The first session is at Nana Glen Hall from 7pm on Tuesday and Coffs Harbour City Council is encouraging all Orara Valley residents and landholders to attend.

A final public meeting will then be held at the Woolgoolga Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday from 7pm.

According to council, the draft strategy aims to help protect the significant biodiversity of the Coffs Harbour area, allowing species to thrive and maintain healthy populations.

Council’s senior biodiversity officer Nigel Cotsell said once the formal presentations had finished there would be opportunities for individual landholders to view the mapping associated with their property.

“The meeting is a great opportunity for people to ask us about the strategy, what it aims to achieve and what the possible benefits are for landholders,” Mr Cotsell said.

“The main thing to remember is that the strategy is about trying to encourage landholders to integrate environmental strategies into their operations, which could mean considering using their land in different ways.”

Third generation Bucca Valley farmer Gaven Wear supports what the council is trying to do in implementing the strategy.

“When you read the draft strategy properly it’s not going to have an adverse effect on many farmers at all – they’re not taking away any existing rights, they are providing guidelines for future environmental work,” Gavin said.

“We need to protect our native vegetation and waterways, and put a framework in place for future generations.

“My grandfather cleared my property when he first owned it, but he didn’t know the affect this would have on the environment – we now have the scientific facts.

“In fifty years when we look back upon farming strategies, who will be more harshly judged, the generations who didn’t understand what they were doing was wrong, or us?”

Submissions on the draft strategy close on February 28, with more information available from www.coffshabrour.nsw.gov.au/phacs