Australia: No permission for Oakford cucumber farm

Kieu Family Pty's plans to start growing Lebanese cucumbers in greenhouse tunnels in Oakford, Western Australia, were hosed down by the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), but an amended proposal was due for consideration by the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire council on August 22.

The SAT decided the development proposal should be classified as ‘hydroponic’ and not the ‘floriculture-extensive’ it claimed to be, and therefore was a prohibited use within the Shire’s Groundwater Protection Zone.

The Tribunal found the proposal did not involve the use of soil, and that the cultivation of the plants using sawdust as a medium and providing nutrients through the water exclusively must involve the use of a hydroponic system within the ordinary meaning of that term.

However, if the proposed cucumber involved the growing of cucumbers in soil it would not involve the use of a hydroponic system.

An amended proposal would best fit within ‘floriculture-extensive’ category and would be capable of approval under the Shire’s town planning scheme .

Kieu Family Pty Ltd recently purchased Lot 14 (121) King Road Oakford and wants to grow cucumbers under tunnel houses on a quarter of the 4ha property which is within the priority 2 area of the Jandakot Mound Public Drinking Water Source Area.

Source: communitynews.com.au