Land & sustainable agriculture in SEQ

Land is important for the supply of food, fibre and other materials to support the society and economy of SEQ.

• 80% of South East Queensland's land is managed by farmers and landholders.
• The maintenance of healthy soils is important for well-functioning ecosystems, the production of food, and the fibre and sustainability of communities.
• Land resources support the habitats for plants and animals.
• Vegetation and grass cover filters impurities, such as excess nutrients and sediments, from run-off water to reduce pollution and improve water quality.
• The condition, area and extent of farming land are critical for the supply of food, fibre and other materials that underpin our quality of life.

The land resources of SEQ support a variety of intensive agriculture, grazing and forestry industries.

• South East Queensland is known as the food bowl of Australia.
• Large-scale irrigated agriculture occurs in the Lockyer and Fassifern Valley, along with significant areas in the Moreton Bay region. Grazing is the dominant land use in some parts of the region, particularly in Upper Brisbane, Stanley, Lockyer, Bremer and Logan-Albert catchments.
• These catchment areas collect the water stored in the major dams that supply good quality water for drinking and industry in the region. Population growth and climate change is impacting the extent and functionality of the land asset.

Land targets

The condition, area and extent of arable and grazing lands are important for the supply of food, fibre and other materials to support the society and economy of the region. The maintenance of healthy soils is important for well-functioning ecosystems, the production of food, and the fibre and sustainability of communities. Land resources support the habitats for plants and animals. Vegetation and grass cover filters impurities, such as excess nutrients and sediments, from run-off water to reduce pollution and improve water quality.

Headline target

• By 2031, more than 90% (>1,266,667 hectares) of SEQ agricultural land that was available in 2004 will be available for sustainable agriculture.

Summary of asset targets

• Salinity
  The area of secondary salinisation in SEQ will be 10% less than in 2008.
• Agricultural Land
  >90% (>266,667ha) of SEQ agricultural land at 2004 will be available for sustainable agriculture.
• Soil Acidity
  The area of acidified agricultural soils within SEQ will be reduced by 50% from the 2008 baseline.
• Soil Organic Matter
  The level of soil organic matter (carbon in t/hectare) in agricultural soils will be higher than in 2008 or baseline year.
• Acid Sulphate Soils (ASS)
  The area of ‘severe’ acidification caused by the disturbance of Acid Sulphate Soils (ASS) will be lower than in 2008.
• Soil Erosion
  The extent of erosion from hill slopes and gullies will be reduced by 50% from the 2008 baseline.
• Grazing Land Condition
  75% of grazing land in SEQ will be in a ‘good’ condition.
• Land Contamination
  Existing contamination sites and off-site impacts will be reduced, and no new sites will be created over the 2008 baseline data.
• Extractive Resources
  Extractive resources within “Key Resource Areas” in SEQ will be available for their highest use with no net loss of other environmental and landscape values.

Land priority actions

The following actions will play a critical role in meeting the land targets.

These actions have been identified by the South East Queensland community. These actions are updated regularly in the region's Natural Resource Management Plan, which is managed by Healthy Land & Water on behalf of the region's community.

Land current state

• In 2019 the total area of land available for agriculture was 1,293,675 hectares, 91.9% of the benchmark target set in 2009.
• This indicates we are still meeting the target despite a loss of agricultural land over the decade. However, if this trend continues, the 2031 target will not be met. Up to 94% of cropping land (A and B class) and 90% of grazing land (mostly C class) is currently available for agriculture in SEQ.
• In total more than 254,892 hectares of agricultural land has been converted to other land uses or reclassified as no longer suitable as agricultural land.
• ShapingSEQ protects 94.7 % of the region’s agricultural land within the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area, with 5.3 % within the Urban Footprint and Rural Living Area designations.
• The productivity of existing agricultural land is also at risk with more than 344,000 hectares of agricultural land currently considered at high to very high risk of soil erosion. The area of land considered to be at risk has increased by more than 74,000 hectares in the time since the original SEQ NRM Plan was completed in 2009.

Land threats and pressures

• Development pressure and associated urban and rural residential growth.
• Inappropriate land management resulting in the degradation of productive land and erosion.
• Spread of weeds and pests.
• Poor and inappropriate fire management.
• Increasing salinity.
• Extreme weather events associated with climate change such as extended droughts and floods.