Lobbying Councillor - Phillips MCU12/0184

Subject: 1192 dw FYI councillors Cooroy Broiler Farm requires further investigation
From: Mark Phillips
Date: 2013-12-04T23:01:07+00:00
To: Internet Mailbox Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Cr Rick Baberowski, Cr Tim Dwyer, Cr Peter Cox, Cr Chris Thompson, Cr Jenny McKay, Cr Christian Dickson, Cr Ted Hungerford, Cr Jason O'Pray, Cr Stephen Robinson, Cr Greg Rogerson, Cr Russell Green - Tewantin Office, Cr Tony Wellington - Tewantin Office

Dear Counsellors

 

Urge you to invest substantial more effort into analysing the economic cost and benefits of the proposed Cooroy Broiler Farm.

 

Particularly as it appears to be at odds with Council’s own Economic Development Strategy  ”Sunshine Coast – The Natural Advantage”,  and carries a fair bit of economic risk, let alone community concern.

 

 

It’s clear from Council’s strategy that Council is looking to move forward and capitalise on its ‘natural assets’ rather than encourage old-style industries that merely access a little semi-rural land and a couple of low-skilled farm workers.

 

Whilst the proposal may or may not have economic merit it does deserve extra investigation due to it:

1.       Being out of sync with the district’s current land use

2.       Being out of sync with Council’s Economic Development Strategy 

3.       Having high risks of economic and environmental damage

4.       Requiring specific council investment to be viable

5.       Having high community concern

 

 

I note the developer has not engaged with the community in the current debate and their proposed economic benefits are largely unknown to date.  

 

The risk of damage on the other hand appears quite high. 

 

These risks include:

1.       The loss of existing neighbourhood jobs not able to co-exist with the Broiler

2.       The loss of existing entrepreneurs & businesses not able to work or attract staff to their enterprises

3.       The degradation of land values for a wide region (and subsequently councils ability to raise rate levies)

4.       The reputational damage to Cooroy as an attractive and balanced work-lifestyle community

5.       The reputational damage to Sunshine Coast Council as a responsible economic and natural lifestyle manager

a.       (You can imagine how quickly word will spread through Queensland that Sunshine Coast Council is converting natural lifestyle locations into intensive, obtrusive farming districts.)

6.       The poisoning of the attractiveness of the area to other lifestyle, agricultural & business investors

7.       The cost to Council in cleaning up environmental and infrastructure damage (should the operator fail to remediate them).

a.       The scientific work on healthy Avocado farming and Chicken Manure should be noted.  Particularly in regards to the economic and environmental effects of excessive chicken manure on Avocado trees, and their declining fertilizer needs.  

b.      Source: Queensland Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/fruit-and-vegetables/fruit-and-nuts/avocados/faqs-about-avocados/fertilising ; University of California http://ucanr.org/sites/alternativefruits/files/121293.pdf 

c.       NB: Western Australia prohibit animal manure usage on some Avocado farms as outlined on the DAFF website.

 

The Broiler’s proposed activities are both intensive and obtrusive across a wide range of neighbouring businesses and investees, in a region who’s economic growth has not been in agriculture for many decades.  

 

It certainly makes more economic sense to me that Council invest their funds and effort into encouraging economic growth in innovative 21st century industries which enhance the community as a whole, rather than drive a range of economic and investment activity away for the sake of a single, small, disruptive business venture.

 

 

I again urge you to look more carefully at the Broiler Proposal and carefully weigh up the costs and benefits.

 

Mark Phillips

 

 

 

 

    Mark Phillips

                [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>  

                Lake Macdonald, Cooroy QLD 4563 Australia
                Tel: +61 (0) 414 870 227

                Skype: iMarkPhillips

                www.markphillips.biz <http://www.markphillips.biz/>   |   http://www.linkedin.com/in/imarkphillips <http://www.linkedin.com/in/imarkphillips>