What once was a dream has now turned into a nightmare for her.
She discovered the situation only after her father, Don Hungerford, who founded Farleigh Farm in the 1960s, suggested she visit the council’s website for information.
“We received no notification or communication from the council; they just went ahead with it,” she explained to 9news.com.au.
“Our council rates are set to skyrocket because we’ll be paying for farmland that’s now zoned as residential, even though we lack connections to sewerage or water.”
If a section of the farm is indeed rezoned as residential, Duckworth estimates her council rates could soar to between $10,000 and $15,000 annually.
This would be in addition to the existing costs associated with operating a working farm.
Duckworth fears Farleigh Farms’ capacity to bring in money may also be impacted by the proposed rezoning.
Farleigh Farms currently pastures horses, sells manure and runs a newly launched pick-your-own fruit venture called SilvoHarvest.
It is designed to lean into the agritourism trend by offering visitors the chance to get hands-on and learn about regenerative farming.
Duckworth just planted the first of 500 fruit trees for it but if the rezoning plans go ahead, it may have been for nothing.
Under council rules, businesses operating on Duckworth’s land will be able to continue.
However, she may not be able to expand existing businesses or start new ones.
Duckworth said that could spell the end for SilvoHarvest.
“We’re trying to invest every cent we’ve got into building a farm for the community,” she said and rezoning would likely ruin those plans.
She also said Farleigh Farms was located on a floodplain which made it unsuitable for residential development.
Sunshine Coast Council sought community feedback on the Proposed Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme between July 15 and September 19 last year.
Duckworth rallied neighbours and locals to lodge complaints about the farm’s proposed rezoning to try to get the plans reversed.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson told 9news.com.au all submissions received during the consultation period were now being carefully reviewed.
“Council will consider the issues raised and determine whether any changes to the proposed planning scheme are required in response to community feedback,” they said.
“Once the review is complete, everyone who made a submission will be notified of the outcome.”
Sunshine Coast Council also requires approval from the Queensland government before the proposed scheme can be formally adopted.
Duckworth is “trapped in limbo” until those decisions are made.
But that’s not where her troubles end.
Farleigh Farms was recently hit with a $40,000 land tax bill after the Queensland Valuer-General revoked the property’s land tax exemption.
It previously held a primary production exemption, which is granted to business that undertake plant or fungi cultivation, animal maintenance or domestic breeding, fishing or pearling, or tree farming or felling.
Other Queensland farms were reportedly sent a letter requesting evidence that they still qualified for an exemption but Duckworth said she never received one.
“We never got an opportunity to to provide evidence [so] the land valuer has now taken our primary production exemption away without notifying us,” Duckworth claimed.
“Where’s the follow-up phone call? Where’s the follow-up letters or emails?”
A Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) spokesperson told 9news it could not comment on individual cases for confidentiality and privacy reasons.
“As land values increase, more landowners may reach the land tax threshold,” QRO said.
Landowners eligible for land tax exemptions must complete an application and provide evidence, such as invoices proving they are conducting a primary production business.
“Officers review, process and respond to each application,” the spokesperson said.
“Taxpayers may be required to provide additional evidence to support their application.”
Duckworth has hired a solicitor to object to the QRO and Valuer-General’s decision but it is a slow and stressful process.
Between that and the proposed rezoning plan, she’s fearful for Farleigh Farms’ future.
It’s been in her family for almost 60 years and selling the land on which her father built their first family home is unthinkable.
“I plan on on farming for the next sixty years of my life and passing it down to my children,” Duckworth said.
“But if we have to take council to court, we definitely will.”
