Ridgewood_12-002_Meteorology_L35815BH_221015

Mr David Milligan, W Donald Milligan Pty Ltd                                                 22 October 2015
Re: Response to Issue Raised in Submission Regarding Meteorological Modelling – Proposed Poultry Growing
        Sheds, Ridgewood                                                              Ref: L35815/BH/12-002


Although acknowledging the meteorological modelling methods are appropriate, the Katestone
Environmental Review states the following:

        Katestone notes that site specific meteorological monitoring data has not been collected
        at the site. The MWA Report does not identify any meteorological monitoring stations in
        close proximity of the site of the proposed poultry farm. As far as Katestone is aware,
        there are no meteorological monitoring stations from which suitable site specific or site
        representative data may be obtained. Consequently, the meteorological modelling results
        have not been validated against meteorological observations. Given the relative
        complexity of the terrain of the subject site and surrounds, it is not clear whether the
        meteorological modelling has provided a reliable representation of dispersion
        meteorology in the area surrounding the site. Consequently, it is recommended that, prior
        to any approval being issued for the poultry farm, a meteorological monitoring station
        should be installed on-site to collect meteorological data and the meteorological model
        should be validated. Alternatively, the on-site meteorological data should be assimilated
        into the meteorological model to ensure that the meteorological model is representative
        of conditions at the site and the odour dispersion modelling should be revised using the
        revised meteorological dataset.


Based upon the terrain and ground cover at the site, with surrounding ridgelines and vegetation
associated with the orchard use at or above the height of a potential anemometer, MWA
Environmental does not consider that an on-site meteorological station could be reasonably
operated at a location that would provide data suitable for assimilation into the meteorological
model.

MWA Environmental installed a weather station on Lot 21 on SP226606 on 11 November 2014
for the purpose of characterising wind directions, not wind speeds necessarily, over a period of
three months when the applicant was undertaking baseline dust monitoring at locations
adjacent to Top Forestry Road. The weather station has remained at Lot 21 on SP226606
since installation which provides a total monitoring period of nearly 12 months.

The intent of the weather station was to determine whether sufficient frequencies of winds from
the road to the monitoring locations occurred during the dust monitoring period. The weather
station was located as shown on Figure 1 below on one of the minor ridgelines at the site. The
anemometer height was 1.8 metres above ground level. The weather station was not installed
or sited with the intent of generating data for input to or validation of the meteorological model
as this element of the odour assessment had previously been acknowledged as acceptable in
the Noosa Council Planning & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda (16 September 2014)
(refer above).




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