Land Use in Rural Zones: Tweed and Cabonne Shires

Land Use in Rural Zones: Tweed and Cabonne Shires is a collaborative research endeavour between the Centre for Social Research and Regional Futures (CSRRF) at The University of Newcastle (UON) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The project seeks to better understand how rural land is used and managed, and, specifically, the implications of small holdings for individuals, local communities, councils and the State Government. The research is founded on the notion that, in order to develop policy and planning frameworks that can ensure the future viability of agriculture, as well as the resilience of rural communities, it is important to understand the dynamics of the changing economic and social landscapes of the NSW countryside.

The final report, which can be accessed below, presents an evidence-based understanding of how small and other holdings with dwelling entitlements are managed, and the relative productivity and uses for small and other lots in the two study areas. It offers insight into how dwelling entitlements are exercised by individual landholders and the implications in terms of agricultural practice, management and infrastructure. The report explores: farmers’ connections to the land; land use practices and productivity; the role of lot size, dwelling entitlements and planning; changing contexts and land use practices; the implications of changing social landscapes within rural zones; and, farmers’ concerns and reflections about the future.

Read more