XN000022-1987-05-06 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987

IN ORDER TO HELP THE FARMERS COMPLY WITH THE PROPOSED STANDARDS, DEMONSTRATION FARMS WILL BE SET UP BY THE EPD TO SHOW FARMERS HOW THE VARIOUS TREATMENT FACILITIES WORK.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADVICE ON ACCEPTABLE TECHNIQUES FOR WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL AND WILL ORGANISE COLLECTION SERVICES, WHICH WILL BE SUBSIDISED FROM PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE INITIAL STAGES.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THESE ASPECTS WERE BEING DISCUSSED IN THE AD HOC GROUP AND MEMBERS WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE LEGISLATION WHEN THE AMENDMENT TO THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

SHRINKAGE ON AGRICULTURAL LAND EXPLAINED

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THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES OUTLINED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE CAUSES FOR THE PROGRESSIVE SHRINKAGE IN THE AREA OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN EFFECTIVE USE OVER THE YEARS DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

HE SAID THAT AS OF 1986, THE AMOUNT OF ARABLE LAND LYING FALLOW WAS 4 070 HECTARES, OR 43 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL 9 450 HECTARES OF ARABLE LAND. THIS POSITION HAS REMAINED MORE OR LESS STABLE SINCE 1977.

+WHILE SOME OF THE LAND WAS ABANDONED LONG AGO BECAUSE IT WAS UNECONOMIC (BEING TOO SMALL, TOO REMOTE, OR AFFECTED BY INADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY OR POOR DRAINAGE), MUCH OF THE REDUCTION IN RECENT YEARS OCCURRED BECAUSE LAND WAS TAKEN UP FOR DEVELOPMENT BY EITHER THE PUBLIC OR THE PRIVATE SECTORS, MR BARNES SAID.

MUCH ARABLE LAND WAS LEFT FALLOW IN EXPECTATION, NOT ALWAYS JUSTIFIED, OF ITS BEING DEVELOPED IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HE ADDED.

ANOTHER REASON FOR THE DECREASE IN PRODUCTIVE FARM LAND, MR BARNES SAID, WAS THAT THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE DID NOT ́AT PRESENT GIVE POWERS TO THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TO ZONE LAND FOR RURAL USES IN SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE, AND A RECENT JUDICIAL INTEPRETATION OF THE BLOCK CROWN LEASE HAD MADE ANY PROTECTION UNDER THE LEASE OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR ITS INTENDED FUNCTION EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

+SO GOOD FARM LAND IS BEING CONVERTED TO STORAGE, CAR DUMPS AND OTHER MONSTROSITIES, WHICH ARE SEEN AS MORE PROFITABLE USES THAN FARMING WITH LITTLE OR NO INTERFERENCE FROM GOVERNMENT. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES NEITHER GOVERNMENT NOR PRIVATE ENTERPRISE HAS THE INCENTIVE OR INDEED THE SECURITY TO INVEST IN AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE.+ MR BARNES ADDED.

/COMMENTING ON