Australian councils debating regulations for blueberry farms
A motion at Coffs Harbour City Council failed to pass, with council voting 3-6 against it. Coffs Harbour City councillor Sally Townley who put up the motion said the region was facing a "crisis" when it came to intensive horticulture farming.
Cr Townley said she received calls from distressed residents on a weekly basis about spray drift, water usage, and the 'visual pollution.' of blueberry nets.
Despite concerns at a council level the State Government has backed the horticulture industry. The State Government sees the expansion of the blueberry industry as a key driver of growth in the region, evident in the North Coast Regional plan — a 20 year blueprint for the region — released this week.
State Member for Coffs Harbour, Andrew Fraser, said the blueberry industry was already regulated.
"The food authority and the DPI are not going to allow you to spray a crop for human consumption with a chemical that is dangerous for human health."
source: abc.net.au
