September 19, 2013
South Burnett Regional Council has unanimously supported a reconfiguration of land near Kumbia which will allow two businesses to continue to operate.
The application to reconfigure land smaller than the minimum requirement for good quality agricultural land was passed by councillors at their meeting on Wednesday.
The application was to reconfigure land on the Bunya Highway which currently houses an avocado farm and Belvedere Farm Tours.
The reconfiguration will result in both businesses being able to formalise ownership of the respective businesses.
“This application does not fall directly within planning guidelines but has been considered on other specific merits,” Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said.
“This is an example where the Council has considered the bigger picture and made its decision based on the economic growth of the region.
“It makes business sense to approve this application. In this case we can help both a tourism and an agricultural operation continue to operate.
“The Planning Scheme normally requires that the minimum allotment size to be 200ha. Council in the past have approved applications for rural allotments less than the specified 200ha where the proposed allotments could be utilised for agricultural purposes.
“Avocadoes have become a successful crop in the South Burnett in both the Kumbia and Blackbutt areas. It is essential that Council supports agriculture in the region and this reconfiguration will assist both the avocado farm and a tourism business.”
