![FARM: Almost 390 readers responded to an online poll where 95.76 per cent said more needed to be done to protect Maitland’s farming land. FARM: Almost 390 readers responded to an online poll where 95.76 per cent said more needed to be done to protect Maitland’s farming land.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-7daP3m9vD5jxj8khH4ayZs/8f6135c0-4a41-40c2-a8b1-85c4d5fe9cac.jpg/r0_0_1200_677_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Hunter has firmly backed the need to preserve farming land in the region, following the launch of the Maitland Mercury’s Feeding the Future series.
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Almost 390 readers responded to an online poll where 95.76 per cent said more needed to be done to protect Maitland’s farming land.
NSW Farmers' Association Hunter Region manager David Banham said the results showed people were seeing new housing estates engulf farming land and knew it would have a devastating impact on the region’s food bowl.
The first instalment of Feeding the Future revealed the state government’s latest draft Hunter Regional Plan and Draft Plan for Growing Hunter City failed to see most of the region’s agriculture industries as a priority for the future.
The government stepped in three days after Feeding the Future was launched, on February 22, and said it had extended the call for submissions until Thursday, March 24.
Mr Banham urged landholders and residents concerned about the future of farming to write a submission.
He said it was agriculture’s best chance to be heard in Sydney.
“We need to get those submissions in so the landholder’s voice can be heard,” Mr Banham said.
“Hopefully the common themes will be drawn out of the submissions, collated, and put into the draft strategy.”
The Feeding the Future series shows the agriculture industry is under threat from development as the demand for housing soars. If nothing changes, the region’s food bowl could be lost within a decade.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the draft plans offered a new vision for the region.
He was pleased the community had requested more time to give their feedback.
“We look forward to receiving their submissions,” Mr MacDonald said.
“This plan will be a blueprint for new homes, jobs and environmental protection in the Hunter over the next 20 years, so it’s important the community and all stakeholders have the opportunity to comment.”
Visit the website www.planning.nsw.gov.au/hunter for more information on the plans and to make a submission.
![Mercury readers show support for farmers Mercury readers show support for farmers](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-7sBVw3Ku4m48ncBqEY3Yri/7d426435-0808-4bd4-981b-86ec24e2c7ad.jpg/r0_3_1200_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)