Safe Surrey Coalition takes concrete steps to protect food security and farming jobs
SAFE Surrey Coalition points out that it made a promise to voters in 2018 to pause development and to only proceed with “smart development.”
“We are protecting fertile farmland from development by designating the lands in the Campbell Heights Official Community Plan as agricultural,” SSC said on Tuesday.
“I have also directed the City of Surrey to work with the Province to move towards bringing these lands into the Agriculture Land Reserve and directed staff to conduct an assessment of all agricultural food producing land in Surrey with a view to protecting these lands for the purpose of addressing future food security requirements,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum.
“Protecting these 220 acres of farmlands from development is an important step towards climate change mitigation and to ensure that our future generations have a reliable source of locally grown produce for generations to come,” he added.
We are taking concrete steps to protect our food security and farming jobs for future generations, SSC said.
DURING Monday’s regular meeting, Surrey Council unanimously passed a motion from McCallum directing staff to assess all of the City’s agricultural land with preservation in mind for future food security purposes.
McCallum’s motion also proposed that 220-acres of high-value farmland located at 192 Street and 36 Avenue be designated as agricultural as part of the Official Community Plan review to take place next year and to work with the federal and provincial governments to move towards bringing these lands into the Agricultural Land Reserve.
“Protecting high-yield agricultural land is fundamental to ensuring future food security in the region and the province. In particular, the City hopes to see the 220 acres of exceptionally fertile land in South Surrey be preserved and added to the Agricultural Land Reserve,” said McCallum.
“We will work with the federal government and the provincial government to let them know our intent and that we feel our citizens want to see this land protected.”
McCallum’s approved motion states that the 220 acres of farmland located at 192 Street and 36 Avenue currently zoned Agricultural (A-1) is to be designated as agricultural as part of the Official Community Plan review process taking place in 2023; that the City is to work with the federal and provincial governments to move towards bringing these lands into the Agriculture Land Reserve; and directs staff to conduct an assessment of all agricultural, food-producing land in Surrey with a view to protecting these lands for the purpose of addressing future food security requirements.
For more information on local food in Surrey, click here. To learn more about the City’s agricultural land base and policies, click here.