MRCCC Comments in relation to MCU12-0184, 136 Top Forestry Rd Ridgewood

                                                                         Resource Centre   Tozer Park Rd, Gympie
                                                                         Postal            PO Box 1027, Gympie,
                                                                                           Qld. 4570
                                                                         Telephone         (07) 5482 4766
                                                                         Fax               (07) 5482 5642
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                                                                         Website           www.mrccc.org.au
                             Working towards a sustainable and productive catchment
16 August 2013


To the Assessment Manager
Sunshine Coast Council
                                                                      By email to [email protected]

Comments in relation to MCU12/0184, 136 Top Forestry Rd Ridgewood,
Animal Husbandry type 2 Poultry Farm, W Donald Milligan Pty Ltd - Max Watterson

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) has concerns in relation to the above
application for a Poultry Farm in Top Forestry Rd, Ridgewood.

The main concern in relation to the proposed MCU is the potential risk to water quality due to the proximity of
the property to the headwaters of Blackfellows Creek, which contains habitat for the endangered Giant barred
Frog and Mary River Cod, the habitat of which should be protected from development upstream.

While the proponent has had a storm water management plan developed, we are concerned at the risk of
contamination during a rain event. This particularly applies in the case of exceptionally heavy rainfall events
such as Pomona experienced in February 2012 or that many areas slightly further inland experienced earlier
this year as a result of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.

Climate change predictions that such extreme events could become more rather than less common make us
uneasy about such a proposal on steep country above a watercourse of significant habitat value.

Should the application be approved by Council, the MRCCC proposes:
    that baseline water quality data be gathered prior to the commencement of any works;
    that Sunshine Coast Council place a condition on the MCU that regular Water Quality sampling
        (ambient and event/flood) be undertaken at the applicant’s expense to determine whether the water
        quality in Blackfellow’s Creek is being maintained
    that all conditions placed on the development are regularly monitored for compliance by Council.

Your consideration of the above comments is appreciated.

Yours sincerely,




Ian Mackay
Chairman
MRCCC




                                The MRCCC gratefully acknowledges the support of
         The Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Gympie Regional Council and Fraser Coast Regional Council,
 the Burnett Mary Regional Group, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities,
        The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, the Department of Transport and Main Roads
                                  and landholders throughout the Mary Catchment.

         DONATIONS TO THE MARY CATCHMENT PUBLIC FUND ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE