Growers ‘danger’

By Melissa Grant
URBANISATION in Casey and Cardinia may threaten the region’s food industries, leading agricultural groups have warned.
Bosses of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and Agribusiness Gippsland (AGI) say food production has the potential to double in the next decade but fear the State Government will fail to recognise the value of the area’s agricultural production.
More than 90 per cent of Australia’s asparagus crop is produced in the Kooweerup area, while a variety of high-quality food including apples, stone fruit, berries and dairy are also grown in the municipalities.
Both groups are making submissions to the State Government’s Inquiry into Agribusiness in Outer Suburban Melbourne in the hope of protecting the region’s food bowl.
VFF Cardinia president Ian Anderson said he feared Spring Street might have a hidden agenda.
“What is the real focus of the inquiry?
“Is it to wind up agriculture on the fringe or to realise how important it is?” he asked.
“Urbanisation of the area is a concern – but you can’t just turn all land in the area into housing overnight.
“The biggest concern is that it’s not appreciated, especially in this area – the diversity and the quality of the produce we produce.”
Agribusiness Gippsland (AGI) chairman Alex Arbuthnot said it was imperative that the State Government put measures in place to protect the region from overdevelopment.
“Zoning issues are important in the planning process,” he said.
“What we (AGI) would be looking for is that those agricultural areas are really protected.
“A lot of farmers don’t have much faith in the (green wedge) zoning because it can be so easily changed.”
Mr Anderson said the future of agricultural industries in Casey and Cardinia should have a bright future with fertile soils and close proximity to recycled water.
“You can’t just transfer the likes of soil and climate to where you need it,” he said.
Mr Arbuthnot said farmers in both shires deserved to be protected.
“These interface municipalities have a number of agribusiness processing plants whose viability requires long-term security of primary product,” he said.
“Our estimates are that food production from the region should double in the next decade.
“We should remember that Australia has an obligation to double food production by 2050 to meet global demands.”