Bundaberg Regional Council and key agricultural industry bodies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding acknowledging the vital importance of farming and agriculture to the Bundaberg Region’s economy.
The MOU formalises a commitment by Council to consult with Bundaberg Ag-Food & Fibre Alliance Ltd (BAFFA) and Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers Limited (BFVG) on Council issues likely to impact the production of food, fibre and agricultural produce in the region.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said it was an important initiative that would help Council stay informed about the specific challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
“Our Bundaberg Region is home to one of the largest agricultural industries in the country, we supply 25% of Australia’s produce during the winter months,” she said.
“It’s important that we continue to engage with the industry, understand the issues they’re facing locally and consider how Council can support them.
“I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with our ag sector into the future.”
BFVG CEO Bree Watson said the agreement was a chance to work proactively with Council.
“We’ve traditionally been quite reactive to Council decisions when it comes to planning and development rates and a whole other host of policies that impact on our farmers,” Bree said.
“We have a lot of urban encroachment at the moment with our farms, and we need to ensure that our community and our farms can continue to live in close proximity to each other and continue to move forward, acknowledging the role that agriculture plays here in Bundaberg.
“It’s the third largest employer and so it’s really important we have a vibrant community to ensure that our farmers can keep supporting the local community.”
Bree said signing the MOU was also significant to the wider Queensland agricultural industry.
“It’s my understanding that this is one of the only Local Governments that actually has an MOU with the agriculture sector,” she said.
“I sit on the Queensland Horticulture Council and everyone in that committee is looking to Bundaberg, they’re looking to this relationship that we have developed and they hope to develop ones similar in their own areas.
“So, it’s really important for us to get this right and to show other areas throughout Queensland what Bundaberg can do.”
BAFFA Executive Director Dale Holliss said the agricultural industry was a significant economic driver in the region.
“Intensive agriculture in Bundaberg’s worth about $2 billion a year, the Bundaberg regional economy is worth about $8 billion a year,” he said.
“So, it’s very important that we help Council understand what we need and that Council becomes needs based and outcomes focused, in terms of what it provides for intensive agriculture in this region.
“[Signing the MOU] is something that we’ve worked for, for the last 18 months and we’re very pleased to see an outcome.”
