Council seeks community voices for Rural Lands Committee

PEOPLE living and working in the Nambucca Valley’s rural areas are invited to play a direct role in shaping the future of agriculture, land management and environmental outcomes across the region, with Nambucca Valley Council seeking community representatives for a new Rural Lands Consultative Committee.

Expressions of interest are now open for up to four people to join the committee, which will bring together representatives from the community, agricultural organisations, farming groups, relevant State Government agencies and Landcare to help develop a collaborative Rural Lands Strategy for the local government area.

Nambucca Valley Council Acting General Manager David Moloney said the formation of the advisory group and development of a Rural Lands Strategy would help support agricultural productivity while addressing potential land use conflicts.

“For two years, Council has been working to try and achieve improved outcomes in RU1 Primary Production and RU2 Rural Landscape Zones, specifically better management of water quality and land use conflict. During this process and consulting extensively with the NSW Department of Planning and other agencies, it became clear to Council that producing a Rural Lands Strategy would be beneficial, ” he said.

“Therefore at the 25 March Ordinary Meeting of Council, Councillors voted to defer the decision on an amendment to the Nambucca Local Environmental Plan 2010 (LEP) and focus on delivering deeper collaboration with community and stakeholders and starting work on a Rural Lands Strategy and I encourage any community members with an interest in agriculture, or those people who live or work in a rural zone and who can meet the group’s eligibility criteria, to apply for a position on the new group by Friday 26 June 2026.”

The committee will be chaired by Councillor Jane MacSmith and include representatives from the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Natural Resource Access Regulator, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Nambucca Environment Network, NSW Farmers Association, Berries Australia, Nambucca Valley Growers and Producers Association, NSW Local Land Services and Nambucca Valley Landcare.

Once established, the committee will provide advice and recommendations to Council.

Its work will focus on preparing a Rural Lands Strategy and supporting the implementation of recommended actions, identifying issues affecting agricultural productivity within the valley’s rural zones, examining matters that may contribute to land use conflict, and supporting environmental management outcomes.

Council is seeking community members who have a strong connection to the Nambucca Valley and who either live or work within a rural zone.

Applicants must not already be members of any of the committee’s other stakeholder organisations, ensuring a broad range of perspectives is represented throughout the consultation process.

Community members interested in joining the Rural Lands Consultative Committee can review the eligibility criteria and application details on Council’s website.

By Mick BIRTLES