Housing and tourism are encroaching on the city’s fertile farmland, putting its food bowl – and livelihoods – at risk

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/240986

“People are sold an illusion,” says fifth-generation farmer Liz Burns, who runs livestock and grows berries, herbs and bush foods in the Hepburn shire council, which neighbours the Macedon Ranges shire, about 100km north-west of Melbourne.

Farmland seen as vacant land Farmers and planning researchers have for decades warned against development encroaching on the fertile farmland within 100km of the city.

The loss of farmland has accelerated this century, under both Coalition and Labor state governments, increasing land prices and the cost of farming.

Land-use conflict stories are common: Bellarine Peninsula farmer Noel Vallance was reportedly threatened with legal action after dust from stripping grain settled in a neighbour’s swimming pool; Macedon dairy farmer Peter Grant reportedly said a planned development will curb his ability to milk at 3am.

Farmers on the fringe face uncertainty when considering investing in new sheds, land and modernisation.

  • MisterFrog@aussie.zoneEnglish
    13·
    1 year ago

    We really ought to prevent any further loss of fertile land. Want to expand housing? Time to build up, our sprawl and lack of PT connections in the fringes of the “city” is getting out of hand.

    • Treevan 🇦🇺@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
      6·
      1 year ago

      I wrote a blog a while back on erosion with a few references and used this quote, it matches somewhat to what you are saying.

      “The most meaningful indicator for the health of the land, and the long-term wealth of a nation, is whether soil is being formed or lost. If soil is being lost, so too is the economic and ecological foundation on which production and conservation are based.”

      • Taleya@aussie.zoneEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        “Despite all our accomplishments we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains”

    • Taleya@aussie.zoneEnglish
      4·
      1 year ago

      Start insisting that all encroachment onto farmland be located near pig farms. That’ll put an end to that shit real quick.

      • Salvo@aussie.zoneEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        That did not work for the Airport, or Calder Park, or even Carrum Downs or Werribee.

      • Salvo@aussie.zoneEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        The problem is that councils are the ones who benefit financially from urban sprawl. And if the sprawl is on State government roads, they don’t need to pay for improvements.

        Also, developers are offering so much money to the farmers who are being priced out by insane rate increases have no choice but to sell their generational homes and farmland.

        The duopsony of Coles/Woolworths paying a pittance for produce isn’t very helpful either.