Councillors close chicken farm case

TAKING up much of last month’s meeting, the broiler farm proposal for Shelford’s north was raised again at the Golden Plains Shire’s September council meeting.

Councillors did not support a recommendation to issue the site’s developer in August, nor did they make a final decision on the case at that time.

But last Tuesday all councillors except Cr Brett Cunningham voted to support the application, having heard director infrastructure and development Phil Josipovic say that the applicant had taken the case to VCAT for review within the last month, and hearings will be held in May, 2022.

“Council is… required to form a position on the application prior to the VCAT proceeding. It is recommended that council resolves to form a position of support,” he said.

The 161.9-hectare property at 1115 Shelford-Mount Mercer Road is currently used for grazing and cropping, and the application proposes 400,000 chickens would be farmed on the site.

“The proposal consists of eight chicken sheds and includes a machinery and staff amenities building, 12 feed silos, four LPG tanks, eight water tanks, access road construction, and a new dam,” Mr Josipovic said.

Odour, environmental impacts, animal welfare, traffic, noise, visuals, the supply of power and water, and the potential for avian influenza were raised within many objections received by the Shire in recent months.

“There are 15 objections to the application, and given the number of submissions and media attention, officers are of the opinion that the application is considered significant to the municipality,” Mr Josipovic said.

Cr Clayton Whitfield said he based his decision to support the application on how it meets the planning scheme requirements, and that it was “hard to find reasons for refusal.”

“I take the objectors’ concerns very seriously, but for every issue raised, there seem to be conditions imposed, or regulations to be followed, that mitigate the affects,” he said.

Cr Ian Getsom said the closest neighbouring landowners have not objected to the proposal, and that most of the objectors live over 10 kilometres from the property.

Cr Cunningham made an enquiry during the meeting to determine whether any infringement notices were in place on the property.

Mr Josipovic said there are matters yet to be resolved there, but they are not linked to the application.

“The owner of the land was issued a penalty infringement notice… for the removal of native vegetation and chose to contest that at the Magistrates’ Court.

“A second notice to comply under the Local Law No. 2 was issued… related to the construction of a cross-over, given that there was no permit issued under the local law and opening in a road reserve,” he said.

“They will be removing the driveway access and cross-over this week.”

Cr Cunningham did not want the planning application to be approved. He was concerned about the impact on native flora and fauna, and said the proposed farm would “adversely impact the amenity” of the precinct.

Cr Owen Sharkey said he was disappointed about the way in which the matter had played out over the last two meetings, and apologised to the applicant, objectors and other ratepayers on behalf of the council group.