Wellspring Produce - new agritourism rules set expectations

CASE STUDY | Wellspring Produce

Development approval and supporting reports, pre-application meetings, representing the client.

A decades old magnolia plantation in Glenorie, NSW, will expand its offer to visitors — growing and roasting its own coffee and hosting farm tours and creative workshops.

Under NSW planning rules, some agritourism ventures are exempt from development approval and become eligible for a streamlined planning pathway.

“Having the agritourism definitions in the planning scheme definitely helped . . . it sets up the expectation that there’s policy support . . .”

Although Wellspring Produce was unable to take direct advantage of the streamlined planning pathway, due to the proximity of neighbouring dwellings, the policy context still created favourable conditions.

“Having the agritourism definitions in the planning scheme certainly helped,” says Linda Martin-Chew, Principal, The Rural Planner.

“It sets up the expectation that there’s policy support for these kinds of ancillary activities that importantly build in resilience and diversify income streams for farms.”

Wellspring Produce has a plantation of some 2400 magnolia trees, proteas and tender leaf edible crops at Glenorie, on the north-western outskirts of Sydney.  The property will offer farm produce, tours and creative workshops and develop a pilot plantation of Brazilian and Colombian coffee to be roasted and sold in its planned café.

“The farm sells produce at Flemington Market and nearby local markets, Glenorie, East Lindfield and Dural Village, but now their customers will have an opportunity to understand more about the farm.”

“So far there’s very few agritourism experiences in the area, so Wellspring will be ready to meet this emerging market.”

Thanks to John Ou for the opportunity to work on the project. Thanks also to Hornsby Shire Council and the consultants who assisted: Anthony Potts (Environmental Planning Approvals), Brent Hodges (Quantum Traffic), Huw Simms (engineering draftsman), Sven Bolomey (AOM) and Rouda Taouk (Like Minds).