'In 2004, Australia produced fewer than 2,500 tonnes of blueberries and the crop was worth an estimated $24 million.

'By 2024, production had reached 27,500 tonnes valued at more than $500 million.

'Across much of rural-zoned land in New South Wales, intensive horticulture operations are not required to seek development approval (DA) from local government.

'But advocates for a DA requirement said new intensive horticulture farms should be required to consider impacts such as buffer zones for chemical spray drift, traffic management and wastewater treatment.

'The NSW Food Authority announced standards in February requiring farmers growing 2 hectares or more of berries to meet new on-farm requirements and introduced licences for those processing or packing produce for other growers'.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-28/blueberry-boom-regulation-nsw-mid-north-coast/106490330