A DOZEN entrepreneurs from the region are developing new income streams in an agri-tourism pilot program that aims to make it easier for people on the land to diversify.
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The selected participants have gathered in Premer for the third in a series of workshops on the Liverpool Plains - one of three trial areas in NSW.
The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) program aims to help landholders build a new or existing agritourism business, while the OSBC learns what the "pain points" are in that process.
NSW Small Business Commissioner Robyn Hobbs, who attended the workshop, said agri-tourism was "an absolutely huge untapped resource of opportunity for farm-based businesses".
"Currently, however, they're absolutely crippled by the amount of regulations they have to comply with," Ms Hobbs said.
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"We want to make sure the regulations are the right ones ... without over-regulating."
She said the hoops to jump through came from all levels of government and could include facets such as zoning, food and beverage sales and service, and planning approvals.
Working with Service NSW, the Office aims to simplify the requirements for starting and running an agritourism business.
"Even more so with the drought, different forms of income coming into the family is really important," Ms Hobbs said.
"Any business creates a job and, if we're able to keep more regional jobs in regional NSW, that's really, really important."
A little kick-along
One of the participating farm-based businesses is Little Kickerbell.
Owners Cathy Armstrong and Rowen Matthews had signed up as "newcomers to the area ... building a very niche-market type of business in a quite a remote area", Ms Armstrong said.
The Pine Ridge property offers art and creative residencies and events led by Dr Matthews, as well as Ms Armstrong's gourmet catering.
She said they felt they "needed a little jump start to help us on our way", and they looked forward to learning more.
"We're understanding more that this is a destination, and learning more about identifying the people who might like to come here and what we need to do to get them here," she said.
Hopes for 'phenomenal' results
The OSBC had invited council expressions of interest for the pilot program and said Liverpool Plains Shire Council "put forward a compelling case" to be included, Ms Hobbs said.
The other pilots are being done with 12 parties in the Wollondilly shire and 12 in Queanbeyan-Palerang region.
An OSBC spokesperson said the participants would receive one-on-one and group help to develop their enterprises over the next several months.
Ms Hobbs said: "If we got 12 business in three LGAs, by the end of the year that would be 36 farms that have created a new business, and the multiplier effect could be phenomenal."