Kiama Council has endorsed changes to State planning processes to cut red tape and make it easier for farmers to start, run and grow agri-tourism businesses such as farm stays, farm shops, cafes, restaurants and small wedding reception venues.

These activities will soon be permitted uses, meaning they can be fast tracked as complying developments.

The new uses are not meant for hobby farmers, but for properties where the existing main use of the land is the production of agricultural/primary production goods for commercial purposes.

Many Kiama farmers are excited by these proposed changes after battling for more than 10 years to match agri-tourism policy in regions such as the Hawkesbury, Hunter, Byron and even the Shoalhaven.

“This new legislation really does open the doors to make on-farm activities more economically viable,” says Mahlah Grey, co-owner with husband Kel of The Pines Kiama, already known for its innovation.

Haven taken control of their own destiny by reducing to a micro-dairy, they now sell value added product – gelato, cheese, yoghurt, milk  and only a small amount of milk – to sell at markets and at their recently opened shop in Collins Street when an on-farm outlet seemed years away.

“I really I hope we see more farmers setting up and going for it. Agritourism is what our region needs to be known for. This new planning process really does open the door to make it that much easier and financially viable for us to say, ‘Yes, let’s go with that idea’.”

The Pines has great potential for agri-tourism

The planning changes, first mooted in April 2021, grew from the State Government’s plan to support regional communities to rebuild and recover from the impacts of drought, bushfires and COVID 19.

Everyone is surprised at the pace of the changes, which are expected to come in statewide in July 2022.

Kiama Council has slightly personalised the proposal for the changes to its Local Environment Plan, limiting the number of visitors staying an any one property to 20 in either five independent permanent structures and/or in moveable dwellings such as glamping tents (maximum 40 guests).

Each of the fixed dwellings is limited to 80m2 (including decks), which is reduced from the proposed 120m2 proposed by staff. In comparison, the Kiama Harbour Cabins are 110-120m2 including the deck, and cabins at Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park are 80-100m2.

Another new addition is to allow for on-farm events, such as weddings or workshops, which will be permission for up to 50 people.

Fiona Weir Walmsley runs Buena Vista Farm in Gerringong with husband Adam.

They raise goats, grow flowers, run on-farm cooking classes and tours, and Adam takes produce to the local farmers markets in Kiama and Berry.

Fiona Weir with Buena Vista's products

Fiona says, “Council signing this new policy is really encouraging. We are planning on putting a DA through sometime soon for on-farm accommodation and it would be great if we could put that through as complying development.

“I’m excited to see Council getting behind farm shops. We are personally very interested in launching a farm shop at Buena Vista and are happy to see that the rules around this may be even easier to comply with.

“I think direct on-farm sales are incredibly important and a great way to build tourism in the area.

“Apart from anything it means that farmers are getting the whole clip of the sale rather than doing all wholesale and no retail.”

Fiona is unsure whether these planning rules will apply to different zonings, however. The Weir Walmsley farm is zoned E2 because of its coastal location, on Gerringong’s southern outskirts.

“It’s very hard to make a living agriculturally on coastal land. There are very few full farms under agriculture up and down the coast because land values preclude this. It’s hard to justify growing carrots on million-dollar land.

“However, the opportunity for agritourism across this area is obvious. And if it allows people who want to farm and run these things simultaneously, then that is really exciting.”

Sally Bursell, of Destination Kiama, who worked closely with Council’s Strategic Planning team to review these changes, says on-farm experiences are high on the wish list of tourists to this region.

“Farmers looking to diversify their primary income and take to opportunities in agri-tourism have traditionally come across a range of challenges in the approval process,” she says.

“With permissible farm gate experiences now including retail sales, a small restaurant or café serving locally produced goods, as well as offering workshops and wine tastings, they will be able to cater to this high yielding market.

“Supporting farm stay accommodation and occasional on-farm events meets a niche and growing visitor market and has the potential to be very successful whilst causing very minimal impact.”

Jamberoo farmer Alan Smith says he “absolutely welcomes” these changes to planning processes. He says he knows the CEO Jane Stroud will back encourage it.

His frustration in having to jump through so many planning hoops over the last few years, rather than be encouraged by Council, led him to decide it would be beneficial to his business if he did a degree in planning law.

Alan Smith

His aim is to encourage more diverse, viable farming opportunities on his acreage and throughout the LGA.

Alan currently raises Wessex Saddleback pigs on his farm, agists beef cattle and last year permitted two young farmers, the New Growers Jamberoo, to grow organic vegetables on three acres.

“This venture is the first of many we are planning here on the farm,” he says.

“We don’t want this to be the last generation in agriculture around here. But will the new planning laws change this? That’s the question. You need to be able to diversify to keep farm land economic.”

The Greys at The Pines were involved in the development of the draft legislation.

“We had NSW strategic planners on farm and were part of the discussions as to what we would like to see happen to make our business more viable.

“I thought it might be a five year transition before we even see the policy come in. So, to have it within 12 months from draft to part of the local LEP is really exciting.”

The lack of an agri-tourism policy in Kiama has been a significant disadvantage with government funding.

“There has been $30m for agri-tourism in the last local budget and we couldn’t access any of that because we didn’t have what they called a ‘clear planning pathway’. So hopefully this levels the playing field.

“I’m excited to see what comes of it. I know we have plans we would like to action at some stage."