Original Source

Australia's blueberry industry has tripled in the last decade, leading to environmental and social conflicts in its main production regions. Farmers and residents are calling for improved government oversight due to inadequate agricultural regulations and issues with development approval processes.

Rapid Growth of the Blueberry Industry and Its Underbelly

The Australian blueberry industry has seen explosive growth over the past decade, tripling in size to an annual value of 500 million dollars. The Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Valley regions of New South Wales account for 70% of national production. However, this rapid expansion has brought with it "growing pains" in the form of environmental degradation and social conflict. Organic farmer Murray Greenaway criticized the landscape transformation from cattle paddocks to black plastic coverings and berry farms. Farmers express feelings of loss and anger over being labeled as "bad citizens" rather than being treated as human beings.

Inadequate Regulation Exacerbates Environmental Issues

Local residents are expressing deep concerns about pesticide spraying and water pollution. Raewyn Macky of the Nambucca Environment Network points out that there are currently no regulations for pesticide spraying in the Nambucca Valley, resulting in a lack of buffer zones. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has received over 50 pesticide complaints related to intensive horticulture in the area over the past three years, with unapproved dams and unlawful water extraction being the most common issues. Both Coffs Harbour and the Nambucca Valley councils attempted to mandate Development Applications (DAs) for intensive horticulture projects but were rejected by the state government.

Calls for Measures to Ensure Industry Sustainability

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann criticized current agricultural laws for failing to keep pace with the rapid changes in the blueberry industry, demanding stricter controls on intensive horticulture. She advocates for mandatory buffer zones between farms and residential areas and stronger DA requirements, including notifying neighbors before pesticide spraying. Conversely, Paul Shoker of NSW Farmers and James Kellaway of Berries Australia argue that issues should be resolved through the enforcement of existing regulations and voluntary adherence to best practices by farmers, rather than introducing more regulations. They emphasize that the blueberry industry significantly contributes to the local economy and that excessive regulation would hinder food production.

*Source: YouTube: ABC Australia (2026-03-30)*

Related Articles