- Author Dale, A., Marshall, A.
- Publish date 6 November 2020
- Type Report
- ISBN 978-1-922437-13-6
- Documents
- Strategic policy development
- Supply chain development
Summary
This Queensland-focused project is part of a broader collaboration between the CRCNA and the Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian Governments to support the development of new agricultural activity across Northern Australia.
The research undertaken as part of this Queensland work was completed by James Cook University (JCU) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) on behalf of the CRCNA in close consultation with Queensland Government, industry and the community sector
The report draws on sector research already completed by the the CRCNA which found landholders, agricultural investors and the wider community remain frustrated with the processes for prioritising, planning, assessing and approving new development.
This report explores and defines well-known but complex problems and found the overall system of prioritising, planning, assessing, approving and monitoring compliance in northern Queensland cannot be described as fundamentally broken. The research does, however, find that to achieve investment and sustainable agricultural outcomes, significant effort is needed to address challenges which arise from:
- A lack of clearly articulated agricultural development priorities across northern Queensland, including a focus on better use of existing water schemes and the sequencing of new development;
- Poor frameworks for integrated, collaborative planning at the catchment or sub-regional scale between governments, the private sector and the community to progress agricultural development;
- Fragmented and sometimes conflicting policy and process settings in project assessment and approval that are unable to resolve tensions (and opportunities) concerning development, the environment, and Indigenous interests in northern Queensland landscapes; and
- A limited focus on raising the capacity of agricultural development interests to develop and prosecute investment-ready proposals that can easily achieve their regulatory obligations.
This report concludes that with innovative approaches, agricultural, environmental and Indigenous interests in development can be reconciled and sustainable, agricultural development achieved.
Projects
Prioritising, de-risking and brokering agricultural development in northern Queensland
Northern Queensland has significant potential to expand its agricultural sector, supported by abundant land and water resources, proximity to growing Asian markets and strong existing agricultural industries. However, new investment and development opportunities often face complex planning, regulatory, environmental, infrastructure and financing challenges. This project examined how agricultural development is prioritised, assessed and progressed across northern Queensland, with a focus on identifying practical ways to reduce investment risk while ensuring development remains environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. The research involved extensive consultation with government agencies, industry representatives, investors, Indigenous organisations, community stakeholders and agricultural businesses. The project found that northern Queensland’s agricultural development system is not fundamentally broken, but that improvements are needed to better coordinate planning, clarify development priorities and streamline pathways for investment. Key challenges identified included fragmented planning processes, uncertainty around water access and land use, infrastructure constraints and limited support for proponents developing investment-ready projects. The project developed a series of policy directions and recommendations aimed at supporting sustainable agricultural growth. These included establishing clearer long-term development priorities, improving collaboration between governments, industry, Traditional Owners and communities, strengthening regional planning approaches and enhancing support for agricultural proponents seeking to attract investment and navigate approval processes. The findings provide a roadmap for governments, investors and industry to work together to unlock agricultural opportunities across northern Queensland while balancing environmental protection, Indigenous interests and regional economic development. By improving the way agricultural opportunities are identified, planned and supported, the project has helped inform future approaches to agricultural investment and development across northern Australia.