Soil and Land Use Planning

Soil and Land Use Planning

  • A comprehensive State soil policy is an vital first step which is required to improve soil and land use planning outcomes.
  • Land use planning should protect high value agricultural land from conflicting land uses eg: mining, including coal seam gas and urban expansion.
  • Planning authorities should consider land and soil limitations in all developments. Failure to do so has seen developments in high risk landscapes such as on fore dunes, across major drainage lines and on flood plains.
  • Soil and landscape knowledge (and people with that knowledge) should be re-connected with the planning process.
  • Existing soil and land capability information is often under-utilised and poorly applied.

    Beach erosion at North Entrance NSW.  Photo Neil Kelleher OEH
    Beach erosion at North Entrance NSW. Photo Neil Kelleher OEH