Walgett Shire Council will reconsider a key resolution that would allow “intensive plant agriculture” within the shire without local development consent. 

Earlier this year, the council pass a resolution to amend the Walgett Local Environmental Plan 2013 to take council out of decision making when it comes to giving development approvals to heavy cropping projects such as cotton and other horticultural plants that require intensive irrigation. 

The council had originally looked to simplify the development process to encourage more intensive agricultural projects and so deferred all its power in the approval process to the state government. 

Now, some councillors are wondering whether critical local knowledge may get missed in the decision-making.

Council had resolved that this decision making process would involve “opportunity for public comment and that “Council will be guided in its consideration by the NSW Government, relevant legislation and submissions from the public”.  

However, several locals have now told the council they are concerned that this means there is no local decision making input into big agricultural developments that could put a strain on the shire’s water supplies. 

Water security remains a hot button topic in Walgett and members of public have told the council they are worried that decisions could be made by state government departments who have limited local knowledge. 

At a recent Walgett Shire Council meeting, councillors were asked to consider “retaining some control over who takes our water”. 

Councillor Alf Seaton said that the council decided to make the change after “Council received a report recommending that it remove the need for Council consent for Intensive plant agriculture because water extraction licences were a function of state government not council”. 

Councillor Seaton. Image: Supplied.

Council documents show several counter-arguments have developed against this position including that “The current issues emerging in relation to both existing and possible new Weirs in our waterways show how unrealistic and disconnected various State Government agencies can be when dealt with by staff located on the Eastern area of the state” and that “If the Council surrenders this final ) decision on “Environmental Issues” such as water supply, allocation, conservation and usage in its area, those decision will be made by faceless bureaucrats who have little concept about the concerns of residents” 

Council will now consider whether to rescind its decision to remove the need for Council or adopt the resolution to make it easier for heavy cropping industries to develop land in the shire. 

Image: Arnhem clothing