Vic inquiry to probe production of food on the urban fringe

Victoria’s food bowl will be the focus of a parliamentary inquiry this year. 

The impacts of urban sprawl and population growth at the fringe of the state’s major cities and regional towns will be examined by the Lower House. 

The Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee is looking closely at the farming and manufacturing of food in peri-urban areas. 

Committee Chair Juliana Addison said securing Victoria’s food supply is vital for the future. 

“With our state’s population expected to rise above 10 million by the 2050s we must ensure we have enough arable land to sustain all of our food production needs,” Ms Addison said. 

“Agriculture and farming industries crucially provide the fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy and countless other foods all of us rely on every day. 

“We need to consider ways to overcome the present and future challenges, so we can guarantee the longevity of our state’s food supply.” 

Planning protections and restrictions, urban growth boundaries, climate change and Melbourne’s green wedges may also be considered by the inquiry. 

Victorian Farmers Federation President, Emma Germano, said the organisation had been calling for long-term planning for the state for some time. 

“It not only impacts where we have housing, but where we are generating electricity, how are we transmitting it, where are people going to be living,” Ms Germano said. 

“We know there’s going to be more people to feed, and more houses can mean less land to plant crops and do agricultural production on, so it’s critical that we get this right.” 

The VFF is preparing a submission for the parliamentary inquiry and encourages farmers to voice their concerns before the submission deadline on April 26. 

Public hearings will take place before the inquiry report is tabled by the end of the year. 

The Lower House inquiry into Victoria’s food supply shouldn’t be confused with a separate Upper House inquiry into food security. 

The Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee is focused on the peri-urban food system, which is directly related to the production of food on the urban fringe. 

The Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee is looking at whether people have access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs. 

For more information and to make a submission go to the Committee inquiry.