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The Rural Planning Wheel
Preservation of Agricultural Land
Methodology For Assessing Agricultural Land
The methodology utilised for assessing land for agricultural production was developed by the Wollondilly Agricultural Lands Study and is basically a sieve methodology which takes into consideration issues such as lot size, land use, physical constraints, locational factors as well as rural land use conflict. The rationale behind the methodology is to reduce the incidence of rural land use conflict and thereby protecting the sustainability of agricultural development within the area being studied. It will also provide a balance between the use of the land for agriculture and the desire for rural living.
Planning for agriculture is an integrated process - all aspects are linked to one another and one cannot be considered without looking at the impacts on all other aspects. Therefore, when applying the methodology it is necessary to consider all of the steps. There is also a spatial integration of agricultural land use. Planning for one farm cannot be considered in isolation from other land in the locality and other localities in the area. Thus, it is important to take a holistic approach when planning for agricultural land use.
A methodology such as this is evolutionary because of the dynamic nature of land use planning. It was developed for use in Wollondilly and has been applied to Hawkesbury Council's rural land. It is expected that it will be subject to scrutiny by Planners and other persons and adapted to other areas. However, it has been developed by taking into consideration all aspects of land use planning theory and practice.
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The methodology basically uses a "sieve" process to eliminate land, which is not suitable for agricultural production. It is reliant upon a detailed analysis of the characteristics of agriculture within the locality. The details are placed on a map to allow for ease of identification of all issues. This is best done with the aid of a Geographical Information System. The steps to be performed are outlined below. Although it is outlined in a hierarchical manner, the steps can and must be considered concurrently.
The methodology is presented graphically below and then the steps are described.
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Identify geographical
Boundaries |
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Identify agricultural
land classification |
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Identify constraints to
future development |
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Identify land uses
and lot sizes |
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Identify rural land use conflicts |
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Rank land uses by
numerical contributionm to the total shire |
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Decision of importance
of locality for agricultural production |
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Determination of land for
agricultural zoning |
Methodology for assessing land for agricultural production.
Source: Wollondilly Agricultural Lands Study
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Step 1 - Identify Locality.
The first step is to identify the geographical boundaries of the areas to be considered in the analysis. For ease of public understanding of the analysis it is best to use the Geographical Names for the localities for the Local Government Area. These should be mapped at a scale of 1:25,000 for ease of analysis. It must be pointed out that these boundaries are for analysis purposes only. Once the entire LGA has been analysed, the boundaries will disappear and be replaced by topographic and physiological boundaries as derived from this methodology.
Step 2 - Identify Agricultural Land Classification.
The Agricultural Land Suitability Mapping prepared by NSW Agriculture, for example, classifies the land into its five classes. It is necessary to identify the location of each land classification on the map base. This allows the land, which is suitable for further assessment to be identified. In general, NSW Agriculture Advisory Staff recommend that land classified as 1 to 3 is suitable for soil based Agriculture and class 4 land should be only used for grazing or other forms of non-soil based agriculture such as intensive livestock or hydroponics but only where the landform is suitable. Class 5 land, in general, should not be used for Agricultural Production as it is normally along creeks, on steep land or has bad soil characteristics.
Step 3 - Identify the Constraints.
The constraints to the future development of the locality must be identified. They will vary for each specific area within a locality as well as for each locality of Wollondilly. The constraints to be identified include:
- slope of the land
- soil type and fertility
- natural vegetation cover
- proximity to water courses
- flood affectation
- proximity to urban areas
- proximity to rural residential areas
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Step 4 - Identify Land Use and Lot Sizes.
The land uses of the locality need to be classified into a standardised format. It is also necessary to identify the lot size ranges for the locality. This is then cross referenced with the land use type. This is especially critical for Rural Residential uses.
Step 5 - Numerical Ranking of Land Uses.
The land use survey allows the numbers of each land use within a locality to be tabulated. Each locality can then be ranked for its contribution to the total land use types within the Shire.
Step 6 - Identify Land Use Conflicts.
Areas of land use conflict occur where incompatible land uses are located near to one another. Generally it is in the form of rural residential and intensive agriculture, however, it can also include environmental issues such as proximity to water courses and amount of dense tree cover. It is important to consider the lot sizes and the location of dwelling houses when identifying these conflict points. Large lot sizes (over 8ha) for rural residential development, for example, will not have the same potential for conflict as smaller lots (less than 3ha) because the land size and the ability for ameliorative factors (landscape screening, dwelling location etc.) to be introduced.
Step 7 - The Importance of the Locality as an Agricultural Production Area.
The numerical ranking of the locality's land use will allow an assessment to be made of the relative value of that locality as an agricultural production area. The conflict points identified in step 6 should be used in arriving at this decision, but should not be the determining factor. Land classification and total investment in agricultural infrastructure must also be considered. If, for example, a locality has a high value as an agricultural producer as well as having a high proportion of rural residential uses, it can still be designated as an agricultural area but the issue of amelioration of land use conflict must be addressed.
This methodology will lead to the identification of land which is suitable for and which should be retained for agricultural production. It should be stressed that the methodology is highly dependent upon a detailed database and analysis of the land use characteristics. The assessment should also be undertaken in consultation with the Government Department of Agriculture and other Government Departments and organisations, which have an interest in agricultural production. Land which falls outside this classification can be considered for agricultural landscape / mixed use agriculture or other uses such as rural residential, depending on the nature and use of the land.
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