- Author CRCNA and research partners
- Publish date 30 March 2026
- Type Report
- Documents
- Strategic policy development
- Agriculture
Summary
This impact evaluation summarises the outcomes of CRCNA project: AHT.7.2021025 – Landholder capacity for quality agricultural development applications across northern Australia.
This was a cross-jurisdictional project led by the NT Farmers Association to strengthen landholder capability in preparing agricultural development applications across northern Australia. The project addressed persistent barriers including complex regulatory systems, fragmented support services and limited access to development data, which can delay or prevent viable agricultural investment.
The project developed practical tools to improve application quality and project readiness, including business planning templates, consultant directories, streamlined access to planning and spatial data, and guidance on regulatory requirements across the NT, Queensland and Western Australia. It also supported stronger industry advocacy and broader awareness of development approval challenges.
Expected longer-term impacts include more successful agricultural development applications, reduced approval time and risk, stronger investor readiness and increased capacity for industry to engage in policy and regulatory reform. At the time of assessment, the project had generated 3 FTE years of employment, with an estimated return of 0.85 times CRCNA’s $530,000 investment to date.
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.