Not Properly Made Notice of Submission - Greg & Nadine-Devaki Wright (Late/Object) - MCU12/0184

Subject: tt bcs 1192 MCU12/0184 Submission Wright
From: Greg Wright
Date: 2013-07-17T12:26:24+00:00
To: Internet Mailbox Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Jack Lewis

Dear Mr Lewis,

We would like to submit an Objection to the above mentioned development application, MCU12/0184 136 Top Forestry Rd Ridgewood - Animal Husbandry type 2 Poultry Farm - W Donald Milligan Pty Ltd.

Our objection is based on the following:

Inconsistency with existing plans, including South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031
High intensity farming of this nature is inconsistent with the existing and envisaged development in the surrounds of the proposed site.  Existing rural uses are typically low intensity, largely sustainable practices such as grazing, "hobby farming" and forestry.  Existing uses are aligned with being part of the Noosa 'biosphere' and sustainable outlook.  High intensity poultry farming is certainly not.



Project scale

The scale of the project is huge. For a quiet rural area with just basic road infrastructure, this development is clearly out of scale.  Additionally, there will not be sufficient increases in employment opportunities to warrant such a large development.  With shed development proposed for the ridges of the property the surrounding district will be able to see the development (and scale thereof) from almost every vantage point in the immediate area.

 

Noise pollution

Generated from shed ventilator fans and feed delivery fans, bird noise, shed maintenance, site machinery and increased heavy vehicle traffic.

 

Odour pollution

Exacerbated by earth floors in the sheds (subject to ground water seepage) over-layed by sawdust being subject to high summer temperatures. Further exacerbated by poor ventilation to many of the sheds caused by inappropriate alignment for the prevailing winds due to site restrictions and the desire to build along ridge lines.  Further, spreading the sawdust/manure for fertilisation of the existing orchard will cause further odour impact on local residents.  Odour doesn't stop at property boundaries.

 

Waste water issues

Proposed basins, swales and buffers are just passive design elements rather than proper treatment of waste and subsequent sheetflow run-off will end up in the catchment waterways. The MUSIC storm water treatment model used in the application was designed for urban areas and is in no way applicable for this operation where contaminated groundwater from unsealed shed floors will leach from under the sheds to surrounding areas. At peak rainfall times of the year, contaminated run-off will overwhelm vegetated farm areas and transfer to the property dams and into Blackfellow Creek, a tributary of the Mary River. This may ultimately impact on threatened species such as the Lung Fish in the Mary River, which was at least in part reason enough to stop the construction of the Traveston Dam.

 

Traffic issues

Includes heavy vehicles, including the proposed use of B Doubles, used to deliver and remove sawdust, feed, birds, and other inputs/outputs.  The local roads (Belli Creek Road, Ceylon Rd, Old Ceylon Road, Top Forestry Road, Lawnville Road - which has already collapsed twice in recent years) suffer enough during summer rain periods and are in need of regular repair.  Increasing traffic will reduce safety due to poorer road surfaces and increase cost to council and therefore Noosa ratepayers.  

 

Visual amenity issues

Severe visual disturbance from the siting of buildings on ridge-lines. Even with proposed tree planing this development is going to be an eyesore for years to come.



Light Pollution
The area's night time views are currently stunning with low light pollution and spectacular star scape views on clear nights.  Poultry operations are typically 24-hour operations and light pollution from the sheds will disturb residents for many kilometres.



Impacts on existing Economic uses.


The area in which the proposed development is situated is well regarded as a tourist area.  Many visitors to the Sunshine Coast tour the hinterland areas, especially using the Noosa/Cooroy/Kenilworth/Maleny route, and particularly on motorcycles.  These tourists bring a lot of business to the communities along the way and being faced with several kilometres of odour from an intensive poultry farm will impact visitors significantly.  Additionally, a lot of properties in the area have been converted to sustainable 'eco' developments, and the residents have sustainable and ecologically friendly attitudes.  This is not merely an issue for residents, but the attractiveness of these areas for this reason stimulates property prices, development in fitting with the Noosa Biosphere and ultimately increase rates paid due to improved values.  The creation of this business will cause a significant loss of revenue to the council via rates over time.



Health Issues
It has been seen in the past decade that increased virulence in pathogens, especially in high-intensity poultry farming, causes health issues that can have impacts on a global scale. (H5N1, Bird flu).  This development does not address in any way the impact on the local community of an outbreak of such diseases and no disaster management plan is in place.  The economy of the entire local government region (and beyond) could potentially be at risk.





Animal Welfare Issues
We consider high intensity poultry farming of this nature to be cruel and unnecessary. 



Soil Degradation and Erosion
The property currently has a large amount of terracing to support existing orchard usage.  Council should inspect this terracing in person to determine if it is suitable and adequate for both the existing use and proposed use.  The current terracing on such a steep slope could potentially lead to large amounts of water, effluent and soil run-off into the surrounding areas including Blackfellow Creek.



Uses outside the proposed development, Fertiliser Production


The existing application is for animal husbandry however the predicted amount of sawdust/manure to be sold as fertiliser indicates that a large proportion of the commercial viability of this enterprise relates to fertiliser production and sale.  The application should be amended and only considered in light of the fact that it will be a commercial fertiliser operation.  Commercial fertiliser production is not at all in character with any existing land use in the area.



We urge council to reject this application in it's entirety.


Regards



Greg & Nadine-Devaki Wright



PO Box 411, Cooroy, QLD 4563
869 Cooroy Belli Creek Road, Ridgewood, QLD 4563


0416 297 277