Houses and other non agricultural use and development and some intensive agricultural industries alienate prime agricultural land. A dwelling or other use or development may only be permitted on prime agricultural land where the provisions of a planning scheme have been reviewed to ensure it properly reflects the intent of the State Policy. The review is to be carried out by the planning authority, in conjunction with the Resource Planning and Development Commission. Use or development of any building that is an integral part of an agricultural use on prime agricultural land will be determined to be consistent with this Policy. Provision of public utilities or other infrastructure or a proposal of significant economic benefit to the region may cause prime agricultural land to be converted to non-agricultural use.
All agricultural land is a valuable resource for Tasmania.
The protection of other than prime agricultural land from conversion to non-agricultural use will be determined through planning schemes. Adjoining non-agricultural use and development should not unreasonably fetter agricultural uses. Planning schemes will make provisions for the appropriate protection of the range of non prime agricultural lands within a specified irrigation scheme. The Resource Planning and Development Commission may, with the approval of the Minister, issue guidelines consistent with the terms of this Policy and confined to assisting planning authorities in dealing with the implementation of the Policy. A planning authority must comply with any guideline that has been issued under this Policy.