Decision deferred on LEP amendment to provide for deeper engagement

Published on 26 March 2026

Last night Council resolved to defer a decision on the proposed amendment to the Nambucca Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2010 to require development consent for intensive plant agriculture in the RU1 Primary Production and RU2 Rural Landscape Zones.

Councillors reflected on the journey both they and the community had been on since Council started the potential amendment process back in 2024 to try to achieve improved outcomes for managing horticultural spray drift, water discharge and buffer zones around intensive plant agriculture properties.

All Councillors agreed the community had been deeply affected by both the intensive horticulture practices and the LEP amendment process, as demonstrated by the 57 submissions provided recently to Council of lived experiences of the impacts.

Last night Council resolved to:

1. Defer the consideration of the Nambucca Local Environmental Plan 2010 – Horticulture to the May meeting of Council.

2. Consider a Rural Land Strategy as a top priority in the 2026/2027 Budget Process.

3. Meet within a month to consult on a position on buffer zones and the exemptions being considered within the current LEP draft including sub clause 2 which relates to clarifying the public authority responsibilities.

4. Form a consultative committee and invite representatives from the EPA, NRAR, DPI, NEN, the NSW Farmers Association, Berries Australia and the Nambucca Valley Growers and Producers Association as a minimum requirement.

5. Lobby the state government in changing the legislation for horticulture.

You can view an audio recording of the last night’s meeting from Council’s website by clicking on the ‘Live stream and archive’ menu in the home page’s top right-hand corner. You can view the meeting’s agenda report paper and minutes by visiting https://www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Business-Councillors/Business-Papers.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO:

Mr Bede Spannagle

GENERAL MANAGER

02 6568 2555

Bede Spannagle

GENERAL MANAGER