Mayor's Message - March 2024
Posted on: 07.03.2024
I’m really proud that this Council is committed to supporting our local farmers and rural industries. At our February meeting, we were able to endorse a draft Planning Proposal to make it easier for property owners to undertake horticultural activities in the Wollondilly Shire.
By fast tracking planning approval pathways, we will be able to support and expand our existing horticulture industry into the future, given the increasing cost of agricultural land in our Shire.
Wollondilly’s close proximity to Sydney and the new Western Sydney Airport makes our local small-scale producers uniquely placed to cultivate fresh, high quality food for the region and beyond. To be commercially viable our local farmers need to be able to easily leverage more intensive forms of horticulture such as market gardens and hydroponic operations. The changes in the draft Planning Proposal should remove unnecessary red tape so they can do this.
It is fantastic to see some changes being delivered that will make an on the ground impact. I’d like to thank Council’s Agricultural and Rural Industries Advisory Group who were key drivers of these changes and provided great input into its development which was prepared in response to recommendations within the Wollondilly Rural Lands Strategy 2021. Thanks also to the staff who worked so hard on this.