TAKING up much of last month\u2019s meeting, the broiler farm proposal for Shelford\u2019s north was raised again at the Golden Plains Shire\u2019s September council meeting.<\/p>\n
Councillors did not support a recommendation to issue the site\u2019s developer in August, nor did they make a final decision on the case at that time.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Mr Josipovic said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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,\u201d Mr Josipovic said.<\/p>\n
Cr Clayton Whitfield said he based his decision to support the application on how it meets the planning scheme requirements, and that it was \u201chard to find reasons for refusal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI take the objectors\u2019 concerns very seriously, but for every issue raised, there seem to be conditions imposed, or regulations to be followed, that mitigate the affects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Cr Cunningham made an enquiry during the meeting to determine whether any infringement notices were in place on the property.<\/p>\n
Mr Josipovic said there are matters yet to be resolved there, but they are not linked to the application.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe owner of the land was issued a penalty infringement notice… for the removal of native vegetation and chose to contest that at the Magistrates\u2019 Court.<\/p>\n