Not properly made submission (duplicate/late) Helen Kincross MCU12/0184

Subject: bm BCS 1192 MCU 12/0184
From: Helen Kinross
Date: 2013-09-25T00:41:26+00:00
To: Internet Mailbox Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Dear Mr Lewis,

Subject: Objection to the proposed broiler farm at Top Forestry Road,  
Cooroy.

My property is at 904 on the Cooroy Belli Creek Road.  My husband and  
I bought the property there several years ago as a retreat from the  
city and a future place of retirement.  We purposefully searched in  
Noosa Shire because of it's amazing natural beauty and because the  
Noosa Shire Council, which was then responsible for the area had a  
track record of trying to ensure that residential and commercial  
development showed a sensitivity to the environment that was not  
apparent to us in other council jurisdictions.  Indeed, our  
impressions were confirmed by no less a body than UNESCO when it  
designated the area the Noosa Biosphere, a place with an innovative  
approach to conservation and sustainability, where a balanced  
relationship between humans and the reserve is promoted and a green  
approach is taken in the ways people do business.

We were utterly dismayed to discover that it was possible to propose  
placement in such an area of an industry which brings with it so much  
environmental hazard.  Why not a plastics factory?

The basis of my objections is firstly it's environmental impact  
including noise from the chickens and trucks, odour, pollution of the  
air with particulate and pollution of the water catchment.  We rely on  
tank water and I am concerned that particulate pollution from the  
chicken factory will contaminate our water.  Also I believe there is  
an endangered frog that could be affected.

Secondly, I believe the roads are inadequate for heavy vehicular  
traffic which will cause dust and safety issues.  If the industry goes  
ahead the roads will have to be widened and tarmac laid where there is  
none at present, changes which will be paid for by the taxpayer to  
accommodate one factory which in my opinion is more likely to bring  
economic harm to the area in the form of reduced tourism and people  
leaving the area, than economic benefit.

Thirdly, I object to the visual impact this industry will have.   
Really?? Shaving off the top of a ridge?  Already in this area  
residents have shaved off the top of hills in order to place homes  
with a 360 degree view, a practice which is not permitted in other  
jurisidictions such as the Byron Bay shire because it is considered to  
spoil the visual beauty of the land's contours.  I am not criticising  
householders who do this because I see what motivates them and perhaps  
they regret it afterwards.  It is up to the Council to legislate for   
this kind of visual amenity.  To cut off a ridge top in this area to  
place a factory is simply shocking to me.

Fourthly, I think the suffering imposed on another species in  
industrially raising chickens is not compatible with an area that has  
biosphere status.

I completely support agricultural pursuits in our area and I applaud  
all those who do this while protecting the environment but this is not  
an agricultural pursuit.  This is a factory with the contamination  
issues of a factory.  Should the Council take the responsibility of  
directing the applicant to purchase land near an existing chicken  
factory where the cost of infrastructure and managing waste would be  
greatly reduced and where environmental hazard could be contained in a  
tighter area?

As the Council is considering this application, I think that the fact  
that the application contained inaccuracies that had to be corrected  
and potentially has further inaccuracies not corrected, should be of  
great concern.  Also, the proposal of a composting system that does  
not even meet industry standards should be rejected.  Could the  
Council investigate the current state of this property in order to  
independently determine how successfully the applicant has managed his  
land to date?  What experience does the applicant have in running a  
factory chicken enterprise?  If the applicant is a novice at running  
what is clearly a complex operation, should his first attempt be a  
very large scale operation in such a beautiful and challenging  
environment? Surely the applicant's track record and industry  
experience are important factors in the consideration of his proposal.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns.  We hope for an outcome  
that best serves the residents and the environment in this little bit  
of the world we care for.

Helen Kinross