Group seeks support for broiler farm battle

A NEW broiler farm is on the way for the region and a group of concerned residents are calling for funds to support their efforts in fighting its development.

Members of the Shelford Environmental and Amenity group have started a GoFundMe page seeking financial aid to hire lawyers and specialist contractors to assist in their VCAT case against the farm’s owner.

Proceedings are set to take place in November and group member Carolyn Morton said they’re wanting to have conditions placed on the site.

“At the moment we don’t have three-phase power. We don’t have running water. Those are two commodities that are in dire need for such a big enterprise that’s going to be here,” she said.

“We’re raising money to help our expenses going forward and looking for support for our case as to putting some conditions on the broiler farm.

“It’s the water. It’s the power. The native fauna and flora are all going to be affected even though the people fighting against us are saying it’s not but it is.”

Ms Morton said the group, which has about 80 members, is looking for “ballpark” funding of $5000.

The farm will be located at 1115 Shelford-Mount Mercer Road and is expected to house 12 feed silos, eight water tanks and a new dam with a 400,000-bird capacity on nearly 162 hectares.

Golden Plains Shire councillors chose not to support the farm’s application during their regular meeting in August last year but did not provide an alternative decision.

Their following meeting in September saw all councillors except Cr Brett Cunningham voting in support of the application when it was re-introduced.

Ms Morton said her primary concerns for the broiler farm’s establishment are regarding its impact on the environment, noise and nearby roads in particular.

“The roads are in disrepair. Council has spent a lot of money in between all this already repairing the roads, and they’re back to bog holes again,” she said.

“How’s 900 trucks going to go down that road every week?

“We want stringent conditions put on them. To make sure the roads are maintained and the rate payers don’t have to pay for power and water.”