The NSW Government is looking at changes that would make it easier for farmers to benefit from agritourism. 

New reforms mean that from December, primary producers on more than 15 hectares of land will be able to build short-term accommodation, farm gate buildings and buildings for farm experiences, including functions, on their land without a development application.

It will allow farmers to bypass council processes to add accommodation, function centres and cellar door buildings, so they can diversify income streams with agritourism. 

Farmers will need to demonstrate that their farm is a commercial operation, and that the agritourism business is secondary to the primary production use of the land.

The state is also considering regulations on visitor numbers, waste management and where developments can go in proximity to neighbours.

But still, there are concerns about access roads, impact on neighbours, biosecurity and other matters. 

Shoalhaven councillor Tonia Gray says many are worried about the ambiguous nature of the reforms and the potential impacts on councils, which will have to enforce any new regulations.

“They have a big blue sky idea, they will just ram it through without even giving us the courtesy of first explaining what they want to ram through,” Cr Gray has told reporters.

“How do we actually police this because the compliance of these issues is what really worries me.

“We're already stretched to the max at Shoalhaven Council.We cannot keep up with compliance issues.”

The NSW Local Government Association has written to the Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, expressing concerns about the reforms.