The Mitchell Shire Council says recognising agriculture in a recent contentious landscape study is a step towards finding a balance between the area's natural beauty and supporting residents' livelihoods. or signup to continue reading Acting mayor Nathan Clark said the landscape assessment study (LAS), endorsed by council this week, was a vital tool for ensuring the shire's distinctive landscapes were protected as the shire continued to grow. Council endorsed the LAS, with modifications, at its general meeting; .
"The modifications we've made are a reflection of our commitment to both our environment and our agricultural community," Cr Clark said. "We understand that changes to planning controls can be concerning, especially for our farmers and landowners. "That's why we've taken steps to ensure that the proposed SLO will not impact essential agricultural activities.
" He said the shire was seeking to strike a balance between preserving Mitchell's natural beauty and supporting the livelihoods of residents. The proposed SLO's cover nearly 23,500 hectares of farming land, with some farmers . The LAS is described as a comprehensive review of the shire's landscapes, identifying areas of regional significance and proposing the application of a SLO to protect these areas.
But Cr Clark said the LAS was endorsed with . He said the native vegetation permit requirements would be modified to cross-reference existing exemptions outlined in Clause 52.17 (Native Vegetation) of the Mitchell Planning Scheme.
That would ensure important activities, such as regrowth removal, emergency works and fire safety measures were not hindered by the new overlay. Proposed permit triggers for buildings and works under the proposed SLO would be "benchmarked" against similar overlays in nearby rural council planning schemes, to help ensure controls were appropriate and not overly restrictive. An impact assessment of the proposed permits and application process would be conducted within the next six months.
This assessment would evaluate the potential positive and negative impacts on the environment, farming practices, rural vistas, and overall planning efficiency. Cr Clark said council would continue to engage with stakeholders and the broader community throughout the process. With the endorsement of the LAS, Cr Clark said council officers would begin preparing the statutory documentation required to implement the proposed SLO into the Mitchell Planning Scheme.
This would involve a formal Planning Scheme Amendment process, including notifications to affected landowners and a review of submissions by an Independent Planning Panel. More information on the LAS can be found in the r on council's website or the . I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues.
I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers. I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues.
I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
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