Community group, PETA hail rejection of Inverleigh sheep dairy

FRIENDS of the Barwon and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have welcomed the Surf Coast Shire’s decision to refuse a planning permit for a large sheep dairy farm near Inverleigh.

The proposed farm would be built at 1440 Inverleigh-Winchelsea Road, with the 10,570 sheep on site in stage 1 rising to 14,140 in stage 2.

The application for the planning permit received 95 objections during the exhibition process, with animal welfare the most commonly-cited concern (71) followed by the level of water use (39) and disease transmission including Q-fever (35).

The matter sparked a 45-minute discussion at last week’s meeting, but a majority of councillors eventually resolved to follow the officers’ recommendation to refuse the application on four grounds:

Failure to demonstrate how the risk to human health from the transmission of disease, particularly from Q-fever, has been adequately addressed to ensure public safety

Failure to demonstrate how the risk to amenity from the emission of offensive or nuisance odours can be managed satisfactorily

Inadequate separation distances from sensitive land uses, particularly the urban area of Inverleigh, to mitigate the identified risks to air quality, and

The lack of a system to mitigate the risk to the environment from water contamination from the discharge of liquid and solid waste onto the land and neighbouring waterways.

Friends of the Barwon chair Dr Kaye Rodden said the grounds for refusal for the application were “clearly stated” in the officers’ report.

“We applaud the council officers and councillors for considering in particular the potential adverse impact of the development on the health of the already stressed Barwon River,” Dr Rodden said.

PETA spokesperson Emily Rice said the decision would see “corks popping across the country”.

“We’re grateful to the council for making the right and compassionate decision, and urge individual Australians to play their part to help sheep by replacing dairy with any of the plentiful, vegan alternatives that are readily available and by leaving wool products on the rack,” Ms Rice said.

At the meeting, Cr Adrian Schonfelder and Cr Gary Allen tried to defer a decision on the sheep dairy farm for a month “to allow time for council to understand what planning permit conditions might apply to a planning permit if the application was to be approved”, but were the only two councillors to support it.

“There’s a growing market for sheep milk, particularly in China; it’s an industry where the G21 region can grow,” Cr Schonfelder said.

“I’m an advocate for agriculture and I will stand by primary producers, and that’s why I encourage other councillors to do likewise, please.”

Cr Kate Gazzard said enough time had been spent on considering the application.

“There are serious concerns about this application, and we would be failing our community, and the community of Inverleigh and the Golden Plains Shire council; who have also objected.”

The original motion to refuse a permit was passed 6-2, with Cr Mike Bodsworth absent due to his connection being lost during the vote.