2014-09-16 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   16 September 2014




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PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 16 September 2014

                                                                               ATTACHMENT 1
   Odour Nuisance
    The proposed use of the site for intensive poultry farming, including the storage and spreading of the
    manure, has the potential to affect the air quality of surrounding neighbours.
    The applicant included an Air Quality Impact Assessment prepared by MWA Environmental, for the 8
    poultry growing sheds. Pacific Environment reviewed the report's methodology and emissions estimations
    on behalf of council. It was found the emissions estimation and modelling was calculated generally in line
    with standard methods. However, there is a lack of data on the emissions from manure stockpiles and
    manure spreading. Pacific Environment are, therefore, unable to support the findings by the applicant that
    the farm complies with the Queensland odour guideline for rural zoned land of 2.5 odour units = C23;
    are. Notably, even were the applicant to meet this guideline, the odour concentration levels would be
    noticeable for nearby residents although classified as weak by the guidelines, but with the smell considered
    “distinct” for at least 44 hours/year.
    Pacific Environment also describe how most new poultry farms in SEQ Queensland are not approved with
    litter stockpiling or spreading on site, as there is little data available about the resultant emissions.
    The applicant's Preliminary Operations Management Plan details the fertiliser stockpiles and application
    are an integral component of the proposed use, with a number of management practices having to be
    adhered to for the development not to cause nuisance, including:
       e2_Cilitter stockpiles being covered
        e_Cilitter stockpiles tumed at least weekly, and only when prevailing winds are below 10km/h and
          from the northeast to southeast sector
        e2_applying litter within 4-5 weeks of the cleanout of the sheds to avoid stockpile odours coinciding
          with high shed odours
        e2—Cominimum setback of 50m is retained from spreading areas to boundanes and waterways
      e_Cilitter is spread only during 6am to 6pm, and only when prevailing winds are from the northeast to
          southeast and
        e2_Doonly low velocity spreading equipment is used.
    The applicant submits that these management practices would minimise odour emissions, yet no modelling
    has been undertaken to quantify such claims. Council’s Environment Officer recommends that this practice
    has the potential to be problematic and onerous on the operator, with conditions required to manage this
    practice unlikely to be feasible. Furthermore, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    guidelines recommend composting for a minimum of 12 weeks and, therefore, the applicant's composting
    timeframes of 4-5 weeks may be unrealistic.
    The applicant includes advice from an agronomist (Mynad International) detailing that all of the poultry
   manure compost can be utilised by the existing orchard. Using the Department of Agnculture, Fisheries
    and Forestry guidelines for applying poultry manure on farms, it is likely the modelling over-estimates the
    manure application rates, and under-counts the area of trees to which the manure could be
    spread. Furthermore, in discussions with the department, officers advised that the proposed application
    rates may eventually kill the tree crop.
    An additional shortcoming of the odour modelling report identified by Pacific Environment is the failure to
    include the sensitive receiver location at 146 Top Forestry Road. This site includes a detached house and
    is currently a separate freehold lot under the ownership of the applicant. As with other SEQ poultry farm
    applications, it is regionally acceptable for this existing house to be included in the modelling. This
    sensitive receiver site would not meet the Queensland odour guidelines for rural zoned land, based on the
    predicted odour from the chicken sheds.
    Water Quality

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