20130604 Letter Noela Summers to SCRC

                                                                                             PO Box 234
                                                                                        COOROY QLD 4563
4 June 2013

Chief Executive Officer
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Locked Bag 72
SUNSHINE COAST MAIL CENTRE QLD 4560

Dear Sir

RE: MCU12/0184

This letter comprises a submission of objection to MCU12/0184 with regard to a proposed Animal
Husbandry type 2 Poultry Farm at 136 Top Forestry Road, Ridgewood.
The facts and circumstances of the submission are that:
•    I own and live at 106 Wust Road Cooroy and have owned property and lived in the area for 52 years.
•    My husband and I established our business in Cooroy and have operated it for 10 years. I am a
     volunteer for Tourism Noosa and proud member of Land for Wildlife and Noosa Parks Association. I
     therefore have a good understanding of Noosa’s hinterland, its needs and its people. While I am not
     opposed to sustainable rural industries in appropriate locations, I am very much opposed to cruel and
     intensive operations that have a detrimental effect on Noosa’s carefully crafted market niche.
•    7 chickens live on our property. I have a good understanding of their behaviour and needs.
•    I choose to eat healthy, sustainable free range produce.
In summary, the grounds for my submission are that:
a) The use is inappropriate and does not fit with Noosa’s clean green image. As such it will have a
   detrimental effect on our hinterland economy.
b) Noosa should not be supporting a poultry farm operation, which is diametrically opposed to our
   sustainable biosphere status.
c) Top Forestry Road is of poor standard and is inappropriately constructed to sustain an intensive use
   such as that proposed. Top Forestry Road, Old Ceylon Road and the Cooroy-Belli Road are totally
   inappropriate for the nature and scale of vehicles needed to service such a use.
d) All the buildings are proposed on ridge tops and skylines and these will have major aesthetic impacts
   with grave implications for the character of the area and the views enjoyed by residents on
   surrounding properties.
e) There is huge potential for environmental impact, particularly having regard to noise and odour on
   surrounding properties and nutrient runoff from the steep country in which the site is included. The
   sensitive waterways to which these slopes drain will have major water quality issues as a consequence,
   with subsequent effects on both terrestrial and freshwater wildlife.
f)   Chickens naturally live in small flocks and have complex social behaviour. In a poultry farm they are
     subjected to overcrowding, anxiety and distress. They are also denied access to natural sunlight, free
     ranging, foraging and roosting. The operation intends to use barbaric practices that produce not only
     stressed and unhealthy meat, but is an operation that is totally unsuited to the image that Noosa seeks
     to portray.
I therefore call on the Council to reject this proposal.