The debate about preserving Sydney's "Food Bowl"

An interesting example of differing views on the importance of Sydney's peri-urban "food bowl" - the rich alluvial lands in the Hawkesbury and Nepean flood plains to the west and north west of Sydney - was enacted at a daytime seminar run by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) last week.

Speakers at the seminar were Lynne Saville, president of the Sydney Food Fairness Alliance, Aaron Gadiel of the Urban Task Force and David Mason from the Dept of Primary Industry.

Each speaker was armed with a lot of statistics about the importance of Sydney's peri urban agricultural lands in the supply of fresh vegetables, eggs and poultry. Naturally there was some debate over whose statistics were the right ones, but that was the side show. (click read more below to continue reading)

Lynne Saville made the sound case for protecting and supporting Sydney's peri urban farmers, recognising that increasing land prices and encroachment of residential and industrial development on prime agricultural land was the greatest threat.

Aaron Gadiel made a case that much more food came into Sydney from other places and that, in any event. Sydney basin's farmers were not financially viable because of the relatively small parcels of land they farmed. And this was an argument for turning the lands into housing, factories, supermarkets and the like (not surprising as the Urban Task Force who he represents is effectively a lobby group for property developers)

David Mason countered with an avalanche of examples from all over the world and in Australia that showed that with rational planning, imagination and good government with an understanding of food and water security issues, urban agriculture as well as peri urban agriculture was both realistic and desirable. He also showed that the needs of both developers, urban planners, farmers and citizens could be met by proper process, governance and communication.

The audience was fairly one-sided in their views as you might imagine and gave a fair bit of stick to Mr Gadiel, who beat a hasty retreat.

Nevertheless, it was a debate that needs to be developed and continued and joined by a lot more people. There were truths in all the arguments and these need to be teased out and workable solutions found. Otherwise, left to big government and big money we'll just "pave paradise and give 'em a parking lot!"