2014-07-22 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    22 JULY 2014


Separation Distances
The Agricultural Uses Code specifies that poultry farms keep a separation distance of 100m
to the boundaries and 60m to waterways. The separation distances to property boundaries
are consistent with the recently published State Planning Policy Guidelines for Agriculture for
poultry farms not triggering an Environmentally Relevant Activity application (<1,000 birds).
The applicant has demonstrated that the 60ha site is large enough to house the 1,000 birds
within the chicken caravans and mobile tractors, while meeting the recommended separation
distances, apart from the composting facility. The composting facility is proposed within 40m
from the nearest neighbour’s property boundary and approximately 115m to the nearest
dwelling house. Given the composting facility, if not managed appropriately, has the
potential to generate some odour, this facility should meet the minimum separation distance
of 100m to neighbouring property boundaries..
Waste
It is proposed to compost dead chickens on-site within a covered facility, to reuse the
compost for pasture improvement. The applicant advises that a 1,000 bird meat chicken
farm is likely to have a 4% mortality rate (equivalent to approximately 1kg of mortalities per
day). At the end of the egg laying cycle, there is also anticipated to be approximately 200-
300 hens proposed to be composted within appropriately sized and managed storage areas.
It is proposed to build a 5 bay composting shed, to manage moisture content and heat
sufficiently, so as to control odour.
Council’s Environmental Health Officer advises that composting of carcases in small scale
chicken farms is understood to be industry standard (Queensland Guidelines for Meat
Chicken Farms), and if done correctly, odour impacts may be controlled so as not to create a
nuisance.
Road Network
Due to the small scale of the operations, Council’s development engineer considers the
proposed traffic movements will not cause any significant traffic impacts on the surrounding
road network. Appropriate improvements would be required as part of an approval to the
existing property access and for the provision of the required on-site vehicle manoeuvring
and standing areas for the delivery and service vehicles.
Environmental Best Practice
The code seeks that agricultural uses are conducted in a manner that minimises risk of
environmental harm to the surrounding soil and water quality.
The applicant indicates that the chickens are intended to have a dual purpose, including egg
and meat production, and to follow the rotation of cattle around the property, for the
distribution of manure straight on to the pasture, reduce weeds and cattle ticks. Examples of
this type of ‘Biodynamic’ farming method using chickens have been included with the
application material.
The applicant has provided evidence demonstrating that 1,000 chickens have the same
impact (in terms of manure output) as 14 cows. The applicant also states that they have
begun fencing off the creeks to limit cattle from entering the riparian areas of the site, and
intends to provide water to the cattle outside of the creek areas.
While the proposal increases the number of animals on the existing 60ha farm, the impacts
associated with the intensification are relatively minor. The scale of the development means
that the development is unlikely to adversely impact the rural amenity of the neighbouring
properties as a consequence. The proposal therefore meets the Outcomes of the
Agricultural Uses Code and is consistent with the site’s rural zoning intent.




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