cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/240986
“People are sold an illusion,” says fifth-generation farmer Liz Burns, who runs livestock and grows berries, herbs and bush foods in the Hepburn shire council, which neighbours the Macedon Ranges shire, about 100km north-west of Melbourne.
Farmland seen as vacant land Farmers and planning researchers have for decades warned against development encroaching on the fertile farmland within 100km of the city.
The loss of farmland has accelerated this century, under both Coalition and Labor state governments, increasing land prices and the cost of farming.
Land-use conflict stories are common: Bellarine Peninsula farmer Noel Vallance was reportedly threatened with legal action after dust from stripping grain settled in a neighbour’s swimming pool; Macedon dairy farmer Peter Grant reportedly said a planned development will curb his ability to milk at 3am.
Farmers on the fringe face uncertainty when considering investing in new sheds, land and modernisation.
The problem is that councils are the ones who benefit financially from urban sprawl. And if the sprawl is on State government roads, they don’t need to pay for improvements.
Also, developers are offering so much money to the farmers who are being priced out by insane rate increases have no choice but to sell their generational homes and farmland.
The duopsony of Coles/Woolworths paying a pittance for produce isn’t very helpful either.