NSW Labor votes against Right to Farm Bill
The NSW Labor Government had shown a lack of interest in the issues facing farmers in voting against a bill that would protect legitimate farming activities from complaints from neighbours, Member for Ballina Don Page said today.
Mr Page introduced the Protection of Agricultural Production (Right to Farm) Bill to Parliament.
He said the bill would have allowed farmers to carry out farming activities on land zoned rural without the threat of harassment or complaints about noise, dust and odour from neighbouring property owners.
“Under the bill, a notice of land use would be given to purchasers of land adjoining or adjacent to rurally zoned land,” Mr Page said.
“Having purchased the property in the knowledge the neighbouring land is zoned rural, should there be a subsequent dispute, a court must take into consideration the fact the purchaser bought the property knowing the adjoining land was zoned rural.
“This legislation is all about people buying property with their eyes open and accepting that legitimate farming activities are permissible. This is turn will reduce conflict between neighbours.
“For many years farmers and landowners have been concerned about the threat to legal agricultural activities from neighbours who buy into a rural setting and then proceed to complain about existing agricultural activities next door.
“The problem is becoming worse as a result of the sea change and tree change phenomenon.
“Increasingly, we are finding more and more people in coastal areas in New South Wales and indeed in larger regional centres wanting to go to rural areas to experience the pleasantries of a rural lifestyle, but then complain about the legitimate and legal activities that are occurring on the farm next door.
“I believe this bill is practical and sensible and is a genuine attempt to resolve conflict. It disappoints me greatly that the NSW Labor Government has failed to support this bill.”
