In the coming weeks, we will be sitting down with local dairy farmers to better understand the challenges they face, and more importantly, how our community and local government can step up to support them. Our dairy farmers are the lifeblood of our region, providing fresh, milk for Australian families while operating on prime agricultural land that sits just 10 minutes from the coastline – land that many desire to live on.

The reality is that much of this prime land is now owned by lifestyle farmers, making it increasingly difficult for our working farmers to grow their businesses by acquiring more land.

However, despite these challenges, our dairy farmers continue to innovate. They are adapting and leveraging opportunities that arise, making the most of the resources available to them.

What is particularly remarkable about our region is that our dairy farmers are among the youngest in the state, and they are doing more than just maintaining their farms – they are employing young people from the community and embracing cutting-edge technology. This forward-thinking approach ensures the future of local dairy has the potential to be bright.

But with the mounting pressure of developers purchasing prime agricultural land, finding ways to ensure our dairy farms can continue to operate and grow is vital. The solution is not as simple as stopping development. Instead, we should look at encouraging developers to give long-term leases to our dairy farmers. This gives farmers the confidence they need to plan for the future and continue contributing to the local economy.

We have a lot to be proud of in our local dairy industry, and through collaborative efforts, we can support it to thrive in a changing landscape. Stay tuned as we explore how, together, we can help ensure the longevity of dairy farming in our region.