Meeting to provide update on Nambucca Council’s LEP amendment

A PUBLIC meeting will be held in Macksville to update the community on the progress of an amendment to Nambucca Valley Council’s Local Environment Plan (LEP).

The amendment proposes changes to the rules for intensive horticulture in the Nambucca Valley, in an attempt to tighten regulations following a ramp-up in blueberry production in the region.

Hosted by the Nambucca Environment Network, the community meeting has been scheduled for 6pm on Monday 16 February at the Macksville Ex-Services Club.

Attendees will hear presentations from aquatic animal health expert Dr Matthew Landos (not attending in person) and Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann.

NEN spokesperson Raewyn Macky urged interested community members to attend.

“We continue to raise awareness and support for the Nambucca Valley Local Environment Plan amendment so that [intensive] horticulture in this area gets some regulation – starting with [a requirement for] Development Applications and buffer zones in particular.

“Cate is aiming to address parliament again on this issue and we’d love to see as many people as possible attend the meeting.”

On 3 February, Ms Faehrmann gave notice of a Greens bill to “rein in the out of control, largely unregulated blueberry industry in NSW”.

The bill seeks to require development consent be obtained to carry out certain intensive horticulture activities.

“Across the Mid North Coast and increasingly in the Northern Rivers, the rapid expansion of intensive blueberry farms is having serious consequences for regional communities,” Ms Faehrmann said in a statement.

“Waterways are being polluted by pesticides and fungicides, threatened species habitat is being cleared and livelihoods and lifestyles severely impacted because of a lack of checks and balances in our planning laws.”