Updates for Agritourism - Rural and Nature-Based Tourism DCP

Agritourism will soon be easier for farms in the Lismore LGA.

The planning rules for RU1 Primary Production zone will be updated to assist rural landowners to:

• enhance current agricultural operations
• add additional revenue streams
• support sustainable tourism within the LGA
• operate with more resilience to natural disasters and other events

What is Agritourism? Farm gate premises – such as fruit picking, sales, tastings, workshops and cafes/restaurants Farm experience premises – such as tours, horse riding, weddings, functions, retreats and other events Farm stay accommodation – temporary accommodation on a farm Roadside stalls – a temporary structure for retail sale of produce and/or hand-crafted goods

Current agritourism activities lawfully operating will not be impacted by the updates to Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP). For any development that requires a development application (DA), the provisions of an updated Rural and Nature-Based Tourism Development Control Plan (DCP) chapter will apply.

The chapter also applies to tourist and visitor accommodation, caravan parks, camping grounds and cafes or restaurants, which are already permissible in the RU1 zone.

The DCP provides controls to help guide agritourism use in the local area, so that commercial farms have increased flexibility to pursue agritourism opportunities while ensuring that rural amenity is protected.

The controls include:

• setting the allowable number of farm stay accommodation structures,
• the number of people allowed at farm experience and farm gate premises,
• hour of operation restrictions, and
• the number of events that can be held each year.
  
  

Have Your Say

Council is seeking feedback from the community to ensure that the controls we have developed for agritourism are fit for purpose, and that they strike the right balance between economic benefit and protection of agricultural land.

Along with the draft DCP, Council has also provided a fact sheet on the changes and an information sheet from the NSW Government on changes to exempt and complying development pathways for agritourism.

Please review the Draft Rural and Nature-Based Tourism DCP and complete the survey by 4pm Monday 15 May 2023.

Submissions can also be sent via:

Email: council@lismore.nsw.gov.au

Mail: Lismore City Council, C/O General Manager, PO Box 23A LISMORE NSW 2480