This information can be obtained from the DAFWA website:

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1 2.2.3 Horticulture Horticulture is the growing of vegetables, fruits, grapes and flowers in an intensive operation. Horticultural activities generally involve the application of nutrient fertilisers and irrigation to grow crops such as in market gardens, greenhouse flowers, turf farms, vineyards, orchards and nurseries. In the past this has been carried out on soils that often have a very low fertility. New landholders who wish to undertake horticultural activities may be inexperienced in land management and unaware of the cumulative impacts that result from horticultural activities, e.g. excessive nutrients applied to the sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain. Cumulative impacts subsequently arising from poorly managed horticultural activities can include: Leaching of nutrients, leading to eutrophication of wetlands and waterways and algal blooms; Pollution of groundwater, waterways and wetlands from inappropriate use of agricultural chemicals, namely fertilisers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides; and Increased soil acidity and acid sulphate soils. Thus, the siting, nutrient and irrigation management, drainage design and storage and handling of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides is important in terms of minimising the amount of nutrients and other pollutants potentially being exported from the site via stormwater and groundwater to waterways. The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, (DAFWA) has produced guidelines for assessing land qualities and determining land capability for south west Western Australia, which includes information on land capability for annual and perennial horticulture. In addition, the DAFWA has a wealth of information relating to horticulture, including general best practice guidance on the operation and management of horticultural pursuits such as viticulture, floriculture, deciduous fruit and vegetable growing. This information can be obtained from the DAFWA website: The following section contains an overview of general best practice principles, design requirements and standards to assist in the assessment of horticultural development applications. Much of this information is drawn from existing DAFWA guidelines, environmental codes of practice, and information found within section of this manual Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. The conditions of planning approval or planning actions proposed are broad in scope, applicable to all horticultural land use activities with the aim of minimising the potential degradation hazards inherent with this land use. Note: The information contained within this section is broad. For information on planning considerations and actions for the specific land use activities of orchards, floriculture and vegetable production activities, please refer to Further Information.

2 Guiding Principles for Horticulture Planning The DAFWA generally supports the creation of lots for horticulture, provided that: Lands identified as suitable for a horticultural pursuit consider a range of suitability factors including land capability, water supply, buffer zones required, drainage and wastewater management, infrastructure requirements, and protection of remnant vegetation and biodiversity; Intending small property developers and producers must be made aware that horticultural production must be practiced in accordance with the Environmental Code of Practice for Agriculture prepared under the Environmental Protection Act (1986); and When seeking approval for a new horticultural pursuit, the proposal will need to be referred to the DAFWA or Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), as a horticultural development application kit will need to be completed. This kit outlines the range of planning approvals from various State Government Agencies that may be required Locating Land use Major issues that should be considered at the planning stage are: New horticultural developments should be directed away from high risk nutrient loss areas, including: o Areas with a high watertable; o Soils prone to wind and water erosion, waterlogging and riverine flooding; and o Soils with a low (<5) Phosphorus Retention Index (PRI) (see section Phosphorus Retention). Generally, land categorised as low (<5) or very low (<2) capability is considered unsuitable for horticultural developments. Land capability and PRI is addressed further within Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government, section Nutrient Management. For those soils which fall in the higher phosphorus export susceptibility risk category (lower PRI), soil amendment should be incorporated into the management plan, to boost the nutrient retention capacity of the soil. A site with a PRI of <5 should not be approved for horticulture. The heavy use of both fertilisers and irrigation water has the potential to pollute unconfined groundwater supplies, waterways and wetlands. It is therefore necessary to locate horticultural land use outside declared catchment areas and PDWSAs, and away from wetlands, waterways and drains which flow into them. Some recommended separation distances are presented in table 1. Horticultural developments should be located on flat to gently undulating (<10%) plains with deep to moderately deep sandy to loamy soils. The horticultural pursuit must not be located where there will be conflict with, or disadvantage to, the occupiers of neighbouring land.

3 Separation Distances Waterways, wetlands and lands are likely to be contaminated by materials generated by horticultural activities, including sediment, nutrients, salts, litter, agricultural chemicals and microbes. The proposal to undertake horticultural pursuits should therefore ensure provision of an adequate setback to separate conflicting land uses and protect water resources. Buffer distances listed in table 1 should be set as a condition of approval for the protection of sensitive environments. Table 1 Buffer Distances for Horticultural Land use Water Resource Separation Distance Comments Public Drinking Water Supply Areas (PDWSAs) Priority 1 50 metres A horticultural pursuit within a Priority 1 PDWSA is considered by the Department of Water (DoW) to be an incompatible landuse. Proposals for such a landuse should not be approved. PDWSAs Priority 2 50 metres General field horticultural pursuits operated intensively (i.e. involving irrigation and/or regular additional inputs of chemicals to soils) is incompatible. PDWSAs Priority 3 30 metres General field horticulture is compatible with conditions. Wetlands and estuaries (including conservation category, EPP and resource enhancement wetlands) Bores, wells, soaks and dams used for private drinking water supply 200 metres Recommended separation distances to reduce nutrient inputs and sediment transfer, and to preserve the conservation value of these wetlands. 100 metres This separation distance has been set to protect water resources used for public water supply. Under the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewage and Drainage Act (1909) by-laws, a minimum separation distance of 100 metres is allocated. Well used for public water supply 300 metres This separation distance has been set to protect water resources use for public water supply. Under the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewage and Drainage Act (1909) by-laws, for Wellhead protection zones in Priority 2 and 3 public drinking water source areas a separation distance of 300 metres is allocated. Banks of permanent waterways 100 metres Recommended separation distance to reduce nutrient inputs and control turbidity from potential sources. Banks of natural waterways that flow intermittently 50 metres Recommended separation distance to reduce nutrient inputs from potential sources. Groundwater table (historical maximum level water table to ground surface) 1.5 metres Separation distances recommended to reduce nutrient inputs from potential sources.

4 Note: a) It must be acknowledged that the buffer distances provided above are generic distances to be applied in the absence of site specific information. Provision of setbacks from waterways and wetlands should be consistent with current DEC, EPA and WAPC policy e.g. Water and Rivers Commission Position Statement: Wetlands (2001); Draft Environmental Guidance for Planning and Development Guidance Statement No. 33 (2005), and State Planning Policy 2.9 Water Resources (2006) available from and respectively. b) The planting of trees is not always an acceptable alternative to separation distance, as the trees harbour birds which may cause severe crop losses Horticultural Management Plan The DAFWA encourages site specific assessments and management plans for new horticultural developments, to help identify potential environmental impacts and acceptable approaches to managing or resolving these. The following environmental issues should be included in the management plan as part of an application or as a condition of approval, and addressed at the time of subdivision or land use change: Nutrient Management Nutrient leaching from horticultural production on gravels and sandy soils has a high potential for polluting groundwater, waterways and wetlands. Thus, it is essential that measures to manage nutrients be required as part of any proposed new horticultural development. The proponent should be required to develop a Nutrient and Irrigation Management Plan as part of the proposal. Please refer to section 2.7, Mitigating Nutrient Leaching within table 2 Rural Smallholding Planning Measures to Minimise Land Degradation at the Subdivision and Individual Lot Level of the Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. Water Supply and Irrigation The DAFWA Key Horticultural Management Practices also outlines general information on water supply and irrigation practices for horticultural pursuits, including types of irrigation, water requirements of horticultural crops, water quality, and timing or scheduling of irrigation. This information is available from the DAFWA website: Additionally, a suite of BMPs that will assist landholders to improve their efficiency have been identified in an irrigation benchmarking study investigating the efficiency of irrigation practices on horticultural properties. The details of this study entitled On-farm Irrigation Efficiency: What it is and can we improve it? can be found on the Sports Turf Technology website Additional information can be obtained from the Department of Water (DoW) Water Quality Protection Note Nutrient and Irrigation Management Plans (NIMPs) (2006). This guide provides information needed to ensure the development of comprehensive and effective NIMPs by the proponent and to allow local government

5 to assess their adequacy in meeting environmental objectives. This guide can be found on the DoW website The above information sources should be made available to landholders wishing to undertake horticultural activities. For further information on the supply of water to rural properties, please refer to the Water Supply section in table 2 - Rural Smallholding Planning Measures to Minimise Land Degradation at the level of the Subdivision and Individual Lot of the Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. Stormwater and Drainage A stormwater management system should be designed with the objective to treat any potential contaminants on-site, before excess runoff leaves the site. To minimise groundwater, waterway and wetland contamination, the following drainage requirements should be met prior to approval: The proponent must demonstrate that the quality of surface water leaving or passing by the property is not degraded by horticultural operations. All nutrient enriched runoff should be directed to sumps or storage ponds for reuse on-site where possible; and To avoid excessive runoff during an unusual storm event, effort should be made to prevent pollutant export and land erosion by using vegetated drainage paths and vegetated buffers. Vegetated drainage paths and vegetated buffers between the horticultural activity and any water body must be maintained to help trap sediments and reduce the flow of nutrients and organic matter into the water body. Further information on drainage and stormwater considerations, including water sensitive urban design standards, can be found in section 2.11 Stormwater and Drainage in table 2 - Rural Smallholding Planning Measures to Minimise Land Degradation at the level of the Subdivision and Individual Lot of the Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. Waste Management Horticultural waste management activities should be undertaken in a way that minimises environmental impacts and, in the case of disposal, comply with the law. Guidance notes to assist local government and landholders to reduce the environmental impacts of waste generated from horticultural activities, such as pesticide containers, and organic and inorganic wastes, are available within the Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. This information should be passed onto landholders wishing to undertake a horticultural pursuit. Vegetation Management Well vegetated strips of native grasses, reeds and trees between the horticultural activity and wetlands and waterways can filter out sediment and reduce contamination from nutrients. Vegetated buffer strips should therefore remain between the horticultural pursuit and waterways/wetlands as a condition of approval. Windbreaks should also be required to be planted at the change of land use to reduce the impact of noise and spray drift.

6 For information on vegetation management mechanisms, please refer to the Vegetation Protection, Rehabilitation and Revegetation section within table 2 - Rural Smallholding Planning Measures to Minimise Land Degradation at the level of the Subdivision and Individual Lot of the Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. Noise Management Normal horticultural practices may involve the use of sprinklers, tractors and mechanical harvesting equipment. These practices are likely to create noise that may exceed the background noise level. It is essential when planning a horticultural land use that the potential for noise pollution is considered and controlled near neighbouring properties and sensitive environments. Where possible, the LPS may need to be amended to ensure that horticultural land-use will not be located to conflict with, or disadvantage, the occupiers of neighbouring land, and vice versa. Noise emissions from some farming activities, namely horticultural activities, must comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations (1997). These can be accessed from Weeds and Pests To ensure that no weedy species are planted on the property, it is recommended that reference be made to the list of common weed species to be avoided, found within Appendix 4 of the Small Rural Properties Assessment Guidelines for Local Government. Detailed landholder Guidelines for the management of weeds and pests for different horticultural pursuits are available in a number of environmental BMP Guidelines. These are listed under Further Information below Further Information Detailed landholder guidelines for the management of weeds, pests and diseases for different horticultural pursuits are available in a number of environmental BMP Guidelines. These include: a. Environmental Management Guidelines for Vineyards (2002), available from the DEC website b. Environmental Management Best Practice Guidelines for the Nursery Industry (2002), available from the DAFWA website c. Codes of Practice for Vegetable Production on the Swan Coastal Plain (1999), available from the DAFWA website Additionally, the DAFWA Fruit Growing for the Small Landholder provides information on essential orcharding considerations, including financial, physical, knowledge/skill, legal, lifestyle and organic fruit growing. This information is available from the DAFWA website The DAFWA Key Horticultural Management Practices outlines general information on water supply and irrigation practices for horticultural pursuits, including types of irrigation, water requirements of horticultural crops, water quality, and timing or

7 scheduling of irrigation. This information is available from the DAFWA website For information on planning considerations and actions for the specific land use activities of orchards, floriculture and vegetable production activities, please refer to: a. Department of Water (2006) Water Quality Protection Note Wineries and Distilleries b. Department of Water (2006) Water Quality Protection Note Floriculture Activities Near Sensitive Water Resources c. Department of Water (2006) Water Quality Protection Note Orchards Near Sensitive Water Resources. These are available from the DoW website: