NSW Greens to move bill to let councils better regulate berry industry as it continues rapid expansion

The Greens say blueberry farms across NSW benefit from a ‘deliberate massive carve-out’ from planning laws allowing them to set up without council approval. Photograph: Elise Derwin/The Guardian

Cate Faehrmann, a Greens member of the New South Wales legislative council, will move a private member’s bill next week to give councils more power to regulate blueberry and other berry farms which are expanding throughout the mid-north coast, leading to serious frictions with other landholders.

Separately, the state Labor government is considering an inquiry into alleged worker abuse in the region. Most states regulate labour hire companies, which serve as intermediaries between farmers and seasonal workers, but NSW does not.