting the balance right.

"This policy recognises the importance of finding a balance between our agricultural industries, the resource industry, emerging industries like coal seam gas to liquid natural gas, and urban development.

"Where a development is proposed in an area that is mapped as Strategic Cropping Land, it will not be permitted to proceed if it permanently prevents the land being used for cropping in the future.

There will be a provision for a 'demonstrated exceptional circumstance' where there was a unique resource found nowhere else in Queensland - but these will be few and far between, the Minister said.

"Based on current technology at least, it would be difficult to see how an open cut coal mine could proceed on Strategic Cropping Land, whereas well-designed coal seam gas operations may be able to be accommodated under this policy without alienating the land,'' he said.

"This policy is in addition to the usual stringent environmental assessment process and conditioning - and all projects will still need to comply with other strict environmental and planning laws."

"Coal mining and the petroleum and gas industries are vital to our economy. But our best cropping land is a finite resource that must be conserved.

"Although the legislation is yet to be finalised we expect developers and resource companies to take account now of the clear intent of this new framework."

Consultation with all interested parties will be ongoing with comments on the policy framework invited through to September 30.

One area currently involved in resource activity that will be among the first to be assessed for strategic cropping land is Tarong Energy's Haystack Road coal tenure, about 40km south-east of Chinchilla.

The Minister released draft maps today which identify around 4% of Queensland's land mass as having potential for strategic cropping.

The maps show land from the Darling Downs, through Central Queensland and into the Far North being eligible for protection as strategic cropping lands.

The maps and policy were developed followed extensive consultation over the last six months with stakeholders including Queensland Resources Council, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Queensland Farmers Federation and AGFORCE, LGAQ, UDIA, NRM Groups Collective and Future Food Queensland.

The maps are not final but simply identify areas where strategic cropping land is expected to exist.

"These maps will be further fine-tuned using the best available science and through further consultation with stakeholders before the legislation is introduced next year," the Minister said.

Even where a farmer's land is not shown as Strategic Cropping Land on the Trigger Map, they will be able to apply to have their landholding assessed as strategic cropping land on the basis of the scientific criteria.

If an on-ground assessment demonstrates that land marked as Strategic Cropping Land doesn't meet the criteria, then landholders or resource companies can also apply to have land declassified, the Minister said.

State infrastructure that provides significant community benefits such as road, rail and powerlines will be exempt from the strategic cropping land policy framework.

Agriculture and agri-food industries generated $22.7 billion in to the Queensland economy in 2006-07. The sector employs nearly 273,000 Queenslanders.

In the same year, the resource sector also contributed $26.36 billion to the Queensland economy including $1.3 billion in royalties used by the state to fund essential services.

"Both these industries are valuable contributors to the state economy," Mr Robertson said.

"This initiative will manage land use in conjunction with a number of new policies including the Land Access framework, the Surat Basin Future Directions Statement and policies that manage groundwater and coal seam gas water."

The Minister said the existing Good Quality Agricultural Lands policy (SPP1/92) will continue to apply to other agricultural land. Where there are inconsistencies, the new policy will prevail, he said.

For more information on protecting Queensland's strategic cropping land or for your copy of the policy visit sclenquiries@derm.qld.gov.au or phone 13QGOV (13 7468).

Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
23/08/2010

Permanent Link: State's best food producing land will be protected for future generations
Publish Date: 23 Aug 10