- Author Tahna Jackson, Northern Territory Farmers Association
- Publish date 31 July 2025
- Type Report
- Documents
- Strategic policy development
- Agriculture
Summary
The final report for the Supporting Landholder Capacity for Quality Agricultural Development Applications across Northern Australia project (AHT.7.2021025) outlines the barriers landholders face when preparing agricultural development applications and the practical tools developed to address them.
Led by the NT Farmers Association and funded by the CRCNA, the project worked with landholders, consultants, industry bodies and government agencies across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland to identify key challenges such as regulatory complexity, limited access to technical data and the high cost of compliance.
The report details a multi-phase process that included a needs assessment, co-design of capacity-building solutions, trial delivery and an implementation plan to support ongoing use of the project’s outputs. The project found that many development proposals struggle due to incomplete information, unclear regulatory understanding and limited access to practical planning tools.
Alongside the final report, the project produced a suite of practical resources to help landholders and advisors prepare stronger development proposals. These include a business planning template, a simplified Queensland Globe mapping guide, cross-jurisdictional directories of legislation and contacts, and a consultant register to help proponents identify suitable technical expertise.
Together, these publications aim to improve development readiness, support higher-quality agricultural development applications and strengthen collaboration between industry and government across northern Australia.
Additional resources and links to files can be accessed via: https://ntfarmers.org.au/supporting-landholder-capacity/
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Final report
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Supporting appendices and directories
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Business plan template
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Queensland Globe user guide
Projects
Supporting landholder capacity for quality agricultural development applications across northern Australia
Building on the CRCNA’s earlier de-risking work in the Northern Territory, this project aimed to address a recognised need to enhance the readiness of landholders, industry bodies and development services for future development and investment. The project has been completed and now provides practical tools and guidance to help landholders navigate the complex process of agricultural development approvals. Led by NT Farmers Association and funded by CRCNA, the three-year project worked with landholders, consultants, industry bodies and government agencies across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. The project identified key barriers that often delay or prevent agricultural development, including complex regulatory frameworks, fragmented information sources and limited access to planning and technical resources. Through consultation and co-design with industry stakeholders, the project developed a suite of resources to improve development readiness and support stronger agricultural development applications. These include a business planning template, a simplified guide to accessing spatial data through Queensland Globe, directories of relevant legislation and stakeholders across jurisdictions, and a register of consultants and service providers. Together, these outputs provide practical support for landholders and their advisors, helping to improve the quality of development proposals and support future agricultural investment across northern Australia.