Not Properly Made Notice of submission Bettina Christl (Late/Object) - MCU12/0184

Subject: nzw BCS 1192 MCU 12/0184 Notice of Submission Bettina Christl
From: Bettina Christl
Date: 2013-07-19T06:58:25+00:00
To: Internet Mailbox Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Jack Lewis

To the CEO, Mr. John Knags,

I am a friend of a concerned Sunshine Coast resident and regualr visitor of this area myself. Hence I would like to submit an Objection to the above mentioned development application, MCU12/0184 136 Top Forestry Rd Ridgewood - Animal Husbandry type 2 Poultry Farm - W Donald Milligan Pty Ltd. We realise that the date for objection has passed however we would greatly appreciate you taking our objection into account given we have only become aware of it yesterday.

My objection is based on the following:

Inconsistency with existing plans, including South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031: High intensity farming of this nature is inconsistent with the existing and envisaged development in the surrounds of the proposed site.  Existing rural uses typically include low intensity, largely sustainable practices such as grazing, "hobby farming" and forestry.  Existing uses are aligned with the Noosa biosphere's ustainable outlook.  I beleive that high intensity poultry farming has no place in this context.

Project scale: The scale of the project is disproportionate for a quiet rural area with just basic road infrastructure, this development is clearly out of scale.  With shed development proposed for the ridges of the property the surrounding district will be able to see the development (and scale thereof) from almost every vantage point in the immediate area. This will spoil a pristine landscape and scenery - one of the draw cards of this area and contributing to the quality of life enjoyed by the local residents.

 Noise pollution will be considerable and includes noise generated from shed ventilator fans and feed delivery fans, bird noise, shed maintenance, site machinery and increased heavy vehicle traffic.

 Odour pollution will be exacerbated by earth floors in the sheds (subject to ground water seepage) over-layed by sawdust being subject to high summer temperatures. Further exacerbated by poor ventilation to many of the sheds caused by inappropriate alignment for the prevailing winds due to site restrictions and the desire to build along ridge lines.  Further, spreading the sawdust/manure for fertilisation of the existing orchard will cause further odour impact on local residents.  Odour doesn't stop at property boundaries.

 Waste water issues: Proposed basins, swales and buffers are just passive design elements rather than proper treatment of waste and subsequent sheetflow run-off will end up in the catchment waterways. The MUSIC storm water treatment model used in the application was designed for urban areas and is in no way applicable for this operation where contaminated groundwater from unsealed shed floors will leach from under the sheds to surrounding areas. At peak rainfall times of the year, contaminated run-off will overwhelm vegetated farm areas and transfer to the property dams and into Blackfellow Creek, a tributary of the Mary River. This may ultimately impact on threatened species such as the Lung Fish in the Mary River, which was at least in part reason enough to stop the construction of the Traveston Dam.

Visual amenity issues: Severe visual disturbance from the siting of buildings on ridge-lines. Even with proposed tree planing this development is going to be an eyesore for years to come.

Health Issues: It has been seen in the past decade that increased virulence in pathogens, especially in high-intensity poultry farming, causes health issues that can have impacts on a global scale. (H5N1, Bird flu).  This development does not address in any way the impact on the local community of an outbreak of such diseases and no disaster management plan is in place.  The economy of the entire local government region (and beyond) could potentially be at risk.

 Animal Welfare Issues: It is well established that high intensity poultry farming of this nature causes harm to the chickens including high pervasive stress levels. A high intensity poultry farm would also endanger the existing wildlife living in the dam and creek of the adjoining property, including platypuses.  These wildlife species will be put at risk of experiencing pollution poisoning given the run off from the proposed development.

Uses outside the proposed development, Fertiliser Production:The existing application is for animal husbandry however the predicted amount of sawdust/manure to be sold as fertiliser indicates that a large proportion of the commercial viability of this enterprise relates to fertiliser production and sale.  The application should be amended and only considered in light of the fact that it will be a commercial fertiliser operation.  Commercial fertiliser production is not at all in character with any existing land use in the area.

I urge council to reject this application in it's entirety.


Regards,

Bettina Christl

2/70 Upper Pitt Street|Kirribilli NSW 2061 |Mob: 0420 826 074