Changes to agritourism rules have been welcomed following a ‘constructive’ consultation process.

Will we now see visitors to macadamia farms and more roadside stalls?

NSW Farmers Conservation & Resource Management Committee chair Louise Burge welcomed the move to enable farmers to establish small-scale agritourism activities without the need for a development application process.

“This is more red tape that has been cut, and makes it easier for farmers to start an agritourism operation,” Mrs Burge said.

“We’ve been able to work constructively with the Department of Planning and Environment and Minister Roberts’ office, and Agriculture Minister Saunders' office as well, to raise our concerns about the proposed changes, including caps on visitors per day and days per year for pick your own operations, and make some sensible changes to support more realistic number caps.”

Mrs Burge said the changes mean farmers who wanted to set up a simple complying operation such as a roadside stall can do so without additional permission or approvals from their local council, while larger operations can still be progressed through a development application pathway.

“We believe it’s important to reconnect people with where their food and fibre comes from, and agritourism is a great way to do this,” Mrs Burge said.

“As well as providing easier opportunities to establish small-scale agritourism activities, these changes help to protect and retain agricultural land by keeping primary production as the main business for the property.

“These changes are a positive opportunity to make it easier for farmers to diversify without the need to go through a costly, time-consuming development application process, and we thank the Minister for working with us.”