Plans for new hospital
Win tickets to Jâroo Action Park p3
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LGA misses out on EV chargers p11
The Bugle team wishes you a happy Christmas and a relaxing holiday break after this roller coaster of a year. Our wish for 2023 is to never hear the word unprecedented, unless for a happy reason.
17 DEC 2022
Agritourism brings more opportunities NSWâs new rules to allow farmers to develop an extra income stream through agritourism, which came into effect elsewhere in the State on 1 December, are significantly more permissive than originally outlined. Alan Smith, who has long championed farmers being able to diversify their income, is surprised by the extent of the freedoms but doesnât expect farmers to rush into anything.
âI was expecting to have to go to Council to get approval with consent, as some of these are things that need community input,â he says. âJust because we can do it, doesnât mean we should. There are lots of hidden costs that have to be taken into account.â Kiama Council has expressed surprise at the changes, however, CEO Jane Stroud says the new policy could provide a positive boost for the local economy by making it easier for farmers to start and operate agritourism businesses. âLocal businesses, including our farmers, have been Kiama Council has received through a tough few years, a welcome early Christmas so I am broadly in favour present with the settlement of anything that helps them of the $28 million sale of diversify their economic its Akuna St landholding to opportunities,â she says. Sydney property developer, âOf course, any new busiLevel 33. ness must comply with our The winning tenderer DA process and planning polwas announced at the end icies and we need to carefully of June, but it was only on manage the implementation settlement that the sale price of the State policy in line was revealed. with our local requirements.â âAkuna Street has proven Exempt developments (see to be an excellent investment box) will be able to pop-up by Kiama Council. We purwithout neighbours being notichased the property in sepa- fied and risks being assessed, rate lots many years ago and despite councils having limited have taken the time and care compliance resources. to get the sale right,â says To avoid issues, Ms Stroud Mayor Neil Reilly. is calling on farmers wanting While the money will to take advantage of the continued p12 changes to discuss their
Akuna St settles
ideas with Council. âWhile we fully support property owners in the area to diversify into agribusiness, as part of that process we also strongly encourage people to come in and discuss their plans with Council prior to commencement. âThis will help property owners fully understand the legal requirements, and hopefully prevent lengthy and costly compliance-related delays down the track.â Not all rural land in the LGA will be eligible to participate in these activities, as they restricted to working farm land (for tax or council rate purposes, with the main use of the land being the production of agricultural goods
Wind farm concerns
for commercial purposes). It is now possible, however, for farmers to earn more from agritourism than their primary pursuit. Due to an idiosyncrasy in the Kiama Local Environment Plan, the reforms will not come into effect here until February. Councillor Karen RenkemaLang says, âI would really have liked the local farmers to have had a say on this, and will be again advocating for Council to establish a Rural Futures group in the early new year. âIâm particularly concerned about the impact of the new rules on infrastructure costs, The drop-in information session on the windfarm proland use conflicts and bioposed for off the Kiama coast security.â got heated at times as people Amongst the unexpected changes allowed in RU1, RU2, RU4 strongly expressed their zones as exempt developments (no council approval) are: opposition to the project. ⢠farm gate premises for up to 100 visitors at a time, 7 days, in The issues most raised an existing building up to 200m2 were about the visual effect ⢠farm experience premises for up to 50 people at a time of the 105 300m turbines on (included in the farm gate total, excluding tours and school the horizon; the effectiveness visits), 52 days a year (excluding tours and school visits), 7 of the technology; the impact days (including Fri and Sat 8am-midnight), using up to 200m2 on migrating whales and of an existing building. No size limitation on landholding. birds; lack of controls; and ⢠farm stay accommodation for a max of 20 guests in tents, a general scepticism about caravans and campervans (max 6 caravans and camperwhether their views were govans), for up to 3 weeks a stay. On landholdings above 15ha ing to be taken into account. for caravans and campervans. Councillor Kathy Rice took ⢠roadside stalls â one per property with a 9m2 footprint the opportunity to ask the Other activities allowed as complying developments (no DA but project team a lot of quescertifier approval) on RU1, RU2, RU4 zones are: tions and still doesnât feel ⢠New farm gate and experiences premises of a combined 500m2 she has all the answers she ⢠Six farmstay buildings of up to 60m2 floor area, for each 15ha needs. landholding. âI am generally support-
Nick Sankey (centre) explains his companyâs proposal
ive because Australia must examine these technologies and they canât be discounted without knowing the facts,â she says. âThe major issues people are concerned about are its appearance and the potential environmental impact. âIt is vital to make sure that everything is thoroughly researched before permission is granted.â Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang holds a similar view. âIâm generally supportive of the need for clean energy. My issue is whether they [the proponents of this project] are being presumptive in the continued p10