Businesses running fruit stalls on roads and collection farms fear that the new regulations proposed by the New South Wales government could close them.
This despite the claims of NSW Planning trying to make it easier for farmers, not more difficult.
Key points:
- Farmers say the proposed rules could shut down their businesses
- Restrictions apply on the number of business days, the number of people and the size of the farm
- The NSW government wants to “make it easier, not harder” for agribusiness companies
NSW Planning has released a draft policy that it says will make it easier for farmers to start agrotourism businesses such as farms, cafes, restaurants, retreats, road stops and small wedding reception venues.
There are hundreds of roadblocks across the state and about 30 personal pickup businesses.
The policy includes measures to address concerns about parking congestion and road safety, but farmers say such regulations would limit them to just 50 people a day and open only 10 days a year.
“It could leave us out of business”
John Galbraith, who runs a family business, Pine Creek Orchard in Bilpin in the Blue Mountains and has been operating for 50 years, said people were “pulling their hair out” about the proposals.
John Galbraith says reducing his opening hours to just 10 a year would put an end to his business. (Sofie Wainwright)
Your own business would not be viable if you had to reduce the number of days it is open to just 10 a year and restrict the number of people to 50 a day.
“We are open about seven months a year on Saturdays and Sundays.”
“We would have 200 to 1,000 people a day and sometimes parking is a problem, but it is the responsibility of customers to park legally and there is considerable parking which is legal.”
Another regulation that stipulates that companies must be a certain size is also a serious problem.
“They say you can’t use a pick-up truck – the same way you have a 25-acre farm.”
“Our farm is only 16 acres and has been a viable business.”
Fruit companies you choose in NSW are concerned about NSW planning proposals. (ABC Central West: Xanthe Gregory)
At Paula Charnock’s Hillside Harvest Harvest in Orange, Midwest NSW, custom sales generate half of their revenue each year, and the changes could also leave her out of business.
“It’s a really scary reality when they try to contribute something they clearly don’t understand,” he said.
Instead of cutting red tape, these changes will force your business to apply for special fruit picking exemptions.
“When it comes to approvals, there’s never been anything like it that we should have applied for or filled out before,” he said.
NSW Planning explains the changes
Fruit stalls on the road are getting involved in proposed rule changes to address parking safety issues. (ABC Rural: David Claughton)
A spokesman for the Department of Planning and the Environment has clarified to the CBA about the changes.
The statement said the proposed changes were intended to make it easier for farmers to set up small-scale, low-impact businesses on their farms without the need for a development application, which is now called.
“Right now, there are no free and compliant development avenues to easily allow for fruit picking activities on rural lands.”
“These reforms are to give homeowners the option to undertake these activities without having to prove that they have the legal approval or obtain a development application,” the statement said.
New eligible companies, including “pick your own fruit” companies, may be established as development exempt or subject to change.
“Farms that already operate fruit harvesting with existing approvals will not be affected by the changes. But any new business that exceeds pre-established conditions in the final policy should obtain a development application, as they have to do now.
“Reforms will only continue if they make it easier to allow fruit picking activities.”
Farmers are not convinced by this claim and said the problem is that no one had approvals, as none were needed when many of these companies were established.
If these changes are approved, they say most of the existing personal pickup and road stops will stop working.
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Posted 11 hours, 11 hours ago, Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 3:19 AM, updated 5 hours, 5 hours ago, Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 9:08 AM