By ALENA HIGGINS
SOUTHERN Downs Regional Council (SDRC) has rubber-stamped a controversial poultry farm and given the green light for the expansion of an existing development, despite concerns from nearby landowners.
Councillors acknowledged they relied “heavily” on environmental assessments and conditions imposed by State Government departments in making their decisions.
The development of a chicken farm near Pratten, with an annual throughput of about seven million birds, was fiercely contested by a group of landowners who objected to the proposal on environmental, amenity and planning grounds.
The group organised an urgent public meeting on 28 July to discuss the proposed application and SDRC’s future plans for the industry in the wake of a string of application approvals.
In addition, councillors heard serious odour complaints had been raised by neighbours of the Murrays Bridge property, which was approved for an extra 10 sheds to house 600,000 birds.
Council had previously issued a partial approval on 30 June 2012 for 28 sheds and 1,680,000 birds.
Cr Jamie Mackenzie said while he felt sympathy for the neighbours of the Pratten site he acknowledged there were “jobs there and the site does lend itself because of its topography to intensive agriculture”.
Mayor Peter Blundell said in order to capture those benefits the application needed to be approved.
Councillors resolved to send the submission, which refer to complaints regarding existing use, to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for investigation.
